Exotic Dish

I passed on sheep's head and tried ostrich as my only exotic dish. It was great! It tasted like pepper steak, I think because it was made with some sort of red curry it looked like a red meat too.

Night Out on the CAPE TOWN!

This was the one night I did venture out to the night club with the rest of the students. And yes, they party like we do except they listen to a lot of techno or house music. I'm pictured with roomies Ruby & Khimmara.

South African Hospitality at its Finest!

Sharon and her husband Ralf Henkel were so extraordinarily kind to us. This is one of the dinners she held in her home. Her husband is the best German cook I've met, nevermind he's the only German cook I've ever met. Sharon is also a SA law student and is about to graduate. Yippee!

Constitutional Court Justice as Professor

Justice Zak Yacoob sits on the highest Court in the land of South Africa. The Constitutional Court is equivalent to our Supreme Court. He is blind, and the most amazing intellect I've ever had the privilege to meet and to learn from, on a daily basis. He posed with my fellow NCCU Law students on the final day of class. I don't think we would have smiled as much, after his take home final exam... because it was a BEAST!

My Roomies

I share an apartment with three young ladies; however, two are pictured here with me.  They are Rosa (from University of Puerto Rico) and Khimarra (from NCCU).  Missing is Ruby from University of Detroit (Mercy).  

Save the Cheetahs

We visited a Cheetah Reserve. The safari is in a couple weeks during our brief recess.

Long Walk to Freedom

This is the statute of Nelson Mandela who took his long walk to freedom from this prison, where he spent his last two years of incarceration. I am planning a trip to Robben Island later, that is where he spent most of his 27 years in prison. You have to ferry to the island and the wind has been really bad here, this week. And most importantly, school is taking up more time too.

The Most Beautiful Vistas

I visited the winelands last weekend and a beautiful little French Town called Francehoeck, about twenty minutes outside of Cape Town. I have never seen such beautiful landscape. The winelands are so awesome. I toured two wineries and I felt like I needed help getting on the van... a 1/3 of a glass of wine, times 10 glasses, whewee! So far, I really enjoy the white wines here, they're sweeter than California wines and not as acidic. The reds are good too, not as robust as the Australian reds, but not as soft as French reds... they're somewhere in the middle. HA, HA.

A Country of Contradictions

The unbroken spirit and resolve of majority in South Africa is infectious.

In the Province of Western Cape is the City of Cape Town, which is often called the Malibu of Africa.  It is surrounded by mountains including Table Mountain (above), the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and a beautiful City Center.  Here wealth is prevalent and can be seen at the posh oceanfront condos, eateries and upscale malls that are unmatched at home.  Luxury is everywhere, except in townships that sit only a few kilometers away.  South Africans are aware of their country's title but understand the origin and have such resolve to create a stronger, dignified future for all.  They have such an unbroken spirit, even in the worse living conditions, that it is infectious. I am rooting for them too.  South African law students share in our daily classes.  And I have learned that each citizen has a constitutionally protected right to housing.  But the students say, that really amounts to a right to access to affordable housing, based on each provinces available resources.  The provinces (states) are only obligated to provide a chance to get a home and a reasonable effort to make it habitable.  That is why there are so many living in squalor.  While all children have a right to an education now, that wasn't always the case and there is an illiteracy problem among the elders.  I'm searching for a program in the area to volunteer with and help teach adults to read. If you guys get curious and can surf the web for me, let me know if you find an organization.  Tomorrow we visit the Cape Penninsula and Parliament later this week.  God Bless, and I love and miss you all.   

Visit to South African Township

Today was amazing!!! We visited District Six which is now reclaimed land that was forcibly taken away from "coloreds" in the 1970's. We also visited a very poor township where the natives live by class. It was so heartbreaking to see school age children, who are not in school... but also seeing school children who walk through filth and all to get an education. Some of the shacks have no electricity or running water, while others that have water house 16 families in one unit. This child has to haul water to his home. Tomorrow classes begin.

Up & Off

Hello Family & Friends, by the time you read this, I should be up and off to South Africa!!!
(yeah, yippee!) I feel so blessed and I want to share this blessing with all of you, as I explore the country and learn about its developing Democratic Government, and International business at the University of Western Cape School of Law, through Howard University School of Law Summer Abroad Program. I leave NYC June 8, 2009 at 9:35 pm. I will arrive in South Africa Wednesday morning, around 10:30am. I love and miss you all, but I'll be in touch as often as possible. This is a picture of the synchronized 3 minute march of two guards outside Buckingham Palace and London Bridge. I had an 8 hour layover in London.  Love yall.
Shanai