All of the interns went shark diving in False Bay. The only type of shark that is present in these areas is the Great White! We all got on a boat called the Barracuda and went out to sea. The waves were so huge and we had to break through them to even get out to the ocean. The waves were at least 2 meters high! When we finally got to shark alley the sea was so rough and our boat was rocking from side to side. One of the interns got sea sick and threw up overboard, at the time I sort of laughed. Libby and I were one of the first to get in the cage. I don't know why they called it a cage, there were giant holes in it that I am sure a sharks head could have fit through. We got in with a weight placed around our waist to keep us down in the cage. We only had a wet suit on and a mask, no scuba gear! We got in and placed our knees on this yellow bar that was inches away from the front bars of the cage. I guess if we stuck our feet on the bar they would stick out through the cage and get bitten off. They strung a tuna head on a piece of rope and flopped it in the ocean, kinda like a cat toy, to attract the sharks. They would bring the tuna head right by the cage and the sharks would swim so close you could almost touch them. When they got close the captain would yell," DOWN" and you would hold your breath and sit at the bottom of the cage to see them. One of the sharks got really excited about the tuna and bit the cage... thankfully I wasn't in there for that! The sharks were so huge it was unbelievable.
When we got out of the cage I was starting to feel a little sick... so was Libby. Both of us ran to the other side of the boat and threw up... I guess you could say we were chumming the water for the other group.. Plus, the camera man got it all on film and referred to Libby and I as, "the puking blonds" for the rest of the trip. Overall, great experience and I can't believe I did that!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Capetown
Capetown is stunning! Unlike Durban, the streets are clean and it is much more of a city life. I definitely don't feel like I am in Africa. Capetown has the greatest gap between the rich and the poor. Some parts have beautiful homes with huge yards while the townships are tin shacks that are end to end. Capetown has unbelievable views of mountains and the ocean. I swear this is where National Geographic comes to take pictures!
The medical program in Capetown is a complete 180 from Durban. Things here are so much more organized and run much more smoothly. I am working at GF Jooste hospital for the next few weeks. Jooste sees the poorest of poor patients. Most patients are stab wounds or gun shot victims. In some of the bad parts of town, people will get shot for their cell phone!! Libby and I are working in surgery and are able to see some pretty amazing things.
These past weekends in Capetown have been some of the best times of my life. We went on the Garden Route Tour, which was full of adventure and amazing views. We went on a canopy tour and zip lined through the canopies. We also went to an Ostrich farm and I rode an Ostrich!!! It was so crazy/gross. Those are the biggest birds I have ever seen and man do they run fast!!! The best part of this trip was going Bungee jumping off the highest bungee in the world! Libby and I were the only ones to do it! I still can't believe that I jumped off that bridge, it's 216 meters high( about 600 and some odd feet) YIKES! I have video of my jump to show everyone! Also, that weekend we went to an elephant park and another safari.
This weekend the other interns and I will be going shark diving with great white sharks!!!! I'm not going to lie, I am really nervous/scared, but I can't come all the way here and not do it!
Internet is hard to find and also expensive so I probably won't be able to update for about another week! Miss you Steph and Anu! Wish you were here!
The medical program in Capetown is a complete 180 from Durban. Things here are so much more organized and run much more smoothly. I am working at GF Jooste hospital for the next few weeks. Jooste sees the poorest of poor patients. Most patients are stab wounds or gun shot victims. In some of the bad parts of town, people will get shot for their cell phone!! Libby and I are working in surgery and are able to see some pretty amazing things.
These past weekends in Capetown have been some of the best times of my life. We went on the Garden Route Tour, which was full of adventure and amazing views. We went on a canopy tour and zip lined through the canopies. We also went to an Ostrich farm and I rode an Ostrich!!! It was so crazy/gross. Those are the biggest birds I have ever seen and man do they run fast!!! The best part of this trip was going Bungee jumping off the highest bungee in the world! Libby and I were the only ones to do it! I still can't believe that I jumped off that bridge, it's 216 meters high( about 600 and some odd feet) YIKES! I have video of my jump to show everyone! Also, that weekend we went to an elephant park and another safari.
This weekend the other interns and I will be going shark diving with great white sharks!!!! I'm not going to lie, I am really nervous/scared, but I can't come all the way here and not do it!
Internet is hard to find and also expensive so I probably won't be able to update for about another week! Miss you Steph and Anu! Wish you were here!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Rugby!!
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Libby, Rebecca and I went to the most amazing Rugby game between the All Blacks and the South African Springboks! Jade's (from my sorority) aunt lives in SA and took us to the game. She got us tickets to sit in box seats! It was one of the coolest things I have ever been too. We got to sit in the box and eat and drink all we wanted. Everyone arrives hours before the game and they have a braai, which is basically a BBQ. This was such a huge international game and the parking lots were full of people tailgating!
The first picture is of the stadium. The players are so huge that they look like boxes with legs attached! The second is of Libby and I, we got our faces painted and Jay(the aunt) bought us some Springbok hats. The third is of Rebecca, Libby, Jay, me, and Gavin. We stayed with Jay and Gavin that night after having another braai. AMAZING! The last one is of us with the crazy Springbok fan. haha he was just walking around to all the tail gates like that, it was so funny we just had to take a picture.
We were so lucky to have met Gavin and Jay, they are the nicest people I have ever met. Hopefully we will get to see them one more time before we leave for Capetown.
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Libby, Rebecca and I went to the most amazing Rugby game between the All Blacks and the South African Springboks! Jade's (from my sorority) aunt lives in SA and took us to the game. She got us tickets to sit in box seats! It was one of the coolest things I have ever been too. We got to sit in the box and eat and drink all we wanted. Everyone arrives hours before the game and they have a braai, which is basically a BBQ. This was such a huge international game and the parking lots were full of people tailgating!
The first picture is of the stadium. The players are so huge that they look like boxes with legs attached! The second is of Libby and I, we got our faces painted and Jay(the aunt) bought us some Springbok hats. The third is of Rebecca, Libby, Jay, me, and Gavin. We stayed with Jay and Gavin that night after having another braai. AMAZING! The last one is of us with the crazy Springbok fan. haha he was just walking around to all the tail gates like that, it was so funny we just had to take a picture.
We were so lucky to have met Gavin and Jay, they are the nicest people I have ever met. Hopefully we will get to see them one more time before we leave for Capetown.
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