Cause I'm free, free falling!

When someone says, "So if your friend jumped off a bridge, you would too?" it normally is to convince someone not to do something stupid. Well, consider me stupid.

The entire day before (as I was attempting to relax on an incredible beach in SA mind you) my stomach could do nothing but turn thinking and analysing why I shouldn't or should join my friend in bungee jumping off the highest bungee jump bridge in the world the next day. Everyone here told me I had to do it, being a once in a lifetime opportunity, blah blah blah (come to find out most of them hadn't). I replayed every split second in my mind of what I thought it would be like, and finally decided that, heck no, there was absolutely no way I was going to do it, and peer pressure wouldn't be enough to convince me otherwise. I continued with that same stubbornness all morning. We got to go on the bridge with my friend Sukie to watch her jump, and the workers told us it wasn't too late, that if anyone else was interested they could still harness them up, no problem. I think we know what comes next here, out of pure adrenaline/stupidity, I excitedly yelled, 'strap me up!' It was the most unpredictable experience, because before this point I was terrified just watching people jump, and now I felt completely fearless. I don't know what came over me, whether it was the breathtaking (litterally!) scenery, the loud pump up music, or once again, pure stupidity, I felt so relaxed you would have thought I was about to take a walk on the beach. Sukie and I were standing on the bridge, making jokes, dancing to the music, and I couldn't wait. It was quite a site to see hardcore bikers with tattoos up and down them, smoking cigarettes and sweating of nervousness and Sukie and I 'break dancing'.

It was my turn, and I got strapped up (just this measly thing wrapped around your ankles- okay that's what it felt like anyway), as the workers helped me step to the edge I warned them that they were going to have to push me- there was no way in heck I would be able to jump off a 216 meter bridge completely on my on free will, close, but not completely. Then there was no time to think, "3...2...1 BUNGEE!!" They all said I looked so funny after they pushed me, my arms flailing like I was trying to pull myself back. The first second, all I can remember was complete, all over body shock- as Roy says, "Hard to explain the rush...flying toward Terra ferma at terminal velocity with your life in the hands of a bunch of rubber bands! WOW!" The next few seconds were bliss- I was able to stretch out my arms (they had given up apparently in pulling myself back on the bridge) and thoroughly enjoy while screaming through the free fall. As soon as I felt the cord bounce me back up, I remember just screaming "I'M ALIVE, THANK YOU GOD I'M ALIVE!". It's incredible then to just bounce a few more times and be in the middle of this incredible vast, scenery- even if it was all upside down! After what seemed like an eternity of hanging, I got pulled back up with an unbelievable adrenaline rush. I am so glad I did it, and if given the chance, I would definitely do it again!

Learning to eat all over again

(This meal incredible- salad with feta cheese and cherries and egg plant with chicken, cheese and ??? some other things that were really tastey!)

Next to my 'accent', the 2nd hardest way to hide that I am a foreigner is when it comes time to eat. I don't know how many times I sat in the dinning hall, and had to turn to ask a friend, 'what is this and how do I eat it?' At my first meal off the plane, Almarie (and every South African I've met after her) excitedly asked if I had ever tried Biltonge. The first time I heard it, in my ears I heard 'bull tongue'- and instantly I felt my stomach sink and I thought, 'I just landed in Africa and already they're offering me strange animal parts to eat!' Ahh! Since then I've learned its actually a prized, higher quality type of jerky. Unfortunately, it just so happens jerky is one of the only foods I can not stomach, so with a big smile I've received and regifted a few gifts of Biltonge since I've been here.

I was freaked out when I was first offered milk for my 'pourage' (cereal) that had been left out over night. Their milk is processed differently here in a way that makes it long lasting- it can go days without being in the fridge- that took some getting used to!

I've been served a lot of interesting combinations here as well- one was a croissant with graded cheese and jam for breakfast. It was surprisingly 'nice'. It's so interesting to me how they never use the word 'good', always 'nice'. And it's definitely 'jam', not 'jelly'. One day at lunch I mistakenly asked someone to pass the 'jelly' and I got a whole table of funny looks. Their 'jelly' is our Jello, so you can only imagine their confusion (& mine!). Also when they eat Jello, they pour hot vanilla custurd on top which is weird.Their 'crisps'/'chips' are so interesting to me- with flavors like Thai Chili, Tomato, and Spring Onion and Cheese. Fast food around here is also a lot more exciting, you can order pizza with sausage in the crust, and your hamburger choices include ones with mushroom sauce, fruit chutney or even a fried egg if you'd like! If you order 'chips' (fries) with your meal they even include a tiny fork to eat them with- and that is a perfect example of the 'cutlery' manners and expectations around here. Wow- eating has become an art form! Through early and kind teasing from Rufus I learned Americans are 'confused' in thinking the side of their fork is actually a knife to cut things with- that's not the case here. A knife and fork are in hand through the whole process of eating until your done, and then you set them down together diagonally on your plate. Heaven forbid you ever pick something up with your hands! One day out to lunch, Almarie stopped and took my picture because she was so proud of how I've learned to use my knife!

I am becoming quite accustomed to my Robust Tea and rusks as well as the scones, 'biscuits' (cookies) and chocolate they have here- they're all so 'divine'! With all these new and exciting things to try I don't think I'll be coming home looking like I've been in Africa!

Allow me to introduce you to my Host Family

Almarie, Rufus, Justus, and Inge. It's absolutly unreal how lucky I am to have been connected to these people and been counted as a member of their family since day 1. Almarie, who is excitedly holding her much desired Starbucks travel mugs from my family, may be one of the single most meaningful reasons why I'm here. I just don't feel like I can rightly express it in words. I love watching how her faith seems so real and simple. On any and every occasion she is sharing and living wisdom, making wise cracks that get me laughing, and taking more than an incredible amount of care of me. She has become a priceless friend and mentor and I already have this inkling she's going to be the hardest thing to leave when I come home.

Rufus, who I promise is the Crocodile Hunter, SA version, is much of the same. He is a man that gets very squeamish if kept indoors too long and is always willing to tenderly share what he's learned about life and God and ministry to anyone who will listen. A few times I've got to help him write his emails, which was funny, because apparently it shortens the process for him a great deal! I appreciate how he too makes such an effort to be apart of my life here. I am spoiled to get calls often asking how I'm doing and if I'm happy.

If you were wondering- it's real- Justus and I are definitely holding some homegrown Transkei Marijuana in the picture!

That's one thing I'm thinking probably shouldn't make it into my

souvenir collection.

Transkei- Take 2

A few weeks ago I got a special treat to tag along with an American team back into the Transkei. They were coming to do a variety of projects, one being going back to the school I visited before to do a course on AIDS awarness. My mom, being the compassionate and go-getter she is, arranged for the team to bring a suitcase from her filled with school supplies

(posters, blocks, chalkboards, atticus, balls, books) for me to take to them. What an awesome time to be the messenger! I really enojed showing the teachers everything and I know it will bless the kids and the school tremendously. It was an experience for me to have to show them what could and couldn't stick to the magnent board- something new to them!

I had such a light hearted and playful time with the kids this trip. My first trip I honestly really struggled to connect to what I was seeing and I became regretably stand off-ish. It was like I was seeing things in a picture- it had no deapth, if that makes sense. There was nothing I could relate to, we couldn't communicate, their culture was strange to me, and I was hesitant to even what body language was acceptable. This time was different and a connection was made through the little girl that is on my lap in the picture below. You know how most of the time when you pick up a little one to just squeeze and love to pieces, they normally lay there limp, unresponsive. When I picked up and hugged this young girl, I felt her little arms and tiny hands and fingers sqeeze me back. That was the first thing I understood in this village all day.

I spent most of my time surrounded (mobbed - in a good way- more like!) by little ones soaking it up. I would start to rub some backs, and all of a sudden someone was at my back giving it a good rub and even a masage! I would attempt to walk around, but I always had at least 2 kids holding on to my hips, so it was quite a slow, but sweet process to get anywhere. I was holding hands and playing tag, I was tickling and having my hair styled by their curious fingers. I got out my MP3 player and I had a line of tiny-big people hoping to get the chance to listen. They would all bob their heads and pretend to know the words as they sang along to Lifehouse and others. It's incredible how powerful a thing touch is, but it's a tragedy how rare and special it is to them.

A Girl's Home in Boy's Village

This is my new home in the 'Boy's Village' of Kingswood College. It's a gated area right next to the school with three houses, mine being the one back to the left in this pic-->

My house is called 'Rob House' and it has three bedrooms for the boys, a room for the Head Matron (older lady who's in charge) a room for me, a little kitchen and a living room area. This last weekend I had my first time on 'duty' where you get to hang out with the boys, plan activities for them (like going to the pool/computer lab/sports fields ect.), take them to their meals, make sure they shower, are in bed on time and then we wake them up in the morning. Our house has 11, 5th-7th grade boys who are all very ornery. They love to rough house, and they surprisingly learned I could hold my own! "Ms. Duggan's stronger than she looks!" "Ms. Duggan's fast'a than a cheetah!" My weekend with them was so much fun, we played games together on my lab top, I taught them how to play the card game Spoons, we went to the pool and they taught me how to play Cricket. Spoons was funny because I couldn't find any spoons so I used my mascara tubes just to watch them squirm. They were impressed with my Cricket playing- even though I didn't really understand what I was doing, I supposedly made some outs and scored some runs!The overload of testosterone had a funny effect on me- one moment I was beating them all at arm wrestling, and the next moment I had to paint my nails to balance out.

There are several college students that work at Kingswood as 'Stooges' (they have the responsibilities that I mentioned before) and it makes life at Kingswood so enjoyable. They have all become such good friends- so fun, incredibly friendly and willing to invite me along to things. Here's a peak at our Cricket game, it was Stooges against the kids-- didn't catch the exciting plays, but you can hear a little bit of their accents and see a little of what I see...

I thought we spoke the same language...

When you go for a drive in South Africa you make turns at the 'robots' (traffic lights). If you're from the States, it will most likely 'cause you a fright' as you find yourself driving on the left side of the road. (This creates a really funny experience for me because when you look at the drivers seat it looks like no ones driving the car!)'Oh my word!' So 'hectic' (crazy)! It's interesting to me how it parallels with people walking on the left side of the hallway- I've finally learned this the hard way! Kingswood College is filled with 'grade knots' (Kindergarten) to 'Matrics' (Seniors) and I don't teach Fifth Graders, but 'Grade Fives'. They all just got back from their 'holiday' so they're very rested and active. My class is filled with names like Vaughen, Clifford, Bronwyn, & Vuyo who are a 'lovely' group who manage to be 'quite nice' and 'naughty' at the same time. (A relief that kids seem to stay the same no matter where you go!) High expectations are put on these kids to keep their 'files' (notebooks) 'tidy' and all their 'rubbish' in the 'dust bins'. They work diligently to not get 'ticks' (check marks) so their 'marks' (grades) will be high and they always stick to their 'time tables' (calanders). They use 'elastics' (rubber bands) and 2 ring 'punches' on their papers. (I confusedly asked where the 3 ring hole punch was {laughter} and I was told I probably wouldn't find one of those around here.) The kids are very polite, if I needed anything they'd ask, 'mus'nt I go fetch that for you?' As I wrote before, I am always 'keen' for 'half past 10' (never 10:15 or 10:30, but quarter past 10...) for tea and 'samies' (grilled cheese with tomatoes) in the teacher's lounge where you can also find their 'pigeon holes' (mailboxes). I think it's pretty 'kiff' (cool) how the 'chaps'/'oaks' (guys) always offer me their 'sweeties' (candy), but sooner or later I'm going to have to learn to say no. (This is not a language barrier problem unfortunately!) I hope to get the chance to load some more pictures 'just now' (not to be confused with 'right now' but 'eventually'- again, I had to learn this one the hard way).

It's been so good to have all these experiences, but it sure doesn't keep me from missing warm hugs and deep relationships. Miss you all so much :)

I thought I arrived in Africa...

One of the most interesting parts about SA is how it's home to 2 drastically different cultures. A week ago I was in the Transkei walking among black African women wrapped in cloth in their rodillas (clay homes with straw roofs) holding their starving babies, and now I'm surrounded by a community of black and (mostly) white Africans who seemed to have been transported from Britain yesterday. I feel like I've travel to 2 countries in one trip!

I started with my actual Student Teaching at Kingswood College in Grahamstown last Tuesday. It's a boarding school for k-12 grade. I still can't comprehend how these little kids live so far from home while still being so young- I'm 23 and can still get homesick!

On my first day you could have told me I had somehow arrived on another planet and I would have believed you. Wherever you walk there are students greeting you, "'Mam" and my class even stands up to greet me when I walk in the room! "Good day Ms. Duggan". It really caught me off guard when the students pause beside the door frame waiting to let me go through first. The British Education culture has to be made up of geniuses, because the best surprise came around 10:30am when I learned there was a tea and toasted sandwich break everyday for all the teachers! I am definitly willing to bring this tradition back to the states! It was fun to see the students eagerness to ask me questions, one memoriable one being "What celebrities have you met? Have you been to California? Las Vegas?" [Since all they know of the US is from the movies! I can't imagine what preconcieved ideas they had about me!]