Day 8: Cape Town

By JD Nord

Day eight took us to the end of our visit to South Africa.We visited the Sinethemba Youth Development Center where youth of the area are able to gather and learn ways to be responsible, self-reliant, and impactful members of their society. Here our team, along with the volleyball team,divided the children into groups to teach them our sport. Strikers, midfielders,forwards, and goalkeepers showed their groups of kids some of the important skills of the beautiful game. We then created teams for full-sided games, which saw our K players teaming up with the kids. A post-game celebration consisted of players swinging kids around, giving them piggyback rides, and conducting dance battles. Our visit to Sinethemba left all with smiles. We then began the trip back to Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront for some shopping and dinner.

 As our trip began to wind down and we prepared for the long journey back home, we had the opportunity to reflect on the plethora of breathtaking experiences we had. For me, it was difficult to wrap my head around the entire trip. We experienced the beautiful and the ugly, the happy and the sad, the heart-warming and the heart-wrenching. South Africa offered us so much to learn from; we will cherish all the country gave us to take back to our homes in the United States. The team learned lessons from South Africa that will help them as athletes, students, and citizens of an ever changing world. The lessons of resilience, compassion, and unity were abundant.

We learned about resilience from Brett Archibald, the hike up Table Mountain, and our visit to Robben Island. Mr. Archibald’s amazing story about being stranded in the ocean, alone, for 29 hours showed us that we are capable of so much more than we think. We are able to push past the limits we set for ourselves and keep our fingers off the quit button, whether that is in sport or in life. We also learned that lesson from our hike up Table Mountain where guys banded together, urging each other up the steep terrain to the top. From here, the view was spectacular and well worth the effort. Robben Island was the ultimate testament of resiliency. For the prisoners who ended upon Robben Island, the brutality they faced daily was extremely trying on their spirits. Seeing Nelson Mandela’s cell where he lived for 18 years and hearing stories of how he and the other prisoners lived, our team gained a deeper understanding of the grit it took to live through the torture and come out the other side to make change for the better.

Mandela and the other prisoners showed us what compassion looks like as well. Despite the conditions that many South Africans lived, and continue to live, through, they display the greatest empathy for others and operate with grace. Our team learned what compassion for others looks like first hand at Baphumelele, RV United, and Sinethemba. The orphaned children had little and we arrived with a lot, however they gave us much more than we thought was possible; they gave us love and a feeling of pure happiness like no other. Those experiences and feelings will last with us forever.

One of the most important lessons learned from South Africa is of unity. The country has 11 official languages and countless different cultures all feeding into one South African identity. The ability for a nation once divided to band together with such inclusiveness is a feat which we in America should strive for as well. Is South Africa perfect? Absolutely not, but it showed us that working in a united fashion toward a common goal goes much farther for the whole than being separated. Much like how a team is more successful when the entire group puts its energy into a single goal.

 These lessons are a few of many that South Africa and itsculture taught us. We are so fortunate to have had this opportunity. As such,we must thank all of those that made it possible. Melissa (our tour consultant here in the states), along with our coaches, moved mountains to ensure we had the greatest trip possible. Frank (our amazing guide) and Neil (the world’s greatest bus driver) provided us with an amazing experience and kept us safe while in South Africa, even teaching us Xhosa. To our parents, family, and friends who supported us on our journey, we thank you very much. And last but not least, thank you South Africa for welcoming us and changing our lives.

Day 7: Outdshoorn to George

By Alex Wallace

Coming off our first night at Bufflesdrift game lodge, unfortunately, it was our only night there. We started the next day hanging out with some elephants. These elephants are magnificent creatures and one of the animals of Africa’s big 5. Both groups interacted with 3 massive elephants. We got to feed them, talk with them, and hug them. We also learned what makes these animals so magnificent. They are intelligent, strong, and friendly. It’s sad to learn how humans wish to poach these animals for money. Our journey then took us to the Cango Caves where we took a tour through history for about 1.5 kilometers. Through the caves, we saw amazing architecture and wall structures that our ancestors lived in. We learned how they were discovered and what they were used for as well. After this productive morning, we drove to the mall for a nice independent lunch and to purchase shoes. We purchased shoes for the children back at Baphumelele where we visited in our stay at Capetown. We realized that we could make another big impact on these kids and we took the opportunity. We then checked into our hotel at our final destination in George. We are staying at a Marriot hotel which is quite fancy. They welcomed us with a warm greeting and a grand buffet for dinner. We spent the night with relaxation and also took time to get our minds right for the service project that we had the next day. Every day keeps on getting better and more life-changing as we go. It is sad to think we are almost done with our tour but rest assure, we are going to make the most of what we have left.

Day 6: Oudtshoorn

By Ben Meschke

Day six started with our departure from Cape Town as the trip turned inland towards the town of Oudtshoorn. The drive took us through the mountains and deserts of the Western Cape, showcasing the natural beauty of southwestern South Africa. Our first stop was at an ostrich farm, where we went face-to-face with the largest birds on the planet. Beyond being the largest birds on the planet, ostriches have a number of other features that make them remarkable: their eggs are strong enough for a human to walk on without the egg breaking. They loved to bite anything remotely close to the fence, whether that be food proffered in an outstretched hand or the hand itself.

After we left the ostrich farm, we set out for our final destination, the Bufflesdrift Game Lodge. The lodge offered a variety of different animal encounters, and after getting there, we went on a bush safari to view some animals out in the wild. On the safari we saw wildebeest, springbok, nyala, white rhino, hippos, zebras, grey mongoose, and giraffes. Rare in the desert, the day was cloudy and quite cool so we were able to see almost all of the species living on the preserve. That weather eventually drove us back inside as the rain picked up at the end of the safari, capping off a day of discovery and connecting with nature as we observed and interacted with both the flora and fauna that the region has to offer.

Day 5: Cape Town

By Nick Kraeuter

Today was one of the more inspiring days for the team. This morning we met with two speakers, both of which taught us just how small this world can be. The first speaker we met with was Brett Archibald whose story we have learned from the start of preseason. The second speaker was Paul Tshele who is an alumnus of Kalamazoo College and now studies at University of Cape Town. After spending time with the speakers, we headed out to Baphumelele, an orphanage in Khayelitsya. At the orphanage we were able to interact and share stories with the kids while also touring the orphanage they stay at. This event was personal to a lot of us as we connected with the children throughout the day. After Baphumelele, we headed back to the hotel to recover before going out to an authentic African restaurant called Gold. At the restaurant we were able to try all types of traditional authentic dishes from all over the continent. Our food safari included everything from ostrich steak salad to Egyptian lento. During the dinner there was also live entertainers singing and dancing throughout the restaurant. After the restaurant, we went back to the hotel and had time to reflect on all that had happened throughout the day. We had learned so much about the experiences, struggles, and cultures of others that inspired us while also humbling us. We look forward to more days to come, while also being thankful for the ones we have lived.

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Day 4: Cape Town

By Matt Turton

Today we had the opportunity to travel to the grounds of Ajax Cape Town and scrimmage against their academy team. The grounds were unbelievable and the experience was an unforgettable one. The team was as humble as can be, yet one of the toughest opponents we had come to face. They had an understanding for the game that showed how wise they were for being 15 and 16 years old on average. 

Next, we traveled over to the District Six Museum to learn some history about the South Africa’s apartheid and its effects. Our guide at the museum, Noor, had been living in the District Six area and was forced to leave his home when it was declared a whites-only area. His family had been living in that home for decades and he had to pack his things, take himself and his family out of their home, and leave their district. We had discussed the apartheid before we departed for South Africa, but this was our first real understanding of the effects it had on this country and its people.

To end off the day, we had dinner at The Bungalow over in Camps Bay. Not only was the dinner magnificent, but the view of Table Mountain and of the sun setting over the Atlantic was one none of us will forget. South Africa keeps surprising us with its beauty and rich history, and there is only more to learn.​

Day 3: Cape Town

By Collin Sweet

Today began with a journey to the most southern tip of Africa, Cape Point. The drive through the park was long and we were stopped by some baboons who decided to take their time crossing the road. Everyone on the bus immediately stood up to catch a glimpse of them as they went about their business. When we arrived at the parking lot and got out of the bus, a strong wind coming off the ocean almost knocked us back on. The team pushed through and made it to the top of the hill where the lighthouse was located. We were surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean on one side and the cold Atlantic Ocean on the other. Our tour guide Frank told us that this is where many hurricanes are born and that the culprit was the strong winds. These gusts made it very difficult to get pictures because my camera was almost blown out of my hands. The view at the top was unbeatable. There was almost a 360 degree view of ocean and mountains in the distance. From here we visited Boulder Beach to see a very interesting animal that you wouldn’t expect to see in Africa, penguins. This was a very exciting day for everyone because when you come to Africa the last animal you would expect to see are penguins. We ended the day by playing University of Western Cape and secured a 3-0 victory. This was a rough game for the team after hiking Table Mountain the day before but everyone worked hard and we were able to get the win. ​

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Day 2: Cape Town 

By Casey Spagnuolo

Day two began at a crisp 6:30 AM with a trip up to the top of Table Mountain, the oldest mountain in the world. Deemed a ‘fairly easy hike’ by our tour guide Frank, both teams quickly found that it was harder than initially expected. The hike was more steep than we first thought, and just when it started to even out, we found we went the wrong way! After turning back, our hike took us through steep steps and beautiful views, all under the blazing sun. The view at the top was more than worth the climb. The view of Cape Town, the Ocean and the surrounding mountains was nothing less than breathtaking, which made each step worth it. On the right side, there was a wonderful view of cape town and the Atlantic Ocean, with Robben Island looking so close you felt as if you could touch it. To the left, the warm Indian Ocean sat with more mountains glazing the horizon. For everyone who went up, it was an unforgettable sight. The exhaustion ensued shorty after, resulting in both teams’ games getting canceled. Following dinner, both teams engaged in a discussion regarding the lessons learned during the hike. Some admitted that if they had known the degree of intensity the hike would require initially, they may not have even attempted it. Everyone ended up learning something, led by ‘half-man’ outside back Bobby Dennerll. His crippling fear of heights kept him from looking down or up during the entire 5-mile hike, yet he pushed through and climbed to the top. His mentality and courage alone is something we can all take a lesson from, not to mention the importance of teamwork found in his teammates encouraging him throughout. The lessons of persistence, teamwork, and the benefits of hard work made all who climbed realize that the climb, much like life, is more about the journey than the destination. 

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Day 1: Cape Town

“Hello friends.” – Mikey Schwartz

Posted by JD Nord and Collin Sweet

After two full, tiring days of travel, our team was thrown into the thick of the South African culture. The first day in one of the world’s most beautiful cities brought us to Robben Island and Khayelitsa to meet RV United, followed by the volleyball team’s match at University of Cape Town. We experienced the tragedy and beauty of the prison on Robben Island, including a viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell. We then proceeded to our first service project with RV United, a young girls soccer club which came about from Football for Hope during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Overall, the day left the team exhausted but the memories and experiences made it all worth it. We cannot wait for the rest of what South Africa has to offer!

This quote above by our very own Mikey may not make sense right now, but we are creating video blogs (vlogs) for each day. We will finalize these vlogs and make them available when we are able to post. These vlogs will provide a deeper and more complete picture of our experiences each day. Thank you for being patient!