Reflecting On My Trip To South Africa...

So, I've been back for a few days now and, even though I've been really sick ever since (You do not even want to hear about my embarrassing encounter with a student doctor yesterday... Basically, I held his hand for a little while because it was cold and I was too hot. That sounds worse than it was and it's not even the only embarrassingly inappropriate thing I did but it's the only one I can bring myself to type. I hope he has a very successful career in whatever field he chooses to go into), I haven't stopped wishing I was back in South Africa. People were incredibly friendly and I felt welcomed and loved at the schools I visited. The food was incredible and I enjoyed singing and dancing with loads of people at Dloko on Valentine's Day and again the day after. I really hope I get to go back there someday (Hopefully, within the next couple of years).
I went to South Africa thinking that I probably wasn't going to like it very much but at least I would have the experience and left South Africa wishing I could stay. It's something I would recommend to anyone. I don't feel that the trip has changed me necessarily (at least, not in any major ways) but I do feel that I've come away from it a little braver and a little less scared of change and trying new things (I tried octopus, for example, while there. Didn't like it. Kinda chewy and a bit rubbery. Not that I've eaten rubber but you get what I mean. At least I tried it though. That's the point). Last week, I sang in front of groups of people, which is something I'd never done before and had always been afraid to do. On Friday, however, I willingly sang several different songs to a group of girls at Zwelibanzi High School. This may not seem like a big deal but, to me, it is. At the beginning of last week when I first went to Zwelibanzi High School, two girls asked me to sing for them and I wouldn't do it for ages because I found it too scary. When I finally did sing, it wasn't for long and I was very quiet. Five days later, I was singing in front of those same girls and a couple more people. I was proud and happy and I loved it. It's amazing how much one person can change in the space of a few days. Although, I stick to my statement that I haven't changed much in other ways. I'm still the person I always have been, I just think I'm a little more open-minded than I was before. I feel like I'm contradicting myself a little but, seeing as I'm the only person who will ever read this (probably. Don't see why anyone else would want to. I'm not a particularly interesting person), I feel like I'm allowed to as I understand what I'm trying to say. Here are a few pictures of my trip...

I really, truly hope that I get to return one day and do some more volunteering and meet up with some of the friends I made whilst over there. It was an unforgettable experience and it has a very large room in my heart (apparently, my heart is like a house). It was the best of times... it was the worst of times...

South Africa: Thursday and Friday

Thursday: Everyone going to South Africa met in the school's gym hall and we went out in families (Ten or so students per teacher. Called 'Families' for easiness) and divided all 76 (I think) students and 10 (Again, not entirely sure about this) teachers into two very, very large coaches. We had left by 3:30PM and the coach journey wasn't actually that bad. It was kinda fun. Some guys in my year started singing some random but funny songs (ranging from 'Afternoon Delight' to 'I'll Be There For You' (The theme song from 'Friends'. If you don't know what that is, Google it then watch it. It is amazing)) so that made it a little better.
The first flight was long but okay. At least until it came to eating... The food was actually quite nice but, unfortunately, since eating it, I have had horrible stomach pains and been sick 3 times. Gross. I'm not saying it has anything to do with the food. It's just annoying. I also didn't get much sleep on the plane and, having had none the night before, I was exhausted.
Friday: The flight from Glasgow to Dubai took about eight hours and we got there a couple of hours before we had to get on the flight for Durban, South Africa which meant we had time to go and get something to eat and drink. I got a vanilla milkshake and mints but I couldn't finish the milkshake because I felt too sick. The plane ride was okay. I met two lovely South African women called Leanne and Nikki. I talked to them for a little bit. They were really lovely and I liked them. Unfortunately, my mysterious illness was worse than ever on this flight. I didn't eat or drink anything and was sick three times. Awful.
When we were finally off of the plane and had collected our luggage, we went and met a large group of South Africans. I think they were all from the schools our High School donates to so that was amazing. They were fantastic! May or may not post some videos here.
Dinner was fine and I'm just about to go to bed. Really looking forward to the rest of this trip!
Jessica
xoxo

3 Days To Go...

This is my first blog post, ever so bear with me... I've always wanted to blog and Ugly Betty seemed to enjoy it so I'm finally giving it a go. Although I highly doubt anyone will ever read it, I have to admit, it's kinda therapeutic.
So, for me, 2013 has gone by pretty fast. I turned 17 on 3rd January and I leave for Durban, South Africa in two days. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it yet. Part of me is excited, another part of me can't wait to wander around in the new clothes I bought but the final part of me is a little nervous. I've never done anything like this before, gone so far out of my comfort zone. I'm the type of person who finds change scary so this is a big deal for me. The only time I haven't felt nervous about going to another country was when I went to America in June 2011. I loved the whole experience. I know this sounds melodramatic and cheesy but I truly felt like I was home for some reason. I felt as comfortable there as I do right now living in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. I stayed in New York for half of my trip and Washington DC for the other half and I can honestly say that it was one of the best week of my life. I felt like I belonged there (I know, yet more cheese. I'm sorry). I'm a pretty optimistic person but, while there, I felt ten times the amount of hope I normally do. It was almost as if being there, where all my favourite celebrities and movies live and happen (Except J. K. Rowling, she lives in Edinburgh and the Harry Potter films, pretty sure they were made in the UK) helped me to be able to imagine all of my own dreams and aspirations coming true. I really hope I get to go back there someday. Also, Dollars seem to be the only currency beside the Great British Pound that I can actually understand. Euros confused me and I don't know what I'm going to do about Rand. This is going to be interesting... And by 'interesting', I mean embarrassing. I'm going to humiliate myself. Especially when I have to ask my friend Megan what a certain coin or note means in English. And I will definitely say 'English' even though that's probably not the right thing to say. I'll say it because that's the only way it will make sense to me. Because I'm a nitwit. On the upside though, I'm positive that this trip will be unforgettable. I'll see things I've never seen before and will never see again, I'll meet people who will teach me things I could never imagine knowing, I'll have once in a lifetime experiences... I know that some of it is going to be really upsetting and that it won't all be fun and happy, I'm not that naive. The thing I'm going to focus on though is all of the good that I'll get to see. I can't wait for the experiences I'll get to have and everything I'll get to do. I feel so incredibly lucky to be going there. I realise that I may be putting too much pressure on this trip to be everything I expect it to be but that's just because I'm hopeful that it will be. And I've heard good things about this trip... Going to sleep now and then I'm going to cram for my Philosophy prelim tomorrow... And by 'cram', I mean do the first lot of studying for this thing that I've done at all... Oh well, maybe I'll do well and only fail one of the four topics... One can only hope.
Jessica
xoxo