Kayleen Travels

Here we are with Will, our gracious host in Kloof. The seven of us--five American Peace Corps volunteers (including Melinda) plus Mel and I--have been traveling together since Sunday, from Eskort to Kloof to Durban to Port St. Johns. We are going to spend five days hiking from Port St. Johns to Coffee Bay.  It is a great group. I am so in my element. 

Twi is the language spoken in Cape Coast, Ghana where I studied abroad three years ago. And it is apparently my go-to language when I interact with people who don't speak English. Sometimes I even find myself speaking Spanish.   In the area of South Africa where Melinda lives the people speak Zulu. So neither Twi nor Spanish are getting me very far. :-P

- Melinda's South African friend, Jamie One of the most beautiful things I have ever heard, and what a perfect way to describe my friend :-)

These pictures are from day 2 of the White Mountain Acoustic Music Festival. We camped and it was FREEZING! I have had to borrow Melinda's clothes because I was not prepared. We had a great time! So many of my favorite things- mountains, camping, bonfires, whiskey, great food, great friends, live music... PERFECT. except. So cold.    Of all the performances, Paige Mac rocked my world. Seriously. Look her up. She is comparable to Adele. By the middle of the first song we were up on our feet, jumping, dancing, begging her not to leave the stage. I'm buying her album the first chance I get. 

The map on Melinda's wall.  The picture Melinda has hanging up of her, Mel, and I.  Some of the quotes I sent with Melinda when she left in January. She wrote them out on construction paper and hung them up. Anyway, they are just great quotes so here you are. 

Melinda's place. The kitchen, the living room, the dining room, and the guest room. Not shown: laundry room, closet, Melinda's bedroom.  Understandably messy after a four nights stay. 

Only pictures on my phone can be uploaded onto here. I have a lot of pictures on my camera, but to share those I need access to a laptop.  BUT I AM DYING TO SHOW YOU!  :-)

Ubuntu: I am because you are.  "It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness. It speaks about compassion. A person with Ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share. Such people are open and available to others, willing to be vulnerable, affirming to others, do not feel threatened that others are able and good, for they have a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that they belong in a greater whole." -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The path.  The backyard. 

Melinda: Ntokozo (pronounced Too-KO-so) means "joy" Mel: Thandi (pronounced Tan-dee) means "to like" Kayleen: Spongile (pronounced Spunk-EE-lay) means "thankful" Melinda's friend is Zulu and his grandmother gave us Zulu names when we stopped by on our way to Melinda's from the airport. I had a lot of fun asking him questions on the drive and learning more about South Africa and the Zulu people. We discussed South African history and racial issues, the present affects of Apartheid, reconciling modernization with tradition, cultural differences in dating, and specific Zulu traditions. He also gave us advice and warnings specific to South Africa and where we will be staying. Only hours in South Africa and I am already learning so much.

"Always look behind you." "Keep your 'Sara-guards' up." and my personal favorite- "Don't neglect the blog."

8 hours Chicago to Frankfurt.  8 hour layover in Frankfurt.  10 hours Frankfurt to Johannesburg. 8 hour layover in Johannesburg.  1 hour flight to Durban.  Good thing they had BOTTOMLESS COFFEE at the airport in J'burg! Mel and I made it to Durban safe and sound and smelly and giggly and a little delirious. Reuniting with Melinda was so exciting we almost fell over hugging. And then--as it always is with close friends--it was as if we have never been apart. 

Nap. Take the travel pillow provided for you on the plane--God bless Lufthansa airlines--and find a dark empty corner. I wrapped a shirt around my eyes to block out the light, made sure all my bags were touching me, and sprawled out across 4-5 chairs. Frankfurt airport has a great set up for this, comfy chairs with no arm rests. I napped for 3 hours.  Take the time to clean up with some baby wipes. Feel refreshed and smell good.  Apply a little mascara even, so you don't look as half-dead as you feel.  Read. Read something simple, but either entertaining or thought provoking. Wander through bookstores and resist the urge to buy. Yes, I know you have wanted to read Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, and yes, Nelson Mandela's autobiography would be perfect, but you have five books, two journals, your bible, and a sketchbook. You are going to be all right. (My self talk...) Write.  Listen to people speak German all around you and get excited when you understand something...

Thank you Catherine, Sara, and Abby for the Chicago send off. From the best burgers I have ever had at Kumas to the time of my life at Howl At The Moon (piano bar) to my last American meal of Gino's pizza--it was perfection. It meant the world to me that you girls came out to Chicago with me. Thanks for showing me a really good time. All my love. 

Because my travel plans in South Africa were slightly altered, and now I will NOT be returning to Melinda's place in Escourt after the hike, I have to bring ALL my luggage with me on the hike. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. So I fit everything I am bringing to Africa in one backpack and one personal bag. Because I am basically a packing professional. And I am very good at getting by on very little. NO BIG DEAL ;-) Here I am, all packed and ready to go! "Travel light, live light, be light, spread the light."

This is Mel. Mel is from Australia. We met in 2009 working as summer camp counselors Cran Hill Ranch. We became great friends. It was all very magical. Working with teenagers, August 2009 Since that summer Mel and I remained close friends, keeping in contact across the globe. And then, June 2012, she returned to the states :-). I saw her every 4-6 weeks as she traveled throughout U.S. And every so often I went on a road trip with her. Together we went to Toronto, New Orleans, Boston, and New York City. She added spark and adventure to my first year back in Bay City. Reunited in 2012! I couldn't think of anyone else I would have with me on this trip. Mostly because she is one of my closest friends and we can both uninhibitedly be ourselves around each other--really important if you are going to spend two months traveling with someone. But also because she is a pro when it comes to international travel. And I am also convinced she is surrounded by a league of a...

My youth group threw me a little party :-). They were so precious! Those crazy kids just melt my heart. I am going to miss the organized chaos that was New Beginnings youth ministry. It's been a privilege.

"I will never know too many places, people, or emotions. I am meant to be overwhelmed, and will choke on the excitement of travel." "Who paints the roads?" 1966

"Take only one bag. 'Suitcases are for suits, check-ins are for suckers.'" "Pack less... You’re going to be tempted to pack for every eventuality. Don’t. only to find out when you get there that you only need 1/3 of what you brought." "Mosquitos are made in hell and must be killed." "Toss out your expectations, embrace the differences... Just roll with it and keep a light-approach to life. When something goes wrong, which it will, remember that a smile, a shake of your head and a laugh will take you a lot further than the angry, frustrated and shouting 'white person in Africa act' will." "Live as much like an average-income local as possible (very poor by US standards). It leads to richness." "The one little thing I just cannot travel without is baby wipes... perfect for travelers on long flights who like smelling fresh. Especially any time you have someone special waiting for you on the other side of the flig...