Welcome and thank you for visiting my blog! As many of you know, I graduated from Dartmouth in June and was selected to be a Grassroot Soccer field intern. Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is a South-African based NGO founded by former professional soccer players. It intergrates the cross-cultural appeal of soccer with evidence-based HIV prevention and life skills programs that arm African youth with the knowledge, skills, and support to live HIV free. Translating research into action and leveraging the excitement around the 2010 World Cup, GRS attracts and engages African youth through schools, community outreach, and social multimedia. It is focused around the realization that the true power of soccer has always been connections that it creates between people. By using soccer players as role models, and the popularity of soccer to engage hard to reach young people, GRS combines social theory, public health methodologies, rigorous evaluation, and a huge dose of passion. Since 2003, over 270,000 youth in 16 countries have received comprehensive HIV prevention education through programs linked to GRS. By bringing the model to scale through innovative and sustainable partnerships, GRS aims to educate many more by World Cup 2010.

I am truly passionate about this cause and organization. However, in order to participate as an intern, I have been asked to raise $10,000 to cover my living expenses and I am currently $2,000 short of my goal. Please consider supporting me in the fight against HIV/AIDS and making a tax-deductible donation with the icon below. Thank you for the support and I hope you continue to follow this blog as I post updates throughout my internship.

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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Vacation

At the end of March, I left Kimberley and traveled to Cape Town to meet my parents for a two week vacation. They arrived on the eve of my birthday and I couldn't have wished for a better present. We spent the first week touring Cape Town - visiting Robben Island (like the Alcatraz of Cape Town) where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a majority of his 27 years, hiking Table Mountain and Lion's Head, visiting the wine lands, and more. The following week, we flew to Kruger National Park for some safari time and then concluded with a short stay in Muizenberg, a relaxed beach town outside of Cape Town. I think we all agreed that the vacation was too good to be true and didn't want it to end. I've included a bunch of pictures below to give an idea of where we were. Enjoy!

My Dad on top of table mountain, after we hiked up.


Parents in the Kirstenbosh Botanical Gardens in Cape Town.


Gorgeous view from our apartment. Table Mountain is seen on the left and Lion's Head is seen on the right.


My Dad and I after climbing Lion's Head.


Table Mountain as seen from Lion's Head.


My Dad and I at Cape Point, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans merge.


My mom and I visiting the penguin colony at Boulder's Beach, outside Cape Town.



Celebrating my dad's birthday by doing a little surfing - definitely a vacation highlight.



Below are pictures and video from our five-day trip to Kruger National Park, South Africa's premier safari destination. We were lucky enough to see all of the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino) more than once. It was easily the most incredible part of the vacation.

View from one of our overnight huts at Olifant's Rest Camp.
Video of the same view.


Hyena next to our car


The elusive leopard


A little grooming.


Too cute.


A lion walking next to our Safari jeep. Surprisingly, it didn't mind us or even look at us. If you look closely, you can see that it's a pretty skinny lion.






My favorite endangered animal!


Lioness hunting in the night.

Overall, it was an amazing vacation that I will never forget.
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1 comment:

  1. LoriMay 12, 2010 at 9:13 PM

    You could have a career as a photojournalist for National Geographic. What an amazing trip!

    ReplyDelete

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