We love Southern Africa, but Southern Africa doesn't love internet! Apologies for the lack of updates, but we rarely have access to the web and when we do, we're on the run! As soon as I have some internet and some time, I'll be updating all of you! Now, that might not be until we return to the states(!) but hey, welcome to Africa!

I am not on my computer, so I don't currently have access to my pictures and to my video-making apparatus,  but I wanted to share some updates nevertheless.

This morning, we visited another one of the Rustenberg Rotary club's sponsored projects (just realized I haven't much spoken about any of the projects we've visited in detail! Will get on that, promise!). They've donated money and resources to an incredible school run by an incredible woman in a tiny village called Groot Marico, en route to Botswana. Before Santa (no, not THAT Santa) started the school (for children aged 3-5), there was NO early childhood education school or program for children of the village. Now, just yesterday, Santa attended the University graduation of one of her FIRST ten students who started in the late 1980s! Where do you think that girl may have been today without early schooling?

Groot Marico was a magically uplifting place, as the children laughed with us and performed for us, dancing in costumes to the PROFOUNDLY GORGEOUS music of the marimbas, played by local high school boys. I cannot WAIT to share the video! The music is some of the most goose-bump-inducingly-beautiful music I've heard. Frank and I did NOT. WANT. TO. LEAVE. They had to drag us out. And we were still dancing.

After visiting with the children (and learning some of the marimbas!), we went to the Groot Marico Community Art Project. The Project is also run by Santa and it is a place where local residents make beautiful arts, crafts and the like to be sold to raise money to sustain the village. Santa, incredibly grateful to the Rotarians for keeping her school alive, was excited to treat us to a traditional (and delicious) breakfast. It consisted of pap (spelling? anyway, a sort of thick porridge made of homegrown grains), worst (big, delicious sausage), and a sort of tomato/onion/something-delicious sauce to drench the pap with. Honestly, it doesn't sound that great and I was a bit put off by the pap (I hate oatmeal or ANYTHING soggy), but I tried it. and LOVED IT. GOT SECONDS. DELISH.

After breakfast, bought some things at the Art Project store: a striking painting of a woman and these.... somethings I don't know the name of. They're sort of maracas which African dancers tie around their ankles to make sounds while they dance... Not sure how much African dancing I'll be doing (probably a lot after this trip), but they'll make a nice table topper if I decide not to put on my dancing.... feet.  
 
After that brilliant morning, we drove to the Botswana border to meet our next new friends! When the border patrol was checking Nicole's luggage, we all got a GREAT laugh. He picked up her pack of tampons and pored over them carefully. He handled them with apprehension, as though they would explode at the slightest move. "What is this?" he asked. "Uh, tampons," Nicole responded. He still looked uneasy so she continued, "you know... for women... their periods..." He said, "I know..." (he didn't look like he knew!) "I just have to check. Some people try to smuggle drugs in there."

So! We arrived in currently in Botswana's capital of Gaborone (which we've learned should be pronounced Hah-ba-ro-ni. Like macaroni, but more... African. We went to Rotarian Gary's beautiful, secluded home in "the bush" for lunch... and it's SERIOUSLY in the bushes! We drove on a dirt road for....ever... and it didn't look like there was a home in sight. We finally arrived at his tucked away retreat, though, and were immediately welcomed by a  peaceful, relaxed vibe. All of my team members and I agreed that we could definitely spend an extended period of time here (don't worry family and best friends, I won't move...I don't think...)

After some much-needed R&R (we've been non-stop ever day since we landed!), we went to meet some more Rotarians from the club and I went back with my host, Sandra and met her husband and brother and they are seriously wonderful, funny people and we had a brilliant dinner and then cheese plate (to.die.for.) and then bananas foster dessert at their home and and aaand annnddd AAAAAAAAAAAAAND(!!!) I've decided that Rotary has done an impeccable job of selecting the world's most awesome humans as it's members. The end. 

...and we feel like we've been here for weeks. I've realized that the incredible thing about this GSE program is that we dive right into the heart and soul of a country and its people, so it feels as though we've been here for much longer. In just 3 days, I'm beginning to realize that this is unlike any experience we could ever have imagined as tourists. 

Tourists don't go from seeing zebra on a game drive to visiting a center for women and girls who were victims of human trafficking and violence. Tourists don't go from seeing South Africa's largest and most impressive casino to seeing watching a disabled child receive horseback riding therapy at a rehabilitation and learning center for children. Tourists do not go from enjoying a traditional braai (barbecue) with South African families to exploring a chrome mine and then listening to uplifting gospel music from the mouths of terribly ill patients suffering from HIV and other diseases. Yeah, seriously.

These are only SOME of the magical things we've been a part of so far and it's ONLY our third day here. I have zzzzilllions of pictures and a lot of great videos which I'm working into a movie--it'll be a beauty, so stay tuned!

We flew for approximately 12 hours from NYC to Dubai and here we are awaiting our connecting flight to Jo'burg. Although I can be pretty restless during long trips, Emirates was a great airline to fly--spacious, good food and great in-flight entertainment (tons of current movies, tv shows and music from which to choose).

We are currently at the charming Khayamanzi Bed & Breakfast in Hartbeesport, South Africa. Rotarians from the Brits club welcomed us with a wonderful braai (barbecue). We enjoyed a delicious meal and got to know some Rotarians and their children (fun kids!(. On the way from the airport, one of the Rotarians that came to greet us noticed that I'm coming down with some pesky sickness, so he phoned his wife and asked her to brings meds for me! We arrived at the B&B and she had a bag full of things to help me! Already some great hospitality :-) 

We have to be ready by 5:50 AM, as we're headed to a game reserve, so I really should be sleeping, but I got so much sleep on the plane rides (if I wasn't eating, I was sleeping!) that I feel pretty well-rested. Besides, I can't imagine NOT wanting to wake up to go see African wildlife!