Prince Alfred Street Backpackers Pietermaritzburg

... curry sauce. For dessert we had an apple cobbler type thing with REAL ice cream that was actually CREAMY because the ice cream they give us is icy lol. So I was really happy. We also had gifts on the table for them too of like candies and there were some speeches given and things like that. These people work so hard to make things so great for us here and it was a nice chance to show them that we really appreciate ALL their hard work.

Towards the ending we ...

... study but it's not going amazing so I think I am going to call it a night. I am just ready to be done with finals. Our schedule will still be pretty busy even after. tomorrow the final is at 8 30 am then we are making a big luncheon for the staff here (about 30 ppl) to say goodbye and then one last soccer game and then the evening is pretty open but I still need to pack up my entire room!! ahh! and then Thanksgiving we have quite a bit going on too.

... I'm still processing everything and all that has happened. Britni gave a cool reflection and Jon Wallace's favorite quote from the day came from her :) It was pretty cool.

Britni and I got a chance to talk with the Bixby's (I probably totally just spelled their name wrong) through lunch and it was really nice. Mr. B is on the board and his wife got to come with him so S.A. His daughter actually went on the South Africa study abroad trip too and ...

... some of these were actually pretty nice! Like they had bedrooms and a kitchen and living room and tv and everything. It wasn't like your or my house but it was a lot better than i expected.

It was tough walking around the community today. Not only because we were meeting with people who are infected with HIV and AIDS and seeing that they aren't doing well and seeing the physical effects of it but also because I couldn't help but think did I ...

... out waiting for baba to come pick us up. During this time we had some really interesting and hilarious conversation on polygamy, Mormonism, and self defense. It was great, Meredith is so funny.

When baba got us we went back to AE where we saw a familiar face pull up behind us in the buckee... Matt Browning! He is well to be honest i'm not sure what his official title is but he is like the head to the study abroad office I think and he ...

21 short hills greeted me this morning for a work out, oh joy! But Britni did them with me so that was nice. We started out at Bruce's house today and finished more of the green beans. We worked there from about 9:30-1:30 then went to WITL where we met with the gogo's again. Our teacher Francis came to help us implement the skills we are learning in community engagement. He is such a sweetheart, both he and his wife Rose are so sweet. Anyways we ...

... with. A lot of us plan on donating some of the clothes that we brought here but I almost would rather not giving it to them or for the ministry to hold the stuff that we donate for a while after we're gone then give it to the people in Haniville because then they wouldn't know it is from us and have that expectation.

When Philip came to fetch us the children really didn't want us to leave but eventually we were able to go. Yesterday Philip ...

Well today was not really a weekend. I spent 6 hours in class today :( then time for a run, dinner and watched a movie with Britni, Adah, and a few others. We watched Benjamin Button and I guess it was alright. It wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either. I'm exhausted and really don't want to go to church tomorrow ...

So the sad part of today was that we didn't get to go to Drakensburg and hike to the bushman cave paintings because of the weather :( The good news was that this was our first day we have really relaxed that much. Brenna and I went to the mall together today and it was really nice to hang out :) We got some post cards and birthday cards for upcoming birthdays then went and found some garlic bread and ...

... I thought I already got mine at the beginning of the trip but I guess not.

The last two nights have been really nice actually, not so much homework and after very long days I got to watch a movie and kinda do homework. Although Africa has been so fun it is no walk in the park. Class is intense and long and there is always homework and reading, lots of reading. Tomorrow we are leaving at ...