Goodbyes

Today was my last day here at St. John's School and I am longing for just a few extra days (or weeks!). I am going to miss everyone so much. To commemorate my departure, the girls in my dorm set up a wonderful surprise party for me! Natalie took me out of the dorm to take some pictures of the school, and when I got back I was greeted by a cake, endless snacks, and all of the friends that I had made over these four weeks. Tears were inevitably shed, but I know that this wont be the last I see of them. All of them have agreed to visit me if they are ever overseas, and I promised to keep in touch if I ever find myself back in Africa.

Now I'm off to Botswana for 10 days for the school holiday with my friend Courtney. Can't wait!

Sterkfontein Caves / Cradle of Humankind

WOW! Now this is what I would classify as an "adventure." Today Anna and I got to visit the Cradle of Humankind where the oldest human fossils (by a long shot) were found. We actually got to go underground and check out the excavation sites. How cool! There were actually scientists still searching the caves for some undiscovered fossils.

This is a picture of the narrow and eerie descent into the caves. It's amazing how the temperature drops! What an experience!!

Constitutional Court

This court is certainly a source of pride for the citizens of Johannesburg. Without even asking, we were booked to visit Constitutional Court before we even arrived here at St. John's. Anna and I were lucky enough to get an art and architecture tour of the building - who knew there could be so much symbolism behind the vast styles of furniture! To me, the most striking thing about the Court was how open it was to the public. Stacy, our amazing tour guide, told us about the location of the Court. It is basically a "passing zone," so people travel throughout the Courthouse grounds on a daily basis - and this is exactly what was planned. My favorite design of the building was part of the actual courtroom. A slim and oblong window that rests close to the ground is the only way to look outside. Through this window, due to it's low laying position, you can only see legs of the people walking by the court. This was created as so to play off of the idea that gender, race, and other physical features are irrelevant to judging a person. It goes to show that, while in the court, a person will never be judged unfairly due to their race, religion, or gender.

The Flare of Democracy, outside of the Court

Chapel and Religion at St. John's

I've been meaning to write about chapel for quite some time now. Religion is a huge part of the school life here - you simply can't avoid it. Boys in "the college" have chapel every day except for Thursdays, and the girls in 6th Form have chapel three times a week. Any sort of required religious gathering at St. George's usually referred to with a sigh or a groan. Here at St. John's, on the other hand, students (or "learners") are all so excited to participate. Every single person sings along with the songs and responds aloud when appropriate. In addition, students regularly volunteer to read aloud during the one and a half hour long services, and Communion is given at nearly every single chapel service. It's so different to see everyone really getting into the church services!

This is the picture of the beautiful Main Chapel!

TLC Orphanage

THIS is the day I had been waiting for since I touched down in Johannesburg nearly 2 weeks ago. Anna and I were privileged enough to visit the TLC Orphanage just outside of the city area. What a pleasure! These kids ranged from 2 weeks to 4 years old, and were absolutely wonderful. The moment I stepped onto the premises I was sent straight to work. Some of my jobs included: folding laundry, doing dishes, changing diapers, feeding, and holding the little rascals that refused to sleep during nap-time. The day was full of smiles and headaches, but it did not take long for the sadness to set in once I finally left the orphanage. These poor kids, some unable to be cared for by their family members and some found at the doorstep of the orphanage, were helpless with their destinies. We luckily got to sit down with the owner of the orphanage during lunch to hear a little more about the process. Most, if not all, of the kids that get adopted from the agency are adopted when they are just babies. The group of older kids, all up to about 4 years old, usually have stuck around for so long because they are diagnosed with HIV and are unwanted by prospective adopting families. This day has really opened my eyes to a whole new part of the world... I don't think there is an orphanage within hundreds of miles from where I live. What precious children.

Traditional African Dance

So, on our way out of the grocery market to stock up on some granadillas, Anna and I came across a showing of African traditional dance on the sidewalk. It was amazing to watch and the singing and clapping throughout the crowd was certainly something to experience. Check out their traditional dress, too!

The African Flea Market

Today Anna and I had the privilege of visiting the African flea market. It was such a great experience! There were the most beautiful handcrafted trinkets and paintings of Africa on canvas. I bought items here that I could simply not buy at any other place in the world! It was so nice to truly get a taste of what South Africa is like beyond the walls of the boarding school.

The most interesting part about the crafts at the market is actually HOW they are made. The picture below is of colorful baskets being sold at one of the tables in the market. And guess what... they're made of telephone wire! It was also not unusual to see items made from soda cans and everyday plastics. So cool!