Photos from Mozambique

My neighbour making shima - a popular Mozambican

dish made from maize.

One very cute host brother.
During a host family visit, I couldn't resist but take a photo!

Outside of the traditional church I went to with my

host mother in the host community in Mozambique.

The church congregation singing and dancing

in the rain after the 2 hr service which got cut short due to

the rain leeking into the church. But that didnt seem to stop them

from celebrating. It was really amazing to witness!

The trail to my host family's house in Manhica.

I used it every day to get to and from the town centre

and would always be greeted along my way.

My bedroom in my host family's house. I was pretty

impressed with what i got. My host mother,

Maezinha, was constantly upgrading my room in a

variety of ways (she brought me curtains, a radio,

a door, a light, etc.)I shared the small house with

only my host great grandmother. I felt pretty

lucky- they were a wondeful family.

My romatic outdoor toliet/washroom that I spoke about

earlier. This photo was taken the night I arrived.

It was quite an humbling experience!

Me at the top of the church tower. We climbed

it one day when we volunteered to clean the Catholic Church.

The view of Manhica, the host community,

from the top of the church tower.

I havent posted any photos in a long time, so I decided now that I am home with a speedy internet connection-that is free- I would have no excuse not to post some new photos of my experiences and moments in Southern Africa. Enjoy!

Made it Home!

5 flights later and nearly 48 hours of travel and layovers I finally made it home...exhausted and with a cold that I have been battling with all week. Although the flights were long I had the fortunate opportunity of watching some amazing films on my way home. I LOVE the new system on BA where you can choose the films and when to watch them when you like. I watched: Bobby, In Pursuit of Happiness, Freedom Writters, and the Last King of Scotland. All of which I felt dealt with different forms of struggle, many of which included racial issues. I felt in some ways the films were sending me a message- that I must continue to work in areas that bring awareness to these struggles and in areas that strive to improve such hardships- as they are unfair and injust! Not sure if I was just deeply emotional when watching the films due to my lack of sleep, the emotions I have been feeling as I leave Africa for an indefinite amount of time, the forecasted culture shock of returning back home once again, or not, but somehow I thought that since I seem to understand and sympathsize with these struggles that I must continue to act and do something about them. In any case its just a thought that went through my mind as I reflected on what all these films meant to me as I travelled thousands and thousands of kilometres from Africa to North America.

Leaving Africa

As per usual in the life of Laura, things have been pretty busy the last few days, and it seems we havent stopped for much time to just sit back and relax. I guess that is why to a large extent I am flying home today and NOT extending my stay as I really feel I just need a week or two of doing nothing, and I feel so ready to go home and do just that.

The day the family left last Sunday we went to a beautiful church service at a traditional church in the township. It was the church were Nicholas' father is the pastor. It was a great family affair with a lot of singing and dancing and lively spirits. It reminded me a lot of my church experience in the host community in Mozambique. It was a very communal service where everyone played a role in the service, leading the singing, dancing, preaching and rejoicing. Very energizing and exciting, a truly unique African experience for all of us.

The night they left we met up with a few other CWY types- Clare, Molalo, & Tammy. And for the next few days we spent a lot of time together sightseeing, revisiting Cape Point and exploring the vineyards of Stellenbosh.

The last while I was in between Stellenbosh and the township- where everyone and their dog is faithfully celebrating Easter in a variety of different ways.

Finally here I am in Jberg, thankfully I got here as I had booked accidently booked myself on the wrong flight (I booked myself a flight from Jberg to Cape Town -not the reverse!) Luckily for me I got a seat on standby and only had to pay an extra 75R! i debated going to the Apartheid Musuem today, but by the time I got here, checked my bags in storage, and grounded myself it was close to 2pm, I would have only had a couple hours to check it out and i have been told you need a good half day to really do it right. So i guess you have to save something for next time and that will be what I will do then.... whenever that may happen to be? Instead i checked myself into the Southern Sun (5 star hotel) poolside, acted as a guest and had a something to eat and drink.

Well I better go, just over an hour till I got to get through security so I think its time that find myself a nice plate of seafood one last time here in South Africa!

Family Vacation is Over!

Well I could easily write a novel about our adventure of a family holiday. From Cape Town to Kommetije to the 5 star Kruger Park Lodge to me, ali and nic's wild, and fast trip through Swaziland to Mozambique, and then back through South Africa on a never-ending bus trip to meet up with the family in Plettenberg Bay situated on the famous strip of beaches that make up South Africa's Garden Route.

WOW- what an adventure - I am exhausted! I intend to write more stories about our time away, but all in all I must say it was an amazing time! We saw lots of great places and in general had a great family vaccation, despite the few ups and downs and minor obstacles we faced along the journey.

In the meantime I am back in beautiful Cape Town, we have met up with some more work-mates and are planning some final beach trips before I board the plane back to Canada next week.