Riv Life... Come :) and Gone :(

So, yes... I know it's been over a month since my last post. And that's precisely how much fun I've been having- too much to sit at my lap top and regurgitate it all.
So let's rewind and start with my Riv Life experience...

The Riv Life team consisted of four girls, including myself.
For about a month we spent Mondays through Thursdays at this organization mostly working with kids ages 4 to 14. These kids would show up after school to play games, make art, and eat a meal before going home. Tuesday and Thursday mornings were spent at an HIV support group. We learned SO much, took a few very needed naps, cried a bit, and met the most amazing people alive.

These kids come to Riv Life after school to spend time/love on us. :) We are so lucky. This particular day was spent sidewalk chalking, face painting, and paper painting.

We had lots of fun :)

Someone got into the face paint... we had to guard it with our lives.
70 kids to 4 adults is totally a manageable ratio.. sure.

The following photos are from the HIV positive support group we got to hang out with on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These women have created a successful business within their community- making dresses, skirts, aprons, jewelry, pillows, etc... It's amazing to experience the way their faith and dependence on each other plays such an integral role in the motivation to work and be productive. Probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever gotten to be a part of.

We mapped out each members individual strengths and stood back in awe at how much talent this group possesses.

She made things fun :)

Beading a cell phone carrier

We love our flexi flans!

Rebekah getting measured for a dress

Fabric for our dresses/skirts... we were sooo excited!

Lynn is the social worker from Riv Life who came with us to the meetings.
She's having a little baby soon. :)

Attack of the flexi flans.. I had nightmares about these things.

We did an exercise reflecting on personal goals.

Maduma helped me draw my personal goals. :)

It was all business.

Princess and Thande were my buds :)

We had a dance party one afternoon and were all a little shocked/horrified at the moves these kids busted out.

We had a dance party one afternoon and were all a little shocked/horrified at the moves these kids busted out.

Nani was my dance partner

We asked the kids to paint their houses, and used them to brighten up the play room.

Tire swings are way fun.

I think it's funny...

So, this past week has been pretty humorous. Not sure why- maybe the lack of sleep and sanity that's so unavoidable during finals week.

Instance #1

Ashleigh and I played one small prank on the boys, and got annihilated in return. We came home from dinner one night and the contents of our rooms were completely switched- my belongings in her room, and her's in mine. EVERYTHING: mattresses, bedding, clothes, pictures on walls, textbooks, and computers. They even put our pictures up the same way we had set them up in our own room. It was pretty impressive, but terribly annoying.

My stuff, Ashleigh's room

Ashleigh's pictures, My room

My stuff, Ashleigh's room:
It tripped us out a bit...

The next morning we had to re-move into our own rooms.

Instance #2

I don't have a picture of this event, but I thought I should include it anyway...

We had two massage therapists come to our campus this last weekend. I took advantage of this opportunity, and signed up for a massage. It was raining on the day that the masseuses came, which meant that monkeys were everywhere, trying to get into buildings on campus (many of them succeeding). Anyway, as a precaution, I carried a large 'bat-like' stick up with me to the place where I was getting my massage. Thankfully, I didn't get attacked, but I was on full alert up until I was safely inside. I met my masseuse and she explained the whole massage process to me. I listened and only felt awkward because I could tell she was a little tense. After a couple minutes of her giving me instruction, she paused and asked me what I wanted her to do with the stick. I had totally forgot to explain my monkey-weapon.

Instance #3

Do I even need to explain the following two pictures?

Just plain brilliant.

Instance #4

So, at an afternoon birthday party this last week- Kim, Ashleigh and I decided to 'play pregnancy' and stuck balloons in our shirts. I soon came up with the brilliant idea to balance my dessert plate on my balloon tummy. I'm sure you can guess what happened next...

Yep. You guessed it... I hadn't even finished my pie.

Instance #5

Is this a bat or a moth?... you decide:

On a more serious note...

The first month of classes is now complete. We will be staying in Pietermaritzburg for another month before we leave for Cape Town to finish off our trip. We have begun our community engagement course and will continue it while we work at our service sites. I will be serving at an organization called RivLife.
(Visit http://www.rivlife.com/about.html for more information.)


We will work from 8am to 4pm Mondays through Thursdays for a month. My work there will include home-visits into the neighboring township, helping in setting up a community-run bakery, and facilitating an HIV and Aids support group. I will also have the opportunity to create friendships with the children who live in the townships. The director of RivLife mentioned setting up an 'art therapy'-type program for the children which I would obviously LOVE to be a part of. It is slightly overwhelming to think about doing all this now, but I am beyond excited to truly experience this unique community.

Another Day in Durban

Last weekend we spent the day in Durban:
Durban Art Gallery, lunch by the beach, and Sharks rugby game!...

I tagged along with the art class in their field trip to the Durban Art Gallery.

These were a few of my favorite pieces...

Well- this was the ceiling... but still.

We had lunch at Moyo, a really neat restaurant close to the Durban market and beach.
They painted our faces- war paint for the rugby game.

Me and Steph :)

Go Sharks!

We had no idea what was going on.. a lot of kicking, hitting, and tripping.

We did, however, manage to start multiple 'waves' throughout the audience.
I have a video of us starting a wave that rippled through the entire stadium, and back to us.
It was so powerful, I almost cried.

This is my classroom.

These are pictures taken during my last Biology Field trip to a nature reserve...

Bio class in the safari truck

White Rhino

Pregnant Zebra.

They love each other.

Africa has thee BIGGEST moths... They're like small birds.

We also saw Hippo (which are Africa's most dangerous animal). But, they were immersed in the water- and all we could see were their big beady eyes poking out. They would occasionally come up for air, or to scare us away... scary little hungry hippos.

When in Africa...

These are some significant occurrences over the past week...

Today I watched this monkey try to get in my window for about a half hour.
He wanted my roommate's box of chocolate.

Ash and I dread-locked our hair.
I washed/brushed mine out the next morning.
Hers lasted a week.

South Africans looove our President- check out this bedding. :)

I ran into my friend Greg at the Keg and Hedgehog.
...not really.
But I asked this man to take a picture with me because he looks identical to my friend Greg.

Ashlee found a pressed lizard in her notebook. Poor little guy. :(
I'm pretty sure she hasn't peeled him off yet... memories.

This is my artist friend, Tiplo. He lives in Durban and is extremely gifted and
passionate about making art.

This is me after Tiplo gave me his phone number.