Home - The US

So I arrived today (straight to Wesleyan University) safe and sound. I will be in Chicago on the 19th of December.  My American cell phone is reactivated for those who want to talk to me.  

Hope you enjoyed this blog, I liked to write on it.  

Signing off,

Adina 

Mosque

Today, those of us who wanted, went to a giant Muslim Mosque.  It was a really interesting experience with a beautiful washing station at the entrance with a pond that had fish where the water would drain into.  It led into a high ceiling building with two levels that both held worshippers five times a day, everyday according to our guide - who was a originally a canadian and a baptist minister - interesting.  it was really interesting!

Then Kim and I went to the Bat Center, no there were no bats there.  It is an art cooperative where artists are given places to work and maybe supplies and this center sells their work.  We met some really wonderful artists, one who teaches the others in classes.  And Kim talked on the phone to the artist whose work she was buying, which was really cool.  it was a fun day - a lot of shopping, which was hard but also necessary when you are soon coming home.  

then I tanned in the sun, just thought I would add that to spite those of you in the cold. 

Love 

Adina 

ISP Awesomeness

Today I did my last interview with Ela Gandhi.  She offered to have me come and talk with her after I emailed her some of my questions.  She was so inspiring, not at all assuming.  She lived in a small condo with an incredible view of durban and most of the coastline - WOW!  She talked theoretically about interfaith and what makes it challenging etc. It was so wonderful, having that experience alone made the ISP process more much more survivable.  It was incredible! 

Love!

ISP and Ushaka

After a beautiful, sunny saturday where my plans of a boat ride with Sarah fell through, I worked on ISPP for most the day.  While I had thought I would start later than that, I had some much to say and consider, it mostly poured out of me (that was a weird analogy-thing, maybe I should be a life-long researcher or academic thing)  anyway, it was a long day broken up only by a swim in the pool and then dinner out with my apartment at Mo Noodles which was delicious.  Then I brushed up on my pool playing skills while drinking some, it was so FUN! The guys at our hostel told me I had to chill after my long day of writing and they were so right!  

On Sunday, as a reward and as part of a plan we had already made, we (sarah and I) went to Ushaka Marine World.  There was a combo ticket discount, so we got into the water park and the aquarium for half price.  It was a really windy day though so we did not get into our bathing suits at all.  Instead we saw sharks that they were attempting to feed, stingrays getting fed - so cool! - by a diver, and a dolphin show.  As well as all sorts of other cool sea creatures and things that were really poisonous.  Like poison dart frogs and a black mamba snake - that was awesome! Then in the evening to thank one of our staff, Langa, we had him over for dinner.  We made a pretty successful lasagna and had salad and yummy cookies for dessert.  Mostly we talked about the program and our feelings about going home.  It was so fun!!

Today, I am just working on my ISP and its edits.  It is an long, tedious process, but I am feeling really good about my progress!! Yea!