I realize I have failed in updating this as often as prescribed, but the internet situation in combination with the amount of work we have makes it difficult to write out anything of substance. So from where I left off, which was in Cape Town.

The fourth morning was our last at Ikaya lodge, and the lot of us packed up our bags and loaded them into the beloved VW buses, Marley and Sheila, and we set on our way. I was riding in Sheila with Dr. (Brian) King and several of my peers. We were following the lead van, Marley, driven by Dr. (Neil) Brown. Before we had even left downtown we saw something big fall off of Marley onto the highway. Brian immediately dialed Neil and they backtracked to find what was part of the trailer hitch. I was relieved my bag wasn’t in the trailer, and that it was safe in the back of the van! We again set off, and drove for hours through sprawling wine country and farm fields. Gradually, we began to go up, up, and up into mountains. The vegetation change was marked. We suddenly went from a warm, agricultural area to a thick conifer forest that smelled like Christmas trees. The temperature also dropped considerably. Then we began to descend on the other side of the range, and we were informed that we were no longer in the Western Cape. It felt like the adventure had truly begun.
That night we spent in Harkerville in a dorm-style accommodation. I met a little Afrikaner boy, Liam, and we spent some time hopping around the murky-looking pool on one foot for some time. We had a rather good time. His English was brilliant. Turns out he and his family had just returned from three weeks in the states. His parents informed me that he went over with no knowledge of English and that the flexible vocabulary he was using with me was procured from a little cousin about his age. Amazing!
We also had a very sleepy lecture that night, which only came alive with the discussion of global citizenship. It was an article that described what an off-the-verandah study abroad should be like. That means not being the typical study abroad. Actually reaching out to the culture. Not getting bathed in it. Immersing yourself. Talking to people you don’t know. Talking to people who aren’t your age. Learning a new language and using it. Getting lost in a place and finding your way home by asking people. Going to bars and clubs with other exchange students and university students doesn’t count. It’s all about becoming aware of your cultural experiences and impacts. Not whining about needing air conditioning or a pillow top mattress or high speed internet. Since then, the group has played with the idea of the verandah, which will later come into play.

Location: Harkerville, South Africa