First Two Days

I finally have internet and am able to write a little something, sadly internet is pretty expensive (something they hadn’t told us) so I am unable to post a lot of pictures from my apartment. 

Yesterday we arrived and were pretty shocked at the differences between South Africa and America.  Within the first five minutes I was already homesick for my own bed and house.  Things are so much different from where I grew up—most South African housing doesn’t have central heating so we were provided with small space heaters to stay warm.  We met the rest of the group, they’re all so friendly and eager to get to know each other.  Our RA took us on a tour of the part of town that we are living in and later took us to dinner at a BBQ place known as “sticky BBQ fingers”.  On the walk I was thrown off by the Minibus taxis that frequently drive down the street yelling at you to get in for a ride to Cape Town or other areas—they are so loud and obnoxious!  Another big difference is the timing.  People work at such a slower pace than everyone in America. We were told that dinner would be 20 minutes away and we ended up walking for an hour or so—we were told that this is VERY common.  Later on we all met up to talk and get to know each other more and then went to bed.  I wasn’t able to shower which was upsetting but then today I was able to get a towel and feel so much better.

Today we went to two townships—the first being Langa, one of the oldest (if not the very oldest) township in Cape Town.  We mingled with some of the children and learned about both their cultural and historical backgrounds.  Our tour guide was very informed and knew so much about the rich history and diversity amongst the groups.  We later went to Gugulethu, which is another township about five minutes from the other one.  This is where we will be spending the week in the local community health clinic—we will be assisting and observing the medical staff.

I will hopefully be able to post pictures and more soon!

Favorite Pre-Departure Breakfast

If that doesn't look delicious I don't know what does.  Dutch Baby Pancake  with fresh fruit and candied bacon.  Breakfast of champions, let me tell you.  Hopefully everyone on my trip doesn't think I'm a freak because of my strange obsession with food photography and health food.  

I honestly did quite a bit of searching around for what to bring on the plane with me--last time I flew I realized that plane food and I do not have the best relationship.  hence my excitement of Justin's almond and peanut butter packets! Squeeze some of that into some oatmeal and voila, amazingness.

My mom made me this breakfast when my grandparents came up the other day to say goodbye.  I couldn't resist spending a morning with all of them AND having my favorite breakfast.

okay enough of that.  I leave tomorrow--I cannot believe it.  That would probably explain my spastic posts today since I am beginning to enter the phase of slight freak out. Honestly pretty good for me since I didn't realize how fast the summer would go by before leaving and whelp, its almost here!

I will definitely be posting tomorrow as I sit and wait in JFK, hello 4 hour layover! So, stay tuned and bare with me while I spend a day traveling and crossing the atlantic ocean from upstate new york all the way to cape town!

Home Sweet Home

With my time at home quickly dwindling away I made sure to make the most of every last second.  Yesterday Brendan and I went to Grimes Glen in Naples, NY.  This is a great place to hike and walk up to an enormous waterfall that towers above.  I brought along my telephoto camera lens to work on some shooting prior to leaving for South Africa and thought i'd share some shots from the day:

Photo Credit: Brendan Ewing

Photo Credit: Brendan Ewing

I'd highly suggest checking out Grimes Glen and the surrounding NY area.  It honestly is a hidden treasure up a dead end road that you would miss on any casual drive through the small village.  While there I would also go into Monica's Pies (prior to entering Naples) and pick up some Concord jelly and Grape Pie!

South Africa: Less Than a Week

It is official, I leave in less than a week!  I honestly cannot believe how fast the past few weeks have flown by. From working and meeting up with friends to packing and making numerous lists of items to buy and bring with me, I am beyond ready to celebrate my departure and arrival in Cape Town.

I still don't think that the trip itself has hit me yet which is surprising since my living room is currently being taken over with suitcases and backpacks along with my trust peanut butter.  Call me crazy but I need that stuff to live, that and oatmeal.  Packing has been such a challenge but something that I need to work on if I am going to be a world traveler as a side job. 

My essentials include peanut butter, oatmeal, a journal, trusty book to read on the plane, ALL of my stomach meds (haha), work clothes, pillowcase, things that remind me of home etc.

Yesterday I added to this list with a new maxi dress and jean jacket.  Okay so maybe the jean jacket is a bit outdated but I swear they are back in style and look great with a maxi dress...I tested this theory out today and actually got quite a few compliments!  Can you say goodwill $20 for a like-new gap jacket? I can!

I also went and picked up this book at Barnes and Noble:

I was contemplating between In Defense of Food by Michael Pollen and another book called Why We Get Fat which discusses the issues of food in America but I decided those were too technical or "rant-y" for me.  Healthy Tipping Point seemed like a good easy read that takes you through clean eating, exercising and mental success--a little self help-y but i'll let you know how it goes.

I also picked up a new moleskin journal to write down more personal thoughts and experiences.  I figured that this blog probably won't be online for the rest of my life and I wanted something a bit more concrete that I can look back on down the road when I am older.

So let's start the countdown, less than 4 days since today is halfway over.  I am so extremely excited to meet everyone on my trip and have the experiences of a lifetime. 

South Africa: A Little Background

I wanted to start this section of a blog as a place for me to share my adventures with friends, family and loved ones back at home while I am off experiencing all that Cape Town has to offer. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I plan to share my greatest moments here as a way for me to remember and a chance for you to keep up with me while I am gone for six weeks.

A brief history on how I came to choose Cape Town:

While I was attending HWS for freshman and sophomore years of college I had dreamt of studying abroad in some lovely european city with easy access to numerous other cities--a way for me to see ALL of Europe in one semester so to speak--isn't that every students dream while studying abroad?

I applied to three programs in the fall of my sophomore year (an Honors program in Maastrict, Netherlands; Galway, Ireland; and Copenhagen, Denmark).  I was accepted to the honors program and decided that it would be the most academically rewarding program and a special opportunity for me to represent HWS.  However, I did not feel the excitement I was hoping to feel upon receiving my acceptance letter.

Since I ended up transferring to UR this past fall I gave up my spot on the Netherlands program--a decision that took much consideration since I have ALWAYS known that I wanted to study abroad.  I was left with the excitement of starting at a new school but also serious confusion over if I was missing out on a major part of college and letting go of one of my biggest dreams.

Come this past winter I knew that I had to go abroad.  The travel bug had bitten again (not to sound completely ridiculous) and I decided to apply to an internship program in London, England where  I would expand my work in public health by working with local hospital administration.  I was dead set on studying in London and told everyone I knew that I would most likely be going. While applying I came across the IES South Africa program and on a whim decided to apply as a backup.

By the time I had finished both applications and awaited a reply from the abroad office, I had this instinctual feeling that I belonged in South Africa not London.  My acceptance letter came a day or so later and I can remember the feeling of joy, excitement and the strong desire to go up and yell to every person I passed that I was accepted--this was the feeling I had always thought I would have and I knew at that moment that I would accept South Africa despite my acceptance to London.

So here I am, one month out from boarding a plane to South Africa.  I am beyond excited (though I'm sure you know this already) and cannot wait to pack, board and arrive!

For further posts on South Africa please refer to the upper section of my blog labeled, "South Africa 2012"

Recipe: "Healthier" Bran Muffins

Here's another muffin recipe for you.  Sorry for the lack of real juicy posts lately--I know some of you, or maybe all of you, could care less about the recipes I come up with in my spare time.  I should probably stop baking because all I do is bake and then eat....all of them.  I figured that I won't have homemade baked goods for 6 weeks so why not make as many as I can before leaving.  That includes other items like pizza and gelato, yum!

So I love bran muffins.  Call me a freak or a health snob but I cannot get by without a good bran muffin recipe.  My mom makes the best ones I know--healthier than most places since bran muffins from bakeries, cafes and places like tim hortons, Starbucks and dunkin donuts can pack some serious fat, sugar and calories...yuck.  Why disguise a unhealthy muffin as healthy by tacking on the word bran?  If i'm eating a bran muffin it sure as hell better be a healthy one.

"Healthier" Bran Muffins

half batch. Double if you'd like more!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup brown sugar (or 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar)

1/2 box bran cereal **I used plain bran flakes

2 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 cups buttermilk **

I used two cups almond milk and 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 egg/ 1 egg white (if using oil use 2 eggs)

3/4 cup vanilla chobani 0% (or 1 cup oil)

Raisins or other dried fruit to taste

Directions:

1. combine dry ingredients in large bowl

2. make a well

3. combine wet ingredients, make sure to whisk egg together with yogurt or oil.

4. pour wet into the dry

5. mix well

Bake: 400 degrees for 20 minutes

**these are a "bit" chewier than other muffins but I really like them.  My mom complained of the lack of sugar but I found them to be quite enjoyable!

Midnight Muffins: Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins

Yesterday was a great day, from start to finish.  I woke up at 7 and made my way to Pilates at the YMCA.  The class was really enjoyable--not having done a pilates class in years I was nervous and voiced my concerns (rather told the instructor) that I was new and asked what equipment to get.  At the end of the class she complimented my form and mentioned that I looked strong in my movements.  I truly appreciated this compliment and it set the day off to a great start.  Pilates was followed with some bike then lifting where I ran into two friends from high school so it was more of a reunion if anything.

From there I met up with Brendan and made breakfast.  We packed and goofed around all day until we sat down to a amazing late dinner with a delicious bottle of wine.  What a perfect day.  When I got home around 11:30 I was tired but not ready for bed.  Being the child I am I had remembered that Pretty Little Liars had premiered last night so I decided to tune into that while I drank some tea and let my melatonin kick in.  For some reason I got it in me to make muffins while "calming down" so I made a concoction of two recipes and made myself my first batch of Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins--a step for me that I hadn't thought I would take this soon but I am so excited to have created and mastered a recipe of my own...on my first try!  

What beautiful muffins!

They're a little chewy but so good and if I had to calculate out all of the fat/ calories and sugar i'd say they're healthier than a normal muffin!  

Tell me what you think of this bad boy.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Quick Oats

1/2 cup orange juice

1 6oz carton of greek yogurt (I used vanilla)

1 egg white

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1 1/2 cup blueberries

1. Mix together oats and orange juice

2. add in greek yogurt and egg white, whisk together

3. in a separate bowl combine dry ingredients.  

4. fold wet into dry

6. add blueberries into mix and pour into cupcake pan

**The changes that I made to this recipe were as follows:

instead of 1/2 cup oil and an additional whole egg, I added the greek yogurt.  The recipe also called for 1/2 cup white granulated sugar but instead I went with 1/4 brown sugar (a lot of reading has told me that the flavor is comparable!)  I also took the 1 1/2 white flour and made equal parts of pastry flour and ww flour!

Happy Hump Day!