Shark Rock Pier Port Elizabeth

Day 13

There's only one thing that South Africa is doing wrong.  The mullets!! They're everywhere.  Every time you turn around there's another one.  Some are dyed different colors at the tips some may fade into a mohawk, but nonetheless they are still mullets!  South Africa has the whole, eco-friendly vibe that I'm in love with and the people are so incredibly friendly it's just one little fashion faux pas' that actually isn't so little.  I have just never seen so many mullets all in one place.  Probably because I live north of West Virginia, but it seriously should stop!  Maybe it's the water, but that is one fad that South Africa needs to get rid of ASAP!!




Other Than the unforgivable mullets, everything is going superbly!  The sun finally broke through!  Thanks so much for sending that sun my way, and my classes are done for the day so I can relax and enjoy it!  And one of my friends brought a mongoose into Zoology class this morning!  It got hit by a car and he was nursing it back to health.  The cutest little animal I've ever seen! I definitely want to bring one back with me it was absolutely precious! Anyways, if you thought mullets were coming back into style, rethink that, or move here to South Africa!  Have a mullet-astic day!!

Day 12

Started classes yesterday and they went really well.  History was kind of boring, but I think it'll get better as the semester goes on.  I loved my Marine Biology class, the professor is very nice and I’m going to be starting my research project on Wednesday, can’t wait!  It’s been cold and rainy here the past couple of days.  The rain stopped for about an hour last night, but that’s been it.  So the campus is one giant puddle, but one of the perks to living at the top of an insanely large hill is that all the rain water runs away from your dorm.  Nothing new to report other than the rain and cold, I heard Ohio’s been nice and hot lately, maybe you could send a little bit of sunshine my way!!

Day 10

I moved into my new dorm yesterday, and it's super nice.  John Carroll needs to step it up, just saying.  Then we went on a tour of the township, the area surrounding downtown Grahamstown and the poverty was absolutely astounding.  People were living in shacks, if you could even call them that.  There were holes in the roofs, if they had roofs at all.  But the weirdest thing was everyone was happy.  It was unbelieveable, a happier more optomistic bunch you really couldn't find if you searched until the cows came home!  It made me readjust my entire way of thinking.  These people had absolutely nothing, but they were willing to share anythign they did have with the people aroudn them.  They were so excited to see us.  People, children especially, literally ran out of their houses when they saw us coming just to have us take a picture with them or to hug us or to just talk with us.  It was absolutely mind-blowing.  All I could do was stand there in awe of what was going on around me.  Words couldn't even describe the feelings that were going through me.  I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry or to sing or shout, I had no logical reaction for what was going on around me.  There they were in such poverty, with no way to overcome it and they were happier than almost every American I have ever met who has at least 100x more than these people.  It was tough to see but it gave me so much hope to see that they weren't giving up and that I shouldn't either. 
Anyways,  classes start tomorrow morning, and more students are starting to arrive on campus.  Stay happy and stay positive!!

Day 7

Internet is becoming more readily available to us so there will (hopefully) be more blog updates.  It all will depend on what kind of free time I have once classes start.  Speaking of classes, I will be taking African Philosophy, history of South Africa and Marine Biology!  I am very excited to start learning all about the culture and history of where I am!  As those of you who have my mailing address know, I live in Hilltop Hall, which, believe it or not is, actually located at the top of a hill!! The walk is quite a trek in the mornings and evenings but the view from my dorm is AMAZING!  I’m literally waiting to wake up one morning, look out my window, and see a giraffe grazing beyond the fence!  It’s absolutely incredible!  Not to mention that just behind my residence is the coolest bird hangout I’ve ever seen!  Just today I saw a cute little Grey Lourie, an awesome blue and black bird (which I have still been unable to identify), and a Hoopoe Bird.  Seriously, Google Image that last bird.  It may be the coolest most amazing bird I’ve seen in my entire life!  But while I was creeping through shrubbery to get better pictures of these birds, two stray dogs (a mutt and a German Shepherd) spotted me and have been following me around all day!  They are two of the cutest dogs, and they have been making sure I get everywhere safely and they patiently wait outside until I come back!  It’s hysterical.  I may need some protection at night though, so maybe it’s a good thing that they found me hiding out on the bushes!  

Another thing I forgot to mention earlier.  We can’t drink the water here because the government put lower grade chemicals in the water to purify it because they were cheaper.  So it is definitely unsafe to drink and will make you ill.  We do have filtered water readily available to us in the dining halls and bottles of water are very cheap here.  The weather has been cooler the past couple of days, but today it finally warmed up.  Next month is when it is supposed to really start getting noticeably warmer, according to the locals.  We have been going out quite a bit at night to the local pubs and meeting some of the local people who live in Grahamstown as well as some other students studying at Rhodes.  Things are going really well here!  Stay sunny and warm in Ohio!!

Day 6

I am starting to feel much more comfortable on campus and in Grahmstown.  I am starting to pick up on some of the local languages, I have no idea what they are saying but I can identify what language is being spoken.  I am learning all the short-cuts around campus and a South African accent is starting to unintentionally slip out at times!  Everyone here is very friendly and eager to help out.  The weather is starting to get chilly this week, like low to mid-50s, so a jacket and pants are necessary.  However, once late October hits the weather will start to feel much more like a Cleveland summer!  I have met some other American exchange students who are here by themselves or in a small group and we are planning our travels to Capetown and neighboring countries.  Spellcheck is underling “neighboring” because I am not putting a “u” in it!! This is hysterical!  My spelling is going to be awful when I return to the States! 

I got approved to take Marine Biology while I’m here and that includes 3 field trips to the shore! The class is going to be a lot of work and meets 7 times a week, but it will be worth it.  It is absolutely beautiful here but I can’t wait to get back and see all of your lovely faces again!

Grahamstown

I haven't had internet for the past couple days so there have been no updates, but we found a KFC with free WiFi!! I arrived safely to Rhodes and  I am in LOVE with South Africa, it is a million times more awesome than I could have imagined! I register for my classes tomorrow and hopefully I'll get the ones that I want.  I am making American friends for now because we are the only people on campus, they are all great! 


I went to the beach in Port Elizabeth on Friday and it was absolutely amazing!! By far the most beautiful beach I have ever been to.  The water was clear and fantastic! I happened to arrive during low tide and I was able to sea starfish, sea urchins, coral, sponges, and all sorts of other critters! It was absolutely AMAZING!!  The only thing I can't get used to yet is the fact that they drive on the left side of the road.  It makes things difficult when you're trying to cross the street, and I couldn't even imagine trying to drive!  The weather is spectacular, it is very warm during the day (60-70), but the nights can get very cold (low 40s).  It is only going to get warmer as spring gets closer and closer.  I hope all is well in the states!

Day 2: Happy Winter!

DAY 2(It actually feels like an extension of day 1):  I actually made it all the way to South Africa.  After some mishaps at the Cleveland airport, which put all my connecting flights in jeopardy, I actually made it!  It is absolutely beautiful outside, it is almost 60 degrees and there is not a cloud in the sky.  I have met some wonderful people here already and everyone has been very helpful. 

I am currently in Port Elizabeth, which is right on the coast.  Tomorrow afternoon I will make my way to the university campus and to my new dorm room.  If I wake up early enough I plan on taking a 3 minute taxi ride to the beach.  I will be uploading pictures soon so that you can all see what I’m seeing!  Happy Winter!!!!

Day 1

Welcome to DAY 1 of my South African Adventures!!
I will hopefully be able to post something new every week, but access to the internet will be limited!  I'll be arriving in South Africa tomorrow, 7/14/11, at about 9pm, local time (3pm Cleveland time!).  I am currently waiting at the Cleveland Airport because my flight has been delayed, nothing can dampen my day though!  I am so excited to start my adventures and to share my stories with everyone when I return home in December.  Thanks for all the well-wishes and look for another post declaring my safe arrival in South Africa :)
Thank you all for your continued support, none of this would have been possible without all of you, lots of love and good wishes to all of you!
So begins one of the longest days of my trip!!
...and congratulations to my sister Margaret on her new job!!!