Teammates. Friends. Family.

Meet Team NorCal. <3

Me. Roy. Andrew. Cardinal.

An amazing combination of laughter, smiles, hand hugs, awkwardness, and glorious dance moves.

Gnormality is Over-rated

I have come to the conclusion that I never want to be normal. Not that I can really say I ever have been, or that there is even something as conclusive as "normal." This is one of many reasons as to why I have chosen to live in a house with sixty of the most amazing people on the planet- a house that consists of six bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms- specifically with my room which contains five bunk beds and ten girls, and one closet.

More than coming to the understanding that every person is different, unique and at there own place in their life, I have really been challenged on what it means to love and serve others. While I was in South Africa a huge focus of my time there was what does it mean for me to love others, and specifically what does love look like. I have taken those thoughts and brought them here where I have an opportunity to apply those lessons to my everyday life. It is a unique life style to continually be on the move, place to place, never staying for more than six months. It has certainly been a roller coaster of emotions. And I can easily say that through working with Invisible Children this crazy ride has only gotten started. My days look like more than just a 9-5 job; I wake up at 6:30 to leave the house and get to the office by 7:20 where we work till 4:00 have training until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. All the while busting up from the hilarity of my boss or the amazing moments that occur while sitting across from my teammates for eight hours. Whereupon we come home, sometimes study or continue to work on booking, or even invest so much of ourselves into one another through amazing conversations about things from Lord of the Rings to what it means to be a human and the effects of suffering.

I can in no way say that my life in anyway resembles what the global concept of an average american should be doing at age twenty, but I am in no way average. Instead I am a poor servant who is loving a life spent loving others. I have come to see that I have a part to play in our global community, and I feel empowered to know that I am making a difference in the world. I hear the criticism of why help abroad when so many are suffering in the states as well, and to that I say follow your passions. My passions for serving others are not limited by social boundaries as everyone needs love.

As I am about to embark on this amazing, yet strange and weird, opportunity to live and travel in a van with my three teammates, Cardinal, Andrew, and Roy, and I have challenged myself to wake up every morning with a fervor for life. I want to wake and make the conscious decision that it's not about myself. To make the decision to sacrifice my own wants and desires for others, and in particular, for my teammates. I challenge you to do the same.


"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Adventure? I think YES.

So.... I lost Norm. Yea- awkward. I ended up losing him in Cape Town last semester when my bag got stolen while dancing. Lame! I know. Along with Norm I also lost my Id, debit card, and pipe. Plus my super sweet bag that I had bought for about five bucks at a sunday market in Durban. All around it was just an evening of losses. However, the music was boss and I was dancin' up a storm, so it wasn't too bad. I was also able to easily transfer money to a friends's account and order a new Id when I got home. All though let me tell you, I look like a mentally challenged person in my new picture. Of course, the woman at the DMV easily could have taken another- However, being a woman working at the DMV she choose instead to say, "oh, that's nice" and mention nothing of my half opened eyes and awkward smile. Thanks. However, back to the point. Yes, Norm is lost and alone somewhere in South Africa. I have hope though that his abductors are simply kind people who have a bad habit of taking a five finger discount. I believe that Norm's innate amiability and popularity with the ladies is sure to make him new friends and that he is simply on his own adventure now. That being said, he is being replaced with Norm2. Thanks to Barnes and Noble this gapping black hole in my heart over his loss can easily be filled for about $5.99. Yay for America.

So, now Norm2 will be joining me on my next adventure where I will be a Roadie for Invisible Children! Hizzah! I am pretty fricken' stoked for this, and didn't even realize how competitive the position was until my last application interview with them. Any-who. I feel extremely honored and excited for what lays ahead. As such I will be traveling with my three other teammates, two of whom I've met and seem absolutely AWESOME, across NorCal to promote the cause of awareness and action for the children abducted by Joseph Kony in Northern Uganda and the Congo. While, I know that my last attempt at blogging kind of failed half way through the semester in South Africa, attempt number two is a GO.

A Country within a Country: Lesotho

Went to Lesotho for a Human Growth and Development fieldtrip- as to it's actual application to the class I have no idea, but it was awesome. Basically, Lesotho is a tiny little country within South Africa; however, it's independent from the country of South Africa. It is about a two hour drive from Pietermaritzburg, but is completely worth it. The drive to enter losotho is extremely steep. It is the third steepest pass in the world and we had to go up it in a four wheel drive jeep- somehow, I doubt that Baba Philiip (our driver) would have managed to make it up the mountain in the APU van. There were five turns to the pass- 1. suicide corner: because often cars breaks will stop working once they reach the bottom and give out. Awesome, right? not. 2. Whisky corner: because this is where drivers will take a shot to get the courage to make it up the mountain. 3. Reverse: because this corner requires that the people sitting in the back must tell them how much space is between them and the cliff when going around the corner. Awesome, right? 4. Ice: because this corner is often covered in ice after a cold night. 5. Amen: because you've made it to the top. Hopefully.

I was glad that I was able to get two new stamps in my passport by entering a new country and it was definitely a unique experience. If anything I would say there were more sheep than people. The community there was defined by people living in huts, thousands of sheep and a local pub (the highest pub in the world btdubs). We then got to ride horses- which started out amazing! My horse's name was Bartholemule- and he was a bad ass. We were literally riding horses for about five hours, and at one point I really expected to see Frodo and the fellowship walking along the ridge of the mountain. However, the trip took a steep decline when the weather turned from cool to absolutely freezing. It was hailing so hard that I thought my fingers were going to fall off from hypothermia. But... besides that it was so much fun! Well... for pretty much everyone but Zach whose horse simply decided to stop walking. Seeing him just pulling on the reigns and it was not budging. - side note, my reigns were made out of rope, how friggin legit is that? But anyway, our guide wanted us to continue going along the ridge but in that weather it just wasn't going to happen. Our translation of us wanting to turn back resorted us to the use of spanish as a way to communicate "frio!" and hand motions that included shivers and continually saying "lodge" and pointing back to the direction we came from. However, us and the guide soon came to a consensus to turn back around and we started heading back.

The journey back was great. Well... that was until I feel off my horse. Yep, I fell off my horse. Mid gallop. And mid epic racing moment with Mitch and shelli- then, "wooop and snap!" there goes my saddle and I go tumbling off. Luckily I didn't fall on any rocks or anything and had no broken bone. However, I do wish that someone could have video taped it because I feel like it would have been an epic fall to witness. So, after that I was quite content just trotting back to the pub- which looked like a legit old medieval pub.

After retiring to our beds for the evening we could see the milky way like no other. The stars were so bright and simply fantastic and it was such a great reminder of how great and power God truly is. It was such a clear night and the stars just lit up the night sky so beautifully. The next day we headed back down the mountain and back to civilization; however, that trip is one I will never forget.

Ushaka, Durban, and an awesome Rugby game.

So our saturday started off by visiting beach at Durban, as well as the Ushaka Water park. The water park was most likely comparable to a soak city... just less rides and more Kanye and Miley playing in the background... sadly. However, after successfully going on all the rides (except the big one that's just a straight drop- no thank you wedgie) we spent the rest of the day hanging on the beach. It's amazing just how much warmer the water is here, thank you equator- but really thanks. It literally felt like I was taking a bath. Minus the fact that the current was ridiculously strong. They had about a hundred meter area designated for swimmers, kind of like what they do at Mission with the flags, but significantly less of an area to swim. Also, instead of kind of splitting the beach in two between surfers and swimmers they had multiple designated areas sectioned out all the ways down the beach. However, after not being in the water long I realized why- the waves were sooooo strong! Luckily I am a pretty good swimmer and have master the technique of "plug the nose and dive for dear life," so fortunately I was able to simply dive under the quite MASSIVE waves. However, there were definitely some people in our group who were strugglin'. Of course though not the hawaii boy, colton, who somehow managed to dominate every wave and body surf his way back to shore. Meanwhile the rest of us were definitely struggling to even stay standing. It was amazing too just how tired we got after only being in the water about an hour. Not only that, but the extreme sun rays down here have about.. triple the power of those back home and one little slip up of forgetting to re-apply the sunscreen was a bad mistake. Red shoulders and burnt nose later and I learned my mistake.

After going to the beach though we went to an official sharks rugby game. Ever seen Invictus? Yea, I sat in that stadium. And it was awesome! Not only that but the game was really good too. Bonus! It was south africa (obviously) vs New Zealand. I of course wore my shark backpack in support. It was funny though because this being, for most of us, our first rugby game we wore face paint and decked out in black and white.. somehow.. as always..most of the boys failed to wear shirts at all... and yet we were the only ones with this much excitement. In the end this only made us stick out more as Americans... having the guys in our group attempt to start a wave didn't help either.

However, the game of rugby is certainly a fascinating sport. It's a lot like football in that the concept is the same, with plays and such, it just is far more fast past. So they start the play, and you can only pass the ball backward or to the side, you can also kick the ball in an attempt to get it further down the field. The way they do throw ins is also interesting because they will have both teams line up on either side facing each other and lift on another in the air in order to catch the ball as it is thrown in by another player. I officially give mad props to rugby players because they not only have to be fit enough to get the crap kicked out of them but also in good enough condition to play for a whole game.

Safari? YES PLEASE.

Went on a safari for Bio; while the beginning started by sampling river sites for pollution/other boring stuff.... blah.. blah.. blah.. we then got to see Giraffes!! And it was Awesome!

Zebra Train?

Also fun story: these are the bird nests that are made by the males and presented to the females upon courting.  However, if the female finds it unsuitable she will snip the top causing the entire nest to fall and be destroyed.  Look like birds aren't that different from us after all.

Send some love

In case you want to mail me something, you can do so here (:
(It takes about 11 days)
Kimberly Dotts
API Educational Foundation
PO Box #13870 Cascades 3202
Pietermaritzburg, Kzn, South Africa

Making Friends

We have had the opportunity to choose what church we want to go to for the next 10 weeks while in Pietermartizburg, so far I have gone to a conservative charismatic and baptist church- and have decided to stick with the first: North Hills.  While being there I have met some awesome people!  Since then, they invited a group of us to a local Dam which was really fun! Minus the fact that at one point we decided to swim across the lake "for fun"- Not Fun.... But besides that it was great! We also played Marco Polo with some of the kids and it was absolutely adorable, since they all responded in their cute little slightly british "polo."

Then last night we went to a concert with them at The Red Door, though while they described it as "dodgy" it was less sketchy and more hipstery.  The inside was super cute as there were a ton of records hanging when we walked in and the group that played (who they were friends with) was Awesome! I'd describe them as Sara Barellis meets Jack Johnson has love child with Lilly Allen- and then you'd have Narsi and the Zulus. (:  After we all just hung out and made fun each others accents, it was great!


Some Terminology for Ya:

Slops: Slippers
Bucky: Trucks
Boot: Bed of Truck
Swuck: Horrible
Jersey: Sweater
Costume: Bathing Suit
Chalet: Room
Shop Shop- Thumbs Up
Robots: Traffic Lights (my particular favorite)
- "I keep hitting all these red robots!"

Durban Day!

Went on an excursion to Durban last weekend! We started the day off by visiting an Indian Community, which was exciting to say the least. I literally felt as though I was in Eat Pray Love. There was one point where Rachel, Liana and I had gone off the main walkway up some steps to the top of one of the Mosques in the city. From the top we were able to see the entire town and it was absolutely fantastic! Besides the fact that it was ridiculously hot, we managed to survive by sitting up there enjoying our small strip of shade. Looking out on the town though I half expected to see Julia Roberts riding down the street on a cute little bike.

After visiting the community we drove down to the coast and enjoyed a lovely evening at the beach. Clive (my Intercultural Communication Prof) made us all a pretty bomb braai (barbeque) and Tyler and I had multiple adventures climbing on the rocks. It's exciting now that I can check off swimming in the Indian Ocean from my to-do list. (:

Although, despite our awesome adventures climbing on the rocks in the ocean the waves were a little rough which made it actually difficult to swim. All in all though it was a great day!

Me Vs. The Monkeys

Made my own sling shot today. Bring it on Monkeys. Bring. It. On.

An average day in Africa

Yesterday we successfully hiked to all four waterfalls, and by "hiked" I really mean scaled a mountain. I kid you not- A Mountain. However, it was well worth it; although I did get my share of battle wounds, but needless to say it was me versus the mountain and I came out on top- literally.

As for lovely Africa, the weather is starting to pick up and it is so nice to be outside.  One of the previous semesters invested in a 90 ft slip and slide. Best investment Ever. That along with our daily dose of soccer and some zebra sightings and I'd say it's been a very successful saturday. (:

T-I-A

Much of the things that happen in Africa occur late, by which it becomes a "this is Africa" sort of thing. Surprisingly most people actually say "TIA;" however we're trying to get TISA (this is south africa) to catch on because we feel it falls off the tongue far better.

As for Africa, well.. it's beautiful! Pietermaritzburg is tropical and gorgeous; however, the wild life is certainly.. exotic.  Zebras have been spotted not to mention we are stalked 24/7 by monkeys.  As a result we are fully equipped with pepper spray and a paintball gun. Yes, we get to shoot monkeys. I GET TO SHOOT A MONKEY. So excited.

As for the move in it has all gone well. I finally feel like I am settling in and can call this place home.  However, for some reason we ended up with the tiniest room ever. I kid you not. It is a baby room.  However, we made the best of it and de-bunked our beds and just made the whole room into a giant mattress (:

Another quality I really appreciate about Africa is Tea Time. As in designated time twice a day to drink tea and hang out with people. It's awesome!

Not only that but the culture is just so much more friendly than that of america. We went to church today and everyone smiled and we were greeted with hugs as we entered. It is just such an easy culture to acclimate yourself too. So.. basically I love it here!

Helllooooo, Africa

It’s an odd thing moving your clock forward ten hours.  It left me wondering... where the heck did my day go?  From leaving before the sun rose and landing after it set I truly did not even have a wednesday. So sad. However, the fact that I am now in South Africa is just the opposite! Let the adventures begin. 

Expectations

I think that because I have a lack of knowledge about where I'll be and what I'll be doing, I really have no idea what to expect. In someways that's exciting... and in others absolutely terrifying.

I feel as though this is the perfect opportunity for me to embrace the unknown, to just go with the flow. Que Sera Sera. What ever will be will be. Whatever. Will. Be. Will. Be.  Kind of comforting words I suppose.  A lack of control, or having control but giving it up for something better. I like that.

Love.

I just love reading 1 Corinthians. Particularly Chapter 13.

Self Perceptions

I suppose I have had no trouble with the concept of "keeping an open mind" in regards to entering into a completely new culture; however, I hadn't really considered that I will be changing throughout this semester and I have to understand that there are perceptions of myself that I will also be leaving behind.

- Today I took the Myers-Briggs personality test, after many years of thinking I was an ENFP I soon discover I was an INTJ.  While this may sound like pointless information, I found it interesting that for so long I thought I was an extrovert.  I am not an extrovert.  I'm outgoing, yes, but I am not an extrovert.  This simple realization of finding something new out about myself has my brain a little rattled.  I can't help but think about how my perceptions of others must be completely wrong if I can't even understand myself.  

I hope that I will be able to enter into this new phase of my life with the ability to leave all preconceived notions behind.  Whether about myself, the culture, the people (both there and at home), I hope that I will just be able to embrace the things that come my way and not attach a stigma to them or automatically reject them because of something that I associate with it. I know that so much of what I encounter will be unknown to me, and that's exciting! It will be a way for me to broaden my beliefs and values and learn about those of others; yet in a way that allows for growth rather than a muffling of those things that make me feel uncomfortable. 

Packing: Uh Oh...

So the point of this blog is to keep you all posted on the adventures that will be ensuing this up and coming spring semester.  As many of you know, I am traveling to South Africa and considering my extremely limited amount of communication with the outside world- I figured that instead of the occasional carrier pigeon or smoke signal a blog informing you on my life would suffice.

So... here we go!

Item #1: Packing:

Let it be noted that this will be the extent of my wardrobe for 5 months... 5 MONTHS! Let's just say there better be a good washing machine there or I'm screwed.

Pants: 2 jeans, 1 sweats
Shirts: 5-7 short sleeves, 2-3 long sleeves
Jackets: rain, fleece, cotton
Shoes: chacos, vans, cons
Skirts: 4
Dresses: 3
Shorts: 1 running, 1 jean, 2 cotton
Socks: 7 pairs
Under Garments: leggings

Other: bible, Journal, Comp, squisy bowl, spork, phone, sleeping bag, head lamp, textbook, wallet, fanny pack, ipod, chargers.

Plus, maybe an extra hat or two for Norm. (: