Today I woke up to a group of girls encouraging each other while using pepper spray on a bunch of monkeys outside my chalet. They were yelling at the monkeys and banging on the door trying to scare the monkeys, which obviously was not working as the monkey are not afraid of girls... so they got out the pepper spray and were cheering each other on as they used it. This is my life in South Africa. I was just lying on my bed laughing and thinking about how much I love these girls!
Writing a blog is a great way to procrastinate. I should be studying for a huge Zulu test right now (its only on everything I have ever learned in the class) but instead I decided to blog. This is called productive procrastination.
Zulu class is getting easier and harder at the same time. Sometimes when we speak or read something in class we sound pretty good and some things are really starting to click haha. However, we get more and more vocab everyday, and the language is getting more complex!
I LOVE our Zulu teacher! She truly is great! During the day she teaches at a high school (which they call college here) and then at night she comes and teaches us American students Zulu. I have such respect for Wynn! She is very patient with us and encouraging and just a sweet lady overall. On the first day of class we asked her if she could give us Zulu names. So for the past few weeks she has gotten to know us better and observed us in class and this week was the revealing of our Zulu names!!! All of our names are pretty insightful. My Zulu name is Thando (the “h” is silent). It means princess of love. I promise I did not give myself this name, however from now on I will only be responding to my Zulu name. Just kidding! These are other names: Hillary- Khanyi (shinning), Alex- Siphiwumus (we are given kindness/ mercy), Staci- Zamavezi (proof/evidence in trying), Josh- Lethukuthula (peace bringer), Logan- Lindokuhle (good is expected), Cynthia- Ntombenhle (pretty maiden), Daniele- Nonhlanhla (princess of luck/ goodfortune/ happiness), Alex- Sibonelo (example of others), Allie- Minonhle (pretty fingers).
Yesterday, we went and hiked a mountain. The Drakensberg mountains were absolutely beautiful. The beauty of God’s creation here in South Africa never ceases to amaze me. As we were driving to the mountains the scenery and especially all the colors of the scenery were just incredible! The blue sky was one of the bluest skies I have ever seen and the clouds only added to this. I have never seen shadows on the grass created by the clouds. In fact, I did not even know this was possible. The hike in the mountains was my favorite part of the day. It was like living in the Lion King!! We walked by this stream and everything was just so green. It felt too beautiful to be real! Everything I saw reminded me of what a powerful and wonderful God we have who would create such beauty.
Another part of the day was seeing the San Bushman paintings on these caves. Two things I learned about the San Bushman tribe is that they never killed anything unless they were going to eat it and they also never killed anything without painting it.
Overall, it was such a good day and I simply love South Africa! Hope you enjoy the pictures!
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