Hi Parents - News from the South Africa team - They have landed safely in South Africa!!! 

Photos will follow! 😄

Is the weather nice????

Day 2 blog

• 6:30 knock on door

• Breakfast🤌

• 7:50 meetup 

• Ferry to Robbin Island

• Food court at waterfront

• Bo kapp village

• Drumming at St. Cyprian school

• Dinner back at Waterfront

With a knock on the door at 6:30am, our day 2 journey begun. 

After an exhausting yet thrilling journey on table mountain yesterday, we recharged with a delicious dinner and deep sleep. At 8:30am we hopped onto our ferry ride towards Robbin Island. The tvs on the ride played educational videos that taught us about the history of Robbin Island, during this time we were also able to go on the deck to enjoy outside view that looked back at Cape Town. Upon arrival on the Island, we took a tour with our welcoming and informational guide who gave us detailed explanations of the island. We got the chance to see penguins and even a snake! We are fortunate to have a former inmate to share the experiences within the prison. The individual stories and memorabilia items of each prisoner shown connected us to the history on the island.

After the morning at Robbin Island, we went for a quick lunch in the food court at waterfront. Immediately after we went to explore the Bo-Kaap village that held a rich historical background. It was the Cape Malay, Muslim and Islamic communities that live together on the vibrant streets of Bo-Kaap. Though we spent a shorter amount of time, it did not limit us from thoroughly indulging in the artistic and inviting atmosphere. 

The vibrant artistic touch did not stop in our journey today, with our next activity being drumming. We learnt the basics of how to play a Djembe, which is an African instrument that was originally intended for grinding food for cooking. People found a rhythm while pounding that led to the idea of stretching goat skin over the top of the wooden structure, creating the ultimate invention: the Djembe. We played together in different rhythms, played games (winners - Willis and Qian Yu!) and we even go the chance to improvise a solo piece on the drums. It may have been nerve-wracking in moments of improvisation but we enjoyed the process our instant composition.

We ended our trip with dinner at the Waterfront and a 30 minute run to shop before the stores close at 9pm. Today’s trip contained a lot of fun and memorable experiences but it also gave us a once in a lifetime experience. We could feel the energy and vibrance of the people and environment through the spirit of those at Robbin Island Museum, Bo-Kaap and our drumming session. It was a powerful visit with an important lesson of freedom, strong-will and tocoexist peacefully in a community and for that we are ready for our next day at South Africa!

Time to get excited for tomorrow but for now, it is time to go to sleep. Good night and hope this was a good read!

On the way to our service activity, we sang our favorite tunes from Baby by Justin Bieber to What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction. We sang so well that Mr. Masters said we could get a band together! 

The service organization we are supporting is Love in a Bowl, an initiative that grows vegetables for the early development of children in local vulnerable communities. We split up into a few groups around the farm, and it was hard work! Some of us chopped trees, others painted a playground, and the rest assisted with harvesting. We also made new friends like Potato the dog and Angelica the praying mantis—Qian Yu's best friend. 

The service was tiring, but so rewarding! With aching muscles and a contented heart, we returned to our hotel knowing that a peaceful night's rest awaited, rejuvenating our bodies and mind for another day of fruitful labor.

Day 4 Blog

Day 5 Blog

Welcome to day 5 of the South African trip! I hope the previous blogs have been an exciting read. Today, we went through a journey filled with monumental adventures and breathtaking scenery. We started the day off bright and early in the morning to head to Dunker Island, also called Seal Island. This is due to the fact that this island is more popular among South African seals. Seals spend a third of their day basking in the sun for warmth and comfort, while also potentially meeting their future spouse! After a bockety 45-minute boat ride, we were able to spot a small brown island filled with chubby and loud seals!

We can see the oldest seals rolling around, cleaning their noses, or scratching their ears. While the younger ones went down into the water to find fish and play in the water! Boy, do I wish I was a South African seal...

We want to thank Brian Lee for bringing his camera all the way to South Africa. He took some amazing photos that I would love to share here.

Next up, we went for a pit stop at Hout Bay. Hout Bay is a fishing village that was established around 1867. Due to the abundance of quality tuna, snoek, crayfish, and timber, Dutch settlers took this opportunity to make good business. Here, we were able to marvel at South Africa’s incredible beauty. I could hear the chatter around me—everyone wanted to build a house and live right here. Here’s a photo of the whole team, and I think you would agree too. Look at that view!

Our third stop was Cape Point, the most southwestern tip of the African continent. The bus ride there took about an hour, so everyone had plenty of time to rest and refresh. We hiked up onto a lighthouse, where we breathed in the salty breeze of the Atlantic Ocean and admired how the ocean seemed to span almost infinitely, with the clouds gently covering up the rest of the world. After that, we took a cute photo at the Cape of Good Hope and left for lunch at Simon’s Town.

(more photos from Brian!)

Named after Governor Simon van der Stel, the harbor was used as a refuge for merchant ships and fishermen. Later on, it became the headquarters for naval facilities and squadrons. Walking through this special town, we can see elements of old architecture and ships, bringing the history of this multicultural town to life. 

After spending some time shopping back at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, we ate at a local restaurant called Quay Four. Here we ate some more amazing South African dishes, like burgers and seafood! Overall, today has been a wonderful day full of good memories and feats. It is safe to say that we all realize just how fortunate we are to be able to travel so far and be so involved with the culture of South Africa. Thank you to all the teachers and organizers for their support as we are ready to tackle our final full day tomorrow! 

Day 6 Blog 

Arriving at 2:40, we divided into the same surfing groups due to a shortage of kayaks. The kayaking experience was a blast, with friendly competition and even a race among us. Some paddled energetically, while others took a more relaxed approach(Mr Masters). At 4:40, our next destination was Boulders Beach, where we marveled at the adorable penguins in the sanctuary. Excitement filled the air as everyone rushed to be the first through the entrance. By 5:30, we began our hour-long journey back to the hotel, mindful of the approaching dinner reservation at 7.

so cute!!!

Day 7 Blog 

After a week of wonderful new experiences, everyone is ready to say goodbye to the most magical school trip of their high school journey. The trip was undoubtedly memorable and so full of love. Throughout this week, we experienced the joys of culture and created many special bonds to last a lifetime. The South Africa team will no doubt carry these unforgettable moments forward in our hearts. 

Bye Cape Town, we love you!