From the other side of the world!

So I've made it!! And it's incredible! The weather is not really cooperating as it is winter here but even the Cape of Storms isn't getting in the way of my experience. Today, I made it out to Rosebank to get sort of oriented with SAEP and what I would be doing there. To my surprise and delight, the organization is in need of a development professional to improve its systems and get the resources needed by the programs. After just one day of digging deeper into the workings of SAEP, I'm already floored to be able to help the org in more of a consulting role while getting to experience all of the programs they are currently working on - early childhood development, high school computer literacy program (their winter school program for high schoolers just wrapped up), and Gap Year Internship program. Plus, I'm here at the same time that an education professional is here doing a thorough review of SAEP's programs, results, challenges, etc. spanning over the past 5 years - it's a very exciting project and the leadership of the organanization is very open to suggestions, critiques and proposed actions (which is so refreshing after some of my experiences with non-profits whose staunch commitment to their mission can make them a little resistant to change and a bit over-protective of the way things are currently done). SO IT'S GREAT!! And the volunteers are all incredible individuals from all over the world. So on early next week I'll go into the townships but over the weekend I'm reviewing materials that Jane (amazing director of SAEP and super social justice woman) has sent me to help inform my development review - YAY homework! And tonight a bunch of us American volunteers are all getting ribs on the waterfront to celebrate July 4th (horrah!)



Otherwise, exploring Cape Town has been very fun. When I came in on Wednesday from the auport, the sun was just setting over Table Mountain (which has been covered in clouds everday so far, but I think it's so fun that they call that the table cloth). The hostel I'm staying at has a great location (quiet but very near the action), fun staff and a great crew of travelers. The first night, I got myself situated and exchanged traveling stories with other guests. There was a group of volunteers from the Eastern Cape whoe are staying in rural communities for a year and their experiences so far were so neat to hear about. I met an Aussie at the hostel and we ended up palling around yesterday. The morning was very nice and we just waled up long street and around the city bowl, making our way over to the waterfront. I'm surprised at how CLEAN everything is, I mean it's cleaner and more developed than most of New York! The waterfront shops are so posh looking - it's kinda set up like a shopping center wrapping around the water area. By the time we got there it was really beginning to rain so we hopped on a double-decker bus that takes routes around the city. We got to see a lot through that, stopping off in the beatiful city gardens, looking around the District Six museum which captured the many tranistions of cape town's history (especially the worst of the apartheid years), and having a delicious seafood lunch at the gorgeous Camps Bay beach. I go tto try a local fish called Kingklip which was a delicious white fish and reminded me of catfish. By the time we got back we were worn out from the rainy weather but stumbled upon a wine tasting in a nearby shop and got an earful of information on the wines of South Africa. We got abottle of Pinotage which I LOVED! Smooth like a Pinot Noir but with more body and a tiny hint of pepper on the nose (yay for becoming a snobby wino!) After chilling at the hostel for awhile we hit Long Street which is the center of night life in Cape Town (and conveniently close to the hostel). I discovered a lager, Whale Pale Ale, which was rather nice and love the name. While walking around, we were overtaken by the most enticing aroma and came upon the sausage stand that was responsible. The sausages were delicious and there was an extensive sauce bar with different dippings including a green chile sauce the could burn your tongues off! Overall, it was a great night.

Did I mention that I sat with a South African travel agent on the plane who let me pick her brain and offered lots of valuable advice? To me, she was like an angel and I felt very fortunate to have someone so knowledgeable. I never knew 18 hours on a plane could fly by so quickly! It was a bit annoying stopping in Dakar halfway through for the crew change as the Senegalese guards game on and checked the whole plane (baggage, seats, floors, etc.) but I was quickly asleep after that.

So far, so good!