South Africa (AKA BEST TRIP EVER)- Part III

So other things we did in South Africa:

Visited Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill- both were very moving with stories of those who fought against apartheid and therefore, were imprisoned. Very powerful experience.


Safari-







Durban-
was looking forward to warm weather and sun and lying on the beach along the Indian ocean, however it rained the entire time we were there...so we went shopping! At least our B&B was cute! :)


Capetown-
Most beautiful place I've ever been~ While there we went to Robben Island
(another powerful and moving experience), where former inmates gave the tours-






visited Boulders Beach and saw the penguins,





went on wine tour, went to the Spain vs. Portugal game, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, saw baboons ransacking peoples' backpacks and a baboon taking a ride on the back of a BMW, and took an amazing drive down the False Bay coast to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. Oh, and of course, Table Mountain.
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

South Africa- Part II

So, now that I've been home for 5 days and had time to catch up on my sleep and life here, it's time to update the blog before I forget! I am going to attempt to keep it short, sweet, and full of pictures that will speak for themselves. I am also creating an album with the hundreds of pictures we took that I will share with you upon completion, which will take a bit of time.

Before leaving, Wrigley showed me who she was rooting for in the games...and she'd be happy to know how far Germany went and how great US looked.



This trip abroad, by far, was the best trip I have ever experienced. Traveling with my best friend Stephanie and spending most of the trip with my well traveled brother and his well traveled friends was a unforgettable experience.

JOHANNESBURG- June 18- June 26
Steph and I spent our time in Jberg with Greg and his various (and I might add, quite cute) friends from Boston College/Tufts- VZ, Evan, Ian, and Evan. Also joining was a fellow Oakwoodite, Candace, and a few other random friends who stopped by here and there. Needless to say, we became one big happy (sometimes not) family. :)



While in Jberg, we went to a lion park where we were able to pet lion cubs, feed giraffes and ostriches (kinda mean), and drive in our car through various lion reserves where they came right up to our car and even began chewing on our side mirrors!










We also went to three games while in Jberg-

US vs Slovenia- June 18th










Brazil vs Ivory Coast- June 20th








US vs Algeria- June 23rd




To my surprise, the vuvuzelas were not annoying at the games...one would think 50,000 plus blowing at games would be quite loud, but it made the experience that much more fun and real. However, the vuvzies being blown at 3 in the morning or at 7 am in the aiport was a tad obnoxious. However, we did see various signs around the cities:



When not at games, one could watch the games in bars OR at various fan fests or parties throughout the city. In between games, the music came on and the dancing began. Talk about PARTY! ps- steph and I are quite good dancers...ha!






Pretty much most of our time spent in Jberg consisted of watching games, partying, meeting people from all over the world,




example: kinda creepy guy from Holland

and eating...mixed in with some shopping and touring various historical places. South Africa Part III will include visits to these historical places, our safari, and much much more. Stay tuned :)

TOP TEN...SO FAR

I've got to be quick and fast but wanted to post a few things~ my camera broke so I don't know how much I'll be able to post but check out my FB- steph is posting pics from her phone onto FB for now. When we get a chance, we will attempt to upload pics from her camera...

In the past 3 days we have been here we have had a tremendous time with so much more fun to come. I've done a top 10 as a quick reference to what we've seen and done...

1. johannesburg is amazing.. Staying in beautiful neighborhood with greg and his 5 buddies from Boston. so much fun- were a little family.

2. went to two games so far and no words...amazing doesn't even come close! Brazil vs Ivory Coast and US vs. Algeria- LOUD AND INCREDIBLE!!!! (ps vuvezelas are HARD to blow)

3. the people here are so friendly and we have met so many people from everywhere...the SAfricans are so happy to have us here and are so polite.

4. the food is amazing- i've had springbok, which is like venison, and have had ostrich...so good!

5. Got to pet lion cubs, feed an ostrich(they are mean!), feed a giraffe (long tounges- nasty!!!), and did a drive through fields with zebras, cheetahs, antelopes, and lions. I don't know if you saw our FB pictures but a lion came up to our car and started to chew on the side mirror we were that close!!!

6. went to apartheid museum yesterday- very moving experience-

7. going to a safari this week- :)

8. the price of things here is great- we get so much for so little american dollars. For example, 8 of us shared 4 bottles of wine, 4 appetizers, and a meal each, and it came to little over $25 dollars each! Fantastic!

9. HOT MEN

10. the diverse cultures everywhere...it's awesome! talking to guys from brazil one minute then have conversations with guys from SA a few minutes later...

Love to you all! Miss you~

XOXO

I survived my first year in my new teaching position! For those of you who don't know, after 8 years of teaching students with special needs (students with learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, physical impairments, down syndrome, cognitive disabilities), I was ready for a change. The opportunity for a change came to me last summer and I jumped on it. This past year I worked in a specialized classroom for students with autism.

It was the most challenging of all my teaching years with many self doubts, tears, and stress. But it was also the best year of my career, the most rewarding, and most powerful year I have ever worked. I have never felt such pride and joy seeing my students grow. I fell so in love with my job (it did take me about 3 months before I felt this) that I can't wait to go back in the fall to do the same thing. But thank goodness summer is here because I was ready for a break!

So, day one of my break consisted of staying up all night with my sick puppy Wrigley (ok she's one but she's still my puppy). Poor thing got sick on Wednesday night and was not better on Friday. For those of you who know Corri- ask her about her coming and letting Wrigley out on Wednesday :) Anyways, after getting about 3 hours of sleep, I got to wake up at 6:30 on my first day off for the summer. Why?


It was time to graduate! After two years years of graduate school, I finally received my Master's in Educational Administration. The program was an intense, grueling, yet incredibly awesome at the same time. I met many wonderful professors and educators in my coursework- some that one day will hopefully help get me that administrative job I so desire! :)


Thank you to my friends and family who supported me and put up with me during these past two year years. I now have no excuse to go out and party :) So to celebrate finishing this year of work and graduation, I have decided to go big or go home.


I'm going to South Africa! I am going with my best friend, Steph and meeting up with my brother and his friends and two other friends. Words can't describe the excitement I am feeling. Packing has been difficult because it is winter in SA now. Temperatures can range anywhere from 19 degrees to 70 degrees, depending what area you are in. With that being said, I best finish packing...I hope I can fit all my stuff in my suitcase!

P.S. Wrigley is doing better now. Thank goodness!