This is way over due but here we go.
Part 1: Cape Town:
We were able to stop in Cape Town, the original plan had been that we would have like a week there and have lots of PR events to raise money for the organization. Because of delays in ship yard we were not able to have the time there we thought and were gonna be late to Freetown. So when we were getting ready to leave Durban it was still up in the air if we would be able to get off in Cape Town. We had crew and projects people that had to leave from there but where not sure if the rest of us would be able to get off the ship, but we were!!! Our day in Cape Town started early. I was up to see us around the point of good hope, which was supper cool to see. When we arrive somewhere everyone is on deck and watching. It was supper exciting because we had our day planned and could just not wait to get off the ship. We all where on deck taking pictures and asking what this beach was and what that mountain this is. When we finally docked it was really exciting because crew members had family on the dock and old crew that people still new where there waiting for us to get in. After we docked it was about an hour until we were cleared for customs to get off the ship and explore.
A group of us had already booked tickets onto the open top hop on hop of bus and passes for the cable car up Table Mountain. We got on the bus and went to the next stop and who do we see well of course more Mercy Shippers! So we all made our way up to the top of Table Mountain and started exploring. You are able to hike up it, which to me sounds like punishment and was not really anything I even considered but a lot of people did and good for them. Us we went to the top and had a slice of cake and a glass of wine. I mean really which way would you want? It was beautiful up there and the views are not going to be justified in any picture I post but I will try. We went down via the cable car again. I have to say, I am not really crazy about heights but always forget until I am just about to get on the car to go up a mountain hanging on the side with just a wire. Also this cable car spins so lets add extra movement to already going down the cliff thousands of feet up and then SPIN. Not my favorite part but it was fine and we all lived to tell about it.
That night we had planned to meet up with our friend Estelle and her friends. Estelle is from Cape Town and wanted to show us her favorite restaurant in town. Many people had told us that is was the place to get the best burgers in town. We made our way there only to find out that it was not open on Sundays. So we were all shuttled over to a different place on the water front for dinner. When we were waiting and getting introduced to her friends there was a street person who was begging for money around us. One of the girls, who I will not name thought she was one of Estelle’s friends and introduced herself to the begger. I was not there to see it but kind of wish I was. We had a great dinner at the other restaurant and that were able to get real ice cream from Haggin Daiz it was so nice to get coffee ice-cream.
Part 2: Sailing, take me a-w-a-y, how I always heard it could be.
On Monday a friend and I went and got breakfast on the water front and then walked around the craft market. We ended up meeting other friends around the water front and decided to give the burger joint another try. We took a cab up there and I have to say it was the best burger I have ever had. I also had a coffee milkshake with a shot of tequila in it. I know that sounds really strange but it was good. We walked back to the ship and had to be back on board at 3. We ended up not leaving the port till about 7 at night cause the pilot to lead us out of the port was late, but it worked out. We where able to leave Cape Town with the sun setting and it was beautiful. We were really rocking and rolling the first night because they wanted to test the ship. It was actually kinda fun. We had people lying on the ground rolling back and forth.
The rest of the sale went very smoothly and was a lot of fun. There was a group of us who watched the first season and the first half of season to of glee. I spent a lot of time on the bow hoping to see whales and dolphins. I really wanted to see an Orca and a shark but maybe next time? There where lots of activities on the ship through out the sail. We had a karaoke night a pirate dance party and sailing Olympics. For the Olympics the girls on my team and I dressed as the cast of wizard of oz. I was the scarecrow, we had a tin man, Dorothy and a lion with a very teased out mane. The prize for wining was a 3x s foot model of the ship made from soda cans. Keep in mind we all live in cabins the size of closets and would have no room for it. By some crazy turn of events we won. We still kind of think the judges riged it so we would win and be stuck with it, but apparently not we won, which considering how crappy we were that is scary. We decided to “donate” it to the ship shop and have just requested that we have a plaque with our name as the donors. It is still kind of crazy that we won and that we are done sailing and are finally here.
Part 3: Freetown
Yesterday morning we were meant to get in around 8 am. As we get into a host nation for a field service you are meant to dress smart. I had planned to get up early to get ready and then of course thought it would be better to sleep for a while. I got up and cleaned up my classroom because there is a new family and I did not want them to see how messy my classroom was. It ended up being great thought because I was able to see the sunrise over Sierra Leone. It was an amazing sight to see the golden sun rise from the mist and clouds over the land. You could small the burning of the trash and the charcoal fires from far off. As we got nearer you could begin to see the city. I am not sure what I thought it would be like but I was surprised by what I saw. There are buildings that are falling into the water and others that look like they once where grand and are now falling down and are torn apart. All we are told is that traffic is terrible and that even a 10 km drive could take an hour and a half easy. I have not been out beyond the dock but am very excited for what is to come. On Monday we are having a screening for patients to receive surgeries. It is going to be at the national football stadium all the teachers have been released for the day to go and participate and help. I am going to be at the children’s center and am really excited for it. It has already been different than what I am used to, we had no new people for so long at the Bosch and then a bunch at once. But then we all sailed together and you get to know people. But then you get to a dock with 30 people waiting to get on board and it feels different. When I was new and people who had been here a long time and told me how it gets told having a new group of people all the time. I have to say I have experienced that myself. I got so used to the crew we had on board that it was a little unsettling to have so many new people. I am trying to remind myself what it was like as the new person and to be open and talk with other people but just like I was told, I get tiered after teaching and just want to hang out with the people I know and watch a movie and hang out and not put myself out there. I am sorry it has been so long since the last post but you know I had Glee to watch.
February, 28th 2011
