Recently in Kelly Lund Category

This is my last blog for our South Africa trip. I actually tried typing it the other night, but when I'm at home in good ol' Hutchinson, I steal wireless from the neighbors :). And apparently there is karma because I had finished my last blog and really enjoyed what I had written and I was kicked off of the internet....and it didn't save my blog...or upload it to this site. As you can see I was a little frustrated by it and decided not to re-do it that night. So I'm writing it now!

So class started yesterday, I only had one, History of the Holocaust. And as morbid as it sounds, I'm excited for the class to progress so I can learn more about that time period. I have three classes today, two down and one more to go, my night class at 5:20. Ick.

Let's just say I'm not ready to be back to school yet. Not ready for the realities of life to come full force at me, which they did. I missed a lot of stuff while I was in Africa. Some of it good, some of it bad. To be honest, it just scares me to know that I missed so much in such a short span of time. There were things I could control and things that were completely out of my control, and it scares me. It's been hard being back but I know that it will get better as time goes on.

One thing that has really helped my integration back into Minneapolis is my dad and Annie. They both came and picked me up from the airport. After we went out to eat and on our drive to the restaurant, at the restaurant, and our drive home they were asking me questions. Not just the typical what was your favorite part of the trip. They asked in depth of what happened and how it made me feel. When I got home, I showed them all of the pictures I had taken and tried to describe to them what I had seen. Even though they will never completely understand what I went through, they both tried their hardest too, and to me that means the most out of anything that they could have done. I realize that not everyone I talk to about my trip will be like this, none of my six roomates were. But I will cherish them and their need to help me succeed and to help me reinterate into Minnesota. I will never forget or misuse that about my dad and Annie.

Besides that, I have all of my stuff unpacked at home and at my apartment so everything is clean! Which is a nice change, I'm sure it won't stay this clean for very long though!

An expectation, or a hope that I have is that we all stay in contact in Minneapolis. I realize that a lot of people are graduating, some are not in Minneapolis, and not everyone got along. But this trip was an out of the world experience that we only understand. I think it would be healthy to stay in contact so we can talk to each other about Africa and just so we can grow in our friendships. Last night a bunch of us were supposed to meet at Buffalo Wild Wings to eat dinner. It was Scott, Ed, and I. I was slightly disappointed that no one else showed up. I realize it was the first day of class and some people had night class, but we were so excited to meet up when we got back. I just hope that this doesn't continue to happen and we can make this work for all of us.

On Friday, a small group of us went to Cape Point. The southern most tip of South Africa. It was one of the coolest things that I have ever seen. There were beauttiful mountains that we got to climb and at the the end of the point, the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans met. I had never seen anything like it before. The morning started out crappy with a cold, rainy, windy, foggy hike on Lion's Head with Scott. We didn't make it up the entire mountain, almost half way. Even though it was very hard to see, it was an experience worth it and I'm really glad that we got up at 4am to do it. Later that day, we also went to Boulder Beach and got to swim with penguins! It was a really cool beach, the water was warm, we got to climb around on rocks, and we got to get really close to the African penguins. It was a really busy but a really good day. That night, we had our last get together as a group. We had a party at house 7. All of us on the trip were together and we invited people that we had met throughout our trip. There was a lot of good food, drinks, music, and a bonfire. We ate, danced, and talked late into the night. It was an amazing time to see everyone for the last time for we went and for everything that happened in South Africa, the good and the bad. I wouldn't change one bit of it for the world. :) 

We only have less than one week left in South Africa. I can't even believe it. After a week, we go home and have to start a new semester. This is something that I am looking forward too. We have been working in the townships for a couple days now, and it is a huge eye opener. Our first day, we walked around nthe Delft township and we walked to the clinic. There is one clinic in the township for over one million people. There are three doctors and no surgeons. It is a miracle that t hey have a free clinic in the township, but it is so small that people are not able to get in because the waiting line is so long.

When we were walking through the clinic, I was filled with so many emotions. I was angry, sad, confused, and scared. I didn't know what to feel and I automatically decided that their life conditions were unfair and I wanted to "help" them. But then I began to realize that I couldn't and didn't need to "help" these South Africans, but I was filled with pity.

I discussed this with our group and the workers from Afrika Tikun. The response I got was that the South Africans lives are actually very similar to ours. There is success, happiness, saddness, and laughter. Our lives are very similar and even though South African lives are not as extravagent as the one's that are lived in the United States it doesn't mean they're lower than us or need "help". The people of South Africa are happy and filled with pride. They cherish what they own and don't worry about what they don't have. I was slightly upset when I was told not to feel sympathy for the South Africans in the townships. But not that I've thought about it and had time to reflect, it makes a lot more sense.

The townships, the culture and the life lived is beautiful. Enough said.

Hi Guysss!

This is my second blog that I have written for class and it will be my first one while I'M IN AFRICA. I'm sure I could be on my third or fourth blog already, but we've been so busy in Capetown and I have been trying to do every possible thing in Capetown that I enjoy!

Like I said, there has been so many things that have gone on while I have been in South Africa that I don't even know where to begin for my blog. I loveeeee that it is summer time here, it has been beautiful the week and a half we have been here. I am burnt like a crisp but having the sun rays beat into my skin everyday feels amazing and any sunburn is worth it. South Africa makes me happy, I haven't been this genuinely happy in  a really long time, this is going to make leaving so much harder. It's not just the weather that is making me happy. I am with amazing people that are here to do the same thing that I am. I know that we will all get something different out of this trip, but I guarentee that everyone will grow as a person in some way, shape, or form. The culture and people here are all beautiful too. There are so many different types of people in South Africa and they are slowly learning to all live together in a peaceful state. I aspire for the United States to grow like South Africa. Every South African that I have met so far has been awesome. They are culturally diverse people, they're open and honest, and they all have managed to teach me something about the country or myself. And I am so grateful for all of them.

One thing that I still am working on is time. The difference in how time works from South Africa to the United States. I am so used to having a watch on or being able to check my cellphone for the time whenever I would like. There is almost a clock in every room in my house or apartment and I am used to being on time or being early. Being on time is normally considered being late. I am a very relaxed and peaceful person, but time is a huge thing in my life. And it has been hard, especially at restaurants because it takes so long to get our drinks, food, and bill. I just have to learn and remember that time here is a cultural difference and to be patient. Patience is key in this country and if I get that down, I should be able to intergrate into the culture more.

So this is my first blog for South Africa....actually, this is my first blog I have written ever! Big deal, I know, but I hope for everyone who reads this, I hope it is a learning experience. Not just for myself, but for the people reading it, that you will begin to understand what I go through and what we, as a group experience in our adventure to South Africa together. :)

There are so many reasons why I chose to go to South Africa this winter break. I don't think I could fit it into a single paragraph, but some of the main reasons I am choosing to go are because I have always had a fascination with Africa. I find it to be a diverse and beautiful country that I have never understood. There are many different people, cultures, and religions that are not highly known in the United States. They have gone through things that I cannot even image and they still manage to be true to themselves, that is a beauty in itself.

I also chose this global seminar because of it's name, South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change. I was looking online and I saw the name and instantly read the description of the program. I fell in love with the seminar. The description talked about the beauty of South Africa and how the people, even through Apartheid have achieved a sense of happiness and zeal of life. It discussed that as a student I would focus on my "self" and to be honest, I think that is a major thing that I need to work on in my life. I hope that I will be able to focus on my "self" and to be able to grow as a person and to be able to understand the culture and my surroundings in a positive way to help me figure out who my "self" truly is. The description says we will learn about the history of South Africa and we will examine how South Africans view their community and how they live together. This caught my eye because I want to work with urban youth in particular and many urban youth are a different ethnicity than I am and I believe that this will help me grow as a person and a youthworker to better begin understanding other cultures.

      My expectations for this trip are far and wide. I'm so excited to go to South Africa but am incredibly nervous at the same time. I have never travelled this far, I've been to Mexico and Canada but those two countries almost don't count because they're so close! I've never gone over the ocean! So I'm not looking toooo forward to the plane ride :P I get antsy with a four hour plane ride to Mexico so we'll see how this goes! But I am expecting this to be an amazing trip! I've heard this trip is awesome and I have heard from other people who have visited South Africa that is incredibly beautiful. So I'm expecting nothing less. But I don't know what to expect with we do our service learning in the Delft township. As Kevin Winge stated in his book, I'm afraid that I will only be looking through an "American lense". I'm scared that I won't be able to get past my "Americanism" to be able to truly grow with my experience. So my expectation of myself is to get past my "Americanism" and to be able to "come in right" to South Africa. I can't wait!!!!!! :)