Mary putting things in perspective

We are now back from our spring break excursion in Jo'burg/Kruger, and it has been an incredible week to say the least! I already wrote about the museums, but everything we did after that was also amazing. We helped out at a Boys and Girls club, and one task I did was help pick up trash in the fields with the kids. There was so much broken glass, particularly around the swingset where kids are more likely to play. It was so disgusting and saddening to see it there, especially since people know kids sometimes run barefoot. I'm glad we were picking it up though. It was cool to help out in different areas (like the garden too) and also play with the kids. 

Sunset at Kruger

Kruger National Park is one of the highlights for me on this whole trip. I LOVED seeing the animals and am still in partial shock over everything we saw. We saw giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions and lion cubs, impala (like my family car lol), springbok, warthogs, hyenas, and much more. I also decided to pay for the night safari which was such a good idea because we saw a pack of lions finishing off a water buffalo! It was sad seeing the water buffalo slowly dying, but it is the circle of life so I understand. I just can't believe we saw it since it's so rare to see a kill. Never in my life would I imagine myself seeing any of these animals, so this is still unreal for me. My parents and friends back home are in as much awe and shock as I am. I think it's good to keep things in perspective like that because it's easy to get in a routine here and take things for granted, and sort of forget how good we have it on this whole trip. Every time I think of what my parents/friends say when they look at my photos makes me realize how lucky I am to be here. 

This weekend comprised of unpacking and getting back into the schedule of Cape Town life. There was a lot going actually. Yesterday, Molly Elizabeth Pauline Bryan Amelia and Megan and I went on a CocoaFair chocolate tour at Biscuit Mill, and it was amazing! I really liked learning the history and how things work, and the chocolate was also delicious. Today, Paige, Elizabeth, Molly and I went on a Bo Kaap Walking Tour which was really cool. I enjoyed learning the history behind the colorful houses and seeing cool parts of the city. I'm realizing I actually have a decent understanding of the layout of the city since I intern there. That's pretty cool because it's never happened before (I live in the suburbs so cities usually confuse me). It shows how Cape Town really is like a home right now.