What a weekend!

Sunday March 17

St Patty's Day 2013!  It was a great day but I would have also enjoyed drinking Irish coffee and green beer all afternoon with Chad and friends :)

Sunday morning we jumped in our little Hyundai's and took off south for Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope.  Basically, it's the most southern tip of Africa and overlooks both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.  It is a spectacular destination here in Cape Town.

Cape Point - on the right is the Atlantic Ocean, on the left is the Indian Ocean

After Cape Point we went to Boulder's Beach, named for the exact reason it sounds like.  The sun was out so we layed in the sand for a couple hours.  Towards the evening the penguins started to show up on our beach. 

Saturday March 16

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to head back downtown to various bazaars.  I spent quite a bit of money on items to bring home.  I'm still on the hunt for a few gifts I need to track down!

Later in the afternoon, we decided to do some sightseeing while downtown.  Below are some photos of government building, historic buildings, etc.  One thing I was really impressed with was a huge botanical garden located in the middle of downtown.  It was gorgeous.

The balcony above is where Nelson Mandela made his first public appearance and speech after his imprisonment.

Parliament

Saturday night was the Cape Town Carnival.  It started out around 7pm with a parade of floats.  Later a few of us while wandering back to the car found the most darling restaurant tucked in a little alcove between buildings.  It was absolutely delicious.  I fully intend to go back again and indulge.

Cape Town Carnival

Friday March 15

We were lucky enough to get out of work early due to a slow day at Jooste.  Around noon we headed downtown to go to the Greenfield Square bazaar.  Basically, a big collection of tents w/ locals hackling you to buy their items for "good price."

Later on we showered (a rareity sometimes) and got ready to go back downtown to Long Street.  Long Street is basically their party street.  That is where you go here to "jol."  Jol = Party.  Party is considered a lame, old school term.  Long Street was fun... We went to dinner at Mama Africa and then went to Bob's Bar for most of the night.

Beach Lazy

It has been a sunny filled week here Cape Town... Supposedly this time of year is the start to their fall so we have lucked out of a few days of beach weather.

 



Thursday March 15

Thursday we had "sun-downers" - their word for "happy hour" - at Camp's Bay. Would you believe I continually order red wine here? I've found my new favorite wine... Pinotage. Planning on bringing a couple bottles home with me!

A view of all the restaurants along Camp's Bay. You can see the 12 Apostles (mountains) in the back.

Sunset at Camp's Bay.

Tuesday & Wednesday - March 13 & 14

After work on Tuesday & Wednesday we went to Clifton Beach.  I had heard that it has been ranked one of the top beaches in the world.  It was very beautiful but I agree with the locals when they say it has too much clout.  The beautiful part about this beach in comparison to the others is all huge boulders scattered all over which break the beach into 4 sections.

Clifton's Beach - We actually saw 3 whales while laying there.

Mondary March 12

Monday I switched from the ED to Internal Medicine. It's still a lot of the same things but a little less hectic (thank goodness!). After work we finally picked up our rental car. It's a tiny compact Hyundai which will slightly diminish the chance of getting hit by one of the nut-job drivers out there. They seriously drive crazy... right over the median, through red lights, etc. Anyways, after we picked up our car we went to Camps Bay, a beach off the Atlantic. The Atlantic water is way too cold to swim in so we lounged in the sun for a couple hours. The scenery behind the beach is of the 12 Apostles, 12 mountain peaks lined up in a row.

Camp's Bay w/ the 12 Apostles in the background.

So Much To Tell!

Monday March 11, 2013

Happy Birthday to the best mom in the entire world!  I love you so very much and wish I could be with you today to celebrate.

Sunday March 10, 2013

Today we started off with a quick stop at Mossel Bay.  Below is a photo taken at Dolphin’s point…

Shortly after Mossel Bay, we departed for Botlierskop, a game park along the Garden Route.  We took a 3 hour safari through their massive park.  I can’t begin to describe the beauty we saw.  If only photos could capture the serenity of the landscape…

Saturday March 9, 2013

What a thrilling day… Literally.

Saturday began with a trip to Tsitsikamma for zip lining through the jungle.  Although the weather was a bit overcast and rainy here-and-there, it happened to be perfect for zip lining… Kept the jungle nice and cool.

After zip lining we took off for Bloukrans Bridge, the worlds highest bungy jump at 216m.  Would you believe my first bungy jump happened to be off the world’s highest option?  It was absolutely THRILLING!  An insane experience I would gladly do again.  I will have to show you all my video when I get back to Omaha.  Here’s a sneak peak…

After all the adrenaline-filled morning activities, we started the afternoon off with a visit to Knysna Elephant Park.  African Elephants are so darling and beautiful.

To end our day, we took a sunset cruise on the The John Benn overlooking such gorgeous scenery…

Friday March 8, 2013

We started our Garden Route tour off around 5am.

The first stop of our weekend long tour was the Cango Caves.  They were pretty beautiful and challenging at the same time.  We didn’t know our tour guides signed us up for the “Adventurous Tour” which included crawling, squeezing, and good arm strength (ya I was sore) to get through to the end.

After Cango Caves, we hit the road for the Ostrich Farm.  Never in a million years would I have put this on the list, but it was pretty incredible.  When again in my life can I ever say I rode an ostrich?

We ended Friday with a delicious dinner at Blue Olive. Would you believe I ordered fish for dinner?!  Anyone who has shared any sort of meal with me knows this would NEVER happen in the States. 

Anyhow, it was a wonderful Friday!

Updates!...

Tuesday March 5, 2013

Clinic was OVERWHELMING to say the least.  The emergency department at my hospital is absolutely insane.  It's a big cluster you-know-what.  While driving to our hospital this morning, our driver told us we are working at "the gangster hospital."  He was right.

During this month I will likely see my fair share of burns, drug ODs, knife wounds, gun shots, etc.  Should be interesting. 

Will try and update you all soon!  

Monday March 4, 2013

Today gave me a whole new perspective on Cape Town…

This morning the other 3 girls (Hannah, Whitney, and Steph) arrived after a total travel time of 36 hours.  They were exhausted to say the least.

Shortly after they arrived, we were picked up for a tour of Cape Town given by a local historian.  She did an incredible job and taught us a great deal about the location, cultural history, and continued racial struggles.

Now I’m at the local coffee shop just down the road from our homestay… The only place nearby I can get internet.

Looking forward to starting clinic bright and early tomorrow… Wish me luck!

A small section of colorful housing in downtown CPT established by Dutch settlers.

Token group shot.

Example of housing within the Cape Flats.  These are some of the better conditions in those areas. Heartbreaking.

The kids literally jump all over you while visiting the flats. 

Abortions are advertised everywhere around the poor parts of the city.  Our tour guide told us that in some of the poverty stricken areas, it is known that girls will have had 3 abortions by the age of 14.  This is due to rape, drugs, cultural beliefs, etc.

More views of the flats.

This man had 3 consecutive dreams which told him one day he will make money from flowers... He makes beautiful metal flowers from old soda cans.

Cape Flats.

Sunday March 3, 2013

Today was an overall good day…   

I started it off by waking up and chatting with the Snyder’s.  They are such kind and faithful people.  Mr. Synder served as pastor at his local church this morning.  Mrs. Synder was happy to know I was “a Jesus believer”… she invited me to church next Sunday.

This afternoon Marion and Avril (CFHI Coordinators) picked us up for a mini-orientation.  I found out I will be working at GF Jooste Hospital here in Cape Town.  It is a hospital which serves at least 1.3 million people living in the Cape Flats, an area of extreme poverty here in town.  My area of work here will be in “Casualty” (emergency room).  Our program leaders told me I’ll see a lot of violent trauma come into Casuality due to the high drug addiction rates here in Cape Town.  They forewarned me of the rabid Crystal Meth addiction in the Cape Flats area, even among kids as young as 8 years old.  I haven’t had an ER rotation in the States, but I can only imagine how much this rotation will prepare me for that.

This evening Emily, Heather and I decided to go to the Waterfront.  We took a taxi around 8pm this evening.  It is absolutely beautiful by the water.  It made me wish more than anything that I could share this experience with my family and Chad.  I had some gelato from a stand on the boardwalk and topped the night off with a glass of wine while overlooking the Atlantic ocean.  Not too bad for a Sunday night.

Heather & Myself enjoying gelato.

V&A Waterfront in Downtown Cape Town

Looking at the Atlantic Ocean from V&A Waterfront.

Myself, Emily and Heather

The other girls (Hannah, Whitney, and Steph) fly in early tomorrow.  I’m looking forward to having other students here at my homestay real soon!

Homestay Info

Saturday March 2, 2013

Marion and Avril picked us up from the airport this evening around 11pm.  They seem wonderful… very excited to have us here and ready to make our experience incredible.

The other 3 girls had a delay in Chicago.  Unfortunately their entire itinerary was switched and now they do not arrive for a couple days.  That means I’m at my home stay alone for the time being.  Emily and Heather are at another location about 3 blocks away.

Such a surreal feeling for me tonight...  I’m finding myself a little lonely.  Cannot believe I’m staying in a strangers home in South Africa.

Looking forward to daylight tomorrow so I can see more of this supposedly spectacular city. 

The outside of our home stay.

My bedroom at The Synders

Mr. Synder (my home stay "dad) LOVES to garden.