Happy to report that this was a very fun-filled weekend! (I apologize in advance for how long this post will be--but I want to give all the details about our fun-filled weekend!) I finished up the work week strong--I was able to finish the first draft of a powerpoint demonstrating my findings from the comparative assessment project, as well as help Sash edit articles for the RAG Magazine, and finalize the lesson plans Monique and I created for the Advanced Leaders Programme.
On Friday night, Tim, Njabulo, and I went to the South Africa vs. Italy rugby game for the Junior World Championships. It is really nice that the games are being played at UWC and in Stellenbosch--makes it easy for us to attend! And, South Africa was FREAKING AWESOME. The final score was 52-3, with South Africa winning of course.
The happy spectators enjoying the rugby match!
This is called a "scrum". The two teams push each others, I think for possession of the ball.
South Africa is about to make a "try", which is where they run the ball into the end-zone. This is worth 5 points! :)
Don't you like my South Africa rugby shirt? :)
On Saturday, Sashley took Tim and I out for the day :) First, we went to a "traditional" 21st birthday party, which was an interesting experience. Everyone told me about how crazy and fun South African 21st birthday parties are. Turning 21 is kind of like coming of age--they celebrate the accomplishments of the individual and their success if they did not fall pregnant and finished school. The event is supposed to be very extravagant and polished, where the birthday girl wears a lovely gown, there are lots of guests, food, music, and speeches by friends and family. I think I was expecting the event to be sort of like a Sweet 16 party mixed with a typical 21st party in the States, so kind of elegant and extravagant, but also lots of drinking and dancing. The party was...interesting...haha. The event was supposed to be from 1-6pm. However, the party didn't end up starting until just after 4pm. I think we were the only ones that didn't get the memo to show up 3 hours late, because once 3:30pm came around, guests started rolling in. We didn't know when it would actually start, so Sash, Tim and I just hung out in the car and chatted, and laughed, and just had a good old time together while we waited. We only stayed at the party for a little while, but it was a unique experience. The birthday girl, Tabisa, did wear an elegant gown and the event was very fancy with a decorated tent, music, and food. Sashley and others gave speeches about the accomplishments of Tabisa, and their was a lot of prayers and gospel singing. Religion is very, very important to the people of South Africa, so many of the speeches included lessons from the Bible and thanking God for helping to guide Tabisa in a positive direction.
After the 21st birthday party, Sash took us out and about. First we went to the Grand Hotel & Casino:
Pretty grand, eh? It was HUGE and way more than just a casino. Inside there was the huge casino, various restaurants, a night club, a concert hall, a movie theatre, an arcade, and a carnival mini-amusement park. No joke--this place was "amazeballs" (this is a Monique-ism). We just walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere, but we also went go-karting....
I was pretty excited to ride in the blue go-kart. :) And I won! (not that we were competing racing, but still). Afterwards, we stopped by Sashley's home quick. We got to meet her brothers and her parents and see her home--it was very nice! :) We also stopped by her fiancee's home (his name is Andre) and got to meet him and his family. They were all so nice! One Sunday I am going to go to church with Sashley and then have a brunch with Andre's family afterward :). For dinner, we went to St. Elmo's, which Sash said was the best pizza around. She was right :)
After dinner, we went to the mall and met up with Sashley's 4 cousins, and a few of their friends. We went bowling and to the arcade, which was super fun! At the bowling alley we went to, you don't wear shoes--you have to bowl either in your socks or barefoot. I thought that was interesting. At the arcade we played a bunch of games--they had old school Pac Man and Super Mario--which was awesome! We also played some pool :) Sashley's cousins invited us over for dinner next week--isn't that so nice? Everyone we meet is so friendly and inviting! Overall, our Saturday out with Sashley was very fun! Sash and I are going to sit and plan out dates for the other adventures we want to go on before I leave. We want to go hiking in Durbanville, she wants to take me to church with her, and we want to go shark diving!
Yesterday, Sunday, was a really great day too! We got to go out with some new friends from the States, and some of our friends from here too. There are a bunch of other students from the States who arrived at the end of last week and are staying at UWC. There are two students, Raji and Giselle (from Vermont and Illinois) who are here to do research with the college of nursing. Raji and Giselle have quickly become good friends of ours--we get along way too well and have way too many laughs when we are together! :) There are also 25 students who go to university in Oklahoma and Missouri who are here for an entrepreneurship program. We have been meeting them on and off and hope to be able to meet up with them and hang out once they get situated. But, anywho, back to Sunday...
Tim, Raji, Giselle, JP, Eugene, Lunga, and I all went out to Mzoli's. Mzoli's is a braai restaurant in Guguletu, one of the townships in Cape Town. We were expecting there to be mostly local people at Mzoli's from the township, but there were actually a lot of tourists eating there too. Mzoli's is a very popular spot for people who want to get a glimpse of the townships. Guguletu is really beautiful in a very unique way. I haven't taken photos of the townships we have been through because I feel like it would be rude to document people's homes and lifestyle, but I have been taking mental snapshots of them.
Mzoli's. Was. Awesome. When you walk in, there are big glass cases of all sorts of meats for you to choose from. You order the meat and then they put it on a platter and you walk it back to the braai grill to be cooked. The grill is huge with open firewood--super nice. We ordered beef and chicken, and it was delicious! We also ordered pup, which is a corn starch substance kind of like a sticky mashed potato. We had a great braai lunch, some beer (which apparently you have to have at Mzoli's or its a crime, haha), and enjoyed the house music. Welcome to Mzoli's:
The line waiting outside :)
HUGE tray of braai!
Giselle, Raji, and Tim eating the yummy braai!
So much meat!
The white stuff is the "pup".
Eugene, JP, me, Lunga, and Giselle.
Tim, Eugene, JP, me, Lunga, and Giselle.
And...it's all gone! Apparently it is "a crime" to not drink with your braai at Mzoli's. I can't remember the last time I drank on a Sunday...But, when in Africa, you do like the Africans! :)
After Mzoli's, Lunga dropped Tim, Raji, Giselle and I off at the Waterfront. We were planning on taking the 3pm ferry to Robben Island, but unfortunately the last ferry that goes out on Sunday's was at 1pm, so we missed it. Bummer! But, it is okay. We spent the afternoon walking around the Waterfront, enjoying the weather, and we went out for a lovely dinner.
Tim, Giselle, and Raji out at the Waterfront
Beautiful sunset on the beach. I tried to touch the water and got wet up to my knees...woops.
I love the beach and the sunset!
Tim and Raji enjoying dinner :)
This is Giselle's standard camera smile, haha.
roasted red pepper and chicken salad = my favorite
What a great evening out at the Waterfront, right? :) After we got back, JP, Eugene, and Lunga came over to our residence hall and we all watched a soccer game (Croatia vs. Italy) and hung out. It was a great evening!
So, that's it--all the awesome details about our "amazeballs" weekend!
Hope everyone back home had a great weekend too!
Sending love,
--Kaity
And before anyone goes and gets their hopes up, i.e. my brothers, that was someone elses beer in front of me. I still don't drink, sorry to disapoint lol.
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