Feb 2006

Hey All!

So we left South Africa on the 20th and we are on our way to Mauritius, which I have mix feelings about. Mauritius is pretty much a really touristy place. I’m really ready to get to the Asian countries, which I’m really excited about. In Mauritius I was scheduled to do this Children’s thing the 2nd day and this Adventure thing the 3rd day, but they moved the Adventure thing to the 3rd day so I’m not really sure what exactly I am going to do. Both sound like a lot of fun so it’s a hard choice to make.

South Africa was AMAZING. I pretty much have to go back someday. It was beautiful with so much to do. Plus I would love to go on another safari because it was so unreal.

We got into Cape Town on the 14th. Usually when we get into port, a pilot comes on the ship to get us into the port safely. They usually come on at about 7 am and we get off the ship around 10 or so. BUT, the fog in Cape Town was unreal. The pilot couldn’t come on until about 11 or so and we just were hanging out in the middle of the bay waiting. The rocking was horrible! We were clear to get off the ship (from immigration and everything) at about 2pm. I was supposed to go to Robben Island at 12, so I was unable to go, which sucked. Robben Island is an island where fighters against Apartheid were put in jail during that time. Nelson Mandela and Dennis Brutus (who was our interport lecturer. He fought against equality of races in sports.) both spent time there. I actually never had time the rest of the time to make it there. Instead, Dani, Courtney and myself walked around the whole city and saw where things are.

That night was Dani’s birthday so we went out for dinner with a large group then went to Long Street, which is where all their bars are. One of the professor’s on the ship is from South Africa. So Dani talked to him and he gave Dani his daughter’s email (who is around our age). Dani emailed her and she gave us the name and phone numbers of some of her really good friends. So that night, we went out with some of the professor’s daughter’s friends and had a blast. It was great to have locals show us around the city and take us to different places.

The next day I went on a township tour. Townships are unreal. It’s no where close to any type of living in the United States. Everyone, even the poverty stricken people, should feel lucky to live in a place in the US. The townships have so many people living in them with horrible living situations. In some houses, there is only one family. In others (most) there are 10 families living in a tiny space. On our tour we were allowed to check out a couple different houses, but I did not feel right doing that. I would hate it if people were constantly coming into our house and taking pictures of our living conditions. It didn’t feel right at all. The kids were everywhere. They all came to us and played with us. To them, the foreigners coming in are their entertainment. The sidewalks and where grass should be is sand, with tons and tons of garbage and broken glass. The kids run around without any shoes on in the garbage and glass. It’s really bad. My description of the townships is not even giving a close idea of what it is really like living there. It’s probably the saddest thing I have ever seen.

The rest of the day I went out for dinner and then tried to go to sleep because I had to wake up at 3:30 for my safari. The safari rocked my world! Seriously amazing! I was not expecting what I experienced. I went to a place called Kariega Game Reserve. We drove up to the reception area and got our keys and room assignments. Then they took us in these 4 x 4 jeeps. We rode in these jeeps the whole time we were there. They took us to the Restaurant and Bar area, which was an open wall like building which was made out of wood and very safari like looking. The food there was delicious. Every meal was amazing and I seriously gained so much weight eating there. We went on about 4 game drives the total time we were there. We saw Giraffes, Hippos, Rhinos, Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Zebras, and many other types of wildlife. We went on a hike and I was about 5-6 feet away from a huge giraffe. The whole entire time it rained, but it was like a mist type rain. We got soaked every time but it could have been so much worse. One day Elephants came an arms length away from our jeep. Also, when we went to go see the Buffalos, we got stuck and so the buffalos thought we were trying to play with them when we were getting out, so that was entertaining “playing” with them. I laughed my ass off! The only thing that sucked about my safari was it was small and controlled. They had 3 different fenced area. One was where the lions and elephants were, another was where the buffalos were, and the last was where all the other animals were and where our chalets were. I would much rather go back and go to a different safari where they weren’t fenced in and nature takes its place.

Our chalets were amazing! There were 3 rooms, 1 queen bed and 2 rooms with 2 twin beds. There were only 4 of us here but it could have fit 6+. Our chalet had a kitchen and a living room. The whole thing was similar to a log cabin. Everything was very safari like and it felt very wilderness like. We had a deck with a small pool (not everyone had a pool) that overlooks part of the game drive area. We couldn’t see any animals from our deck but the view was amazing.

The night I got back to Cape Town from the Safari I went out with some friends from SAS and some South African boys they had met while I was gone. We had a blast. It was great to talk to them and find out the similarities and differences between the two cultures. They were around our age so it was cool to really relate to someone our age too. They took us out to places in Cape Town where absolutely no other SAS kids were. It was AMAZING to be the only Americans around. They took us to this club like place, called Tin Roof, that was pretty cool. They didn’t play music like the clubs back home, but they played music like the theme from friends, I would walk 500 miles, and the Time Warp Song from Rocky Horror Picture Show. When the Time Warp song came on, all the guys we were with (there was about 10 of them) broke out into the dance to the Time Warp dance. It was absolutely hilarious. Something you would never have seen in the United States because people are so uptight. While we were there the power went out. Apparently they have been having some power outages lately that last a couple of minutes. The power went out for about 45 minutes. We left Tin Roof and headed back to Long Street, but the power was out in the WHOLE city. It was so cool to see how the whole city was out of power and everything was dark. As we were heading back to Long Street, the power came back on, but not all at once. It was amazing and words do not express how it looked. The guys from South Africa had not even seen anything like that before.

The next day I went to the flea market and bought some pretty cool things and then walked around the rest of the city. I was pretty sick and not feeling good but went out for a little bit with them and some other people. I spend SO much time with Courtney and Dani. The three are always together. They’re great! Dani is from Vermont and goes to school at West Virginia. Courtney is from Massachusetts and goes to University of Vermont. They’re both really cool people and I really like hanging out with them. Actually, Dani is who I roomed with at the Atlantis. SAS hooked us up together to room together, and apparently it was a really good match because since then we’ve been hanging out.

The last day I was supposed to go River Rafting, but I woke up with a really bad stomach ache and feeling like crap, so I wasn’t able to go. Since then I haven’t been feeling to great. I have a horrible stomach ache and a sore throat. It comes and goes though, but I still wish I felt better. I went to the doctor to get a note to excuse me from the trip so hopefully I can get my money back. I weighed myself while I was there. After South Africa, which I ate a ton of food, I have lost about 10 pounds. I’m now actually feeling much better which is great. It’s really hot and sunny out and I laid out for about 2 hours or so (and got lots of sun).

I was able to download some pictures onto my friend’s computer and so I am going to try to post some pictures on here. Not sure if I’ll be able to though.

I love you all and miss you tons!! Sorry I haven’t been emailing single people lately. I’ve actually been extremely busy. I will try to email you back in the near future (especially you Jamie, I know I have sucked the last few days).

Love Always,

Katie

Hello Everyone!

I'm in beautiful South Africa and loving it! I'm sitting in an internet cafe in the mall near our ship, and it's kinda expensive (not as bad as the one on the ship) so I thought I would update a little bit. I'm having the time of my life! Everything that I have seen or done here is amazing and I definitely want to come back!

Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that I am alive and doing well. I will update more when I'm able to (probably in the next couple of days or so). I miss all of you so much! And I can't wait to see everyone when I get home!

Love Always,

Katie

Hey everyone! So today I got an email from my Aunt Lynne saying that I NEED to catch up so all you at home can live through my traveling. And it’s been over a week, so I guess I should catch up on what’s going on.

Well we were in Brazil from the 1st to the 5th of February. I had tons of fun, especially in Rio. I went on a Rio like a Native trip through Semester at Sea from the 2nd to the 4th and it was amazing! One the 2nd we had to wake up at 3 am to catch our flight, and I did not feel good at all that morning. I actually threw up on the bus ride to the airport. When we finally got to Rio then we went on a bus tour of the downtown district and went to their Cathedral. This Cathedral was insane looking. Did not look anything like a Cathedral I had ever seen. It was shaped as a cone with 4 huge stain glass designs going down from top to bottom. It’s hard to explain but when I get home I can show you pictures of it. It was pretty weird.

Then we went to lunch at this amazing place, which was a gaucho-styled churrascarias. It was a buffet type meal which tons of fish, seafood and fruit. There were SO many choices to choose from. Then the waiters walked around with different meat on a stick and they would cut off a piece for you if you would like. They had different kinds of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and even frog legs. I still had a really upset stomach, so all I had was a small piece of Salmon. I was actually really upset because I would have totally tried everything but my stomach would not agree with any food.

After lunch I took a nap and then it was off to a dance workshop at Casa de Danca Jaime Aroxa. We learned the samba as well as other dances. Kristen, you would have LOVED it! I was okay at it, actually was pretty crappy, but I’m sure if I would have taken more lessons I would have gotten it down. In Brazil their culture is to grow up listening to this music and dancing so these men and women were so good at what they do. They did a dance for us after the lesson and it was just amazing to watch how good they were and how easily they flowed from one move to another.

That night we went to a Samba bar called Rio Scenarium. It was amazing. It was three stories that had music blaring on all three levels. Also, the walls and floors were full of different antiques, which were very cool to look at. The music was live all night long so it was really cool to hear and dance to the music. We also ordered an appetizer that night, which was a native food. It was similar to a hot pocket, but was fried. In the middle was some cheese and tomatoes. It was very good.

The next day we toured all over Rio (and I got a little burnt ). We went to the sugar loaf, which is this mountain that you take cable cars to get up to the top and it overlooks the whole city. It was amazing because you could see everything. Watching a sun set or rise there would have been beautiful. Then we went to the Santa Teresa District for lunch. We had another native like food, but I thought it was disgusting! Some fish with rice and then this thing that looked like applesauce, but was definitely not applesauce. Then we got in 4 x 4 jeeps and drove around the District and then up to the Corcovado Mountain to the Christ the Redeemer statue. From the city, the statue looks extremely small, but once you get up to the top, it’s HUGE. This mountain is taller then pretty much all the other mountains and so you really look over everything in the city. It was beautiful. The jeeps took us right to the statue, and then we climbed the 216 steps (instead of taking the elevator) up to the statue. By the time we got up there we were sweating extremely bad. I don’t think I have ever sweat so much, even with all the sports I’ve played growing up, as I did in Rio. Pretty much I’m counting down the days until it’s laundry day because I’m running low on clothes. On the way down the mountain we went through the rainforest and saw some monkeys! They were so cool! They were playing in the trees outside of this beautiful closed hotel. The hotel was amazing, but totally empty and rundown. There are SO many buildings in Rio that are empty and closed. If someone would buy it and refurbish them it would be amazing, especially this hotel.

When we got out of the rainforest we ended up at the beach and parked. When we got out this guy approached us about going hang gliding. There were 25 total people in our group and about 17-20 of them went. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I knew that I did want to go, but then again I was having doubts. So this guy in the group told me to live my life to the fullest and go. Pretty much after talking to him I went. The car ride up to the mountain I was SO nervous! I was seriously shaking and could barely talk. Everyone else was laughing and having fun. When you get up to the top I looked down and I couldn’t believe I was just going to run off a mountain and into the sky. The guy who I flew with (who had been doing it for the last 10 years) made me comfortable and all of a sudden it was my turn. I just went for it and ran down. It was seriously amazing! One of the best things I have ever done in my life and I am so happy I did it. While flying around you could see the mountains, ocean, rainforest, city, favellas, and where the rich people live. You felt like a bird just flying around. When I got down I gave the guy who talked me into it a huge hug because I was so thankful that he talked me into it. I got a DVD of take off, landing, and about 8 pictures from the flight so when I get home you can all check it out.

That night we walked through the night market & had dinner at this outside restaurant. When we looked around, there were tons and tons of prostitutes where we were. It was definitely way different then what I was used to, and what anyone in my group was used to. Oh well, it’s definitely a story.

The next day we woke up and had this drum workshop. We learned how to play some of their drums and beats to a Brazilian song. It was so cool. They had huge drums, snare drums, a cow bell like bell, shakers and other instruments. I had a blast because as you all know, I love rhythms and I am actually pretty good at it.

Then that afternoon we had free time. So a group of us decided that we wanted to go to Ipanema beach, which was supposedly next to Copacobana (which was the beach where our hotel was). So we walked. And it probably was 2 miles away. It was SO FREAKING HOT OUT and I sweated like no other. But it was still fun to walk along the beach and see everything. Afterwards we went back to Salvador.

The next day we got to go to a soccer game in Salvador, which was so much fun. Brazilian people are crazy when it comes to their soccer. They had drums everywhere and everyone was decked out in their team’s colors. They also had firecrackers and other firework type things going off. The game ended up being 1-1 so it was a pretty good game.

Now were back on the sea headed towards South Africa. We get there on the 14th, and we left Brazil on the night of the 6th, so we’re on the ocean for a while. Things on the boat are good. I’ve found a great group of friends that has been shocking that we’ve gotten so close considering how long I’ve known them. Most of them are from the east coast so I may have to take a little trip over there sometime. There is one girl that lives in Southern Oregon so that’s pretty cool. Also, I’ve lost some weight! I’m not really sure how much, but all of my pants are falling off of me so I’m sure it’s a good amount. The food here is very repetitive and not that great, so I don’t eat all that much. I am trying to force food down me though because I know it’s bad that I’m not eating that much.

I’m way excited to go to South Africa. I’m going to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was kept in jail forever. Actually, for every port we have an interport lecturer who comes on the ship. Our one for this time is a poet who lived in South Africa during Apartheid. He actually fought against it and ended up being thrown in jail with Nelson Mandela. I went to a poetry reading of his last night and he told us some of his stories which are amazing to hear. I’m going on a 3 day safari which I can’t be more stoked about. I’m also going to a Township and a Township Music. And going white water rafting. So I’m going to be amazingly busy, but should be a blast!

Anyways, I love getting emails from you all. (Jamie- you’re cracked me up today!!) And for those of you who I haven’t heard from, I would love you know what’s going on in Oregon. Keeps me connected to what’s going on at home because this trip has truly felt like a dream. It’s amazing. I feel as if I am going to wake up any moment and be back in Oregon going to Concordia. It’s really an experience that has been the best probably in my life!!

I love and miss you all!!

Katie

Oh on a sad note, I’m really sad the Seahawks lost and I wasn’t able to watch the game. But they did let us know the results. Everyone here is a Steelers fan so of course I was going for the Seahawks!

So today we officially docked in Salvador, Brazil!! So exciting to get off the ship and explore because the last 6 days on sea have been long. The good news about the ship from the last 6 days is that I WASN’T SEASICK AT ALL!! Of course to start out I had an ear patch, wrist pressure points, Dramamine and then ginger pills. So I pretty much was on a lot just to make sure I didn’t get sick. The seas weren’t nearly as bad. From Bahamas to Puerto Rico we had like 9-12 feet swells (I think). From Puerto Rico to Brazil we had like 5 feet. So a ton smoother! Since I wasn’t seasick I actually got to know some people. Imagine that, I’m making friends. 

Classes are going okay. I love my Intro to World Music. I can tell that it’s going to be a fun class. My Religion and the Sacred Arts class is going pretty good too. I have the same professor for those two classes and I actually like it that way. My last class is much harder. It’s Travel & Magazine writing. So far we’ve had 2 papers due, tons of reading, and journal entries every single day so far. It makes for a lot of work. We have A days and B days and B days are by far my favorite. Only cause I have 2 classes and then its up to lay out in the sun!!  Hopefully I’ll be tan by the end. But don’t worry, I am using sunscreen every time I’m in the sun.

Two days ago, the 30th of January, was when we crossed the equator. So the reason I haven’t gotten online is because we lost internet reception or it was horribly slow for the previous couple of days. The day that we crossed the equator was called Neptune Day and they put on this big thing for us. Class was cancelled and it was SO much fun. First, the had the two deans of the trip dressed up as Neptune & his wife. We had to do this ritual (well if we wanted to) to insure safe waters and a safe journey. The ritual included getting a pitcher full of fish guts poured on you, then jumping into the pool. Once you climbed out then you had to take an oath and then kiss a fish on the mouth & kiss Neptune’s ring. Then, if you were really intense, you could get your head shaved as part of the ritual. I did all but the head shaving part. It was actually really disgusting and not really sure if I’d ever do it again, but I’m glad I did it because it’s something I will always remember. Two of my good friends (girls) actually shaved their heads, which they are completely brave, unlike myself.

Now we are docked in Brazil. I already walked around Salvador a little bit, but I have a trip to the Afro-Brazilian museum & Candomble (a type of religion) in about 10 minutes, so I thought I would update this since I have some time to waste. In Brazil I walked through the markets. They are insane as far as people coming up to you. I would say similar to Mexico but I think its much worse. I bought these beautiful small paintings. They are GORGEOUS!! And they were very cheap, like 5 bucks total or something. They have so much beautiful jewelry as well and I bought this beautiful bracelet that is handmade with beads and metal. Kristen & Lauren you would LOVE majority of the jewelry here!

Anyways, I must go on my trip now, and tomorrow I leave for Rio!!  Going to be SO much fun. So I will probably write after Brazil!

I love you all and miss you so much!

Love Always,

Katie