It is sad to say that this is our last week here in Cape Town before we head to Joburg on Saturday for the second half of our journey. We have been so lucky to get in alot of sightseeing and other fun activities within the last week. We took a day trip to Hermanus which is along the western camp. Hermanus is known for being able to spot whales from the shoreline during the winter as they come in to breed. We were able to see alot of them just standing on the shore! And boy, did they put on a show for us...breaching, slapping fins, showing off their tails! It was so cool! One of the reasons we went to Hermanus was because Natalie wanted to go shark divind....but I will let her tell that story!
Monday morning, some of the other girls in the program and I woke up early to hike Lion's Head. We were able to get there just in time to watch the sunrise over downtown Cape Town! It was beautiful!
Last week we all drove down to Cape Point. This is the most south western part of Africa! It was crazy looking out over the ocean knowing you are literally at the bottom of the Earth and that the next thing you would run into would be Antartica! Also, it just so happens that this cliff we are standing on in the picture is called Danger's Edge....hummm I wonder why! All I know is that it would not be fun to fall off that cliff.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are considered some of the World's most beautiful gardens! And now I know why! The landscape is beautiful and it has the perfect backdrop as it is right against the base of Table Mountain! Although it is winter and not all the plants were in bloom, we were still able to see some really unique plants with pretty flowers.
Funny story time! So appartenly the Baboon is a protected animal in the Cape Point Reserve. It also just so happens that they are not shy of people...AT ALL! There are signs all around saying...Baboons are dangerous and wild animals. Do not feed them. People had warned us not to leave food in the car or shinny things because that attracts the baboons. Anways, now for the funny story...once we got to the Cape Point parking lot the girls in the other car went to go get their bags out of the trunk. The cars we rented are hatchbacks. So as they were getting out their backpacks, a baboon came running across the street and jumped INTO the trunk, lifted up the hatchback, and hopped into the back seat. In the back seat was an empty bag of chips that that Baboon grabbed. At this point everyone was freaking out! There was a BABOON in our car! How crazy is that!?! Well, fortunately, the car guards came with their big sticks to save the day and chased the baboon out of the car! Lesson learned...never leave food OR food wrappers in plain sight when near baboons!
Many of you know that the area of nursing I am most found about is Labor and Delivery! I have been so fortunate to have been placed in a Midwifery clinic here. In South Africa, most women use midwives to deliver, not doctors. I chose to do night shifts at the clinic because that is when it is the busiest (that's why I look half awake in these pictures)! So what do you know, the midwives have taught me how to "catch babies" or in other words...deliver babies! What an amazing experience it has been! So far I have caught 5 babies, all of which have been girls! This is the first little girl I delivered.
This is a typical delivery room in South Africa. And that is also the typical attire worn by the midwive for a delivery!
This is the second little girl I delivered! African babies are so adorable! They all come out with a full head of small, black, curly hair! It's so cute!
Yet again...another girl!
ELEPHANTS!!!!
