From Youth to Women to Heritage

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...what a journey it has been...

Wow....I am REALLY BAD at this whole blogging thing eh?? At this rate, I'll be home for two months before I update you all again. But well what can I say. This has been an experiance that cannot compare to anything else that I have ever done.

I will give you a quick update as to what I have been up too since JUNE!

After Youth Day finished...and I DIDN'T die.... we were given a much needed break. I was on vacation for most of July.

And I certainaly didn't stand still for one second!

My friend Jason and I took off in the direction of Cape town with only our brains and our car to guide us to our next stop (we forgot to bring a map!) Our main goal on this trip was to reach the worlds largest commercial bungee site and once found throw ourselves off of a bridge!

It was an incredible experiance. I had been there on my last trip through South Africa with my Dad, but had chickened out. This year I HAD to do it, or live with the regret for another 7 years! I was chosen to be first outof the entire group, and without hesitation threw myself spread eagle off of a bridge.....it was as close to flying as possible. You can't feel the straps on your ankles until the cord catches you, so it well and truely feels as though you have nothing between you and the ground except air. Once you are caught by the bungee you have a few seconds to hang bat-like in mid-air and just appreciate the silence. It is incredible.

So after surviving that experiance Jason and I hit Cape Town, where we met up with two of the other volunteers. We spent some time there and myself and my friend Mohammed went over to Robbin Island. We actually got really lucky as it is booked months in advance, we happened to get two cancelled seats!

Even though I had been there before the trip this time was more impactful. I got so emotional at one point that I had to walk away from the group and gather myself. Our guide was a remarkable former prisoner who told us not only of the atrocities that he and others experianced, but of the forgiveness that Nelson Mandela was able to spread throughout the country. If you want to ask me more about this experiance than feel free. It was one of the most significant of my life and took me several weeks to get over.

After Cape Town I decided to leave South Africa and head for Namibia, Zambia and Botswana.

Along the way I jumped out of an airplane, had my camera stolen on an overnight bus, and white water rafted the great Zambezi.

On my return to South Africa I met up with my friend Merushka in Jo'burg. I spent some time in SOWETO and was able to get over my aversion to the Golden City.

After all of that I was excited to get back to my community and to see my partner Ongezwa, who has become like a sister to me.

When I got back to work that in my absence I had been selected to organize a huge event for womens day.....and I only had 2 weeks to do it in!!! I wasn't alone in my task and somehow we pulled together an event for 18 communities!!! It was a HUGE challenge but somehow we pulled it off!

Ongezwa and I decided to torture ourselves by having not only the Womens day celebration in August, but to host two of our own events in our community. A Beauty Pagent and a Talent Show. The idea was to teach some of the kids that we are working with how to host a fundraising event. It was EXTREMELY successful, and even though it took alot out of us the kids were able to raise quite alot of money (which they want to use to hire a taxi to take me to the airport in Dec.)

Which brings me to September...or as Ongezwa calls it Jaime's month. Apparently you get a WHOLE month for your birthday here...which is MUCH better than the birthday WEEK I give out to people at home!
I spent my birthday at home with my mama and Ongezwa. My day started with Ongezwa jumping on me and rubbing cream all over my face (its HER month Next month so I will get my revenge!) I was then suprized by my three favorite little boys (I know I am not supposed to have favorites but sue me) Spinich, onion, and Butle. Those are their names...on my honour!!! They sang me Happy Birthday (well it sounded a little bit more like Hoppy Barf day....but I got the picture.)

We ended the day with a big BBQ and Mama and Ongezwa suprised me by hiring a cameraman to record the event (being that my camera was stolen)....which was a good thing because I walked around in awe the whole day, I just couldn't believe what these people were doing just for ME! It was a truely humbling experiance.

But...we can't party for too long since Heritage day and our event was just around the corner! We were able to host ANOTHER successful event (despite freezing cold rain) and helped the kids relaize that their Heritage is something to be proud of. I handed out Canada pins and loved seeing them as an addition to all the traditional clothing around me.

I can't believe that this year is almost over, but the sad reality is that it is coming to a close. I can't wait to see you all and talk to you in person....which I am MUCH better at doing than updating a blog....I promise!!

Jaime

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