it's march?!

So this past week was pretty jam packed. Last Saturday, me & two of my roommates went to the Soweto Gospel Choir concert at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens! Definitely one of my top experiences in Cape Town so far! Because it was an outdoor venue in an open, green field, everyone brought blankets & picnic food! It was beautiful and the weather was perfect. We had our picnic in a very reasonable spot on the lawn, but the minute the choir walked on, we sprinted up to the stage to sing & dance. Yes, the choir had choreography. And yes, I pretended like I knew the lyrics to all their songs... even though the majority weren't in English. I may or may not have mouthed "watermelon" continually to the beat to give the illusion that I was a dedicated fan and thus worthy to be weaseling my way to the very front. Rest assured that I knew all the words to Amazing Grace, Oh Happy Day, and a jam from the Lion King, though. I'm so cultured. ;) This choir literally rocked my socks off.... I was barefoot & grooving for the entire thing.

We'll just fast foreword through the whole school part of the week. Though, I did turn in my first paper here last week! Their grading system is quite different than back in the states, so it should be interesting to see what I end up making. Cross your fingers. I still think it's ridiculous to be in class with summertime weather like this, but oh well..

On Wednesday night, the "Extreme Home Makeover" for the St George's home for girls commenced. We found out about the work day from the Student Y society on campus, and didn't quiiiite know that it would last as long as it did, but I still really enjoyed it. The girls living in the home were sent to a nice hotel that morning and will arrive back home tomorrow to a completely revamped & renewed home! Part of me wants to go to the reveal and another part of me doesn't want to cry my little eyes out. So precious.

Today, me & my roommate Gabby ventured out to have a Market day in downtown Cape Town. We rode the very cheap "mini bus" a.k.a. "creepy van" for the first time, so that was yet another new experience under my belt. Though the buses are semi-known for their shadiness, the CD of the velvety voice of Luther Vandross over the van speakers soothed my nerves. Once we arrived downtown, we didn't quite know where we were, but through asking different vendors in the Court House lawn and in the flower market, we eventually wondered our way right into the Green Market Square. And let me tell you, it's my new favorite place. Sounds of street musicians and dancers radiate through the market as you browse through wood sculptures, colorful oil paintings, giraffe/elephant/rhino figurines, beaded necklaces, hand-made bowls/spoons, and drums. How I didn't purchase every single painting is beyond me! And anyone who knows me and my love for wall decor would have to agree. It's always interesting bargaining the vendors. I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything, but I think I have a gift in the land of bartering. Well, at least I think so. I was pleased with the prices I got.... the vendors could be laughing about how that tall American girl was a complete sucker, you never really know. My favorite moment had to be when we ate lunch at an outdoor cafe. There was a street musician playing his djembe & kazoo to my left and homemade art vendors to my right. And, as icing on the cake, I was drinking an ice cold Coca Cola. It's peaceful, beautifully simple moments like that that make the rough, confusing times of culture shock fizzle out. :)

Happy Saturday! -love, les