Blogs in Many Languages

Adam's Blog:

Howzit summertime people??!! Greetings from Johannesburg, and the beginning of the end of this beautiful, beautiful experience. We are all in SUPER high spirits after a unique Johannesburg night which included a divine taste of India and a twisty-and-turny evening activity. The group was convinced that we were off to see a cutting edge 3 hour opera in Afrikaans, and we surprised them with a journey to the Magical World of Hogwarts!!! Sooooooo, I could certainly talk for hours and hours about our experiences in majestic Southern Africa, snowcapped peaks, mindblowing hikes, soulfire cross-cultural exchange with villagers in rural Lesotho and the culinary phenomenon of Fat Cakes-in-a-bag, BUT, the clock is ticking and we have a huge day coming up tomorrow that will be highlighted by our students running a Friendship Camp at SKY, a cultural center for youth in the informal settlement (could also be called a slum) of Kliptown in Soweto Township...so for the meantime, we humbly present verbal glimpses of the absolutely indescribable straight from our students...

Sharp Sharp, Mohale (aka Adam)

PS. The students were prompted to write their blogs in as much Southern African as they could (and to add a bit of Pirate-slang if they felt the need...)

Aly's Blog:

Howzit? Dumela from SA! This trip has been amazing. Since our last blog, we have finished our work at SOS, went on a crazy hike and repaired roads with Malealea Trust. Every experience was amazing and rewarding in their own ways. I don't want to leave! The locals are so welcoming and thankful for everything we do. I want to donate money and come back to help everyone again. We will be returning home on Sunday. I'll miss this place!

See you all soon!

Love Sneakin' Aly thru the Sally

Jacob's Blog:

Wow, this experience has been truly epic; I wish I had more space to write... But, alas, I will have to make do. Anyway, I've spent two amazing weeks in Southern Africa thus far, I've worked at an underfunded art school in Soweto, an HIV/AIDS hospice in Klerksdorp, a poor community center in the slums of Kliptown, an isolated SOS Children's Village in Mbabane (Swaziland), and with the gritty Malealea Development Trust in Malealea (Lesotho). I know I won't be able to fit the words in here pertaining to how I feel, but I will say this has been a truly powerful experience.

I feel I can speak for the group when I say this has been an emotional time for all, but I will also say that the happiness on the faces of all the wonderful people I've met when they see us willingly helping them is something I will never be able to forget. And that, above all, the hilarious moments with this awesome troupe truly makes this trip worth doing.

Sincerely, Professor Kebab

Satchel's Bangin' Blog =) hehe:

Dumela, dumela, dumela! Ke Satchel! Southern Africa is amazing. After leaving Soweto, we went to Kestell and hiked the Drakensburg Mountains. Then we went to Swaziland and taught/ran camps at an SOS school. I taught 5th and 2nd grade! After leaving there, we all went to Lesotho and we helped to build a road which was in very poor condition. We also went on another hike to a freezing cold rock pool! It was awesome and I'm looking forward to going back to Soweto tomorrow. I wish the trip wasn't ending so soon =(

Sturztenegger

Libby's Blog:

So far, life has been amazing in Southern Africa. But that's kind of a given. Anyways - howzit! Lowelaung (pronounced dumelang)! All of that. So much has happened. We visited rural Swaziland and were treated by the wonderful Fiki to dinner. Since there was little electricity, we got to see the Milky Way. Amazing. The Drakensburg Mountain hike was also pretty awesome. The views made me pause and take in the sights constantly. Lesotho introduced the group to fat cakes (which are delicious) and a wonderful community. Despite the hardships, these people can still sing. They can still joke around. They can still accept us warmly. I was given the name Lerato, which means "to laugh". Since I don't know how to say goodbye, I'll just say hi. Lumelaung, lumelaung, lumelaung!

-Lerato (my Sisotho name which means Laughter!!)

Augusta's Blog:

All of our mates have voyaged to three new lands since we last used the magic of the internet. We climbed a mountain and land ho-ed" at the top. This was all in the Kingdom of Swaziland. We also donated our time to 600 little bumps at the SOS Children's Village. After that adventure, we travelled in our magical 4-wheeled vehicle to a house owned by a man who goes by the name of Fiki. It was nice to finally see the stars so we could navigate where we were. After our lovely sojourn and braii at Fiki's we re-entered the vehicle and travelled to jam-maker Vera Ann's lovely "Karma Backpackers" in South Africa. We climbed to the top of Sentinel Mountain and saw the flowing waters of Tugella Falls (the water reminded me of home). Eventually we voyaged to Lesotho. We helped reconstruct their roads (where magical vehicles travel). Our shipmates trekked to a hidden waterfall. Adam and I went swimming... SHIVER ME TIMBERS! Today there was some frozen water falling from then sky. It is apparently strange occurrence here in South Africa. We are having a great time and I am not looking forward to our upcoming departure date. Eye patch, peg leg, ARG.

~BANK

(Happy birthday Mom and Wille, hope yall had a blast!)

Soo's Blog:

One thing we did since the last blog entry was going on a hike up the Drakensburg Mountains. The top was not a point - it was more like a plain, a level up from the earth. It was an enjoyable & be-a-utiful climb up - not steep but challenging enough. We came back and took care of the sanitary issues of the program, such as shower-taking and doing laundry. Vera-Ann's place was the loveliest home I have ever lived in. Hopefully there will be pictures of the place uploaded onto the blog. Fiki's place, which we stayed at before, was in rural Swaziland, and I loved it. We had tents set up for us to sleep in, and it was quite lovely. I accidentally fell asleep outside - under the stars, and woke up soaked in dew. Fiki's home made me really realize how amazingly blessed I am to have all that I have. Fiki and Armstrong, another friend I met in Swaziland, taught me a lot about how life is not always easy - but that that's no excuse to give up or live without hope. As soon as I get home, I want to just make money so I can help these stuck people get their lives rolling again. I am also driven again to become a teacher. Everyone should come on one of these trips during their teenage years. Sharp?

OH. And the Cuddle Puddle. The perfect balance between serious work and enjoyment & leisure for the soul. It was such a weird, unique experience. Loved it. Shaarp.

My favorite so far was Lesotho. Because of two reasons: the people with endless pockets of love, and fat cakes. Also, I met a very good friend, Hotazo.

=) Hi mom! Dumela me! See you soon - I love you more than anything. I yell your name on the peaks of every mountain we climb.

Soo DDal-le-me

Ari's Blog:

Sawubona! Dumela! Howzit! We've been switching between communities so often in the recent weeks that I can't quite keep all of the languages straight. Should I greet you in Siswati? Sisotho? Zulu? Maybe I'll stick with English for now.

After finishing our hiking and service projects in Swaziland, we drove to Fiki's house and stayed outside in tents. Now, this may sound like a nice time to anyone reading this in the northern hemisphere, but I must remind you that it is winter here. Luckily, we were armed with sleeping bags, preventing us from freezing completely, and we had a great time meeting some new people and eating a delicious dinner.

The following day, we completed the drive back to South Africa, ending up in Kestell at Vera Ann's awesome Karma Backpackers, where we enjoy the luxury of constant electricity, hot water, and a wood-burning stove that helps to warm up the common area. While staying in Kestell, we did an intense hike in the Drakensburg Mountains. I had some doubts as to whether or not I would make it up and down the daunting pair of ladders, but in the end, we all had an extremely rewarding experience.

After leaving Kestell, we ventured into a new country: Lesotho, pronounced Lesutu. We stayed at Malealea Lodge, in nice little huts that protected us from some of the outside weather (though no heat, of course). We also enjoyed nightly campfires and electricity between the hours of 6 and 9:30.

In Lesotho, our main project was to work with some of the community of the local villages on their roads. Due to erosion, some of the road had seriously deteriorated, and it was hurting the locals' efforts at starting businesses. In addition to helping with road construction, we also had some awesome and powerful cross-cultural exchanges, which are hard to describe considering I've already written way too much.

That night, it suddenly began hailing, and later changed to snow. It was pretty wild to see snow in the middle of July, but it was even more notable once we saw the locals' reactions - in most areas, they had not received snow that stuck to the ground in years. After leaving Lesotho (which involved a breathtaking drive through snow-capped mountains, inhabited by zebras among other creatures - it has something to do with science), we returned to Kestell, and we're all excited to make our way back to Soweto/Johannesburg tomorrow.

Speaking of which, I should probably go to bed - if I go now, I'll get 9 hours of sleep, which will be a record for me on this trip! I'm really enjoying southern Africa, and I don't want it to end!

Machutu (my new Sisotho name meaning active boy!)

Anna's Blog:

DUMELA!DUMELA!

howzit y'all?!we have been to so many places! Recently we have gone hiking quite a bit, and have some amazing photos from them! (: We left Lesotho yesterday and are currently at Karma Backpackers with Vera Anne. Today we are driving to Shoestrings: the first hostel we stayed at in Jo'Burg. It has been amazing here, so much to take in! While in Lesotho we helped re-build parts of a road that had been damaged. It was intense. BIG NEWS: Yesterday and the night before it hailed and snowed! but, the snow stuck! that hasn't happened in 7 years! We are very lucky to have been able to experience that, and also got to see zebra's in the snow! South Africa is amazing, and so beautiful! Back to JFK soon! wow hard to believe we have been here for pretty much a month! See you guys soon!!!

xoxo. Ecky!!

Molly's Blog:

Well, How about all that?! It has been incredible laughing, experiencing rural and urban African life, cooking for, holding hands with, challenging, sharing road-trip music with and loving your kids over the last month or so. I can't believe this experience is almost coming to a close. While at the movies tonight, the kids were COMPLETELY ridiculous-- performing Harry Potter skits before the preview started in front of the movie screen (for all to see)-- it made Adam and I realize how much this group has meshed into one silly, accepting, lively, off-the-grid group. The rest of our week looks like a jam-packed finale; service work at Umbuyisa Art School and in an informal settlement, craft markets, braais, and a well deserved final banquet. Can't wait to meet everyone at the airport on Sunday!

Until then, warm wishes from a chilly South Africa, Molly

Student-Student Blurbs

Libby (written by Anna):

Libby really enjoyed our last night in Soweto, the braii we had at Lebo’s Backpackers was really fun. She was very good with the kids at the SOS Camp, she tolerated a lot of energized kids there. She is very kind to everyone in the group, and never shows annoyance and has a lot of patience with each and everyone she meets. Her hugs get me through my tough days when I may be feeling upset or down. She held one of our team member’s hand the entire way down a very steep mountain to help our group member feel more stable and comfortable, I thought that was very brave of her, it shows how thoughtful of others she is.

Soo (written by Jacob):

Well, it looks like I’ve gotten Soo, and I can honestly say I couldn’t be happier. She is by far one of the awesomest people on this trip. Her ability to find the good in everyone is unmatched and she is one of the kindest, most virtuous people it has ever been my pleasure to know. This does nothing to disparage her hilarious sense of humor epitomized by the statement “I’ve always wanted to eat an owl, because I used to have mice, and since owls eat mice, it would sorta be like revenge.” Good stuff. Hilarious. In all seriousness though, it has truly been my pleasure to meet her, and having the opportunity to write this review has been tanfasmic. Shout out to her family, who must have raised her well. J

Cheers, Jacob

Jacob (written by Ari):

Jacob has truly enjoyed everything that we have experienced on our journey in the past few days, from hiking up Sheba’s Breast to spending a day teaching in a classroom full of Swazi elementary school kids. He has a tremendous ability to invent games and activities out of thin air, keeping the kids on their feet and entertained at all times. Jacob is always the first to help out when something needs doing, and often steps up as a leader when we need it. I’m really glad to have Jacob on this trip and I hope to get to know him even better before the trip ends.

Ari

Anna (written by Libby):

Yay! I got Anna! Anyways, Anna Banana is super awesome. I mean it! She has an incredible amount of patience that could make anyone envious. While teaching at the art school in Soweto, Anna dazzled the kids with her smiles, kind words and ability to enjoy every single picture and card thrust her way. No matter what happened, she was able to deal with it calmly. Not many people can do something like that! In our last night in Soweto at the braii (a barbecue party), Anna spent it not only cleaning the dishes – and there were a lot of dishes – but bonding with the friends we made in the township. It was a beautiful sight to see! Never will I forget the feelings of warmth and friendship from that night. Anna also deserves INSANE mad props for her endurance. While driving through the game park in search of some last rhinos and giraffes, Anna’s head bumped into the window. Not only did she stick it out, she didn’t complain. If I were hit in the head, I would have definitely voiced my pain all the way home. I also appreciate that Anna gives really good hugs all throughout the day and always with a smile. She’s really open and helps the chefs or the sparklers clean up. Anna challenges herself by teaching the kids at the SOS camp . Even though she has to deal with rowdy kids that like to tackle people in hugs, Anna somehow manages to create enough space around her but still shower the kids with attention. Great job, Anna! There’s so much more to say, but this isn’t the Anna Blog. However, it has been an absolute joy to review her. Go Anna! We love you!

FASHOOM!

Libby

Ari (written by Satchel):

Ari enjoyed hiking up Sheba’s Breast on the first full day we had in Swaziland and he has been a great team player the entire trip. He was great with the children at the Umbuyisa Art School and he ran some really good activities there. On our last night in Soweto after the barbeque, he did dishes for a solid hour and a half! He’s been a huge help to the group. I appreciate that Ari always speaks his mind and that his sense of humor always seems to help the group out when we’re all tired or frustrated. Also, Ari has challenged himself just by coming on the trip as he is not getting much sleep and I know it’s incredibly difficult for him to operate on little sleep. Ari has been doing fantastically on this trip.

Augusta (written by Aly):

Agoustes Gloup is an awesome person. She is living up every moment of this trip with a smile on her face and amazing attitude. She acted like the crazy camp counsolour in Soweto and the kids absoloutly loved her. She is showing her crazy and goofy side which is something she is doing so well at mixing with the group and all the locals. Which she deserves mad props for!!!!(: We are having a great time and I appreciate how unique she is. Unique in a good way because with her I never stop laughing. Augusta is shining and becoming a real super star on this program. She stepped out of her comfort zone and taught a class with me today. She is a great role model and someone for everyone around her to admire. She loves and talks about her family all the time. Even though we are having such busy packed days she still talks about you guys. So if she was writing this she would want me to say hi! I am going to miss Augusta when this is over and I know she will have some wonderful stories when she gets back!!

Love Aly.

Satchel (written by Augusta):

Satchelito Sturtzenager has enjoyed every moment so far on this trip. He really likes to take advantage of all the time he spends with kids. At one point Satchelito was sitting for nearly an hour with the same little boy in his lap looking so serene and peaceful. It was amazing to see him sitting there so calmly for so long looking so natural. Since our last night in Soweto, Satchelito has had fun watching rhinos. We went on a safari and that is all he wanted to see! He even joked about getting out of the car and riding one… BARE-BACK!!! Satchelito definitely deserves mad props for being so enthusiastic. He never mutters a bad word about any of the activities we have done. He also is a very good person to have random conversations with. He listens very intently and has really interesting responses to even the strangest of questions. Mr. Sturtzinager has challenged himself by being open with the whole group about everything. He is very real and “human-like”. Mr. Sturtzenager has acquired multiple nick-names from this trip: Sturtzenager, Satchelito, Sancho, Satchsquach, Statch Match, Giggle Pig, and The Twitch.

-AK47

Aly (written by Soo):

So Aly. Surpriseeee

So the first question asks me to write something that you really enjoyed since our last night in Soweto, which was already 4 days ago. Time flies.. Well, you’re always happy so I guess it’s hard for me to choose a certain instance in time when you were enjoying yourself. Something you did really well so far is that you are really comfortable around children and keep them laughing. Especially the wee little ones. You’d be a great mother in the future. I think half of the time, you’ll be having more fun than your kid.

Something awesome about you (and also something that I appreciate) isssssssssssssssssss that you are super honest, headstrong and humanlike, which are things that I can relate to because I am somewhat like that myself. And although I only recently (Yesterday) realized those things in a strong manner, I really found myself smiling because I think those qualities adorn you with the beauty that you possess.

The next question asks: “In what way did you challenge yourself?” Well, I give respect to all people alive, just because I think that being alive itself is a huge accomplishment. I believe every single day is a challenge for everyone, so just the fact that you are still trooping through with us here in South Africa is a challenge worth appreciating. J Smile Ali. You’ll be great. You are great.

```````````````````````J

Student Blog: Swaziland (July 15~17)

Our time in Swaziland started with a six-hour drive in rural South Africa, from dawn to noon. During the trip, we stopped for bunny chow, Indian food and mini pizzas. The hostel that we came to was a nice, simple place with many bathrooms and many huge wooden giraffe statues. The dinner that night was amazing, not only was the food of curry chicken and cooked vegetables delicious, but the conversation we had over dinner was excellent. That night was the first time we actually had the chance to digest and reflect on our last day in Soweto when we visited Kliptown and the Soweto Kliptown Youth group (SKY), we had been so busy previously. Our experience on that last day was rather raw and emotional - seeing how the poorest of Africans live in metal shacks made from leftover metal plates, without proper plumbing. Recollecting our memories of that intense day was hard, but successful beyond any of our expectations. We talked about why Kliptown was the way it was, why poverty existed, what we felt and what we should do with that feeling. With the guidance of our leaders, and free communication of our individual experiences, we turned a sad and potentially depressing experience into one that would fuel future actions to help solve poverty and the various problems we saw that day in Kliptown.

Early the next morning, we left at six AM again to climb Swaziland’s Shibas Breast, a mountain near our hostel. It was an enjoyable 1 ½ hours up, and an even more enjoyable time once we got to the top. We took silly pictures, shared our packed lunch, and read an excerpt from the book The Impossible Will Take a Little While. A lot of us overcame our fear of windy steep mountains on that morning. After making our way back down, we stopped at the local crafts shop where many of us bought African crafts at a very low price and practiced our bargaining skills. For dinner we had a cooking challenge to make four traditional Swazi dishes. With luck and the help of friendly natives, we succeeded in enjoying a great dinner of porridge, chicken, veggies and chocolate pudding.

The next day we relaxed and saw the wildlife of Africa on a game drive. We excitedly took hundreds of pictures of the animals we saw. We even got a treat and saw two lions mate within a two feet distance :)

Kliptown Youth Choir

And thanks to our more technologically advanced travelers, here is a little snippet of the performance the group participated in in Kliptown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9sBjWjkQq0

Umbuyisa Wrap Up: Blogging Madness!!

Trip Leader Adam Aronovitz

Hello World!!! Greetings from the motherland! It’s been a beautiful and intense experience thus far in our Southern African Escapades. At the moment, we are celebrating the end of our Soweto experience with a fireside poetry jam with members of the art community and reflecting on a mindblowing week in the world’s largest township. The group moved another inch towards human unity by leading an incredible camp experience for children at the Umbuyisa Art School, culminating in a screen-printing collaboration to celebrate Mandela Day!!! As the clock tick tocks and morning creeps closer, we are preparing for our cross country drive and border crossing into the Kingdom of Swaziland to begin a week of service work with the SOS Children’s Village!!!

So be prepared to feast on the blogging madness!!

Adam

Check out the first week of Windsor Mountain Bridge South Africa 2011 through the eyes of our students. Each student has a bit to say including someone they have met, someone to send a shooting star (a special pat on the internet-back to) and a shout out. Enjoy…

Augusta AK Klein

GREETINGS from South Africa!

This is such a lovely country. Although the weather is rather chilly (it IS winter), I feel warm due to everyone’s kind and open hearts. Everyone is so nice and talkative here. I have had so many interesting conversations with local South Africans. One person that has certainly made a huge impression on me is a young man named Eli. He is so intellectual and knows so many facts about South Africa, America, and other countries around the world. He is also a very good conversationalist, which makes up for my lack of talent in conversations. Also someone who has really inspired me are all of the little kids we have been working with throughout our first week here. So to commend them I would like to send “Shooting Stars” to every kid I have met so far. I would also like to send a shout-out to my brothers (who probably haven’t even noticed I’m gone), my parents (who allowed me to come on this fabulous trip), and my dogs (who like to eat things).

~Peace, Love, and Chow~

Aly Centrella

HIII FROM SOUTH AFRICA! This is Aly speaking. We arrived in this beautiful country on Thursday the 7<sup>th</sup>. We were very surprised how cold it really was. The moment we got here we were warmly greeted by all the locals. Everyone we have met has been nothing but welcoming. The most inspiring experience was visiting the informal settlement in Kliptown. They are little shack or shanty town communities that were very shocking to walk through. We were welcomed with a beautiful traditional dance performed by the local kids. They were so amazing I almost cried. I loved how they were full of life and to think that they have so little but love so much amazed me. The kids were the most inspiring people I have met thus far and I would like to give all of the kids shooting stars. I would like to say hi to all my family and friends I miss you all very much!! Mommy and Dad I cant wait to talk to you on the 21<sup>st</sup>!

Love, Aly Cat.

Libby Cohen

Hello Hello Hellooooo! South Africa has been incredible so far with its warm people and traffic lights that are called robots (how cool is that?!). It is super easy to talk to anyone on the street and get to know their family with just a smile. While on a taxi in Soweto, I met a charming man who talked of his experience of the apartheid. We talked about the differences in our cultures until it was his stop. The biggest experience so far has been working with the children. Even with poor living conditions and limited water, these kids never stop smiling or having a good time. Even in Kliptown, half of which is an informal settlement, the kids showered us with hugs and kisses and put on a moving performance that nearly made me cry. In the group, I would like to send shooting stars to Molly for totally being more awesome than anyone ever imagined and lending me her camera when mine broke. Thank you, Molly! I’d also like to shout-out to my family – thanks for all your love and good wishes! – and my friends Sam and Evan – thanks for being so supportive! I’ll go teach baby seals Shakespeare now. That’s about it….

Libbles’n’Bits, signing out!

Satchel Sturtz

Hiiiiiii! South Africa has been absolutely incredible so far. When I got here I was very surprised as Jo-burg looked nothing like I expected. It was very built up and pretty modern. Early on in the trip we went and visited Constitution Hill where Mandela was kept for a short period of time. I learned about how horrible the conditions were for prisoners there and a ton of them did not even deserve to be there. Conditions for political prisoners there were even worse as they were kept in solitary confinement for their whole stay. The culture in South Africa is amazing. We recently went and visited an informal settlement in Kliptown. The spirit of all of the people there was so inspiring because they had almost nothing. They planned an amazing performance for us. I’d never seen anything like it. I’ll also never forget about a man I met named Tshepo. He founded a non-profit children’s art school and he’s there every day with the children. He quite honestly may be the nicest man I have ever met. He’s highly respected in Soweto because of all of the amazing things he’s done purely for the benefit of others.

- Sturtzenegger

Anna Wickenden

Wow where to begin? A lot has been going on here in South Africa. The first day here had such an impact on me, we met with children suffering from HIV/AIDS, along with that some were orphans or in bad living conditions. It really affected me when I encountered this. We have visited many sites like the Mandela House, South Africa’s version of the Bill of Rights, we passed by Winnie Mandela’s House, an informal settlement (such an amazing experience). We have met many amazing people while being here, and such wonderful children at the camps we help run. Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming! It is very important that we see the more difficult side of South Africa as well, so when we return to the U.S we can share the information with others and help make a difference.

-Anna Ecky Wickenden

Ari Weinstein

Hey everyone! If I had to write this whole blog post in one sentence, it would be this one: South Africa is pretty amazing. Over the past week, we have had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the rich culture, history, and politics of South Africa. I say “hands-on” because we went beyond the tourist experience of visiting museums from the comfort of a plushy hotel; we dove in head first, visiting an intense “informal settlement” called Kliptown where we experienced firsthand the extreme poverty caused primarily by the Apartheid (and I now know what that is). On the lighter side, we’re also having a great time bonding within our group, and running camp has been extremely fun and successful. It’s hard to explain in writing what I feel about this country and this experience, so I think I’m going to leave it at this.

Ari Weinstime

Soo Joo

Everyday at night, the team shares things called ‘high points’. Cooking dinner with the crew everyday was a great high for the whole trip because making food was fun, and eating was gooooood, and feeding people feels great. Another high was the evening activities that we have every day after dinner, which was when we got to know each other deeply and share experiences together- each one of us mustering up the bravery of exposing ourselves to possibly uncomfortable situations. And we do have silliness and plenty of goofiness, which is just so beautiful and arguably the best part of the trip. I really am enjoying seeing us each grow through our experiences together in South Africa, in many tiny ways.

Shooting stars (tokens of appreciation) to everyone who made me laugh. Something I earned from the experience was a chance and an environment to go back to my natural, people loving and goofy self. The chillness and openness of South Africans is really something to treasure greatly and strive to achieve all over the world.

MA! Don’t know if you will be reading this blog at all, but I miss you. J I wrote you a letter, so watch out for it. I’ll send it soon >>!! Do not worry about meJ I’m surrounded constantly with people who love and care about me as much as you do. Thanks for letting me come here. Thanks for supporting my craziness. Love you <3

-Soo Chef Joo Chef

Jacob Senghas

Well, it has come down to me, which isn’t really surprising, being the procrastinator I am. This is being written the night it’s due. In fact it’s about 15 minutes late. So sue me.

But I digress. In short, this trip has been completely mind-blowing. I echo the sentiments of all my good friends in noting the positive spirit that seems to suffuse the entire country. This same energy serves to make this trip truly wonderful, in the amazing people we have met. I could ramble all night about all my new friends, but I will only list the people I’ve spent the most time with: Tshepo (who seems to know everybody- even the Black Eyed Peas), Xolilo (who has an unpronounceable click in his name), Linda (who hates having his name made fun of), T.K. (who has the best facial hair ever), and Eli (who is the smartest guy I have ever met and is insanely worldly). They have made this trip truly amazing.

But by far my favorite part was the visit to Kliptown- it truly put the world into perspective. Think those ramshackle shacks you see in National Geographic during their “poverty special” or something. Then imagine the smell. Yeah.

But I really am having tons of fun, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else. Well, maybe that’s a hyperbole, but you get my drift. And yes, I realize that I started pretty much every paragraph with the word “but”, but whatever.

Anyway, I’d like to send a shout-out to my parents, my brother, and my friends, all of whom do not know this blog exists. So… if anyone I know is miraculously reading this, please notify them. That would be great.

Truly yours, Jake the Jam

Trip Leader Molly Ryan

Hello Windsor Mountain Friends and Family! I am so happy you’re reading our first team blog entry. The kids have done a great job explaining the highlights of our trip thus far, so I won’t spend time rehashing. Instead, I will share a few photos with you. Posted on the blog, you’ll find photos of your silly kids at the Constitution Hill Museum posing on cement posts, a photo of the group hanging out in some grass, a shot of Augusta contemplating her 16<sup>th</sup> birthday wish, a photo of the lunches we have been eating (Jacob and Adam have been eating the veggie options, I promise), and multiple images of our kids with the children of Umbuyisa School of Art and Culture and the children of the Matlosana HIV/AIDS Hospice Crèche playing, loving, and screen printing. The man back to back with me is Tshepo, the founder of Umbuyisa and our Sowetan BFF.

The Windsor Mountain Students have been inspiring to work with; they are curious, kind, and enthusiastic. I feel insanely lucky to be watching these kids transform as their hearts and minds expand. And for all the mothers and fathers reading along, I made them wash their socks and undies this morning and have been feeding them greens and whole grains as much as I can!

Until next time,

Mollywood

First Update: Exploring Jozi

"Hello! Bridge South Africa has officially begun. The group is acclimating to community living, South African Ubuntu, and the Southern Hemisphere's winter extremely well. Since arrival we have been touring Jozi (slang for Johannesburg) and filling our brains with information about the South African Struggle against Apartheid, AIDS, and poverty as well as filling our stomachs with Bunny Chow, Koti, and Pap-- African Specialties.

The students have been eager to learn as much as they can about the injustices this country has faced and the struggle South Africans are undergoing today. The context provided for the students within the last few days has prepared them for their work at the Umbuyisa Art school in Soweto, South Africa's largest Township.

The students are truly impressive. I (Molly) have been blown away by their compassion, silliness, and ability to absorb and reflect on South Africa's recent history. We are just now beginning our work with the children of Umbuyisa and look forward to a full week of cultural immersion, exchange, and FUN!

Look forward to our next blog on Thursday-- the students will be posting photos and possibly a video!"

Good Afternoon Bridge Southern Africa families,

The students have arrived safely in Johannesburg! The flight was long but the kids spirits remained high. They are all eager to begin orientation and to start exploring their new home for the next month.

Good Afternoon Bridge Southern Africa families!

If you would like to track the South Africa flight please follow this link:
http://www.flightview.com/
The airline is South Africa Airways and the flight number is 204.

Happy viewing!

Greetings Bridge Southern Africa Participants!

My name is Adam Aronovitz and along with dynamite travel leader Molly Ryan, we will utilize every skill and ability we have to create a life-changing experience in Southern Africa for you all this summer. I am sure you are as excited for this summer as we are, and I would love to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself.

I grew up in the Boston area, spending my early years in Newton and the majority of my youth in a town called Sudbury, Massachusetts. I spent my undergraduate career at Tulane University in the majestic city of New Orleans where I fell heads-over-heels in love with the jazz, the magnificent food, and the unique culture of New Orleans and its inhabitants. I majored in International Political Economics, investigating the realities between international governance, the international marketplace, and all the invisible behind-the-scene forces that govern our international community. This academic focus has provided me with a unique perspective on international affairs; I understand WHY things are the way they are and have confidence in possibilities for growth and healing when a group of positive beings come together to put their energy towards a common and compassionate goal.

I had a life-altering experience during the fall of my senior year. I enrolled in an abroad program called Semester at Sea. For 100 days I lived and studied on a ship while circumnavigating the globe. Our ports of call were Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, and Cuba. I could spend years recounting my adventures but highlights included volunteering at orphanages in Vietnam, India, and Kenya to seeing Fidel Castro speak in Cuba. Since this voyage I have constantly been seeking out opportunities to immerse myself in the unbelievable diversity of our planet. You could say that I have had “itchy feet” ever since.
Since I graduated from Tulane I earned a Masters Degree in London and spent 4 years in the Boston Public school system teaching math and outdoor education at a middle school in East Boston. My school was a fascinating place. 70% of the student population was from Latin America and I really enjoyed learning about their rich cultures and introducing them to the wonders of the natural world through the outdoor education program that I designed.
For the past two years I've been in somewhat of a dream world, traveling, educating and challenging myself throughout Asia. From trekking to the roof of the world in Nepal to living amongst Sadhus ascetics in India, to developing a reforestation children's program in Tamil Nadu, moving WAY beyond my limits over and over again whilst rock climbing in Thailand, to co-founding an international experiential education project called the Cookbook Project, I've continuously pushed myself to live authentically. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you and working together to discover ways of living and learning that enable each one of us to continuously feel challenged and fulfilled!!

This is my sixth consecutive summer leading a student travel program with Windsor Mountain. In the summer of 2006 I led a program to Puerto Rico, which was an incredible experience. The
highlights of this program were volunteering at a rainforest reforestation project and surfing on the West Coast of Puerto Rico. In 2007 I led the Project Mexico trip in Central Mexico. This program had a community service and cultural focus. One of the highlights of my time on our fine, fine planet was organizing a Medical Brigade for indigenous communities in Mexico that had no access to medical care. For the past three summers I led the Bridge Caribbean program and now consider St. Vincent and the beautiful inhabitants of the island (including all living beings and especially fresh mangoes) to be an integral part of my own being. This summer I jumped at the opportunity to facilitate the beautiful experience of Windsor Mountain student travel in Southern Africa!

Hello, Molly here!
I'm a traveling ice-cream lover bred in the Midwest. I was born in the small town of Westerville, Ohio into a family who encouraged risk taking, cultural immersion, and team building from the get-go. My family didn't go to the beach on spring break; instead we went camping in the Black Hills, fishing off the coast of Alaska, or on Civil War Battlefield tours through the South. During Middle School and High School I spent most of my time in a swimming pool; I was a competitive swimmer and Captain of my High School Team. Although I still love swimming, now I concentrate my efforts towards yoga; I recently spent time in India training as an Ashtanga yoga instructor. Have any of you done yoga? I am excited to share what I learned in India on this summer‟s Bridge Southern Africa trip!

I went to College in the great state of Wisconsin at Marquette University. During the summer after my freshman year my best friend and I got our first real taste of immersion-based-travel when we took a 43 day long road trip through 28 of the US States. My All-American adventure changed the way I thought about our nation, my fellow citizens, and my own abilities; it lit a fire in me to continue to immerse myself in communities different from my own. Throughout College I spent most of my Winter and Spring Breaks in New Orleans, Louisiana working at multiple disaster relief organizations on projects including an urban farming initiative and the creation of youth photography workshops in the Lower 9th Ward.

In 2008, I spent 6 months in Cape Town, South Africa Service-Learning at the Desmond Tutu Peace Center with Marquette. While I was in Cape Town, I took courses in Grassroots development, Leadership, Social Problems, and the Theology of Reconciliation. When I wasn‟t in class, I interned at a non-profit called E.M.E.P. (the Extramural Education Program), explored the diverse landscape of South Africa, went to live cultural events, and ate as many crazy foods as I could! At E.M.E.P., I was given the opportunity to design and implement a youth bookmaking program in a township elementary school. My work with E.M.E.P. allowed me to really get to know South African culture from the inside; I took a Kombi-bus to work, ate chicken feet from street vendors with my students, and learned about each of my student's lives through the work they created. The amount each of you will learn from our students at the Friendship Camps will amaze you! South African culture transformed my worldview, opened my eyes to the power of national reconciliation, and fueled my desire to continue to absorb the lessons taught through immersion-based travel. I cannot wait to share the incredible culture that changed my life with each of you. I know you will be deeply inspired by South Africa's resilience, forgiveness, and spunk!

As the school year begins to wind down I am sure you will find yourself thinking more and more about our upcoming adventures in Southern Africa. This summer, Adam and I hope everyone is prepared to learn, to be challenged, and to face new situations with patience, enthusiasm, poise, and most importantly, I hope everyone is prepared to have fun! You will be living and working with friends you will have for a lifetime, you‟ll be in Southern Africa...how much better can it get?!

In the next month, try to spend some time thinking about your personal goals for our journey. What do you hope to get out of this program and more importantly, what do you hope to leave behind in Southern Africa? As you know, a huge piece of our expedition involves designing, implementing, and running educational projects for the children of Southern Africa. Please be prepared with AT LEAST 10 ideas for activities that you could lead as part of the summer camp/educational program. What do you like to do? What would you like to teach? What kind of materials would you need? We will be working with youth in various circumstances in Southern Africa and also with younger children; keep this in mind as you brainstorm successful camp activities. Ideas could include games, songs, arts and crafts activities-- just about anything. Be creative (this should be fun)!

As you prepare for our adventure, we would like to leave you with a bit of information and a few tips to help you get ready:
1. We will be in the Southern Hemisphere in July. This means it will be winter. It is going to be cold! Think of very chilly mornings and evenings where you can see your breath. Bring a jacket, bring gloves, bring a hat; it does typically warm up a bit during the day and we will visit some warmer areas as well, but... pack light! We will be fitting everything including ourselves into two vans, so pack lightly an efficiently.
2. Read up a bit on South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho. The recent history of South Africa is complex and inspiring; make sure you have a grasp of the concept of Apartheid and the effect it had on this country and its people. Check out Wikipedia and perhaps one of the following books: Kaffir Boy by Mark Math bane, Welcome to the Hill brow by Phaswane Mpe, Khayelitsha by Steven Otter, Agaat by Marlene Van Niekerk, Playing Playing the Enemy by John Carlin, No Bread for Mandela by Ahmed Kathrada, Rabble Rouser for Peace by John Allen, Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee, Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, or No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu. Pre-reading will help you familiarize yourself with the people and politics of the regions we will visit. Study some vocabulary too; a few words in Zulu, siSwati, or Sesotho (depending on the area) can work wonders to break the ice with local people and show that you are ready to learn about their culture.
3. Be flexible and open to change in all the different ways that change can manifest. Remember: the only thing that is constant is change.
4. Prepare to be physically and emotionally challenged. We will have some long days that find us working with young children who have seemingly endless amounts of energy. We will see some beautiful sites this summer and will also witness some children and adults who have endured incredible difficulties during their time on Earth. You will never forget their smiles and the stories they share with us, but it can be challenging at times to witness the hardships they have endured.
5. We will have some days with early mornings, long drives, interesting foods, and late nights... it can be absolutely exhausting and having a positive flexible attitude and encouraging others around you to do the same can make all the difference in the world.
6. SMILE AND ENJOY!

You will be hearing from us over the phone in late June to discuss the final pre-departure details regarding the program. Enjoy the rest of your school year; we cannot wait to meet all of you!

Amor y Paz, Adam Aronovitz and Molly Ryan