I know... its been a while

Hello again, I know its been a while since I last posted a blog of any kind.  I've been relatively busy, having gone on a few trips over the past few weeks and having exams and papers due as term 3 came to end last week.  So let me recap the past few weeks in short, Mexican Night, Karoo and Graaf Reinet, Exams, Township, Addo and Schotia, South Africa v. Nigeria, and massive rain storm!! I can't remember the last time I wrote on my blog but I know it was somewhere in the mid of August just before the week of Mexican night.  Wow this was about 3 weeks ago i think, I can't believe how fast the time is going by here. 

I am trying to get out and do as much as possible, paying as little as possible and trying not to get lost in between.  Anyhow, Mexican Night, or should I say the white washed version from Minnesota, was a blast!  The ladies from St. Cloud Univeristy decided to host a Mexican Fiesta Night, which included lots of tacos, burritos, fajitas, cerveza, and the likes!! Everyone thru-ought  Annie's contributed to the massive eating and drinking extravaganza.  My contribution was unfortunately the beans.  Now, this may seem the easiest job in the world, especially if you have pre-made canned beans.  But here in South Africa, there is no such thing as black beans or pinto beans, unless you cook them yourself from scratch.  Soo... I was stuck cooking 4 kilos of beans (approx. 8lb.)  I filled more than four pots 

full of beans which took forever to cook.  I mean how hard can it be? Steam  and boil for a few hours until soft and juicy.  Well let me tell you, with stove top burners its an all day event with sepping pills of beans and juice and dog food smelling yumminess spewing  out of the pots all over the counter... lets just say it was a pain in the ass.  However!!! They turned out just right and with my special touch of spices and garlic, they tasted fantastic. Well, that and I still have a whole container still in my freezer.

 This was about mid August, and that following weekend, the CEA group and I had our second excursion all planned out.  We were heading off to the Greater Karoo for a small town called Graaf-Reinet.  The weather was actually quit nice even though it was raining. The town is about 3 hours north of Port Elizabeth, and was established by Reinet, a Dutch trekboer from the Cape who settled in the north e

astern frontier in search of fertile land and a equal liberation from British control.  His house and farm still stand in the center of the town, along with a large church built after his time.  Trekboers, or pastoralists farmers who moved away from the colonies, were Dutch descendent farmers who moved across southern Africa and settled along the orange river regions that were most profitable and livable.  Many of these farmers came into conflict with the Nguni tribes living in the southern and northern parts of south africa; this was the beginning of the Boer Wars.  We toured around the town, visiting the Reinet house which featured different sections and displays life on the farm during those times  (early 1800s -1910).

The house is the sight of the original vine of the Wit Hant or White Dog, an alcohol made from fermented grapes, much like a cognac.  It is said to have healing powers and was used by the doctor who lived on the farm to help with sick patients.  Alcohol was always a curing agent, and I'm pretty sure it still is...hah. Anyways, the house featured some amazing pieces of furniture and old wagons and horse trollies. The house was so old, the floor boards were spreading apart and you could feel the cold wind flowing up through the cra

cks.  Following the Reinet House, we ventured up the slopes to witness the Valley of Desolation, a small passage way in the mountains surrounding Graaf Reinet.  It was breath taki

ng, just check out the pictures.  The wind w

as blowing at about 40 mph but it was still nice.  From there we visited a local game farm which had many different types of animals.  We were able to see springbok, grysbok, kudu, and other antelope as well as plenty of ostrich. 

Saturday night that weekend, we took accommodation on a small farm half way between Nieu Bethesda and Graaf Reinet.  The farm was quit large, with some 4, 000 or so acres. We walked around the farm and to the local village.  We ate that night with the owners of the farm who were extremely nice.

  we did however come in

to contact with the side of the typical Afrikaner nationalis

tic poitn of view, or the white perspective of south africa.   It was an experience I will not forget.  That night the temperature outside reached about -10 C and for some reason the other group members decided to jump into the pool they had in the back of the barn. I guess 

this was our way of celebrating the semi lunar ecllipse.  Anyways, the following day we drove to Nieu Bethesda and toured the Owl House, which belonged to a woman named Helen Martins.  For some, she was a crazy old woman who never left her house and basically turned it in to her living piece of artwork.

Her house is covered with glass decorations, sculptures and the like.  It was a haunting experience at best but also a very different experience, one you would not expect to participate in while in South Africa.  From there, we went on a tour of the local river, which contains an abundance of artifacts and fossils from prehistoric creatures that came before the dinosaurs as well as artifacts of the San and Bushmen people that inhabited the region years ago.  For me the weekend was a good get away from city life and a chance to experience more rural, farmland South Africa.  Most people think when you get to Africa your going to be living in a bush with a gun hunting lion or something but truly thats not the case. Farming and cattle, sheep, goat and other game raising is a huge profitable market here in South Africa, as it was when the first settlers arrived in 1652.  

 In any case, it was an overall fulfilling weekend.  The coming weeks were not so active as I had two assignments due for my classes and the following week was exams.  The only thing memerable from those two weeks was the huge storm we had come through.  Nothing comparable to Ike or Gustav or Hanna but winds here reached up to 70 mph.  I had to walk out to the gate to let a friend in and it took me almost 5 minutes when it should have taken no more than 1.  Haha.. it was something!

This past weekend I traveled with a few friends to Addo Elephant National Park and Schotia Game Reserve.  Addo is a National Park and is kept in great shape by the government where as Schotia is a privately owned Game Reserve.  We left Friday morning and started at Addo and were able to catch some great photos and glimpses of animals and the amazing wildlife that live at the Park.  And as its called Addo Elephant national Park, we got to see a large herd of Elephants resting at one of the many water holes situated on the park.   It was really amazing. We left park after having lunch and made it Schotia around 3 or so.  At Schotia we went on a guided tour were as at Addo it we drove ourselves through. It was much more informing with the guided tour and we learned quit a bit about the different animals.  I am amazed by how many survival techniques these animals have, from different striations in fur color to eating and grazing patterns.  But the most memorable part of the tour was the sunset with one of the lions on the park.  Yes, thats right, we actually sat in the vechicle of course, about 5 feet away from a 3 year old male lion with the sun setting in the background. It was unbelievable.  We were so close to the animal and it was frightening to hear the animal call out to its sisters.  The power the animal has it just a single roar is breath taking.  We were also able to witness one of the female lions from afar.  It was the first time anyone came into contact with her and her cubs; our guide pointed out that we were the first to confirm that she was pr

egnant on here arrival and that she successful had the cubs on her own.  Fucking awesome in my opinion! That night we had a huge dinner, an intermixture of Xhosan and Afrikaner food. The guide told us about his life and that we should come back to see the rhinos they are to acquire within the next few weeks. Saturday was freakin' awesome as well, I got to go see South Africa play against Nigeria in an African Cup of Nations qualification game here in Port Elizabeth. I think almost all the international students I know went to the game.  I have to say, we must incorporate the style of fan support they have here in Africa with that of the US because from the minute I walked into the Stadium I was singing who knows what and yelling and dancing.  Ah man it was so much fun! It was disappointing to see South Africa lose but the experience was intense.  The 

food was incredible fat filling and good and the people were all so nice.  I think almost everyone bought a South African flag.  That night I attended my friend Valdeman's 25th birthday party at the Omega Lodge. And ended the weekend in bed!! Haha.. So thats about the best recap I give for the past month.  I expect to be getting out to Port Alfred, Coffee Bay, and Stellenbosch by the end of the month so check back in for some more pictures and stories. Thanks ya'll! Cheers!