Teaching and Trekking

 Me and Kromboom President Graham Parkhurst after my speech, handing him the banner of my sponsor club, The Sunrise Rotary of Marco Island. On Wednesday I gave my first 30 minute speech to my host Rotary Club of Kromboom. I decided to make my speech less about me and more about where I come from to spread an understanding of my side of the world. In my presentation I showed the club pictures that I have taken in Florida of birds and animals that make Florida and the southern United States unique from anywhere else in the world. When I gave the speech I opened the dialog so that I could learn a little from them too. Some things I found interesting: When I spoke about the Anhinga I learned that they have Cormorants here, which are very similar. When I shared a picture of our white Ibis next to their Hadeda Ibis I pointed out some similarities and differences and learned some as well. I was shocked when I showed a picture of the Roseate Spoonbill we have in Florida to find out...

This past weekend I went to Mosselbaai in the Western Cape for the Rotary District 9350 conference. We took the highway, with gorgeous views, for about 7 hours. We passed baboons all over the road, and odd sheep that were bald and blended into the color of the wheat they were grazing on... finally to this magnificent beach town. We drove past the southernmost point on the African continent, an aloe factory (they are known for an abundance of many species of aloe), and the highest commercial bungee jumping bridge in the world! My host Rotarians checked into a quaint little bed and breakfast in town, but as a student on a budget and up for an adventure, I stayed at the Santos Express Train lodge. A once functioning train, this lodge is stationed on the sea next to an up and running train track, with all of the cabins/ bed compartments facing the sea. The compartment contained 2 beds with an additional 2 beds that folded down above them. The train is situated so close to the wate...

NAMIBIA Nine days of camping in the Namibian desert Day 1  It was an early morning. I had to take a taxi from my residence with my large backpack and camping supplies to downtown Cape Town to meet the tour group for our 9 day camping adventure through Namibia. After stopping to get a great view of Table Mountain across the bay, our first stop was at museum, !Kwa ttu guided tour to learn about the San people of Africa. We walked into "the bush" and learned about the plants they used and how they used them. Some plants were used for medicine, some as perfume for the women, and some for spices. We also were able to see a simulation of the way the village would be set up. The homes were all built in a circle with the doors facing in. The men of the village would hunt and start the fire for cooking in the center of the homes. At night, the women and children would sleep in the homes and the man would sleep outside with "one ear always awake" in case an anima...