Fear is Temporary

It took us some time to recover from our incredible adventure weekend in Jeffrey's Bay! But here is the post you have all been waiting for...THE BUNGY JUMP POST! (COMPLETE WITH VIDEOS AND PICTURES!)  The other activities we did last weekend were a lot of fun, but nothing can compare to the bungy jump. It is the World's highest bungy bridge, so we are all feeling pretty good about ourselves at the moment. Just like my last adventure post, this one will also be narrated mainly through pictures. It's the best way to describe the excitement!

Jeffrey's Bay

We began our Saturday adventure by zip-lining in Tsitsikamma...

Zip-lining was the perfect warm-up before heading to Boukran  Bridge to bungy jump!

Mentally preparing to jump off the bridge that is behind us

Headed to bungy!

We were a little scared...

Ray's encouragement hug before the big jump!

I jumped holding a Gopro video camera(that is what is in my right hand). This was awesome because now I have the footage of my jump...screams, ridiculous commentary, and all ;)

Getting pulled back up from the bungy

Here is the thing-I was not scared of the jump itself. I jumped with full confidence, but it was not until I was actually in the air that I realized what I had done. The second I was in the air, by myself, all I could think was, "What am I doing with my life?!" Free falling is terrifying and exhilarating. I can't explain it. You love and hate it at the same time. I loved flying through the air. When we finished, Rachel and I both said we would do it again. It was an incredible experience. We even convinced our sweet roommate Sarah to do it too! We were SO proud of her since she has been telling us for months that she would never bungy since she would not come up alive...but guess what!? SHE DID COME UP ALIVE!

As if zip-lining and bungy jumping was not enough for one day, we then headed to ride quad bikes through a game reserve. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day. The ride was so peaceful. (Except when I drove the quad bike...Claire had to hold on pretty tight! You know me-quite the speed demon.) We got to see a lot of different animals and enjoy some beautiful views.

Me and Claire

The rest of the gang

Rhinos

This brings us to Sunday's horse back riding extravaganza. 

 I promised our Freewalker guide, Murray, that I would be nice when writing about this event on my blog. It may or may not have been the most traumatizing experience of my life. It's a funnier/more animated story when I tell it in person, but here are the basics:

• I'm from Roswell, Georgia which is a huge suburb that provided me with as little horse experience as a measly pony ride at a friend's birthday party. Sooo thanks for NOTHING Roswell.
• Basically I had never been on a horse, and I definitely did not know how to ride.
• I told everyone in the group this...multiple times....
• I am sure you can see where this is going...

Halfway through the ride, after I had just learned to trot, (and not well I might add) the horses in the front of the group took off GALLOPING into the sun towards the sea. Sounds cool, right? Wrong! Guess whose horse followed them...MINE! Guess who does not know how to stop a horse? Me. Guess who started panicking? Me.

Finally, the guide in the back caught up to me and explained that my horse was too lazy to gallop and that he was only cantering. She was nice as can be, but considering that I was hyperventilating from the trauma, "only" cantering did not bring much comfort.

Then, to make matters worse, the other horses had trampled over seagull eggs in the sand dunes which made the seagulls extremely angry. So, who did the seagulls try to attack? Me and the guide. I had not even caught my breathe before we had to canter away because our lives were being threatened.

We finally made it to the beach, caught up with the group, and then the guide's horse got all moody and kicked his back leg at my horse directly towards my head! It was so close to me that I was in shock.

IT WAS LIKE A STINKIN' MOVIE! My life was a comedy. An actual comedy.

So after the guide's horse kicked, we couldn't take anymore chances. We trotted all the way home, which meant we got to know each other real well, because it was a long ride back.

So, you won't see me in any of these pictures or videos, because I was too busy contemplating whether or not this was actually my life. I'm just kidding-just trying to make light of a scary situation.

(**Sorry Papa Joe and Joan- I know you want me to be safe!!! I promise I'm trying!)

Moral of the Story: I would rather bungy jump than ever get back on a horse! 

Ray leading the pack!

Don't let this smile fool you...

Our pro-rider...Sarah is the star of the Freewalker video posted below

So that concludes our incredible weekend! We are so grateful to Freewalker for providing such awesome opportunities.

Enjoy the videos they created below! 

Love,

Casey :)

Bungy Jump Video

Zip-lining Video

Beach Horse Riding Video

Last Day at VP Grey

I just wanted to write a quick blog post before we take off on our adventure weekend!

 I know my past few posts have been a bit up and down since I attempt to be “real” when I write. I try not to describe everything as puppies and roses if they’re not.

BUT today was full of puppies, roses, butterflies, rainbows, and every other joyful stereotype you can name. I felt so loved. 

Sometimes the most memorable and carefree days are those you don’t plan or have expectations for.

Normally I dread goodbyes. I am an emotional person, and it is often easier just not to say them. But I really cherished everything about today. What today taught me is that hard work and perseverance does not go unnoticed . Our extra efforts at the school may not have been directly addressed before, but Rachel and I were both recognized and thanked today by the administration and our mentor teachers. The school gave us a lovely gift, and while it was not necessary, it was very kind and we greatly appreciated it. One of my favorite memories from today that I want to share, is when the silliest kid in our class started hysterically crying while waiting in line for his goodie bag. I thought for sure someone had badly hurt him while he was waiting, it would not have been the first time something like that has happened. I kept asking him what was wrong, and he didn’t answer. Finally Mrs. Gouws whispered to me that he was sad I was leaving. I think my heart was so warmed, and shocked, that I began to cry. I mean, who would be able to hold it in when your "child soulmate," who has the same lively spirit and humor as you, starts crying?! 

It was a sweet moment to top off a wonderful day.

The last 30 minutes of class ended the way the first 30 minutes of my time at Victoria Park Grey began:

 with hugs, foot rubs, laughter, and of course a new hair-do.

Wishing everyone the best! Happy Friday!

Love,

Casey J

Now you can understand all the" little kid energy" I have been describing in my previous posts! ;)

Part of the gift the administration gave us. They made one for Rachel too! It was very thoughtful!

Just Laugh So You Don't Cry

Do you ever have those days that are so outrageous you wonder if you’re dreaming?

That was yesterday.

Rachel and I both had our last observation for our University supervisor who works at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Here is how yesterday went down…

I woke up extremely nauseated. I had to make the decision to email my professor and reschedule my observation, or get through it and go home after. I should have rescheduled, but I didn’t. I went through with the observation. The hour before my lesson my stomach was getting progressively worse. I was mad at myself for not rescheduling, but at that point our supervisor was already with Rachel and there was no turning back.

Earlier that morning my mentor teacher had told the students I was not feeling well and that they needed to be on their best behavior. When my supervisor walked in, I took the stage (not really, but it felt like that) and my mentor teacher left the room. As I began to start my “discussion” about the sky at night, I could tell this was going to be a challenging lesson. The students were yelling to each other non-stop and a couple of the most well-behaved students came up to me and asked to use the toilet(restroom). This was especially frustrating because they know not to ask during a lesson, and they had just gone right before so that they would not have a reason to ask. Not a good start. The first 15 minutes of my lesson consisted of every “teacher move” I could think of to get them quiet. I was appalled at their behavior. At one point I was forced to give one of my favorite students a second warning which meant he had to go to the passageway (hallway) as punishment. I could not believe what was happening, but he fought with me about it! He tried to negotiate-"Can I just go sit at my desk or by the wall?"

Since he wasn't listening, it got all the other students wound up. I lost control of the whole class.
They all started yelling at the boy things like...

“You don’t question a teacher.”

“Listen to Mrs. Harney.”

“Go, that is your second warning.”

"Ma'am said leave!"

“Mrs. Harney has a sore tummy.”

“Mrs. Harney has a sore leg.” (What?! That wasn't even true…)

“Mrs. Harney is trying to be a teacher.”

GOOD GRACIOUS! I wanted to cry and yell and laugh. I’m sure my supervisor wondered when I had time to get married in the midst of dealing with this rowdy class! That’s a joke, but I have mentioned in other posts that the children forget that I am a “Ms.” We work on it every day, just as we work on their behavior, but obviously certain things slip their cute little minds.

So, I am sure you are wondering what happened?

At this point I started laughing. I was laughing and fanning myself with the worksheets to keep from crying. I took a few deep breaths and sent the girls to their tables while I tried to get control of the boys. Once everyone was seated I began to give instructions, which apparently meant that everyone should start shouting out and running around the classroom.

I used more “teacher moves” like handing out stickers to the good children, and clapping, and every other management tool I had been taught, but they simply did not work. So then I told them I was getting angry, and I gave them three seconds to sit down. I told them, there is only one of me and 24 of them and I asked them politely to please work nicely and listen.

In response, a student shouted,“No, there are 23 of us, because Jamal isn’t here.”

I ignored him. (So that I wouldn't lose my mind or say something I would regret.)  I explained the writing assignment and after I finished, right on cue, half the class came running up asking me to spell words. Some of them even decided it was an appropriate time to hug, squeeze, and hang on me after I had told them to stay seated and raise their hands if they had questions.

I was mortified.

When my supervisor asked to speak with me, he said the lesson was fine and that they were an active bunch.

Basically, he let me off easy. Deep down I was ashamed and frustrated that it looked as if no progress had been made with this class. The perfectionist in me wanted a second chance, because the truth is that I have seen a major improvement in them since my first couple of weeks. You would not have known it from this lesson. I could just feel the judgment from my non-existent UGA professors-“Why couldn’t you manage your class?” "It must be something YOU’RE doing wrong."

But it wasn’t. At the end of the day-kids are kids. They have their good days and their bad days. 

Would it have been ideal for them to be angels on the day my supervisor came? Yes. Would it have been nice to see them care about my observation or the fact that I was sick? Absolutely.

But they didn’t. And I love them anyway.

All you can do is laugh.  

When you give it your all, and it still does not go as planned, then you have to let it go. 

Something this experience has taught me is that it is okay to fail. How else do we learn?

As I am sitting in bed recovering from my stomach virus, I can't help but wonder if this is how God feels about us. Sometimes the things we do and the mistakes we make must be frustrating. He probably wants to chuck a book at us or yell and scream, but he doesn’t. That is not in his character. Instead, he sent his son to die for us so we would not have to live in our mistakes. We get a second chance with him all the time.

If I can get a second chance, then I need to be offering that to others. I’m not saying it is easy. My feelings were definitely hurt yesterday, but I have to remind myself that they are only first graders. They deserve a second chance and a third and a fourth. That is what makes the good days that much sweeter.

  You can thank Google for this adorable picture. I hope it brightens your day! Remember to just keep on laughing.

Happy Wednesday!

Love,

Casey

Reflecting

I got to enjoy this incredible view on my run yesterday

Earlier today, I expressed some frustration towards a situation at school where I had felt a staff member was ill mannered towards me. Another American student teacher responded with something along the lines of, "It's interesting how the need for acknowledgement is so deeply rooted in us from our American upbringing."

Maybe it was the day I had, or the way I have felt lately, but something about that statement did not sit well with me.  When did saying thank you become a cry for attention, or should I say acknowledgement? Last time I checked, it was simply common courtesy.

Here's the thing-my blog tells a piece of my South African story, but because it is public, I have to use appropriate discretion when writing. When I create a post, I tend to consider my audience almost to a fault. The last thing I want to do is offend someone or come off as insensitive or ungrateful for the experience.

So here is where I am going with this:

The other night I was reading a blog post from Converge Magazine. The author of the post also writes a blog with his wife about their time in Uganda. I began to read their blog and was amazed at the couple's honesty about their experience. They are both Canadian and some of their pieces emphasize the barriers between the Western and African cultures. I found myself shouting "amen" after many of the posts. They also remind their friends and family that even though they moved across the world for an incredible cause, they still get homesick. I remember thinking that if I ever mentioned missing home to someone that I would seem weak, as if I couldn't handle the opportunity I had been blessed with. That is not the case, and it was nice to read such openness.


One post in particular stuck out to me. I would encourage you to read it so you can get an idea of some the barriers I was referring to earlier. It is titled, "This is Africa."  We have actually heard this phrase used quite a bit here, even being in an a more developed area of the continent.

http://paulandkrista.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/this-is-africa/

The article is both refreshing and paints a genuine picture of some cultural aspects I have found most challenging. 

I am all for a little "African Time" every once in a while. I have always found myself fashionably late to events, so people would probably assume I fit right in with this cultural element! But there is a difference between 15 minutes and 2 hours or in the case for this couple, an extra 12 hours.  

With all this being said... here is a little honesty of my own:

I miss southern hospitality. I miss accountability. I miss please and thank you. 

 I miss the honoring of my time and talents.

This experience has been incredible. There is no doubt about it, but sometimes, especially at the school, I wish the same respect for culture that we work so diligently  to show, would be returned to us.


We all have good and bad days. On some of the more upsetting days, I find the best solution is to cling to my faith. When every situation seems out of my control, and I have nothing else to offer, I rely on grace to cover and sustain me.

I want to close this post with a quote-

"Going on an adventure does not necessarily mean that you have to be the hero of an epic story or learn how to tame a lion with your bare hands (although this is on my to-do list), I think it just means sacrificing what is known in order to embrace what is unknown."

- Going on an Adventure (another post by the couple in Uganda)

I hope everyone is getting through those Monday blues!

Love,

Casey :)

Life Update

Happy World Teacher's Day!

I didn’t know this existed until today when we got these cute little presents. Every teacher can use some cocoa butter lotion and chocolate! J

I apologize for not blogging sooner-things are starting to get a little hectic and a tad bit emotional! We have a little over a month left in South Africa, and I am not sure I am prepared to leave.

Sometimes the most challenging experiences are the ones that touch you in the sweetest and most unexpected ways. 

Yesterday and today, I subbed for a different first grade class. It was a lot of fun, and teaching on my own taught me a lot, but my favorite part of the day was when two of the boys from my mentor class burst through the door to give me a hug before they left for the weekend.  Even though I gained a lot of experience subbing, I felt this immense sense of pride and relief to see those two sweet boys. The fact that they cared enough to hunt me down, while I was running around in another classroom, meant a lot.

I have come such a long way with this specific group of students. It is incredible to see how much they have enriched my experience here with their endless compassion. I feel very undeserving of their love. 

I am trying to be grateful and appreciate each day I still have here, because I know leaving will not be easy.

I did not have much time to blog about our week off, so I want to catch up! We used the week to relax, explore, and "attempt" to be productive. (AKA Rachel got stuff done...and I didn't. Oops)

One of my favorite days was when we went to Addo National Elephant Park. Rachel and I went with our friends Paul, Claire, and Ashley. Claire drove and we explored the park in the car. We saw quite a few animals, but the most spectacular part was seeing the herds of elephants cross right in front of our car. You are not allowed to get out while on the paths, but seeing the elephants so close, even in a car, was incredible. We also saw tons of baby elephants which made my day.

Addo National Elephant Park

BABYYY elephant!

Claire driving(on the right side of the car) and elephants crossing! Gotta love South Africa!

more elephants

We had a cute little picnic at the park

We topped our day at Addo off with dinner at GRILLERS AMERICAN DINER! That's right...

AMERICAN THEMED DINNER! 

and we're American...so naturally we had to make an appearance. They had a kiddy trampoline and everything!

We had some good laughs. How we felt while eating our "American" food is probably how other foreigners feel when they come to America and eat "Italian" or "Mexican" food. I'm not sure I would have called our meals authentic, but we still had a blast!

What are they trying to say about our portions?!? That was a lot of onion rings...

Home sweet home! Found a little Georgia in South Africa!

Another WONDERFUL part of my week was spending time with Ashley in the Walmer township. She works at a township school teaching English and has made some incredible connections with students and community members. Because of this, we were able to work at the local soup kitchen, and she planned a student dinner for me to take part in. A student dinner is an event Ashley and her roommate Kelly came up with as a way to bridge gaps, provide an opportunity to serve some of their students, and get to know  families and community members. Even though I cannot cook to save my life, Ashley and I made some chicken and pasta for the student dinner and had a wonderfully memorable night. We also spent time during the day passing out flyers and hanging up posters for Ashley's documentary.

Ashley worked hard, in her spare time, to create a documentary that would empower the Walmer community. The film followed several different inspiring people, including students, who were part of the township or had been at one time. It told an incredible story of the Lord's provision and how we are not limited by our circumstances.  God cares deeply about his people and loves to honor our desires when we trust him. I was touched by the way Ashley delegated the filmmaking roles and empowered her students in the creation of the film for their community. She employed community members from Walmer to help her edit and oversaw all of it while sticking to a tight budget.

Ashley has a contagious energy about her. She is incredibly humble, and I deeply admire her passion.

I could not have been more happy for her and the success of her "Words of Walmer" documentary!

I really have been so blessed by the friendships I have made here.

On that note, I want to add how grateful I am for my sweet roomies! They have been a huge part of this journey, and it would not be the same without them!

Enjoy the Fall weather for us back at home!

Love,

Casey