Heading to Safari!

Hey Everyone. I'm sorry that it has been so long since I last posted. We didn't have easy internet access in Bredasdorp. We spent the week playing with the local children in the library and trying to teach them about living a healthy life. Unfortunately, I feel like we were just getting a chance to connect by the time we had to leave yesterday. It was a lot of fun though and certainly reminded me of my trip to Canada a few years back. The environment is similar as are the problems that the community faces (drug abuse-especially meth, alcoholism, and teen pregnancy). Its been ridiculously cold here lately! I can't wait to be warm again at home. In less than a week, I will be back stateside and I can't believe that the time has flown by so quickly. It has been an absolute blast!!! I have so many pictures, experiences, and memories. This trip has truly made me appreciate all that I have and how hard it is to make a change in a community. There are so many misconceptions about this wonderful country and its people. Realistically, we all share so many similarities regardless of nation, color, economic standing etc. The people here are searching for the same opportunities that we strive for back home, unfortunately, they were not dealt the same hand we were.
On a lighter note, the group has also grown much closer and learned to function as a better team. For 11 people who hardly knew each other when we left, there are few boundaries between us now and few subjects we won't discuss. I've also come to realize how miserable it can be to be sick not only without your mother and father to take care of you, but in a foreign country at a hotel of sorts without your normal surroundings and comfort foods. Thank goodness for wonderful friends and travel compainions!
In other news, I went shark diving and have some wonderful pictures of GREAT WHITE SHARKS!!! up close and personal! Tomorrow we leave at the ridiculous hour of 4am for the airport to fly to JoBerg on our way to Safari!!! I'll be home before I know it with a host of other stories and pictures as well. I hope to post them here so stay tuned for all the adventures I haven't had time to write about and pictures as well!! :) I love you all and can't wait to see you when I get back!

New Location: Bredasdorp

Hey Everyone. Sorry it has taken me awhile to write again. The last few days in Capetown were pretty busy. The weekend flew by with touring and our free day on Sunday. 5 of us went SHARK DIVING!!! It was amazing! I have some great pictures and stories to tell as well. The ride out there was entertaining as we were fighting 10 ft swells in the boat. Kinda like a roller coaster in the water.... Unfortunately, I ended up catching whatever bug we have been passing around on Sunday night and was out through our departure Tuesday. I'm officially better today! Tuesday we left Stellenbosch and drove about 5 hours to Bredasdorp, which is near the coast. We'll be working here for the rest of the week and into the next playing with the local children and hopefully teaching the older ones about living a healthy life, how the body works, positive relationships etc. Its been really cold here lately and I'm definitely longing for some Colorado sunshine, but every day brings new surprises and adventures! I love you all!