Blog 14
May 6, 2011
Tell the World I’m Comin’ home…..
No, the title of this blog is not a joke. I am coming home in six days. Thus, this will be the last blog post from South Africa. I am sure some of you will be relieved not to get any more emails from me. It is a weird reality to face. I am so excited to be back in Colorado and more importantly to see my family but, it is weird thinking I am coming home and ending my year abroad. I am excited to get back some stability and consistency to my life but not really looking forward to leaving all the adventure behind. Not to worry I still have six full days to soak in all of South Africa that I can.
I know you all are wondering so, yes, I finished my project and have given my presentation. I am technically done with my junior year of college (okay my junior year of traveling around the world and calling it school). Another weird thing to think about, I am rising senior in college, whoa. Any who, I completed my paper and the final product was forty three pages. I never thought I could write a forty three page paper on anything. It was such a feeling of relief when I held the printed and bound copies of the paper in my hand. I gave my presentation, yesterday, it was a little too short but I think it went well. I learned a lot in doing this project; about researching, and about religion in South Africa and the world. It was a lot of work but I am really glad that I did it and that it is over. All in all, I am done, and I get to enjoy the last few days I have here.
We have moved out of our apartment and are on the move again. Until Sunday we will be in a backpackers place in Cape Town, doing presentations and soaking in the last days in the city. Sunday through Wednesday we will be about three hours outside of Cape Town at out “evaluation” sight. Here we will, obviously, evaluate the program and play around and relax. Then Wednesday back to Cape Town for a night, and Thursday, homeward bound. It should be an enjoyable couple of days to hang out with my friends and wrap up the program.
As we all learned last week, I have learned a lot on this trip. I have seen a lot of South Africa and I have made a lot of great friends. We were, my friends and I, talking last night about how this is undeniably an incredible experience. This trip has been something I will never get to experience again. I think about all that I have done since January and it is hard to comprehend. I am so grateful in for everything I have been able to do and experience. This whole year has been a once in a life time opportunity. I also want to thank you all for reading about my experiences. As cool as I think all of this has been, I can’t imagine my writing being that interesting. So thank you, you have all made this journey better.
In other news, today is my 21st birthday! Hooray! My friends have already been wonderful in making me feel like today is going to be a wonderful day. Not to be selfish but I encourage you all to celebrate today. Not because it is my birthday (okay a little bit) but also because today is a great day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful cousin Valerie Blake. I could not think of a better person to share my birthday with! I hope your day is terrific!
I know this is short but I guess it is a small sum up of my semester. I cannot wait to see and talk to you all in real life. So for those of you in the states, be warned, I am coming home!
Miss and love you all,
Sala Kakuhle,
Keely
