So this is my first post on my new blog. This whole blog thing is a tad confusing to me but I am sure that I will figure it out. I am not a stickler for grammar or punctuation, so I apologize for that but it is more effective for me to just write thoughts, even though they may not be complete sentences. The whole point of this blog is to update everyone on my journey to South Africa. Before, during and after. This is for friends, family members, acquaintances or anyone who is wondering where I am in my journey, what I am learning, etc. It is a way to connect with everyone and share what I am going through, considering I will be miles away without a phone and with very little time to spare.
A little background on the Journey:
*The trip is from May 21st to June 13th
* Aaron is our group "leader" (sort of, we are all kind of leaders but Aaron is our professor and is very knowledgable concerning SA and leadership)
*We are partnered with Arcadia University and will be staying in "lodges" on campus for the first week
*The second week we will be living with families in the township Gugulethu. There is where we will be delivering food parcels to families who are victims of HIV/AIDS and learning about the township and its people
*Week three we will be back to Arcadia University to continue to study leadership through a global lens
So far, I have been a bit overwhelmed. I have much to do before we depart including but not limited to: vaccines, raise money for food parcels (more info to come), buy a raincoat, learn how to pack light (...), make or purchase a gift for my host family and have a clear, open mind. My current task is getting vaccines, which is proving to be a difficult process. I am thankful to be under my parents insurance but the fact that the insurance is valid within a 60 mile radius of my hometown, Oshkosh Wisconsin, is creating some obstacles. My 5 hour journey for these vaccines will prevail and I will be immune, don't you worry immune system, fake antigens are coming your way.
The bond that has started to create itself within the 15 of us that are all going to South Africa is profound. I feel very close to everyone in the group and I look forward to spending 3 life-changing weeks with this group of people.
Shout out to them all (in no particular order, well sort of in order of the "name game" we all participated in at our last meeting):
Suzie
Riise
Lindsay
Catherine
Elisa
Alexis
Kelsey
Simone
Kendall
Brain
Aaron
Megan
Brittany
Nekey
Shane
I recently received the roommate assignment for the lodges we will be staying in at the Arcadia University in Cape Town. Kelsey and Lindsay appear to be the lucky ones rooming with me. I hope we can come up with a cool call, like in Anchorman: News Team Assembleeeee.
Although I have roommates in the lodges Aaron has informed me that I will most likely be the person who is all alone during the home stay (everyone else stays in pairs). Knowing the Leadership minor, Aaron and myself, I am assuming this was not random and was a challenge for me to grow. It will be uncomfortable for me considering I tend to be an introvert in new situations, but I think it will be a good thing.
Post may be infrequent during these upcoming month, but once I arrive in Cape Town I hope to update each day, depending on the internet service available to us. I hope you all can follow me on this journey to get a glimpse of what my life will be like in South Africa.
Chelsey
