1. Dairymilk Chocolate - specifically white chocolate because it's my favorite, but they are all amazing and I hope we can find this in the US because we are all obsessed with it! However, not the Turkish flavor.
2. Hunter's - South Africa's version of a Woodchuck or Crispin. The lemon-flavored kind is the best. Yummmm
3. Not having my cell phone - I do have a provided cell phone to use here but never use it and it is very refreshing to not be constantly checking my Blackberry for texts/calls/emails. Hopefully I can get out of the habit when I return without annoying people for not responding in due time.
4. Pick n Pay - That is the name of a popular grocery store here where I go almost every day! It's been fun trying new brands of food and experiencing part of a South African's everyday life.
5. Charles - Dooodts!!! He works for Interstudy and has been so great at making us feel comfortable here and just being a fun friend to hang out with.
6. Being a tourist - Yes it is awkward feeling like a tourist in a place like this, but there is just so much history here and so much to learn that it is necessary. The places we went were so amazing and if we had not done the touristy things I feel like I would be missing out on a lot of what South Africa and Cape Town have to offer.
7. Walking next to an ex-political prisoner - Today at Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned, our tour guide was a former prisoner himself and I walked next to him for a bit. It was very humbling to just be in his presence and know how strong of a man he is for all he went through and what he is able to do every day. I wish I had gotten to know his story.
8. The Muslim family in Delft - I was lucky enough to have been able to learn from a family about their views of South Africa, their Islamic faith, and how they tie in together along with some great wisdom about how they live their life. They were the kindest people I've ever met and I wish I had more time with them because in just the short time we had they were so inspiring.
9. Anthea and those at MaT - They have been absolutely wonderful teachers to us without even being teachers. I feel like they have been of greater service to us than we were to them, and they are truly inspiring people who I will strive to emulate.
10. The feeling I get from people in South Africa - This was a common theme in talking circles recently. I haven't ever felt so welcome anywhere at any point of my life, let alone in a foreign country. The people here are all so kind and like Nate said, are very moral-based. They are just good people. It doesn't matter that we are from the US, they are kind to us and smile and give and teach and we have learned so much more from them than they could learn from us.
