Braai (I think it means Grill?)

We stuck around Langerry this weekend, because the cricket game was on Friday night. The guys decided to give the wood grills in the courtyard a test and have a braai. A braai is what South Africans call a grill out and they have them a lot. The guys just had meat, and I decided that they needed some side dishes to make it a real meal. We had borewors, hamburgers, steak, mushrooms and onions, veggies, baked bean, and beer. It was delicious. Sister Mary Jane (MJ) joined us too. We will definitely be doing this more often!

Cricket!

So cricket is as complicated as it looks. I figured out the rules halfway through the game, thanks to a guy in front of me hearing my confusion. I don't have time to go into detail on the rules, but I can say that it is fun to watch once you get the game. The whole atmosphere surrounding the game added to it as well. A live band on a stage and a pep band behind us, Castle Corner (large bar area), dancers/cheerleaders, people in the grass grilling, and lots of cheering. It was P.E. (Chevrolet Warriors) vs. Cape Town. I accidently wore the wrong color but we got free P.E. hard hats so it turned out okay. It felt a bit like a baseball stadium, and they even had "American Donuts". My next sporting event is the NMMU Rugby game!

Tsitsikamma, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna

Tsitsikamma National Park. Hiked really far to a lookout peak. Got hit in the face with dirty sea foam. It was a little overcast but it was good weather for hiking. Next we went on an intense hike, which involved climbing across rocks to get to a waterfall. There were a few bruises.

In Plettenberg Bay, we went on another 7km hike around Robberg Peninsula. There was more intense rock climing, sand dunes, and loads of smelly seals.

We ended the weekend with a sunset dinner cruise in Knysna. Good food, good weather, good scenery and great fun!

Addo Elephant Park & Scotia Game Reserve

Woke up early and headed to the Addo Elephant Park. We saw over 150 elephants at one watering hole! It was the most our guide had ever seen in the park at once. We did have a close encounter with a monster elephant weaving through cars, and another that wouldn't take her eyes off of our bus. The dominant female in one of the families died recently, so we saw some good battles to be the next top elephant.

Our guide made us an awesome lunch :). They love the curry here.

In the afternoon we headed to the Scotia Game Reserve. It felt like I was in Jurassic Park with the jeeps and electronic fence! I saw zebra, kudu, bushbuck, wildabeast, giraffe, turtles, hippos, crocodile, lion, rhinos, and a few other deer-like animals. I got out of the jeep to get a closer look at the rhinos, but had to run behind a bush when they started walking too close to our group!

I haven't seen as many monkeys as I expected, but have seen a few in random places like the side of the road.

Here and Loving It!

School where I volunteer

View from my Balcony!

The African Bush

It is hot here, but also very windy (it could blow me over at times). The apartment is nice, and everyone is jealous because we got a couch in ours. I just finished my first week of classes and have a lot of reading to do. It will be very hard getting out of vacation mode and actually getting some school work done.

Volunteering has been interesting. I am helping teach math to 4th - 7th graders. It is difficult with the language barrier and the difference in the way the school is run (chaotic and inefficient).

What I have done so far:

Learned to Surf in Jeffrey's Bay

Drove on the Other Side of the Road

Held a Baby Lion

Went Camping in the African Bush

Ate some Bizarre Foods

Took a Road Trip

Started Volunteering at a Township Primary School

Saw the Sunrise

Walked a Lot

Zip Lined (aka Foofie Slide) into a Canal

Rope Swinged over a Mudpit

Don't worry there is more to come! *If you email me please mark it as urgent. I have been getting so much junk email from csb that it is hard to sort through.