AAVE Trip BLOG » 2006 » November
November 7, 2006
Our Days Under African Skies
Posted by Jenny at AAVE in : Africa, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Greetings from Africa!
It is July 4th and we are having an incredible time here in Africa. It is hard to believe that we have only been a group for a few full days. We have done so much and know each other very well for such a short time together. I have high hopes for this group. The group is from many different places, but everyone is open to learning about everyone else.
I arrived a day ahead of all the students and was impressed with what I found. Our African guides, Jules and Lawrence, are both fantastic and full of much knowledge and experience. Luban, our driver, has so many stories and a great warmth about him. We are lucky to have them traveling with us. The infrastructure of Cape Town surprised me. It is far more advanced then I imagined. The flights over seemed like the longest travel day in my life - I was more tired than I expected. A good nights sleep and the excitement of meeting the group revived me.
Everyone arrived into Cape Town without too much drama. Margo was delayed and arrived a day late and Scott’s bags went to Boston instead of Africa…but we got it all sorted and began our adventure together. The Train Lodge in Cape Town was our home for the first two nights. It is a hotel composed of old train cars, with small sleeping births as rooms. Everyone loved it. This was our base as we explored Cape Town. We took full advantage of the unseasonable sunny weather. We woke early on are first full day and climbed Table Mountain in the morning. Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s most famous landmarks. It was a challenge and many of us struggled, but each of us pushed on and completed the hike. It was an awesome view at top and the wind died down enough for us to take the cable Car down. Everyone was glad for this! The afternoon found us taking the ferry out to Robben Island - we all learned a great deal from this somber experience. Our tour guide was an ex-political prisoner who had been a prisoner during the apartheid years. His stories provided a unique insight. The lesson we left here with…the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. And while on Robben Island, we saw our first penguins!! They are so cute. And then to bed on only the first full day of our African adventure.
Day two (yesterday) started at 4:15 in the morning!! Yikes, it was dark. We departed Cape Town in the Mad Max Machine (more to follow later) and drove for two hours. We arrived at the West Coast National Park in Saldanha Bay just in time for Sunrise and a beautiful (and cold) bike ride through the reserve. We didn’t see much wildlife, but enjoyed the experience none the less. Lots of laughter and good moments. It is awesome to see the group coming together so well. Next, we headed to a farm to do some horseback riding. Everyone managed to participate - some of us enjoying it more than others. Josh was riding in front of me and Ted was on the horse behind me - between their running commentary and my horse riding ability - I belly laughed the entire ride! The day ended at Beach Camp were I write you from. We will be here for two more nights. It is magnificent here. Tents right on the beach. This morning half the group kayaked. Bryan and Steven managed to almost sink their kayak, but everyone returned just fine. The fogged rolled in quickly so the second half of the group went out for only about five minutes before the guide decided it was better to return. We hope to get them out tomorrow after the boat ride.
Africa is colder then any of us imagined, but it is beautiful and everyone is smiling and enjoying themselves. We are eating well and are all healthy. It is hard to believe it is only the third full day together. There have already been so many moments I cannot wait for you to hear about and your son or daughter are excited to share with you. This group is composed with some of the most incredible teens I have ever met. I look forward to getting to know each of them better. You should all be very proud of them. They took a risk in the decision to travel to Africa and to varying degrees all arrived nervous (a few still are) and they are doing it! And are so great to each other. They bring many smiles to my face and warmth to my heart. It is a pleasure to spend my 28th birthday (today) with them and to have the privilege of helping them learn, grow, challenge, enjoy, and laugh through Africa.
Please let me know if you need anything at all. Call the office or email me at roryralston@hotmail.com . Email and phone access will be limited at best, but I promise to do my best! Please remember…No news is good news!
Hamba Gashle Umganui (Go well friends),
Rory
November 6, 2006
Spanish Language Camp in Madrid!
Posted by Chris in : Espana Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“Alex had a wonderful experience in Spain this summer. He really enjoyed all the activities as well as the opportunity to practice his Spanish. He particularly enjoyed the rafting and surfing. The travel was quite extensive and Alex got to see many different parts of Spain. He seemed very impressed with what he saw and liked the culture and people. He enjoyed meeting and spending time with his Spanish family. The trip was very well organized and he liked all his leaders. I will definitely recommend this trip to our friends. Thanks to all the AAVE staff that made this trip such a fun and successful experience!”
-Alice Galakatos, parent
Teen Camp Adventure and Language in Spain!
Posted by Chris in : Espana Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“I would like to thank you for what I feel is the best summer of my life. What I have learned this past summer I feel I will carry with me for the rest of my life. A city kid like myself rarely gets to see mountains and nature the way I did on this past trip!”
-Ryan Greene, camper
Teen Camp Enjoys Family Stay in Spain!
Posted by Chris in : Espana Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“Liz had a great time connecting with the other kids on the trip and enjoyed the itinerary, her family stay, the hiking in the Pyrenees and the city visits. Her command of Spanish is great and after seeing all her pictures of the trip I can tell she will have many fond memories. Thanks to all for a great experience!”
-Bill Barr, parent
Wild-West Summer Camp Adventure!
Posted by Chris in : Boot Saddle Paddle, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“My daughter had a phenomenal experience and enjoyed it tremendously. She learned that she could cope with the challenges and learned from the experience that she could rise to the physical challenges and meet them. She came home with the realization–which is only achieved through facing physical challenge and meeting that–that she can do whatever is in from of her. This is what I wanted for her and your program HAS MET AND EXCEEDED THE EXPECTATIONS I HAD FOR HER. She also had the opportunity to experience the West with other pope from different countries and backgrounds which was an added benefit. She made good friends as a result and broadened her experiences in general. Thank you for giving this to her. It has made her a better person and she will carry with her this experience for the rest of her life!
-Kim Narol, parent
Summer Camp in the Rocky Mountains!
Posted by Chris in : Boot Saddle Paddle, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“I gained many friends and confidence in a mental, emotional and physical aspect. I feel more independent. I appreciate nature and modern conveniences more and I feel I have a greater responsibility to take care of myself, other people and my environment.”
-Alex Shugart, camper
Rocky Mountain Horseback and Rafting Adventure Camp!
Posted by Chris in : Boot Saddle Paddle, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“Danielle had an amazing adventure beyond her expectations. She has a wonderful appreciation of our country’s beauty and learned to love being more active than she has ever before. Life’s usual expectations of bathing became secondary to the love of hiking, boating, and horseback riding. The group dynamics were excellent and she seems to have fond memories of the wonderful relationships she made. I am thrilled my daughter had this life changing experience!”
- The Bitterman Family
Grand Canyon+Horsepack Trip+Rafting = Wild-West Teen Adventures!
Posted by Chris in : Boot Saddle Paddle, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“The trip was completely successful in that it helped me establish an understanding of leadership and group survival. We were all able to contribute a part of ourselves to make an awesome summer. I learned skills that will help me to survive physically as well as emotionally for the rest of my life. Our supplies were perfect, the leaders were amazing, and the adventure for 28 days will continue in me forever.”
-Adam Gross, camper
Australia Teen Summer Camp Feedback!
Posted by Chris in : Australia, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“I feel AAVE gave me the best summer of my life. I learned so many new things while I was in Australia. I made new friends, discovered a new culture and achieved goals I didn’t know I could achieve. I want to thanks you so much for this opportunity that has changed my life!”
-Becca Prasse, camper
Teen Summer Camp Surfs & Dives in Australia!
Posted by Chris in : Australia, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
“AAVE did an excellent job with my daughter Becca this past summer. It’s mid-October and she still has stories to tell about her summer in Australia. This trip has helped her in the long-run, aiding her to make the decision to study in Australia for her senior year in high school. Thank you so much this trip has opened her eyes!”
The Prasse Family