We don't slow down. Why would we? We are in South Africa. The Rainbow Nation, the land of Contrast, so much to see, learn and feel. AN experience of a lifetime.

As I sit here on my last chunk of 30rand internet time, I find myself wondering what will life be like when we come home. Before traveling to South Africa I had never studied away before. I was excited to learn and to show how much I had already learned but I was completely unaware of how much changing I would do on this trip.

Three weeks have gone by nearly to the day and we've seen and experienced a lot. For myself, the most powerful lessons have been those that expose my untested self. That is, the cultural dynamics at work here in South Africa are very different than our own even though they appear so similar. I am convinced that Ubuntu is at the root of it all. Here is a culture that views its own identity in terms of the identity of those within it. The people are loving, embracing, and dedicated; dedicated to "the new generation of the new South Africa" as one of the students explained to me.

Expression seems to be the human right that everyone demands; if it supressed, people cannot, or believe they cannot accurately and appropriately exist as humans.

Visiting Regina Mundi Church, the sight of protests in Soweto against apartheid, reinforced any idea I had about the essential human right being the freedom of speech. I was completely blown away by what the supression of that right ignites in a population. Students using their voices inspired a new level of involvement and awareness of the oppression of apartheid in the 1970s.

Fasting is a very old tradition within many faiths, including my own. Fast to cleanse the body and clear the mind, as an offering in times of mourning, in times of preparation--the forty days of fast before feasting. Physical hunger as a reminder of the finitude of this world--pains that bring one inward, to that space that would never be filled by the bread of humans. By depriving one's body, one's soul was able to focus on that which is beyond, the seventh chakra, God--to prepare for that celebration.

He welcomed us to his home. We sat at the edges of a crowded prison cell, with cold steel bunks and an unforgiving concrete floor, and the man called it is home.

Modise, a former inmate of Robben Island, thanked our group for visiting and learning about the sorted history of the island and its inhabitants. He smiled to us. He prodded and joked because our mood was sombre and depressed. His explanation being that coming to work each day can be challenging in and of itself and that our negative expressions would not ease that burden.

Well since I haven’t been bloged at all so far on this trip, I figured that I would on load all my thoughts and experiences thus far. What is there to say about South Africa other than amazing. There is beauty in every aspect of this country and it is nothing short of inspirational in its places, people, culture, and of course history. On our first day here in Cape Town our tour guide told us that South Africa is a country of contrast. Contrast in its culture, environment, and in its economy.

Greetings one and all. We are settled into the Backpacker's Ritz our final hostel and accommodation for our trip. We in the northern suburb of Johannesburg called Hyde Park. Sounds a little British and snotty to me (and it's shows).

In general, when someone hears a person who is white complain about "the way black people are," they are quick to place a "RACIST" label on that person and tune out the rest of the conversation. We decide to keep their distance and to avoid the subject because it makes us uncomfortable or hurt or angry. When we do this, we are operating under the same prejudice that we are condemning the "racist" for.

A few days ago we had the opportunity to visit a rural elementary school. I knew going into the school that the visit would tug at my heart strings, but I didn't really know what to expect. As we walked in, the entire school came out of their classrooms into the open courtyard. The principal was overjoyed to introduce us to the teachers and students and show us the school's facilities. He shook each of our hands and then invited us to integrate into the students to take a picture.