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| Sunrise Morning of Cycle Tour |
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| Kids from Capri Village |
On Sunday, March 13th Cape Town hosted the 2011 Argus Cycle Tour! The 110 km Cycle Tour is Newlands Rotary’s (my host club) largest annual fund-raising project and brings roughly 30,000 cyclist to Cape Town from everywhere in the world. Each ‘station’ on the tour is managed by Rotarians from various clubs and I was able to assist at the Capri Station near Noordhoek. Helping with the cycle tour required waking up at 4 am and returning home after 7 pm (after a braii) but it was a wonderful experience. Serving as a ‘Marshall,’ I monitored general safety, helped distribute drinks to cyclist at our stop, and encouraged people to visit the physio station. I am by NO means in shape to do a 110 km bike ride and I was VERY impressed with the cyclist of all ages, nationalities, ethnicities, genders, and fitness level. One highlight of my experience included enjoying the local kids from Capri who LOVED watching the cyclists and sampling the bananas and coca-cola at the completion of the race. Lastly, Davidson people should be excited to know that Shaw Hispher (’03) took part in the cycle tour and visited my Capri Water Station J
Another great Rotary Project is the Blue Train for Charity operated by Sea Point Rotary Club. On Sunday, March 20th I volunteered to help the community and Rotarians paint the blue train. It was wonderful to see the turnout of volunteers as there were more people then brushes and buckets of paint!
In addition to direct service and engagement with Rotarians in South Africa, being an Ambassadorial Scholars has introduced me to some wonderful South Africans and given me the opportunity to travel and share in new experiences. For example, I was able to go paragliding at Macassar Beach (near Khayelitsha)! Additionally, I had lunch with Jane Raphaely (a former Ambassadorial Scholar from the UK to Colombia in NY). Jane founded Fair Lady in South Africa in 1967 as well as Associated Magazines in 1982 which is the largest, privately owned publishing house in the country. (For those of you who are Oprah fans, Associated Magazines is responsible for publishing O Magazine outside of the US). Jane and I met at Ray’s Rotary Reunion and discussed our interest in issues facing women and girls. Jane takes part in numerous service activities in South Africa and established a shelter for battered women in Langa and participates in the “Real Men Don’t Rape” campaign. Give my service interest, I look forward to remaining in contact with Jane and her work during my time in Cape Town.
Social Life in Cape Town
In addition to school and Rotary, I have enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing life in South Africa. March has been filled with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, dressing up for the Cape Town Carnival, and spending times with friends at the beach, a wine farm, and beautiful Chapman’s Peak.
To view more pictures check facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2048315&id=14701722&l=89298bd585
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| St. Patrick's Day With Ciaran (Irish Ambassadorial Scholar) |
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| Carnival on Long St |
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| Dressing Up for Carnival |
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| Paragliding at Macassar (I'm not pictured) |
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| Sunset at Chapman's Peak |
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| View from Chapman's Peak |
Another great Rotary Project is the Blue Train for Charity operated by Sea Point Rotary Club. On Sunday, March 20th I volunteered to help the community and Rotarians paint the blue train. It was wonderful to see the turnout of volunteers as there were more people then brushes and buckets of paint! 
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