Milnerton Flea Market

The largest flea market in Cape Town, Milnerton Flea Market, is about a 10 minute walk from the Lagoon Beach apartments. Knowing my father and his love for flea markets, I added it to our Sunday morning itinerary. The brick-brack was plentiful (lotsa crap) and so was the sunshine. We wondered up and down the aisles of treasure while mostly enjoying the colorful characters. Our sole purchase was a bowl of curry (30Rand) and a few samosas (5 Rand). Delicious.

Yoga, Global LEAD style!

Since arriving in Cape Town, my days have been filled with grading papers, attending sessions on leadership and motivational talks, presenting sessions on service learning core tenets and the history of apartheid, and YOGA! Yes, once again the rolled-up purple yoga mat traveled across the world to be unrolled on foreign land for some good vibe yoga action. I have managed to recruit a few other yogis to partake in the goodness of stretching the body, mind, and soul. There are even a few students who have joined in the Global LEAD yoga revolution. The best part: location, location, location! There is something special about doing yoga on the beach with the sounds of waves filling the air.

South Africa: What a Great Place to Celebrate a Birthday! AYOBA!

"Ayoba" is a South African expression for pure joy and celebration. For my birthday on May 26, Ayoba was the theme as we found ourselves sipping margaritas at a Cuban restaurant. You may be asking...Cuba and tequila...isn't tequila a Mexican thing? Yes, we had originally planned to celebrate at a Mexican restaurant, Pancho's, that came highly recommended. Apparently it is so delicious that is was fully booked for dinner and considering there are only 4 Mexican restaurants in the Cape Town you can understand why you have to book a week in advance. We had talked about sipping margaritas for days, so we decided to go somewhere where the margaritas were served and found the Buena Vista Social Club. A group of 12 of us piled into a taxi and off we went for a night of "Ayoba"!

World Cup Craze!

South Africa is host to the 2010 World Cup and you can feel the hype in the air! June 11 is the official start date. Everyday, the countdown appears in a full page ad in the local Cape Town newspaper, "17 Days to GO!" Every Friday is considered "Football Friday" wherein schools, businesses, government offices, and the common folk have declared it the day to don football jerseys. A sea of green jerseys are most prevalent, as the Bafana Bafanas are the local favorite. World Cup novelty items, hats, jerseys, and those loud (and contentious) horns, lovingly known as the vuvuselas, are not only ubiquitous, but also ridiculously priced. Television commercials with catchy music dance along the screen, declaring "Ayoba!", which is an exuberant expression of delight and celebration. Oh, and the construction in Cape Town...! A new international airport and stadium seating 68,000 fans (see photo above) are ready to go! However, the sluggish construction of new roads and transportation into the city center have locals worried that the World Cup could mean just one big traffic stand-still. Until then, I will devour the good vibes!

"Wow, Beautiful!" Table Mountain Sunrise Hike

We woke up at 6 a.m. with the intention of a sunrise hike. However, with a group of 100+ people we did not start hiking the Platteklip Gorge trail until the sun was fully shining in the sky at 8 a.m. I had the awesome job of being the last one up...which allowed me to act as a nurse with the task of sending the invalids back to the bus, a cheerleader, a photographer, and a true nature lover who appreciates and enjoys the beauty of the Cape under the majestic blue sky. Half way up the trail we had a solid group of six of us...we named our crew "Team awesome"as we slowly hiked up 2,100 feet in the beautiful sunny weather. As we arrived at the top...the clouds greeted us and so did Courtney, the Global Lead coordinator extraordinaire. Finally at the top of the Table Mountain, the students were instructed to write a "bucket list" of things they want to accomplish during their life, while I found gazing over the lovely Cape in a few yoga poses.

Limited Internet is Killing me Softly!

The technological infrastructure in South Africa is not what it is in the U.S. I guess it has made me realize:

1.) How reliant I am and addicted to internet at my fingertips NOW, NOW, NOW!
2.) How fortunate (or unfortunate) we are in the U.S. to have instant internet gratification.
3.) How much my life relies on internet (communication with friends, family, loved ones back home), blogging (both personal and business), booking travel, keeping up with news, and facebook.

So, for four weeks I will do my best to deal with spotty and otherwise obsolete internet access. If I get behind on blogging...you know why!

Sunset Last Night!

Last night I walked out of the apartment and snapped a few shots during the 5-minute spectacular sunset show. Incredible!

City Tour of Cape Town

The clouds rolled out as the sun made its first appearance since we arrived in Cape Town...just in time for an afternoon city tour. Awesome! With blue skies overhead and my Nikon strapped around my neck I climbed into the van with 6 students, 1 faculty member, and the driver. A three hour city tour of Cape Town made for some great photos. This place is beautiful...where the ocean meets the mountains. Delicious eye candy!

Service-Learning at Sir Lowry's Pass Township

Part of the the GlobalLEAD experience includes a service-learning component. The day I arrived in Cape Town (one day later than expected due to flight delays) the students were nervously preparing to embark on a home-stay in the Township. A township is an area where non-whites were "re-settled" to during the apartheid years, between 1948 and 1994. GlobalLEAD has established a relationship with one of the colored (mixed race) communities, Sir Lowry's Pass, located approximately one hour outside of Cape Town. The students stayed with the benevolent "soup mama's" in the community. The soup mama's live in the community and serve soup to every child that beckons their doorstep everyday.

Day 2 the students returned from the home-stay tired, but nonetheless excited about their experience. Day 3 we all went to the township. With my Nikon strapped around my neck, I was ready to experience a day of service in Sir Lowry's Pass, of which I had heard so much about. The township was much like the other townships I visited in 2007. The aim was to create a festival for the children with face-painting, nail-painting, coloring book stations, reading stations, sports, and dancing. It was a hit...with over 100 children participating.

Here are a few quotes from the college students experience with the township service:
"I have never shared a meal –let alone my life story—with a stranger in my home. Yes, South African hospitality beats my southern hospitality (or lack thereof?) by a mile."

"Well, as we rolled into the township, Sir Lowry’s Pass, the appearance was definitely what I expected. I was SO nervous! But immediately when we got off the bus, the children ran up to us and hugged us. Their genuine and open love really touched my heart, and I instantly was excited."

Lagoon Beach Apartments: The "Crib" for Four Weeks

Yo, MTV Cribs, check out my sugar posh crib for the next four weeks. Lagoon Beach Apartments in Cape Town, South Africa! I live with two of my PhD colleagues, Adam and Scott, in a two-bed/two-bath apartment right smack on the beach. Yes, you can actually walk out the sliding doors to a patio overlooking the beach. Yeah, it is pretty sweet, but we are not running around in bikinis and speedos. Winter has blown in, which means wind, rain, and temperatures in the 40's-60'sF...brrrr! Okay, that sounds funny for a Colorado girl to say brrrr to those temps...but the cold here seeps into your bones due to the humidity and wetness. I digress...back to the phat crib. Tastefully decorated, the apartment includes African masks and oil paintings hanging on the walls, a fully stocked kitchen, two twin beds in each bedroom, creme colored tile floors (which makes it feel even colder), a 6-chair round dining room table, and rooibos teabags.

37 Hours of Travel! Atlanta-Amsterdam-London-Cape Town

As I walked (with an extra kick in my step) to the E12 gate in the Atlanta airport I double checked my flight on the departure screens. Uh-oh, DELAYED! The first leg of my flight to South Africa was delayed by two hours. The chances of me catching my connecting flight in Amsterdam was about as likely as me winning the lottery…with only 10 minutes for me to run like the wind to my connecting gate. So, I proceeded to queue up in the international re-booking line with another 50 people. It turns out that the bad-ass volcano in Iceland spewed more ash, shutting down air passage in France and Spain, hence delaying some trans-Atlantic flights. After two hours in line and a little socializing with fellow disgruntled travelers…I managed to confirm a back-up flight with unexpected routing (an overnight in Amsterdam). The 9-hour flight to Amsterdam included a movie marathon (Precious, Blind Side, and It's Complicated), special vegetarian meals, and two hours of sleep. Unfortunately, we arrived in Amsterdam 25 minutes past my connecting flight. Ah yeah…back in line! At this point I realized that, despite all of my previous travel follies and my seasoned travel skills, I neglected to pack a change of clothes in my carry-on. Oops...now this is what I call cocky and otherwise unprepared traveling! (How many times do I have to make a "note to self": always pack a change of clothes in the carry-on, before I actually do it?!) Another two hours of line surfing and the KLM agent hooks me up with a flight to Cape Town out of London (hooray, no overnight in Amsterdam). With a meal voucher and a 50 euro KLM discount in hand, I proceed to eat a lovely quiche with fruit. Shortly after filling my belly, I realize I am in the international microcosm of different languages and cultures that I have come to love. Now this is living! Despite the fact that I still have a long road ahead, the soft music of different accents dance in the air and makes me feel right at home.

After touching base with family and the peeps in Cape Town via email, I purchase Swiss and Belgium chocolate at duty free. I hop on the commuter flight to London with many business men in European style business attire (tight pants). Walking the long, cold corridors of Heathrow airport brings me to Terminal 1 where Harrods, Boots, Clarks, and Pret welcome me with some of my favorite British goods. While waiting for my South African airlines flight I spontaneously break into a quick yoga sequence with gawkers all around. Uttanasana never felt so good! The flight is not full (woohoo!) and it ends up I get a half of row to myself for the 12 hour flight. The sweet Afrikaans accent greets me with a posh travel pouch of goodies (socks, eye mask, toothbrush/paste). Dinner is served with a delicious South African Cabernet and a radio station plays African tunes in my ears. Ah yeah…it has finally hit! Traveling shoes on. I am going back to a place that captured my heart with stories of historical hardship and human strength. Damn, life is delicious!

To South Africa...Dusting off my Travel Shoes!

Passport-check! Money belt-check! Camera-check! Today I fly across the Atlantic Ocean and down south of the Equator. To Cape Town, I go! I will spend three weeks as a teaching assistant for the GlobalLEAD study abroad program. What is GlobalLEAD? 104 undergraduate students live in a 4-star hotel on beach, attend two UGA courses on leadership and service learning, perform community service for a township, and experience Cape Town through adventure (such as bungee jumping, shark diving, etc.) Academic tourism?! Perhaps, but I will withhold judgment until after I experience the full program. For now I am focused on packing a bag that is less than 50 pounds, easier said than done!

Happy Graduation DR. Charlie!

I flew back to Georgia for a quick two days to celebrate Charlie's graduation and unpack from Colorado/repack for South Africa. Nothing like packing a lot in a short weekend. Of course, the highlight was celebrating Charlie's accomplishment...a Doctorate of Philosophy in Higher Education. Congratulations Dr. Mathies II. You rock!

Coupon Divaness=Screamin' Deal on Photography Class

Confession: I am a coupon diva! I have stumbled on these coupon websites (Groupon & Living Social) offering screamin’ deals on restaurants, services, and even photography classes. So, I bought a coupon for “Snapshops”, a two-hour photography class in Denver (originally $125 discounted to $40). After spending the night at my sister’s house and bidding farewell to Charlie at the airport, I drove back to Denver for the class. We met at a hip coffee shop on Wazee Street and learned the basics of our camera (white balance, ISO, aperture, etc.) The dude teaching the class was the epitome of a Colorado mountain man about my age with a chill demeanor. He shoots weddings and encouraged us to shoot with a creative eye…instead of shooting a subject head-on shoot from the floor-up or tilt the camera to capture a different angle, shoot close-up to highlight textures, and use the black and white option. Before we knew it the five of us were walking the downtown Denver streets shooting photos of anything that caught our eye. I love a hands-on approach to learning…in fact, I think I learn best through visceral experiences. I managed to get some killer shots of a city that dances in my dreams while mastering all of those buttons on my Nikon. Woohoo!

Two of my Favorites: Boulder & Shoshoni

Since this is Charlie’s first trip to Colorado I felt obligated (oh, twist my arm) to show him two of my favorite places: 1.) Boulder—where I lived, studied/worked for 15 years of my life, and 2.) Shoshoni yoga Ashram—where I lived, practiced, and completed my yoga certificate. I thought that these two places would allow him to see the places that have shaped my worldview. This is what is so fun about new relationships…it is like peeling an onion, layer by layer, as you discover the places, people, and passions that have impacted and at the same time shaped the essence of an individual. I am sure this trip has certainly peeled off a few more layers of my soul as he met my parents, dear friends in Boulder, sister and her fiancé. Before arriving at the Ashram, we spent the sunny afternoon hanging out on the tulip-laden Pearl Street, as we ate the ever-delicious Salvaggio's deli sandwich in Boulder and shopped for yoga gear at Prana and Om time.

After a drive up the canyon we arrived at the ever-spectacular and peaceful Shoshoni Ashram deep in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. As we drove into the Ashram's property a wave of serenity hit us. This place has healed, supported, and opened a whole new level of my spirituality. We checked into our wooden log cabin and soon found ourselves pleasantly flowing into a delicious yoga sequence in the Mandir. Vegetarian meals greeted us and the evening temple was very chill as the practicing soon-to-be-Swami shared the history of Shoshoni and practical tips for meditation. After a relaxing evening we retired to the log cabin wherein I turned on my laptop and finished up my last paper of the semester. Yeah, I know…not exactly “escaping from it all”.

Charlie slept in while the morning sunshine and brisk mountain air greeted me as I walked to the temple for morning meditation. We met for another delicious vegetarian meal and then hiked to the Buddha rocks (see photos). One woman said, "You have to deconnect to reconnect." So true! The last few weeks have been crazy busy with writing papers, preparing for conference presentations, and packing for travel, all while Charlie was burning the candle at both ends finishing up his dissertation. So, a little R&R was rather easy to melt in to. After yoga and lunch our peaceful retreat at Shoshoni concluded with a drive down the canyon to meet friends in Boulder.