Mom and Dad let me introduce you to my new love: South Africa.

My parents enjoying coffee after our first dinner together in PE

Yes, my parents and I did share this bed

Watching the sunrise on our first morning together, it was truly incredible, it rose so quickly.  Each picture I took the sun seemed to have moved a tiny bit

Enjoying a good English breakfast togehter 

Mom with Desi and Kuku

All of the children adored my mom

All of us together... Dad is holding my favorite girl who kicked and spit on him initially!  He did nothing wrong but the children hardly ever see men, especially more older (or should I say more mature men!) like my dad... she warmed up to him!

And this is where we spent our time after volunteering before I had to go to class, it's a hard life I know ;)

My amazing parents.  I am so thankful they came and experienced all of this with me.  Seeing them helped me recognize even more where I am and how much I have to be thankful for.  It also affirmed that this is such a growing experience however I'm not changing into a different person I just really am becoming more myself and who I'm meant to be.  I wanted that to happen, and to see that it really is happening is unbelievable and my parents helped me to see all of that in myself.

Seeing them also reminded me how much of each of them I have in myself.  From my mom's cute and silly ways of shrugging her shoulders and hugging to my dad's funny ways of mixing up words I am so much like them both and I couldn't be happier about it!  The only thing missing was my brother and grammy but we talked about them constantly and were able to reminisce about all of the great travels we have had together and how much fun we have right in Rochester, MN in the USA!

This is me attempting to catch my first Kombie.  It was a scary experience for both my parents and I so mom snapped a picture. I got on a fully Kombie where I was the only white person and stuck out terribly but that alone was a growing moment for me in a huge way.  Driving all over PE afraid of not making it to campus or finding the right building I found even more confidence in myself and now feel that much more freedom to explore on my own.

Now these are all pictures of my parents two night safari in Addo park.  I'm not so sure this a real depiction of South Africa except for the animals because they had quite the luxurious stay but I'm so happy for them and thought I would share their pictures...

This is their room (or tent) where they were zipped in at night and had no electricity however their room was lite up by candles! How cool!?

Their tent off in the distance

You can see the elephants behind his head 

This is the watering hole where that they looked out while eating lunch and sitting around, looks incredible to me

tough life... see the pool back there!?

On the left are cape buffalo... we weren't able to see these on my safari so I'm glad my parents got a glimpse of them

Mom hoping relaxing here because she sure deserves it!

I love this picture of my dad!

Wow!

Just a little something for breakfast

love. :) 

Fr. Mahon got in to SA and went with to pick up my parents from Addo so he could see some of the animals! 

 Our days all together were filled with a ton of fun, laughing, sharing, learning, teasing, and lots of eating along with a few tears as we said goodbye!  I didn't get the rest of the pictures from the weekend on to my computer but we were able to go on a township tour that was eye opening and moving for us all.  I'm so glad I was able to reflect on my experiences with some of the people who mean the most to me.  We were also able to have mass together in our luxurious hotel room (it was seriously so beautiful) which is such a powerful experience for me.  Receiving communion should of course always be powerful but seeing it consecrated right before my eyes by someone so close to me with just my parents by my side is such a sign of Christ's presence in my life, right here right now, as we sat together and could see the Indian Ocean and were on the street where my current home is.  God really is all around and I'm glad I'm gaining a stronger awareness of that in my everyday life and having my parents and Fr. Mahon here amplified that awareness once again.  

Saying good bye was difficult but I have gained another sense of community right down the street from me where my parents stayed.  They waved good bye to us all reminding me to stop back anytime.  The generosity we experienced was amazing because yes the people were all so wonderful, but we also experienced it because of the way my parents and Fr. Mahon were open to talking and getting to know people and by being so gracious.  I just keep learning more and more!

And in closing I also learned that I truly have the African sting, meaning I've been struck by Africa and I know I will dream of coming back here someday.  Getting to talk about everything I've done made me realize how beautiful this place is and how much I have fallen in love with it.  I'm not sure if that means I will find myself a South African boy to marry so I can live here, spend a year volunteering at Tanzinia through CSB after I graduate to bring me back, or simply finding a way to come back here with my family someday, but for now I know I just need to be grateful and embrace my time here right NOW!  

TIA... as our group likes to remind ourselves..."This Is Africa!"