How Crazy is it that October is Ending?!

October 8, 2009
I cant believe it’s already October.
Let’s see.. Lately I’ve been busy with school and rotary. The Benyon’s home is quite hectic!! I now have two little sisters. Jessica who is 11 and in gr.5 and Paula who is 8 and in gr.3! They are very active, adorable, and energetic little girls! It’s a very upbeat household and I’m participating in so many fun runs. Who knew I would run for fun?! Rob says that we know how the run part goes.. We just haven’t found out the fun part yet! Haha it’s so true. Rob and Kate are great. Both of their personalities balance each other out so well! Rob is the daredevil, spur the moment adrenaline junkie. Kate is a great mom, and keeps everyone on time and organized. Rob lectures at Rhodes University. He is a dorm supervisor/counselor. They live on campus in a flat below the dorm. It’s quite cool. From time to time, he gets “knocks” on the door connecting the house to the hallway from students who need help or have questions. His job really never stops! Kate also works on campus.. I’m not too sure what she does. It’s something with the science field. She also runs a center that has many different bookings on the campus-just behind the res where we all live. The place is VERY safe. So to all of you who were instantly worried-please don’t be!
On Saturday October 3rd, I went on a 15k hike with The Roodt Family-Shelly,Gert,Murray,Sarah and Emily. They are also res. supervisors and live just down the hill from the Benyon’s. They have three kids. Their son Murray is 17, Daughter Sarah is 15 , and youngest daughter Emily who is 8. It was a long but nice hike. (WHO KNEW I WOULD HIKE!?!?) I’ve really been saying yes to everything I can do. When you give new things a try, you learn more about yourself. I would never hike at home. But I actually enjoy hiking! It’s so great to do everything and meet new people! Then after the hike, we went to one of their friends homes.. with a pool.. swam, had a braii(barbeque), and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009…I haven’t written in a long time! Lots has happened, let me fill you all in!
The school week of October 5th- 9th was just another week. One funny thing is that I find myself spelling like they do here. I spelled organize like organise(and didn’t even realize it until a while after I wrote it!). In history class, we had a big project due about a South African country. In the paper, when explaining how big this South African country was, I said it was about 3 times the size of Pennsylvania. I lost points because to my teacher, it was not a good reference. Haha I just laughed because to me it seems like a great way to describe how big the country is!! Also, I was announced “Class Captain”! Haha the girls in my homeroom class voted for me to be class captain for a term. All this really means is that I do attendance every morning. Sometimes it’s a problem because I’m still learning all the new names… but it was sweet of them to appoint me! (I think they thought it was really funny to make the American do attendance.. but I’m still not quite sure!) :)
On Thursday, October 8th I started interact. It’s a spinoff of rotary. It’s a youth service club in schools. You do things through school to better the community, or just help out a little. The interact club I joined is through VGHS(my highschool), and we go to VP(Victoria Primary) which is right next door to VGHS, and we play with the little girls who don’t have rides to go home right after school. The little girls were quite wild!! At one point, I had four first graders hanging from every side of me, with one on my back and one in each hand. That’s seven crazy little girls screaming and laughing… it was frustrating but way too cute all at the same time. They call me their “school mommy”. (I guess they have lots of school mommies, or that’s what the fifth graders said!) The little girls ask me if I know celebrities, and I say yes. Their eyes get huge,they get so excited.. And then I tell the truth. Haha!!
On Friday October 9th, I was unable to go to youth.. it was a very hectic evening in the Benyon home. When I tell you this story please don’t freak out!!
On Friday evening around 6:20 (18:20) Rob went for a long run-and was still running. Kate was taking a quick nap before going to eat at a friend’s home, and the girls and I were playing in Paula’s room. Jessica had a friend over named Kaylee. As Kaylee walked out of Paula’s room, out of the corner of her eye she saw a man walking out of our home. At first I didn’t believe her and we were all puzzled. We realized Kate’s handbag was missing. Then, I told Jess to wake up her mom as I sprinted out of the house to see if there was a man running away. As I ran to the top of the hill (on campus) I saw a man running up the hill past the dining hall. Then I quickly ran back home. Kate was awake and phoning campus security. Luckily, I could tell Kate what this man was wearing so they could go look for him. In the end, the man was no so clever. He ran up the hill, and found that everything was fenced off. Then he ran down a different direction, which Kate and the security men all predicted. So, they caught him, Kate got her handbag back and everyone is safe. It was quite the evening for everyone. The girls and I had some tea, watched Mama Mia, and went to bed. We are so blessed that nobody was hurt, and the man was caught. All at the same time I had a terrible headache, and want not feeling well at all.
Then, on Saturday Morning I was invited to go zip lining with the Roodt Family. They invited me along, so we all went! It is a course about a half hour from Grahamstown with 6 different cables you zip line across. It’s a huge valley and the zip lines are diagonally set so you go from one to the other. You get all harnessed in, sign your life away, put on a helmet, get attached to the cable… and GO!!! Haha it was lots of fun. You control your own speed. Murray and I both agreed that it still felt too safe… :) After our morning of excitement, we then went to port Alfred to visit a friend of Shelly an d Gert’s. we spent the afternoon in Port Alfred…and as the day went on, I got sicker and sicker. By the car ride home I was burning up and shivering at the same time. I had a headache that would not subside, and when I got home, walked through the door immediately started to cry. Rob and Kate jumped up to help me; I took a headache pill and tried to sleep. I didn’t get any sleep. I knew I needed a chiropractor. I could feel where I needed to be adjusted. God works in wonderful ways, as it turns out, Rob’s uncle is a chiropractor! On Sunday, Kate took me to the doctor. I’ve never really been to that kind of doctor before. He was concerned that I could have malaria because I had just been in Kruger Park. He took my blood. I was SO scared…It really made me homesick. Luckily, I was with the Benyon’s. They did anything and everything they possibly could to make me comfortable. They are so kind, caring, and loving. I couldn’t ask for a better family to be living with. By Monday night, I was feeling a lot better! So I then went to school on Tuesday.
I almost forgot to tell you…I saw a chiropractor!! I’m not going to lie, it was so so so weird! Growing up with only one set of hands adjusting me( and occasionally the odd intern) is something I really take for granted. I would complain and moan every time my dad did any little thing that was a bit uncomfortable. When I saw a new chiropractor, he was not my dad so it was odd not to squeal or complain...as terrible as that sounds!! He didn’t look, feel, sound, or do anything like my dad. My dad is good at what he does. Sorry I could go on and on.. Long story short, it was weird. But the adjustment was just as nice after. It felt so good. And after, it really made me homesick. The REALLY crazy thing was that when I was finished with my adjustment, in the waiting room waiting for my ride… the song Butterfly Kisses was playing on the radio. My dad and I have been singing that song for as long as I can remember. I couldn’t help but cry. I miss his adjustments, his hugs, and his advice.. I miss that old man of mine! Love you tons Dad!
Tuesday and Wednesday night were filled with school activities. Graeme, our brother school, had their annual ceremony called prize giving on Tuesday night. Then VG had their prize giving ceremony on Wednesday night. It’s a special way to honor all the academic, sport, and any other types of achievements a student has accomplished throughout the year.
**Side note: At prize giving, we are required to dress in formal school uniform. (Which is the same uniform, except we need to be wearing black tights instead of white short socks.) It was such a mission for me to find black tights!! Kate and I were busy driving all around town, dropping and fetching the girls from their crazy busy afterschool activities.. In-between dropping and fetching we went to look for some black tights. I was unaware that “Blackmail” was different than “Black”. I’m no stocking guru. Haha!! We had such a hectic afternoon; all we could do when we got home was laugh! Kate and I had a pretty silly exhausted giggle after that busy afternoon. Then, we all went to the dining hall for dinner. I lost track of time, and when we got back home again, I had about ten minutes to be ready and at the monument for Graeme’s prize giving. So, I threw on my uniform, grabbed my tights and shoes and shot out the door with Rob. It was the most hilarious thing ever.. Putting stockings on while your host dad drives you to where you need to be. Luckily, Rob and I have a very close relationship and we made it in time-- it was oh so hilarious!! Rob and I had such a good laugh!
On Thursday October 15th, there was a fun run/walk for the local Afrikaans school. It was held to do a bit of fundraising for the school. VG grade 11’s decided to participate in this.. And we all got together, and dressed super funky in bright colors! Throughout the whole walk we all chanted, cheered, sang, danced and just had a really fun time representing our school and bonding as a grade! These girls are so special to me. I’ve made many amazing friends that I’m so thankful for.
I'm still loving the Benyon house. It's so great here! It is impossible for me to describe how amazing this family is. I honestly don't have words. I love my little sisters to pieces. Sometimes they drive me nuts (and I'm sure I also drive them nuts) but we always end up getting along. It's great having them around. Rob and Kate are so so great! Haha They really are though- Always ready to help, listen , offer assistance- Whatever I need whenever I need it. They are just the type of people that will bend over backwards to help in any way. I am so blessed. It brings tears to my eyes.
Then Friday the 16th was my mark for being here in SA for 3 months. I’ve had an amazing three months, the best in my life. I have met loving, kind, caring, and compassionate people. Everyone has a special place in my heart. I thank God every day that I wake up in this amazing place surrounded with love and comfort. Strangers have turned into family. I’m so blessed. It’s a home away from home.
Love you all,
Alison
p.s. I hope everyone enjoys these entries.. Please let me know what you think, feedback is always nice.

My Holiday and a New Home!

Thursday October 1, 2009

WOW! I just got home from the most outrageous holiday ever. I went to Kruger National park with Rohan, Vivian, and Jurgen Stroebel. (Rohan is a Rotarian) It was so so cool. For those of you that don’t know, Kruger is a HUGE game park full of wild African animals… I can’t believe what I saw… We saw the “Big Five” (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo) just about every day we went for a ride. Not only did we see the bug animals, but we also saw giraffes, zebras, CHEETAHS, hippos, etc… and countless BEATUIFUL birds!! I mean, we saw so many giraffes and zebras, that by the end of the week we didn’t even stop the car to see them… we just drove by them like you drive by corn fields! It was a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and could not have been possible without the generosity of the Stroebel Family. They were so kind and great to be with for the week. (They all also speak Afrikaans as their first language… so it was cool to hear the language and get a taste of a new culture)

After arriving back in Grahamstown after a long day of driving, I made a HUGE move to the Benyon’s home! My “small” suitcases were waiting for me to unpack into my new room when I walked through the door. I have stayed with the Benyon’s overnight a few times, but I’m finally moving in! I will be here all of October, November, and December. I’m looking forward to this stay! I now have two little sisters Jessica- 11 and Paula-7. It will be a fun, hectic, crazy, loving, memory-making 3 months! :)

Rob recently got back from a trip overseas. He went to Texas for a business thing.. He asked me to give him a list of things to purchase from home. On my list were gushers, reeses peanut butter cups, twizzlers, and laffy taffy. He managed to buy all of the candy, and in HUGE amounts! Haha (he thought you bought gushers by the single package! So we have boxes, and bags of American candy that nobody in the family is really crazy about!) Everyone tried the candy (they say “sweets” here) and they weren’t too nuts about any of it! It was fun to share a little something from home with them.

As you can see… I’m busy and many exciting things are happening! But even though all these happy things are happening… I desperately wish I could share them with my family, Cari, and Jen. I’m sitting here typing.. telling you all about how great it is here and for some reason tears keep running down my cheeks. I’m missing a good laugh with my girls, a deep conversation about some outrageous topic with my dad, and a sweet hug from my little momma. I think every time I move to a new home is when I feel the most homesick. The realization of being so far from home sinks in deep and gets to me. **Don’t get me wrong, it has NOTHING to do with the people I stay with. They have all been SO sweet and caring.** It’s just me… Growing and changing trying to deal with all the odd emotions and small battles on my own. I know in my heart this was the path God wants me to take, and I believe he’s just keeping me in check. Home really isn’t so bad after all.

Sending Lots of Love-

Alison