WOW… I feel like every blog I start I’m apologizing for my late posts... I’m terribly sorry that I have not kept all of you up to date. Let me recap for ya!

After Christmas from the 27th- 1st I went with the Stroebels to Kei Mouth. It’s a place where the Kei River Meets the Indian Ocean. It’s also the border between the Transkei and Ciskei. They are the historic black homelands during the Apartheid era. It was such a blast! We stayed in a big beach home with many family friends of the Stroebels. The home we stayed in was right on the beach... You walk out the sliding glass doors and you’re directly on the Indian Ocean!!! The home owner is my current principal! Haha and I have to admit it’s very weird how normal she actually is! There were tons of fun activities to do over the four days. Jurgen and I were constantly swimming, skiing, tubing, and in the evenings going into the town (which consists of a pub, a bottle store, a small grocery store and a gas station). It was such a mission to try to learn to swim in the ocean... if you don’t know what you’re doing it can be a very scary experience that leaves you feeling like you’ve swallowed half of the Indian Ocean! (Yes, I only know this from experiencing it). Thankfully, Jurgen and Michelle (my principal’s daughter) taught me how to dodge the horrible waves and enjoy the nice waves… It’s lekker fun!! Water Skiing was my favorite… We went skiing on the coldest, rainiest, cloudiest day in Kei Mouth. The water in the river was FREEZING!!! But, that did not stop me! I have Minnesota weather to thank for that! : P I went skiing... and got up on my very first try!!! It was lots of fun… My new year was also very nice. I had a nice late dinner and then celebrated the New Year with what felt like my closest family and friends. Oh and fireworks to bring in the New Year, of course!!

Just after New Year, I stayed with the Stroebels and went to Knysna with them. You can all see photos of knysna on my face book… It is one beautiful little city surrounded by stunning mountains, and known for the “Heads”. The “Heads” are basically like the mouth of the river meeting the ocean… and at the place where they meet there are two gorgeous mountains on both sides of the mouth. So when you look down at this sight... you see the ocean crashing, and smashing into the rocks all over the place…surrounded by these huge mountains that are absolutely stunning against the big blue sky…and the who time you hear the waves..Birds... and smell the nice salty air…Ahhhh… amazing!

In Knysna we stayed at the Waterfront… It is like a harbor where ships come in and go out, and also a place where they build accommodation because of the shopping and activities available at the Waterfront.

I had such a good time in Knysna!! We were busy with lots of activities and fun things all the time! We went swimming in the sea (and when Jurgen wasn’t tackling me in the water, I enjoyed it!), jet skiing in the ocean, we drove quad bikes through a course (I nearly crashed a few times... and also got lost from the group once...or twice…hahaha), a hike through the Knysna Heads… (But I was too sick to do it…haha and trust me you don’t want any more info than that!!) :( We touched and fed and played with elephants!!!! That was amazing. They are huge, gentle, sweet animals that could kill us with one hit of their trunk… and I learned how to say elephant in Afrikaans…Olifant!!! I’m getting good now!! One of the funniest things that happened was…In our little house we were renting there were two kayaking paddles. Outside our house was a public boating dock with two kayaks on the dock…so Jurgen and I assumed the kayaks belonged to the house we were staying at. After the laughs of trying to get into one of those wobbly things...and the fun races through the little harbor... we soon discovered the kyaks were not ours to use… OOPS!! Haha!! Let’s just say the neighbor a few doors down were not impressed... haha! But it was so worth it. If his kayaks meant so much to him... why keep them on a public boat landing? Nobody knows…

Another funny time…

There’s one thing about South Africa that you can’t possible understand until you’ve driven here. The pedestrians walk whenever and wherever they want at all times! So, as a driver you have to be quite forward and just go if you want to stop the people. (My dad could tell you how scary this actually is!) Haha sorry it makes me laugh…. So we were driving home from four wheeling... and Rohan nearly ran into this young couple. (Which is normal to get close to the people BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WALK IN FRONT OF CARS!!!?) It drives me nuts! So, we got close to them... and then the very possessive oober controlling boyfriend (obviously...haha) tapped on Rohan’s car window... then he rolled down the window and the young oak stared swearing and shouting and using bad hand gestures toward us.. Haha and saying how we nearly killed his girlfriend... blah blah blah… it was so funny. Sorry it is probably one of those “you had to be there” moments… :)

Anyways... knysna was so great! And on the way home…

I BUNGY JUMPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew I was going to do it, I mean going into this year I told myself I have to do everything I can… what the heck.. Jumping off a bridge with elastic around you ankles... pshh no big deal! (Yeah right) I was debating... I could not decide if I wanted to do it. The bridge is in between Knysna and Grahamstown, and on the way to knysna... I said no to jumping… but on the way home... I ended up saying yes. I was texting my dad... asking him if I should or shouldn’t do it... (I knew what my mom’s answer would’ve been) And my dad was very encouraging and positive... like he always is... so I took his words in... And decided I’d jump 316km! Why not?! You only live once... and now that it’s ticked off my bucket list I never have to do it again! :P I also planned it right. If you’re going to bungee once in your life you might as well do it off the highest bridge in the world and do it properly. So, I did! I’M SOOO HAPPY I DID IT!!! I phoned my parents right away to tell them I was alive. Haha!! It’s the most amazing feeling in the world. Everyone thinks it’s so hard on your body, but you don’t really feel a thing, and it’s over in 3 minutes! Absolutely amazing. After all I could do was smile… :) The perfect ending to a fantastic holiday…

Then when I got home (to the Benyons) it was nearly time for school to start and for me to move. On the 17th of January 2010, I moved from the Benyons to Larry and Sharon McGillewie. They are two very hardworking people around my parent’s age. They have a lovely home with a pool, two dogs(Bagoo and Cleo), and a cat called Ginger shit. Haha! They own a printing business in Grahamstown, and run a small flying school at the Grahamstown air field. They were so kind to host my parents when they came over, and they are very nice people. It was nice living there, but because they were so busy with work.. And I was home alone a lot, there was a mutual agreement that I should move.

But to back up:

MY PARENTS CAME TO SOUTH AFRICA!

Wow, it was so great to have them here. I’m not going to lie.. It was hard at times. They relied on me to tell them where to go, how to get there ect.. But in saying that, it was nice to know what feels like MY town.. :) Our week and a half was filled with meeting people, seeing places, and just enjoying each other. It was very hard to see them leave.. I was homesick and knowing what it’s like with my parents here..It was even better than being here alone.. I can’t describe it to you, but it was difficult to say goodbye again. But knowing that I will see them soon helps a lot!!

So, I moved from Sharon and Larry’s home to the Stroebel’s home. It’s so fun to have Jurgen to hang out with, and Vivienne and Rohan are the best! Sometimes I have no idea what they are saying.. But it’s still great!! Jurgen and I cook one night a week.. Which is so fun? I don’t know why my mom hates it..Haha! And we’ve been baking.. It’s actually really fun!! Cupcake fights, wii tennis matches, swimming, and cooking has all been so much fun!

Let’s see… Some exciting things coming up..

April 17th is my Matric Farewell (aka prom)

April 23rd- 27th we are all going to knysna for a Stroebel family reunion

And sometime early may I move to the Smuts’ home.

Hope you’re all doing great.. I’m so excited to see you all around the end of June.. The 18th ish… :)

Missing you!

With love and hugs from Sunny South Africa-

Alison