South Africa, February 21/22, Day 4/5.

        Today, Jamie, Kayla, and I went to the aquarium at the waterfront. It was pretty much like any other aquarium, with a few different species. I don’t know anything about fish, so it’s not like I could tell the difference between an African fish and an American fish! They had these GIANT crabs though, and I have never been so freaked out in my life. I don’t get grossed out or freaked out by things like that, but for some reason I saw these things and my heart dropped. I looked for one split second and then couldn’t look again. They were so huge that they stood more than a foot off the ground. I’m getting chills thinking about them. I’m not a squeamish girl, but these things were insane. 
        After the aquarium, the three of us headed to the Market. I felt like I was back in Ghana with all the bargaining I had to do! I found a few gifts for my friends and family, as did Jamie and Kayla. We had lunch at a little restaurant near the market, and then headed back to the waterfront. I had a ticket to go to Robben Island at 3, so I caught the ferry as soon as we got back. I met up with my friends Greg, Gabby, and Erin on the ferry, so I wasn’t alone! When we got to Robben Island, we were put onto busses and met our tour guide Craig.  I had heard from previous students that he was the best one, and to request him if we could. He was probably about 25, and very well spoken. When you visit Robben Island, you have two tour guides: One on the bus, and one in the actual prison. Craig told us a lot of amazing stuff, and I have a lot of is on video.
He told us that the greatest weapon of apartheid wasn’t bullets, but propaganda. They taught children at a young age to think negative things about the other race. These kids have grown up with the wrong idea about other races, and even taught their kids that way. It is passed down from generation to generation.  “What will happen in that society, is that it will happen for so long that the people of that nation won’t even realize that it’s there any longer. It’s the norm, it’s the way of life for those people.” He say’s that even 17 years after apartheid ended, they still do racists things. He tells us a few stories giving examples of this. He tells us a story about how whenever he walks into a store, being a colored man, the security guard will follow him until he leaves. He says that rather than getting angry (because then he’d be angry ALL the time) he pretends that the security guard is his secret admirer and gets on with his life.  He also says that racism isn’t just one race vs. another. It happens within racial categories as well. He tells a story about going to a party where everyone is white except for himself and another colored man. When his cell phone goes missing, he automatically assumes that the other colored man stole it. He says that now, racism is a subconscious thing that Apartheid instilled in all South African citizens.  It is amazing how far this country has come… but they still have a long way to go.
Craig dropped us off at the prison, where we met our second tour guide. This tour guide was a former prisoner on Robben Island. He was there for 5 years, arrested when he was only 18. He showed us the room that he was held in, and then took us to Nelson Mandela’s cell. (Random fun fact: There is a guy in one of my classes named Mandela. What a sick name! haha) Nelson Mandela’s cell was a lot smaller than the normal cells, because they kept the leaders and important people separate from everyone else.
The tour guide told us an awesome story. Someone asked him if he ever met up with any of the guards when he was released and Apartheid ended, and he said yes. A few of them apologized, but a few just don’t really care.  He said that two of the guards actually work there now, which is really cool.  The best story though, was of a very young guard. He was 18, and had no idea what was going on in the world… he was just doing his job. He made a connection with Nelson Mandela though, like a father son type bond. Mandel was this older wise man that would advise him about education, sports, and life in general. So one day, the young guard had the task of driving Mandela to a hospital. It was just Mandela and the guard in the van, and the guard decided he wanted to introduce him to his parents! He didn’t even think that this was a bad idea… taking a prisoner to his home. Of course Mandela did nothing bad, but his parents were so freaked out! The guard didn’t get in a lot of trouble (I don’t think) because it was really out of sheer ignorance. He just wasn’t thinking. Mandela and that guard are still close today!
After Robben Island, I headed back to the ship and got ready. Jojo and I went to a sushi place to get dinner, and then met up with all our other friends. This was our last night in Cape Town, and everyone was super sad! We all went to this club called Mercury, and danced to dubstep all night. I have never been to a dubstep club… it was SO much fun! Some people hated it, but most people loved it. Depends on your taste in music, I guess! We got back to the ship early in the morning, and I got to sleep in until about 10 (Luxury!)
When I woke up, I got ready and went to meet Gabby and Elias… we were going skydiving!  Gabby had set up this trip before, so we had a driver waiting for us and took us (and a few other people) to the drop zone. Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous at all! When we got there, they had us sign a paper and then strapped harnesses on us. They didn’t give us any instruction or safety talks, just strapped us up, walked us to the plane, and flew away. We flew up for about 25 minutes in the tiniest, ricketiest plane I’ve ever seen. Still though, I wasn’t nervous. About 23 minutes into the flight, the guys we were jumping with strapped themselves onto us, and opened the side of the plane. I still wasn’t nervous. (I was getting worried that I wasn’t getting worried… I felt like I should be SO scared! Hahah) Elias went first… he just scooted to the edge of the plane… and then he was gone. Ok, now I was getting a bit nervous. Something clicked when Elias jumped out… he was just… GONE. Gabby was next, and then Jessie (the guy I was jumping with) and I scooted to the edge of the plane and OUT we went! It was the most amazing feeling in the world! For the first few seconds, I had no idea which was up or which way down.  We were free falling for about 30 seconds because Jessie pulled the shoot. He then said “You’re going to feel a click, but don’t worry” and then he detached the bottom part of our harnesses! I was only attached to him from the shoulders! He let me steer the parachute for a while, before he took over for the landing.  The view of Cape Town was spectacular! I was in the air for probably three or four minutes, and it was incredible! The landing was a lot easier than I thought, Jessie steered us straight for the sand and then I just put my feet down!
A little backstory here: Before SAS, I planned this big trip in South Africa with a man named Gav to go bungee jumping and shark cage diving. A lot of SAS kids have gone through him before, so I knew his business was pretty reputable. When I got on the ship, I was told that planning such trips was not aloud, and I would not be allowed to go. A lot of people still went, but I had already found other things to do. So when Gav found out I was skydiving, (all the extreme sports in Cape Town pretty much go through Gav’s company… so they are all his drivers and everything) he was on the phone with the driver that took us to the drop zone, and asked to speak to me. He thanked me for planning such an awesome trip, and said that he was on a film shoot all day but maybe he’d stop by the drop zone to say hello in person. So when I landed from skydiving, Gav was there! It was so nice of him to come say hello and thank you! I put a lot of effort into planning that trip, only to en up not even going! This is just one example of how amazing and kind South African people are. Seriously, the people are a huge part of why I fell so in love with that country.
After skydiving, we had to go right back and get to the ship for on-ship time. Leaving Cape Town was extremely emotional for me. I felt embaressed until I looked around and noticed that I wasn’t the only one tearing up. In fact, there were quite a few people. Something about that city captured my heart and I can’t WAIT to go back.  Later that night, Gina and I were in our room talking and sharing pictures/videos  when Idin came in. He said he had a present for us! He took out two jars of nutella, each with our names on it. He said “Remember when you girls told me that when a girl breaks up with her boyfriend and their heart is hurting so they just sit infront of the tv with chocolate all day? Well this is because you both left a piece of your heart in South Africa.” Hahahah most thoughtful gift ever! Of course, nutella is a luxury on this ship, so the whole world found out we had it and it’s pretty much gone now!
We’re on to Mauritius for a day- we’re calling it “Spring Break.” I’ll update you all after!!