I see you, South Africa!

        Cape Town is definitely worth the jet lag.   Although I have only slept for roughly seven total hours in the past three days, I couldn’t be in a better place. The background music at Starbucks was the perfect final farewell during our layover in Amsterdam; “Georgia on My Mind” was comforting and reassuring, reminding me that no matter how far I travel, I will always have “home” on my mind and in my heart. 

        When we finally arrived at the Cape Town airport, we hauled our ridiculously heavy suitcases (props to Shelby Ausband for the champion heavyweight of 72 lbs.) to a charter bus and headed to our awesome apartments at Sunstays Resort.

       
        We spent this morning catching up with the other half of the group (who flew in the day before us) and reviewing the course syllabus/trip schedule. There is SO MUCH in store for us! The Global L.E.A.D. staff never ceases to amaze me. They had food and drinks waiting in our apartments when we finally arrived from the long plane flights and bus ride. They had each student’s South African cell phone (they look like 1999 Nokias, but we call them the iPhone 5.0) stored with all the contact information of students, staff, and approved taxi drivers. They even had weekly agendas taped to our kitchen walls. I’m all about organization, so I’m sure you can imagine how much I’m beginning to love these people.

        After our meeting, we broke into community groups to discuss ten things we want to do before we leave. I’m the leader for community group #1, and I am so excited to watch everyone tackle his/her list.  We then took a tour of this incredible city with the coolest tour guide known to mankind, Ish. Really though, his name is Ish. I’m obsessed.

10 things I want to do before I leave Cape Town:

·        Bungee jump

·        Learn how to surf

·        Go to a rugby match

·        Drink wine

·        Swim with sharks

·        Play golf with the boys

·        Leave a lasting and positive impression on community group #1

·        Run to the lighthouse

·        Make someone smile during service week

·        Ride an elephant  

        During our lunch break at the Waterfront, one of my roommates, Megan Lentz, said that she has diagnosed herself with “FOMO” since becoming a professional college kid. She has a “fear of missing out,” which I believe approximately 99% of everyone on this trip has as well. She doesn’t want to miss any inside jokes, exciting stories, or irreplaceable memories. With opportunities like the ones in front of us, can you blame her? The memories we are beginning to make are endless—and a tad overwhelming.

        Overwhelmed. If you want the truth, that’s about how I feel right now. Excited? Of course. Apprehensive? Somewhat. Exhausted? More than ever. That’s why I chose not to go out tonight when we got home from dinner. I had to put my “FOMO” to the side and remind myself that I’m supposed to run four miles at 7 A.M. tomorrow (one of the teaching assistants started a running group) and then listen to a guest speaker for three hours. Don’t worry, though.  I’ve already promised Megan to go out tomorrow night to celebrate her 20^th birthday, and I promise to update you all on my downtown Cape Town experience! I hope the locals like my dance moves.

"People say that what we are seeking is a meaning for life.  I don't think this is what we're really seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive." - Joseph Campbell

Solo shot action (just for you, Mom) in front of The Twelve Apostles

       



THE ROOMIES: AnnaBeth (Auburn), Madeline (Alabama), and Megan (Auburn)



Ish gallavanting down the road #typical



Dinner at Moyo

So long, sophomore year. Hello, summer!

        EXAM WEEK HAS OFFICIALLY ENDED! I survived Spanish linguistics, hallelujah. I also survived living in a six-girl room at the ADPi house and being separated from my capitol-bound sister who is now working in Washington D.C. for Congressman Culberson of Texas. But "surviving" isn't the proper word to describe this year. The challenges--personal, physical, academic, and more--made sophomore year the most encouraging and uplifting ten months of my entire life.

        I know this blog is supposed to be about Cape Town, but I think it's important to know where someone's been when you're trying to understand where she's going. I'm devoting this post to my reflection of the past school year. Like it or not, it's all I've got for today! SINS (which means "sorry I'm not sorry" for all of my non-collegiate readers).

        Last August, I moved into the prettiest house on Milledge Avenue with the greatest group of sixty girls to ever cross a college campus. I lived with five other ADPis in the yellow room, where we  woke up to Blackberry alarm clocks and the smell of Ms. Dennise's bacon, dealt with an unreliable bathroom door, deciphered and responded to questionable text messages from nameless gentlemen, discovered the significance of self-induced spray tanning, named a mouse Tiny Tim (he visited around Christmas) and spent weeks researching ways to take down him and his friends (Team Yellow-1, Tiny Tim-0), borrowed clothes and jewelry on a daily basis, distracted each other from schoolwork as though it were our job, offered advice to anyone who asked for it, and comforted anyone who needed it. I never thought my neat-freak self would say this, but I'm going to miss seeing those five unmade beds next to my tidy corner of the room everyday. In fact, I already do.

"Just living isn't enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

TEAM YELLOW: Darby, Kristen, Alexandra, Paige, Kristen, Chelsey

       
        You know who else I'm going to miss? The 2155 girls. This other set of five young ladies, four of whom are yellow room veterans themselves, has been my greatest support system this year. Because they are a year older, they have infinite wisdom to share with me. Jokes. They do have wisdom to share, but that's not why I love them. I love these girls because they are genuine, compassionate, and full of life.

        Mary Beth is a hoot. She has the most contagious laugh in the world, and I think God sent her into my life to remind me of childhood bliss. She's a real-life Polly Pocket, petite and precious from the inside out! Morgan (not pictured) is awesome. Not only is she a track superstar at UGA, she is the kind of friend every girl needs. She'll celebrate with you when life is good and hurt with you when life gets hard. Sara Anne and I spent a lot of time together while we trained for the Georgia half-marathon. I am so thankful for that time with her because we guided and supported each other not only through physical challenges (like that dang 909 hill and the horrible idea to run out to Watkinsville and back) but also through everyday issues and personal struggles. Her attitude is absolutely amazing, and I envy the grace with which she carries herself. Nadine invited me to Charleston for spring break, and we bonded over our unhealthy and unexplainable addictions: mine to sweets (particularly cookie dough) and hers to shopping. We're currently in the process of finding less fattening and less expensive hobbies. Her need for eBay therapy doesn't bother me, though. She's sophisticated, trendy, faithful, and refreshingly honest. And then there's Maggie, my ADPi-designated "big sister." She's a doll. I don't know what I love most about her: her "great" vocabulary, her sweet southern accent, her precious wardrobe, or her dazzling personality. Wait a second. I do know what I love most about her-- her overflowing heart of gold. Nursing is the perfect profession for Maggie because she'll be able to do what she does best, which is to compassionately pour out care and concern to lift the spirits and improve the lives of everyone she meets.

"A hug is worth a thousand words. A friend is worth more."

    
        Last but not least, I'm going to miss my guy friends. They're not all pictured, but you know who you are. As much as I enjoyed living in a house with sixty lovely ladies, it was really nice to have laid back, understanding, and goofy boys to hang out with when I needed an escape. Sophomore year was full of tennis matches, dog sitting, Words-with-Friends wars, movie nights, pool days, last-minute class projects, homemade chicken, guitar performances, Little Italy pizza, and the occasional date night with one of my roommates. I've always wanted a big brother, and now I feel like I have about ten! They may not have shoes for me to borrow or makeup tricks to teach me, but all of these guys bring something to the table. I also need to give a shout out to the one and only John Bateman for always looking out for his Hoop Girls. You're the best.


Josh Murray: guidance

Austin: laughter

   




                                           

Christian & Ty: excitement

Josh Parrish: comfort





 









                                                



Dustin: sensibility



Haughton: loyalty





















       
        When my family moved from Vidalia to Gainesville, our parents wanted us to make new friends and cherish our old ones. I'll never forget that lesson. As difficult as it is to say goodbye to my friends in Athens, I am so eager to say hello (which is actually "hallo" in Afrikaans) to all of the people I'm going to meet in Cape Town. It's not going to be easy, though, for the upcoming summer to top the past school year. Will Global L.E.A.D. rise to the challenge? We shall see!

SOPHOMORE YEAR FAVORITES

Memory: 19th birthday surprise party at LA's apartment or Shokitini karaoke night with my pledge class

Concert: John Mayer (competing with Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, and Tim McGraw)

Meal: Dantanna's at the CNN center before the Hawks v. Knicks game

Adventure: Vidalia Onion Festival with Alexandra, Allison, and Kristen or GA/FL football game with Shannon Dooley



Accomplishment: Raising $9,203.00 for American Cancer Society with my family's half-marathon team, Papa's Pride, and running 13.1 miles

ADPi date night: Semi-formal with William Moses? Top Gun impersonations with Jacob Knight? Tacky Christmas with Brett DeLoach? Hawks game with Sam Weaver? Swing dancing with Matthew John Thomas? Watching the NFL draft with Austin Long? There's clearly no way to choose a favorite here. Thanks for fun nights and cute pictures, boys!

Basketball game: LSU, senior night

Weekend getaway: Harrisburg, PA to visit LA and the Cox family  

Road trip: Birmingham, AL to visit Alexandra's family and to hang out with Mary London at Samford

Musical: Urinetown at Wofford College in which my best friend, Louisa Jacobs, was the leading lady

Team: The Goon Squad (YEE YEE!)

Random encounter: Tony Hawk on Broad Street

New word: HASHTAG #obviously #ilovetwitter #sins

       

       
        To my fellow college kids: I encourage you to reflect on the ways YOU spent this past school year. We really are living a dream life. Embrace it. Enjoy it. And appreciate it. To my older readers: I hope this post reminded you of your college years and/or led you to reminisce about your youth. I applaud you for "surviving" it. And to my youngest followers: You have a wonderful years ahead of you. Get excited. 

"SPREAD LOVE EVERYWHERE YOU GO... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
- Mother Teresa

Photos taken by Alexandra Koehn in South Africa last summer



AK's apartment view: FOUR MORE DAYS until it's my turn!





Don't just go, LEAD!

        Amanda Miro was the epitome of cool. She and her sister, Fran, created my very first perception of college girls with their ADPi t-shirts and GSU baseball hats. When Amanda left "The Boro" one summer to study fashion in London, I put her on the same level as Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City: She was "going out with the girls" in Europe and conquering the world as an independent woman, classy and fabulous. My sister, Loree Anne, followed her footsteps by studying abroad in Greece last summer. At the impressionable age of 10, I wanted to be just like them. At the unstoppable age of 19, I still do.

        I now have my own collection of ADPi t-shirts and UGA baseball hats to rival my cousins' glory days. Once exams are over, I will pack my college girl wardrobe into my cheetah-print suitcase, marked by a Global L.E.A.D. luggage tag and destined for Cape Town, South Africa. My best friend from Lakeview Academy's unforgettable class of 2009, Mary London Carswell, has inspired me to blog about my adventures. If you get a chance, you should read her blog. It's almost as awesome as she is.

        I will be traveling with Global L.E.A.D., the same program my parents trusted to take their oldest daughter to Greece in the midst of the country's political riots and economic turmoil. The program staff is one-of-a-kind, and I can't wait to be around amazing and exciting people from all across the SEC for five weeks.

        This is my first blog, so please bear with me as I learn and work through the process. I've used Tom Petty lyrics as my foundation because that is what I'm seeking on this South African journey: the keen sense of being alive, the release of pent-up anger and heartache, and the freedom to fully experience and enjoy each moment this crazy wonderful life has to offer.

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” -Thornton Wilder

 

Fran & Amanda: my college life inspiration
Publix Georgia Half-Marathon {3.20.11}

Mary London: my blogging inspiration
Birmingham visit {2.19.11}

Loree Anne: my Global L.E.A.D. inspiration
Georgia @ South Carolina {9.11.10}



Cape Town, South Africa: my unknown inspiration
Home sweet home {5.14.11 - 6.20.11}