One busy week!

Here are some pictures from the Restaurant/Pub that we went to tonight!! : )

Ok so this week has been a bit overwhelming with a few papers to write... That has been a top priority to accomplish for many of us. While being here, I feel that many of us try to not procrastinate because there are always things happening and going on during the week and on the weekends so when there is an assignment due, I try to start working on it right away to check it off the list of to do's right away. That is very different with the way I went about doing homework back at apu... haha. But I think it is a good habit to get into.

Yesterday, we visited the other two service sites that are an option for many of us to go to for the mission work that we do in a few weeks. I visited one of the sites called, "Walk in the light" ministry, yesterday that really just pulled on my heart. They help out the community in Hanniville, SA, which 60% of the population has HIV/AIDS. All the sites are in great need and I am glad that our group can help while being here. There are a certain amount of spots at each site so we will eventually sign up for where we want to be. Although that particular service site stood out to me, I am praying about where God really wants me to be and where I can be used and molded in whichever way he desires. Please help pray for each individual here and help to not make it about "Where do I want to be serving?" but rather, "Where does God want me to be?"

This morning a few of us went on a run at 6am down the dirt road near our campus. The run down is absolutely lovely (because it is all downhill), but the coming back up of the road is rather difficult and definitely a workout. My goal is to run the entire way down and up by the end of our stay here at African Enterprise ( African Enterprise is the location of our campus). It is definitely going to be a challenge but I am determined to do it!! There are hills everywhere in Africa and it takes a bit of a toll on your joints and especially my knees so I think i'll have to be more mindful stretching.

I really love the chalet I live in here. There are four rooms (2 girls in each room) and I live with the following gals: Kristin, Hillary, Angie, Delaney, Alyssa, and Daniele! It is just a great living environment with everyone. I love the routine that many of us are in... every morning many of us wake up at 6am to either briskly walk or run and it is seriously the best way to start the morning. Also, it is the coolest time of day to exercise. Somedays by 8:30 am it is already scorching hot outside. But many of us continue to wake up every morning to really just take advantage of the our surroundings and being in this amazing place. It is not everyday that you can walk through a game reserve and see Zebra's. monkey's, and antelope.

Today it is about 34 Celsius outside... which is like 95 degrees I believe. It gets really humid and hot here.. It reminds me a lot of summers in Minnesota actually! So it is not a huge weather shock for me, but for some people it is because they have never experienced humidity. Many of us girls have "let ourselves go" in a sense when it comes to styling our hair. There is honestly no point to straighten our hair because the inevitable happens... it always gets big and poofy! lol...

Anyways, today we went to an Art gallery in downtown Pietermaritzburg for our Art class. It was a really fun field trip and the type of art here is very interesting. I found that they use a lot of bright colors here in Africa. Afterwards, we all went to this adorable cafe (reminded me of a cafe in France) and had about two hours to sit and chat in there. One of the girls ordered a Bacon and banana sandwich! Crazy combination right?... but we all tried it and it was very delicious.

Tonight is ladies night at the pub down the street! A bunch of us are going because it is half off for us : ] ... I hear it has really good food and a fun atmosphere so I am excited to go check it out with everyone. I hear they have really good fajitas which I am most likely to get. They pretty much do not have any mexican food here and I am having withdrawals.

Something that I am really getting accustomed to is tea time! We always have muffins/cookies/cinnamon rolls and tea and coffee. It is so delicious... Although, I am trying to limit my intake of muffins and replacing it with granola bars because if you add up all those muffins... it is no bueno if you know what I mean.. ;)

This weekend should be fun and I am really looking forward to it! Saturday we are having a beach day in Durban! That way we can work on some of our tans and it is actually bearable cause we can cool off in the ocean. woop woop. In this heat, it is such a treat to be near water. We also are going to go shopping at vendors where we can get authentic south african merchandise.

Alrighty, I am off to pay attention now as I am sitting in my Intercultural Communication Class! Take care everyone!!
<3 Jamie Lee