Seeing the Falls

This morning Hillary, Madeleine, Jen and I went to the falls! We went to Livingstone Island in the Zambezi River right above the falls. The view is better from the Zimbabwe side because then you are looking across at the falls. We were looking from the side and from right above. First we went to a point to the left side of the falls and got a nice side view. Then we went swimming in a natural pool right above the falls. At one point the guide held our legs and we lay on the rocks in the water right on the edge of the falls and looked over the edge, 110 meters down to the crashing spray on the rocks below. We could see all the way to the bottom. It was amazing! They wouldn't take pictures of that part though for some reason. This time of year the falls are tiny, about a quarter of the normal width, but it's better for swimming to the edge. There was tons of spray and a couple rainbows. Basically amazing! Then we had a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict, muffins, and scones at a nice table under an open tent on the island. A great morning!
Then we walked to Zambezi Sun, the fancy hotel whose pool we get to use. It's free, but we're supposed to buy food or drinks to help out. Not that they need it though, the rooms are $500/night! It's a really nice pool with cold water which was a nice relief from the heat!
Now we're at the internet because it's so slow that we don't get to catch-up on much when we're here. Slow and expensive. Last time it took 10 minutes just to sign in to my email!

There are 36 people here total, complete capacity. 3 houses all in one compound so we're all right together. The pool isnt at the house, it's at a 5-star hotel, Zambezi Sun, but we're allowed to use it for free because they like volunteers. That makes it pretty much only for weekends though. The houses are nice, all except for the beds where the mattresses have holes in the middle so we are sleeping in valleys every night. My back and neck are sore every morning! There aren't overhead fans either, which I'm used to from Asia, but it isn't as hot here as India, so while we are dying of heat, it isn't more extreme than what I've had before. AND we get our laundry done for us! Which is AMAZING!
So the group... there are about 15 people who have been here for 5 weeks already so they all know eachother really well and, understandably, were a little exclusive at first, but it's getting better. The people who just arrived with me pretty much all speak either German or Dutch so they have their own little language thing going on as well because obviously it's nice sometimes to speak your native language. There's one girl from Australia and then a couple from England and Wales. Everyone's pretty nice so I think it will be a good group! I kind of wish the group was smaller though, 36 people is a lot to get to know! Everyone who has been here for a while is my age, pretty much all 18 on gap years. The new people are more varied, more older people (late 20's, etc) but also some younger ones.

Africa is a lot more expensive than Asia! I've been spoiled! Internet is $2.50/hour instead of $1 or less. Food is more expensive too. Still less than at home, but not by much. More along the lines of Singapore. Luckily most of my food is included both here and on my safari. Taxis are more expensive too, as are souvenirs. And of course activities. Way more expensive! But I'm here so I have to do them anyway!
As for the whole getting out of India = cleaner... not so much. Africa has red sand everywhere! So as soon as we step outside we're just as covered in sand and dust as in India. Livingstone is a small city though, a lot less chaotic, so it's still a relief from India! My feet will just not be completely clean until December 23... :) Livingstone is small, about a 10 minute walk to get through it in either direction. There's one main street and then a couple other ones going off to the side. I was expecting a bigger city, so it was a very pleasant surprise to get here and see that I was mistaken!
The sunsets here are gorgeous! Every night! The sun sets really early, usually by 6, so we get nice sunsets while we eat dinner. Must be a desert thing...

Tonight probably some dancing/bars/etc. and then tomorrow probably more relaxing at the pool. Then back to work on Monday!

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