When Uncle Bill arrived we went to Robben Island and stuff. That's where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. I was a bit reluctant to go at first because I don't particularly like sad history things, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. It was actually quite interesting. However, the best part was (1) I saw penguins!, and (2) the view of Cape Town is spectacular. The saddest part was of course the prison. The most interesting thing though in my opinion was whom our tour was made up of: mostly African-Americans seeking their "heritage" and other foreigners. I guess I should have felt really at home with them but strangely I didn't. I guess South Africa is wearing off on me, eh? The way back was comprised of camping. That was a doomed mission from the start, in my opinion. Livingstone (our Land Rover) broke down in a dinky little town in the middle of this barren wasteland area, which, to my surprise, I learned that the town, Laingsburg, had, years ago, the worst flood in South African history or something! Its really surprising to me, because the vegetation does not give the impression that there is ANY water, let alone enough to flood a town and drown a bunch of people. Anyway, we all packed into the de Jager's Land Rover (Stanley) and Uncle Bill's rental mega truck (Rhody). Then we gaily headed off to the Swartberg Pass toward our campsite of the night, in "The Hell." Now it was really beautiful Mountain scenery, but when we got to the sign:

Gamkaskloof
die hel/ the hell
50 km = 2 uur/ 2 hours

Did I really start to get that sinking feeling in my stomach. Now, it really wasn't that bad if you could pretend that it was all a dream and you weren't really half a mile up a mountain careening around these tiny turns on a dirt road that was maybe half a meter wider than your car. However, I didn't quite reach this level of calmness and was nearly panicking for about 99% of the "50 km" ride. It was an interesting experience, but not one that I am anxious to repeat… ever. I think that part of the problem was that we ended up driving in the dark for a while, and the last 4 kilometres were the worst. So that made it really really awful. When we made camp it wasn't so bad as long as you watched out for snakes (mainly puff adders and cape cobra). The campsite did have a cold, cold shower that Andre found "refreshing" though I cant quite say I felt the same. The way out of the Hell wasn't as bad (we had to go the same way out), and I think it helped that it wasn't dusk and that we had already made it through the thing without falling off the edge, so it wasn't as worrisome. The next day we went towards our next campsite (this one was in the middle of a nature reserve) only to find that the road to it had been closed. So we went to get through another way, but unfortunately that took too long so we slept at another campsite. This was lucky for me though, seeing as this second campsite had HOT water and the first campsite only had a pit toilet! We finally reached home on Sunday night, after an exciting adventure. It was worthwhile, plus I got an extra week of vacation! This entry is getting rather long so I will write NEXT time about what is happening here in Port Elizabeth.

Okay, I have just read one of my dad's "installments" and I am surprised that it was so extensive. Of course, I had already known that it was long and detailed, but wow! He's really out doing himself! I congratulate him on this of course, and am trying to improve my own writing to live up to his standard! Okay, now about my life here….hmm. Well, I started taking piano lessons again which is interesting but nice! The trouble is: where to practice? We don't have a piano here at our flat, so it becomes a challenge to practice. However, since I actually want to practice (unlike two people I know- cough-cough wink-wink), I find a way to. I have also started cross country here. We run 4 kilometers which, although shorter than Schoolcraft CC, is harder just because of the heat. I am thankful that cross has started though, because I am getting out of shape quickly and I need to be slim and speedy (hehe) for cross this fall! This South African food, as well as the mentality of "don't be too skinny" seems to be catching up with me! We have our first cross country meet on Wednesday, by the way. I am pretty nervous! Everything here we run is in kilometers. This is kind of wierd since I am so used to running in miles. When our coach says to go run 8 Ks I keep thinking 8 miles which is a heck of a lot to run! However, 8 km is only around 5 miles or so. Anyway, cross country is off to a good, and if not quick at least happy start. This will also get me in good shape for fall cross country. I can't wait for that!

Uncle Bill and Anna have now left and our whole family has become a bit homesick. Even dad. For Easter, since we couldn't find a ham, my mom and dad made cheeseburgers, potato salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob. For some reason the cheeseburgers just didn't taste like American ones do, and my dad started talking about all the American foods he misses from home. He even suggested we go to McDonalds (to see if it was the same as American), him whose #1 rule coming here was that we would NOT step foot in that restaurant for ANYTHING. Well, I guess we all are homesick in our own way. I have called home so much in the past few weeks I am actually scared what the phone bill will be. Katilee, Jack, and Bekah miss their friends as well. I think it's especially hard because for the past months we've been busy with family coming to visit us, and now that they are gone they have taken a part of us with them.

Well, 88 more days. That will fly by, I know, and soon enough we will be back in Schoolcraft, and I'll be back to being on the Internet 24/7 and chatting on the phone with friends without having to worry about the phone bill. However, I just can't imagine that. I can't imagine being anywhere else than Port Elizabeth South Africa, and going to school in a uniform at Pearson High. I can't even think about signs that are ONLY in English, and people speaking ONLY English, and hardly anyone even knowing Afrikaans is a language. I can't imagine it and I don't want to live without it either. It's so confusing, because a part of me wants desperately to come home to Schoolcraft, and the other part desperately insists that Port Elizabeth is my home. I sometimes wish we never ever had to leave here, and sometimes I wish that we could leave now. I never wish that we had not come though. This experience has been so wonderful, so life-changing, so special… it's such a part of me. I think what I will do is try to come back here for 3 months, because I can't even think of saying goodbye to my friends here and knowing that I will never see them again. That is too hard. I thought that it was hard coming here, and saying good-bye to my friends for 6 months…little did I know how hard it would be to even think about leaving here…However, I still have 3 months before I need to worry about that. At present, my biggest worries are what I am going to do this weekend and how I am going to pass Afrikaans. I have actually started reading Harry Potter in Afrikaans, because it's an easier reading book that I have already read in English so I have some idea what's going on. I am reading Harry Potter 1 (Harry Potter en die Towenaar se steen). I'm about halfway through and its amazing how much its helped my Afrikaans! It's wonderful! Though, I have a big Afrikaans test on Wednesday, so I guess that's when we'll see how much I have really learned! Well, I have to go, but at least this was a bit longer. My next attempt will hopefully be twice as long!!!!