Happy Valentine's Day! I love and miss you all!

14 February 2010 

11:00am

The rest of my week has been great.  Thursday our group had our first encounter with a supporter of the NP (National Party) who was in control during the apartheid.  He spoke to our political science class and is a professor at NMMU.  It was a frustrating experience because he had a different view on Mandela then all of us and he still seemed to believe in white supremacy. 

Thursday night a different flat hosted another pot luck, “Tacos and Togas!”  It was a blast.  My flat chose to make togas out of our beautiful red South African Airways blankets.  Everyone had a ton of fun and the food was delicious.  There was homemade pita chips and guacamole, homemade tortillas, smores and more!

Friday was one of my favorite relaxing days thus far.  It was a girl on the trips 21^st so we spent the day at a pool right beside the beach which was right up my alley.  I love the ocean but I also love swimming in pools so it was thee perfect day.  I felt like I was on vacation, which was perfect and I was able to finish up a lot of reading for class.

Saturday we had planned to go to Jeffery’s Bay but were unable to get reservations at the hostel we wanted to stay at so we are going for next Friday night instead so I’m looking very forward to that.  Yesterday three girls and myself ventured out into PE a bit more.  We went into an area called Walmer to go to a fruit and veg market that had so much fresh fruit at great prices and a wonderful bakery.  We got at least 4 things of rolls, baguettes and bread for about 2,5R a piece so less than 50 American cents! Yum!  We also went to the mall in Walmer and I made my first South African clothes purchase which was so fun.  It was interesting constantly trying to convert rand to US dollars and figure out the sizing.  Needless to say, all of us figured it out relatively fast and we all found something to add to our wardrobe here.

As for today, Sunday, it will be a relaxing day spent reading, laying out on the roof, and jumping in the ocean.  Tonight I will attend another worship service called Live Wire put on by NMMU.  A ton of African students attend and it’s very high energy.  Tonight it will be outside in a theatre on the Boardwalk!  Mass this morning was comforting once again but I can’t believe Ash Wednesday is this week already.  It will be a very powerful experience going through Lent here.  I’m hoping it will be a good opportunity for me to really pay attention to Lent and what it means.  I will miss the beauty of St. John’s services and friends and family there but I think it will be a powerful experience to go to such a simple, older church so that I pay attention to the readings and what is occurring rather than all of the other things that I sometimes become easily distracted by.  I’m anxious to pray and think about what special things I want to focus on during this Lenten season!

Here are some pictures to show you what I’ve been up to lately!  Also the countdown is on for when my parents will arrive…2 weeks, which is a mere 14 days!!!!  I got to skype with them yesterday and could practically hold my computer over the balcony to point out their hotel!  After saying goodbye to them I couldn’t have been more smiley and giddy because it felt so wonderful to see them both, I miss my family sooo much!  But clearly things are still going well and I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for all the prayers and encouragement!

Let me know if there is anything specific you want to know about my trip or that I should blog about!!  Again Happy Valentine’s Day I’m sending lots of x’s and o’s back home! <3

XOXO,

Megan Elizabeth

One of the cutest little guy at the orphanage, Mandi, he didn't get a nap in this morning and was crabby!

Leonarti... He has the most beautiful smile but really weak bones, he has a cracked femur bone

My new buddy Cedriano and I, he is the one who is battling depression on top of everything else

One of my very close friends Karla and I on toga night

Two of my roomies and I with our homemade pita chips and guacamole! 

One of the incredible views of the McArthur pool, we were the only ones there during the day

Proof that we were not only relaxing but also doing some homework! 

More views and the harbor in the background (metal giraffes) 

We got fun fruity drinks to cool off! Mine was orange juice and grenadine with some berry flavored sugar around the rim yumm

My wonderful roomie Lauren and I, she is also from Rochester, works at the Gap, and goes to St. John's we make a good match!  This is from Friday night when we had everyone over to our room to play games!