Week 2

Hectic. That is the best word I can used to describe the last week! It was a very good, but busy week.

I decided to enroll in one of the Stanford classes on Global Project Management. It is a very interesting class and will allow me to work on a planning project towards the end of the quarter. I will have to fill in those details in the future.

Over the weekend we did a tour of the Peninsula that ended with a hike up to Cape Point which is just an amazing view of the ocean and the supposed location where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. It was spectacular and the weather could not have been better.

Also on that tour, we swam with some penguins at Boulder’s National Park, had some fresh fish and chips at Hout Bay, walked around Kalk Bay and drove over Chapman’s Peak. Needless to say it was a very full day of activity which meant a fairly calm and quiet Sunday. I did manage to make it to the pub to watch Manchester United.

In other news, I saw Desmond Tutu on Friday, as well as a great photography exhibit on wildlife animals. Also, walked the Company Gardens and had a great “American” dinner. My friend had a friend visiting and she made a homemade apple pie and lasagna—both tasted amazing and started a game night off well!

This week should be a little less hectic. This coming Friday we will be doing a group community service project which I get to coordinate and organize and on Sunday I will be kloofing with some of the students. Should be a great day in the sun and waterfalls!

Orientation Week

Well it is a quiet afternoon here in Freeland Lodge. The cloudy day and quiet Sunday neighborhood have made it a productive day and a relaxing one which was much needed after a very VERY FULL week of orientation.

All 23 students arrived by Tuesday and we wasted no time showing them Cape Town. This started with an orientation about the program and how to use public transit which included a brief lesson and location tour and ended with leaving the students in the middle of the city without any adults for them to make their way home. I am happy to report that all returned safely!!

We did a city tour the next day which included the colorful Muslim Bo’Kaap neighborhood, the vibrant District 6 area including the museum and the delicious Charlie’s Bakery, a quick walk around the government gardens, long street and finally ended with a Cable Car trip up Table Mountain for a sunset picnic!

Finally on Friday we did a tour of the townships looking at historical places like the Gooks 7 and Amy Biehl memorials as well as Vicki’s Bed and Breakfast. We talked to many residents and organizations before we made it back home to change for dinner. Dinner was at Solms Delta wine estate in Franschhoek. It was a beautiful venue as the sunset behind the Dutch architecture and we enjoyed a wine tasting and three-course meal.

Saturday, I made sure to show the students one of my favorite places: Old Biscuit Mill where I enjoyed a Kudu breakfast burger---YUM!
This week should settle more into a routine—but we will see about that!

(Pictures on Shutterfly!)

I have arrived simultaneously with 2011

I have arrived safe and sound back in Cape Town and have already made my new room “home”. No that does not mean all my clothes are scattered across the floor or still in suitcases. Just the opposite. All are nicely folded or hung. Pictures are also brightening up the place!

My desk could certainly use some organizing, but generally all is good. I have the house ready for student move in which is good because well they have already started to arrive.

Contrary to my expectations it is raining here and cool. I cannot say that I am too disappointed. As I hauled bags from my former address to my current residence, I got a glimpse of the brutal sun and after a month of shivering I have to admit I was a bit sweatsy…it takes a bit of adjustment.

Prior to semester preparations, and literally just after arriving, I was able to ring in 2011 with the appropriate glass of champagne atop Signal Hill. We were over looking the Waterfront and Cape Town Stadium as fireworks lit the night sky. It was then swiftly off to bed.

And that is the update for now. More to follow!

Redefining Halloween

I have never experienced such a warm Halloween, but yesterday was a perfect spring day here in Cape Town. About 22 degrees Celcius, not a cloud in the crystal blue sky and a gentle breeze...we took full advantage!

Instead of trick-or-treating, we decided to go pick-and-eating. Just 45 minutes outside of Cape Town, sits Mooiberge. This colorful strawberry farm lies on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, in between mountains and farm fields. Not knowing quite what to expect, we listed to Garmin and pulled into the parking lot. The road was lined with colorful, metal statues of creatures like warthogs, giraffes, sharks, bulls and ostrich. These very playful statues were a warm welcome, as were the soccer player scarecrows that stood in the field and represented all the competing nations.

This farm was very family friendly and there were ample kids with milkshakes roaming the property. When I say kids, I mean of all ages! It was hard not to skip and act a little silly.

We bought some Biltong from the country market before proceeding to the strawberry field. We got our boxes and one to an isle of berries, walked from one end of the field to the other collecting berries. We started off very excited picking lots of berries, but by the end were very careful to pick only the best. Long stem, no stem-big and small. It was quite fun...and delicious as we ate a few along the way!

Then we went to visit Spier, a wine estate that has many other attractions including a Cheetah Restoration Project. So we took a tour of the Cheetahs...and other cats. The meerkats were my favorite. Fun fact of the day, meerkats live in mobs.

Afterward we had a little picnic where I learned the importance of reading labels. Sparkling water is popular here and I opened my water with quite the explosion. Apparently it is good for thirst as well as cooling down!

Afterward, we enjoyed a five-round wine tasting. The private collection Pinotage was delightful and we toasted to this adult Halloween version of trick-or-treating.

Overall it was great to enjoy the weather and good company. Only one weekend left. Kloofing and Climbing are on the agends...oh and packing!

Relaxing but Fun Weekend

There is not much to say about the weekend. It was a pretty typical late semester weekend with Saturday activities and Sunday productivity.

Saturday morning we had kids from the Christine Revell Home over for a Halloween Party that included a Mac'n'cheese lunch, mask making, pin the tail on the black cat playing, as well as a candy hunt. Oh, lets not forget the witch, witch, monster duck duck goose game that we played. The kids were absolutely adorable and so nice to have over!

Saturday night, my advisor here took me out for an amazing 6-course dinner that expanded the palate a bit. My first and most likely last experience with beef tartar. I also had some delicious spicy apple with salmon soup. And some warmed roasted cheese with fig and caramelized walnuts for dessert. OF course there was much more in between, but with good food and great company--7 SIFE students joined us--it was a nice night out!

Sunday was a project day for which I accomplished two and started a third. Not to mention baked peanut butter cookies as a thank you to all those I have worked with this semester. The day ended with a variation on family dinner and the concoction of a new lentil salad recipe! All in all a great weekend!

End of Semester

Well today is the final day of classes at UWC and this means for me too. Today is my last official day at UWC, although I will still be on campus sporadically over the next couple of weeks wrapping up projects that I have started. As I took down photos in my office this morning, I thought this occasion warranted a little reflection.

I have several large remaining projects including final reports for the International Relations Office on International Students' Expectations and Satisfaction and for the Center for Student Support Services on my overall internship experience. I also have to complete diary (student calendar) edits and photos for the upcoming publication.

The other two remaining projects include data analysis. I will be helping to code data to help analyze the latest SRC election as well as doing a micro-literature review on voting trends for SRC elections in South Africa. Finally, I am assisting the Office of Student Development (similar to Career Services) with their planning for next year which includes looking at survey data to assess strengths and areas for growth.

That sounds like a lot hey?

Eh, it is not too bad and I am looking forward to hibernating over the next couple of weeks at my favorite cafe in my neighborhood, Observatory, Obs. for short. For as much as I like the beginning of a new school year and the buying of school supplies, I equally like the end of the semester...especially the fall semester.

Both have different energies, but the end of the fall semester is always full of such excitement for the holidays. I love sipping warm tea, listening to Christmas music and typing away, digging into material and knocking out projects. Admittedly, it is a bit off this year without the chill in the air and frost on the ground, but I am confident that the next two weeks will be filled with anticipatory energy and the thrill of finishing major projects. There is the additional bonus of flying home which I am also looking forward to.

I do not think that I will ever cease to enjoy the college environment. I have discovered, and readily admit to being a bit of an adrenaline junky. I love the waves of stress that challenge one and push them to new heights. I love the lack of routine that allows one to most effectively utilize one's own natural rhythms of energy and to take advantage of a variety of opportunities. And most of all, I love learning.

I will try anything once and that includes learning about a topic that I never had interest in before one conversation or another and riding that wave until it reaches shore...only to swim back out to find the next big wave.

This semester has been most rewarding and full of projects and endeavors that I could have only imagined 4 short months ago. I look forward to working hard over the next couple of weeks and packing in between breaks! Not to mention still sneaking in one or two Cape Town adventures--including surfing, strawberry picking, and abseiling!

The Best is Yet to Come

Well, I am sitting here tapping my toes to Mr. Sinatra as I write today. I am happy to report some good news. I will be home in 3 short weeks! That is right, 22 days and I will depart for the good ole US of A.

Yes, I know this is unexpected. I was supposed to come home in December after a visit from Chris. But please do not worry, he will be visiting me next semester...sometime around March I suspect.

As you have probably deduced, I will be coming back to South Africa for another 6 months starting in early January. And now you are probably asking why...

Well, I have been offered and accepted a position as Student Advisor for Stanford University. Like Marquette, they run a Service Learning Program in Cape Town for undergraduate students. I will oversee the residence as well as coordinate cultural trips and outings. I look forward to this opportunity to put my M.Ed. to work---yes it is a paid position! I am also looking forward to returning for the South African summer and missing the snowy, cold days of a Wisconsin winter; but that is just a bonus.

While this is a win-win situation, it is not a win-win-win situation as Michael Gary Scott would like for it to be. (It is an Office reference for those of you not obsessed...) The third win is missing, because while this will be a fun and worthwhile opportunity, it is lacking the friends and family that I miss while I am away. I will take this opportunity thank everyone for staying in touch and tuning into this blog to know what I have been up to. I will also promise to stay in touch as much as possible while I am away next year.

For those of you wondering and asking, "What about the wedding?", rest assured that it is not too far off into the future, although we are refraining from setting a solid date for the time being. Chris and I continue to support each other from afar--thank you SKYPE--and are dreaming up great ideas for the big day in the meantime.

Normally, I would not be so excited to return from a trip abroad earlier than expected, but this time it is balanced by getting to come back and I cannot wait to celebrate all the holiday traditions between Thansgiving and Christmas. Not to mention meeting my new niece, Simone, and celebrating Tye's birthday. I am especially looking forward to cooking and baking with family and friends...I am craving some pumpkin delicacies that is for sure. Here in South Africa it is primarily served as a vegetable and that is simply not as fun, although still good.

In any case, I will be home soon and cannot wait to see everyone!!!