Goodbye, South Africa

Hello, New York

I recently joked with a friend that people who choose to have an experience such as mine always describe it by copping the cliche "it changed my life".  

Well, add me to the list.  

South Africa.  In it's current state, it's not a place I would choose to put down roots.  Apartheid may be long gone, but there are still a lot of boundaries people are fighting to dismantle.  However, to look at the nation it is now, compared to the one it was 20 years ago...now that's an inspiration.  It's a model for humanity - proof that we have the ability to overcome all odds, and to grow and learn in leaps and bounds.   And, despite it's harsh and insular history, there is incredible warmth and generosity to be found amongst the people here.  It's both a newborn babe of a nation, and a sunny African mama inviting you to sit down and stay awhile.  

So yeah, it changed my life.  Because I don't think it's possible to witness such spirit, such grace in the face of adversity, such unending commitment to the struggle for freedom, without being changed.  So, thank you, South Africa - for your stunning vistas, for acres of quietude, and for the laughter of children.  Thank you for clarity, and for helping me find passion in places I'd never thought to look before.  Thank you for allowing me to unplug, and in doing so, reconnect with the things that really matter in this world.  And thank you, for proving that one person really can make a difference, and for proving that person could be me.  

Or you, for that matter!  If you're interested in learning more about SheWinS, or about further volunteer opportunities in South Africa, please contact me at lizbethmead82@gmail.com.  There's a great deal of work to be done.

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to everyone who's been following this blog!  Your support's meant more than words can express.  And fear not, faithful readers - turns out, I kinda dig this whole blogging thing, and plan to keep on a'posting.  

From New York, with jet lagged love.

- Liz

The Great South African Roadtrip, cont.

Vintage Frame Shop in Cape Town

The Winelands

Tasting at Blauwklippen Estate

Stellenbosch Vineyards

Strawberry Fields?

The Great South African Roadtrip

With just over a week left here in South Africa, Ro and I have hit the road, deeming no stay complete without the epic cross-country roadtrip.  In seven days we'll be traversing over 1700 miles of desert, beachfront, forest, jungle, mountain, plain, city...I'm beat just talking about it.  Here's a mightily abridged version of the last four days.  Enjoy!  

Mel, our glorious rental car.

The vast and lonely Karoo.

Caffeination

Sunset at Knysna

Ostrich Farms Abound!

Hout Bay, Capetown

Wild Penguins, Simon's Town

Penguin Tushies (I got kinda obsessed).

Kalk Bay, Capetown.

Capetown.

40/love

More Safari, for your Friday

Deep in thought.

"Fear knocked on the door and faith answered.  No one was there." 

- English Proverb

With less than a month left in ZA, facing my fears is something I've really been working at.  It's easy to coast through this life, to avoid stepping out of our comfort zone.  We fear the unknown and the possibility we'll fail.   And so we settle for less than our full potential, and we justify it with a million excuses.   But what we don't realize is that fear of failure IS failure - the fear that nags at you can trip you up and prevent you from taking action, everytime.  

Have faith.  This isn't necessarily about faith in a higher power (although that's important too).  It's more about having faith in yourself.  Faith in knowing that even if you go for it and it doesn't work out the way you planned, at least you're taking action.  It's about doing the right thing - doing awesome things that you'll feel awesome about, instead of settling for a mediocre existence because it's what you know.  

I had major fears about coming to South Africa - it seems all you hear about this place is the bad stuff: rampant racism & xenophobia, staggeringly high crime, poverty and AIDS statistics.  Leaving my cushy life in NYC to come here and bunk on the floor with a bunch of strangers for no pay seemed...well, scary.  But even though this experience has not been what I expected (and  sometimes it's been downright uncomfortable) it's been incredible nonetheless, and it's opened doors and removed barriers for me in ways I couldn't have predicted.  There are many fears I'm still struggling with here, and I'm definitely not always successful.  But the more fears you face, the more faith you have, and that's a lovely little cycle to get caught up in.

The father of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, said "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.  The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."  Sound advice from a man who has spent his entire life, including nearly three decades in prison, facing his fears.  He couldn't have done it without faith - in himself, his people, and their cause.  His faith freed a country. 

What could yours do?

Sunday Soccer Game in the Township

Player chasing horses from the field, mid-game.

Luyanda & Ro