South Africa: Becoming Part of the Community

Posted on May 11, 2011 by admin

I guess I should start by saying what a wonderful country South Africa is. The people here are full of spirit and joy. My host family treats me very well and is a lot of fun to be around. The first couple of days were a little difficult but the Evans family made it very easy for me to fit right in. Tim is my exchange student. He has a sister named Giordy and his parents are Clive and Dee. I have seen quite a lot of the country already and there is much more planed.

The first week that I was here was the weekend of the rugby festival at St. Stithians, which was a perfect way to introduce me to the school. When I arrived, the school was still on break so after the rugby festival we packed our bags and went to Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve. We stayed at the camp for three days and went on numerous game drives. During my stay I saw the “big five” witch includes lion, buffalo, rhinoceros, elephant and leopard. I also saw many different bucks, giraffes, zebra, monkeys and hippopotami. Next we drove to the city of Durban, which is on the coast, just north of Johannesburg. In Durban I spent most of my time surfing and sightseeing. Unfortunately when we returned to Johannesburg I got very sick and missed the first few days of school. But thankfully I got better in time for spirit evening. Spirit evening is a gathering that the students have after school where we all practice the war cries in preparation for the big game against St. Johns, one of St. Stithians most significant rivals. That weekend we watched the game and I participated in the school’s numerous war cries and cheers. That weekend I also had the pleasure to go bungee jumping at the Orlando Towers. Afterwards, I had tried a traditional South African corn-based meal called Pap.

I’ve visited many great parts of South Africa and so far am very impressed. I’m very glad I embarked on this trip and I hope that future LCC students will have the chance to go on exchange visit South Africa. –Charles Laframboise ’13

South Africa: Lions, Polo, Afrikaans & Bungees

Posted on February 9, 2011 by admin

I arrived in South Africa on Thursday, January 6, 2011. Upon arrival, my exchange student’s parents, Andrei and Sylinda, greeted me. The two boys, Roald and Jaco, we’re on school trips when I arrived and only returned a few days later. The family is very nice and treats me very kindly.

I spend a lot of time with Roald and Jaco and find them to be very nice. During the first weekend, Andrei and Sylinda took me to see native animals such as lions. I enjoyed playing with the lion cubs.

The next Wednesday school started. I attended some foreign classes such as Afrikaans, a language derived from Dutch, which Roald speaks fluently.

The campus of St. Stithians has really has great sport facilities and is a fabulous school. During my first week I was able to get onto the school’s water polo team. Unluckily my first practice was fitness training and I soon realized that I wasn’t as good a swimmer as I hoped to be! I was definitely not the strongest player on the team, however over time I improved and learned the rules of the game. I even ended up as a starter in one of the games, which was very exciting.

Over the weekends the Roodts took me to various destinations such as “The Cradle of Humankind” and “Kruger National Park.” I even had the experience of going on a 150 m bungee jump in Soweto, which was exhilarating, to say the least.

This exchange to South Africa has been really fun, and a great experience. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to participate in it and give many thanks to Ms. Shadley along with the other LCC staff who allowed me to do so. –Eric Drymer ’12

Student Exchange SA: Exploring Cape Town

Posted on April 27, 2010 by admin

After a short two-hour flight, we arrived in Cape Town where we would spend five days touring the city and its surroundings.

The first day, we took the cable car up Table Mountain and had the chance to see amazing views of the city. From the lookout, we were able to see Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost point of Africa and even the new soccer stadium that is being used for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Tournament.

The following day, we drove along the coast of the Cape and stopped at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, one of the main working harbors of Cape Town, and wandered through the many shops and historic streets.

Next, we drove to Stellenbosch, the second oldest European settlement in the province after Cape Town. While we were there, we saw many vineyards, as Stellenbosch is the center of the South African wine industry and even the site of the first school in South Africa that accepted girls!

The next few days were spent exploring the rest of the city and parts of the Western Cape. —Emily Black

Leopards & Much More on Student Exchange

Posted on April 14, 2010 by admin

On Saturday April 4, I left for an eight-week exchange in Johannesburg, South Africa at St. Stithians Girls College. I have only been here for one week, but so far it has been amazing. My family is extremely nice and everyone I’ve met so far has been very welcoming.

My first day in Johannesburg, my host family and I went to the annual St. Stithians Rugby and Hockey Fest. Their sense of school spirit is incredible. Throughout the games everyone was on their feet shouting war cries.

At the moment, St. Stithians is on their April holiday, so a few days after I arrived, my host family and I left to their game farm for a four-day safari. We saw tons of animals including elephants, zebras, and giraffes and were even lucky enough to see a leopard—one of the most difficult animals to spot—three times! All in all, it was an unbelievable adventure and unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Tomorrow, we depart for a week in Cape Town and its surroundings. —Emily Black

South Africa Exchange: A Great Experience Comes to an End

Posted on March 24, 2010 by admin

As I pack my bags and get ready for the long journey home, I look back on possibly the two greatest months of my life. Every week I did something new and unbelievable. Whether it was climbing mountains, spotting leopards in the Kruger or just chilling with the great friends I made here, I was always having a blast. So now that it is time to go, I can’t help but feel disappointed at how quickly my exchange has passed. It feels as though it was yesterday that I arrived at Saints for the first time. — Julien Miller ’12

As well as having a great time, being here for two months has given me a sense of connection with my South African heritage. My dad’s side of the family is originally from South Africa. Consequently, living here has let me relate to what it must have been like for my dad and grandparents when they lived here.

Overall, my only regret about my experience here is that I’m not staying longer. I will forever treasure the great memories I have of South Africa.