Remember when being told what to do wasn't fun anymore?

Bush Camp, ahhhh what do I say?  As I sit in my Langerry Flat listening to a vibrant choir process with percussion in around the roads in the near vicinity, I am in a much calmer mood to describe the trip into the Bush than when we arrived back home this morning.  Friday, our group piled into three kombis with other international students from NMMU for a trip into the Bush as part of orientation.  It was a challenge to engage some of the students, because it was such a big group of Americans that it was hard to relate to others in a personal way apart from the huge group I was obviously a part of.

On the way to the camp, we stopped at a reptile and bird refuge where we learned the truth about South African snakes.  The owner was so good with the animals, teaching us that snakes rely only on instinct, so if one knows their programmed reactions, one can deal with snakes well.  He told us the dangers of eradicating whole species because of the unwarranted fears of snakes.  He handled South Africa’s two most venomous (not poisonous, because venom acts on blood, and poison is absorbed through the digestive tract) at the same time.  He had an Egyptian Cobra’s head in his mouth, let us hold a Burmese python, mole snake, blue tongued skink (from Australia), and pet a crocodile.  It was a good “Emergency 101” course and a great informational session on a part of wildlife that is misunderstood and feared.

While driving to Bush Camp, I felt for the first time that I was really in Africa.  We saw wildebeest, cows, and goats roaming the grasslands on either side of the narrow and curvy road.  The kombi drivers drove faster than I do when I’m late for a meeting, and they had full vans.  Thankfully, I was by a window, so I could see the townships we were passing, and I got some wind in my face as not to get carsick.  Some of the township homes had solar panels, which some hypothesized were part of the facelift the country received for the world cup.  People walked on either side of the highway in long pants and long shirts.  Some were looking for rides and others were selling some goods.  When we stopped at a fuel station, a boy came up to the vans and pointed to his mouth and stomach, but none of us had food to give.  As we were leaving the station, a man rode up in a wheelchair with a one arm and one leg and yelled something about the police.  It was a stark contrast to the road trips that I’m used to.

When we arrived at camp later in the day, it was way past our normal lunch time and everybody was hungry.  Taylor, my roommate, and I were at the end of the line, and the camp ran out of food.  They just looked at us and said, “Sorry,” and walked away.  It was a response unlike any that I would have expected in the US.  But, I realized that food in excess is not a normalcy, and it is a reality that some go without here.  The staff showed some shame, but nothing more could be done.  They made much bigger batches of food the rest of the weekend, so no more people went hungry.  Nonetheless it was an eye-opening experience.

Then the fun began!!!  It rained 85mm in two hours!  For those of you not accustomed to metric, 85mm is about 3.3’’ of rain in an area that averages only about 10’’ per year.  The staff was scurrying around digging trenches to divert water from the dirt-floor buildings.  Thank God for tent stakes or our tent would be floating down the river.  When we came back to check on the tent, our flip-flops and sun screen were floating on the tarp in front of the tent under the canopy.  We were able to get our things out and into the dining area onto an unused table.  But, later in the day, as the rain continued, even that tin-roofed, dirt floored building began to fill with water.  A plank in the wall was removed and water was able to drain back out and downhill, but it remained quite muddy for the rest of the day.  That night a group of us whose tents were flooded slept in the dining area on all of the tables pushed together.

During the day while it poured, we were outside playing, rather, being forced to play admittedly childish team-building activities.  When the staff was done, we stayed outside to practice some yoga, and we eventually continued onto a much more exciting obstacle course and mud pit game.  One staff member said, “Americans do things that South Africans would never do,” referencing the yoga in the rain.  He stressed that rain is inclement weather, especially in the volume that it poured down yesterday, so everything shuts down in the rain.  The rain soaked up into the ground surprisingly fast, but it makes sense considering the drought that the region is experiencing.  Since we were outside in the rain most of the day, I was in my swimsuit, but when the chill was too much I found some dry clothes and enjoyed a traditional tribal dinner, complete with lack of utensils.  We had kudu (antelope) sausage that was very smoky and flavorful, coleslaw that is much different than in the US with its lime and mystery-vinegar flavor, and mealy-pot which resembles mashed potatoes topped with baked beans.  It was a delicious meal.  There were plenty of other group activities throughout the day that I would rather not mention due to the residual tension from my frank dislike of group activities.  In all, I met a few friends including some other Americans, Irishmen, Ger(wo)mans, and a delightful Finnish girl who lives close and who I hope to spend much more time with.  And, I am thrilled to be back at Langerry.  Oh… and there were little gray monkeys that had to be chased out of some people’s tents, haha.  They were cute but I never got a picture.

Around midday, we arrived back home and ate a DELICIOUS lunch at a beachside restaurant called Cubańa.  I had a smoked salmon wrap with a delicious Greek salad and water (which costs dearly considering the drought that the country is in) for about $10.  It was a great deal, beautiful view, and relaxing time.  Then we took a quick walk through the Sunday market that is on the boardwalk across the street on our way to the beach.  Next, we took a grocery run which was a great time because it is summer and there are so many great fruits and veggies in season.  Now I am going to nap so I can go to the casino to watch the Superbowl tonight.  It will air at 2:30 tomorrow morning, and then we are going to take our clothing to the launderette at 7:30am and grab a kombi to school at 8:15 for orientation with the friends from this weekend and more.  I will be exhausted, but we have a free afternoon in which I can rest up on the beach.  

I’ll report back soon.
Lots of love to all of you back home!
 

This is how they do electricity in the Bush.  There were wires hanging all around and even lights in our tents.  Idk how they did it?!   There was only one generator on the whole grounds to light everything.  There was no hot water even in the kitchen.  I thought this was a sweet shot of a light between the dining hall and the tents to help us find our way after dark,

The view from our terrace of the Indian Ocean

My flatmates (from the left: Katie, Heather, Laura, and Taylor)

Bush Camp before the rain

The dining hall with a gorgeous, huge tree.  This is where we ended up sleeping on tables pushed together when the tent area was flooded.

The river at Bush Camp

A cool bug!

I'm "happy!"  I'm in a swimsuit and T-shirt right before heading to the mud pit.

Taylor and me soaking wet.

This is the apron of our tent where these things were floating.

A view from inside the tent to see how flooded it was outside.