A Long Journey Back to Johannesburg by Christian Robinson (June 23, 2023)

The travel day was a long, hard adventure to Johannesburg.  It started off with us taking a stop to the Bourke’s Luck Potholes carved into the rock by water.  During the drive to the potholes, the view was beautiful. There were many rocky mountains with towns and people.  

When we arrived at Bourke’s Luck we saw many interesting potholes that were huge.  We climbed on rocks next to waterfalls, and it was a beautiful adventure.

After that the bus ride was straight to Johannesburg.  We had a few stops at gas stations, but we decided to stop going to them and drive without stops.

During the drive we say many towns.  We saw some houses that look similar to some in the United States.

When we arrived the city looked different but also similar in some ways to some in the United States.  It was warmer than the other places we went to during the trip.  

Overall the travel day on the bus was long and boring.  The potholes were cool, and Johannesburg is too.

Timbavati Bush Walk by Sam Hall, Michael Ikejiani and Owen Willers (June 22, 2023)

On Thursday, June 22nd, the guys work up and went on a bush walk in the morning around the lodging area.  We learned about the significance and roles of several native trees in different African cultures.  Afterwards, we learned how to analyze different animal tracks on the path and tell what animals they belonged to and which direction they were traveling.  After the walk, we enjoyed lasagna at the lodge.

After lunch, we transported to an animal rehabilitation center nearby.  At Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre we saw native eagles, vultures, and several other species of birds, and we were even able to go into some of the enclosures with the birds.  Then we saw several types of lions and we all cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and little badgers.  Through this experience we learned about how organizations like this one we visited helped fight the poaching crises in South Africa.

A Short Flight, A Long Drive, and a New Part of South Africa by Michael Dattilo (June 20, 2023)

The Boys

KG, Our Guide

While this travel day was not very eventful, we said goodbye to Cape Town and the amazing Chartfield Guesthouse. With the 4 am wake-up, the guys were extremely tired on the bus ride to the airport, and we slugged around until we found our gate and boarded the plane. 

Personally, I do not remember the flight as I was asleep the entire time, but the short flight was not too bad. Next, the bus ride to Kruger National Park was really dreaded and a tad bit brutal. With some untimely stops for bathrooms and snacks, the ride ended up taking about 7.5 hours instead of the discussed 5 hours. 

While the drive was long and we were all grumpy, we finally arrived at our lodge right next to the park. Immediately we were briefed on the danger of some of the animals that were known to come into the property. We got to our rooms and had some downtime before dinner. With the ceremonial drums and voice call of one of the workers at the lodge, a great steak dinner was served. 

Although we were exhausted and groggy from the trip, we entered a completely new part of South Africa. We were excited for a new culture and a great day on safari the next day.

MBA Does Kruger National Park by Ryan Chapman (June 21, 2023)

A giraffe blocks the road.

Following a long day of travel, we were finally rested and prepared to venture into Kruger National Park. Before dawn, most of the guys were up and ready to go. We were split into two safari groups and with some stragglers packed into large cars. My group was led by Delight. He had been born in the park and knew it like the back of his hand. We neared the entrance, and the cold breeze bit at our faces as we sped down the highway. Delight filled up car with gas, and we were off. Those of us that were awake could barely see the road in front of us. 

We were cold, miserably cold, and at first it seemed the animals felt the same. We kept driving but our eyes only met the tall savanna grass. But lucky for us, a small spotted hyena crossed the road and laid perfectly still in the grass. We then came across a large bull elephant knocking down large trees. Delight told us that male elephants behave this way in order to eat the leaves on the trees or just flex their muscles. As Delight said, “Elephants do what elephants do.” We all took photos and kept going through the park. We then came across a herd of impala or what Delight called “the McDonalds” of Kruger. These guys were everywhere and became an eye sore after a while. Then we encountered this massive herd of elephants. We watched as the babies played and the older members ate at the Earth. We kept on through the park when we came within five feet of a giraffe. It’s hard to appreciate the size of a giraffe until you’re right below it, but it was huge. It was definitely my favorite animal we saw. 

Driving further we were met with more elephants, impalas, waterbuck, kudus, wildebeest, water-buffalo, zebras, and giraffes, but my group was determined to find a lion. Venturing toward the back of the park we found a lone lion sitting underneath a tree. He sat there and basked in the shade. He began to sleep during the hot afternoon. Delight explained that the lion was a bachelor of sorts. He needed to mature a little more before he would have his own pride. We were all star struck by seeing a lion. It was so cool to see the actual king of beasts in the wild. Driving further we eventually ran into a water hole where 10 hippos all basked in the sun. Delight explained how hippos were actually fast animals being able to swim 15 km/h and run 45 km/h. We then went to a lookout where we looked over a dried river and could see across the park. The view was breathtaking and gave us a nice break in the day. 

Tired, we returned to the lodge after the safari. There, we were treated with a delicious steak broth for dinner. Later that night, we were all shocked to see a group of Zebras in our campsite, and they got very close; so close that from my door I could take three steps and touch them. For me, it was a little scary to have such a big animal right outside your bedroom, but I bet people here get used to it. Overall, it was an experience I will never forget and cherish for a lifetime. 

A water-buffalo stares down our car.

Two elephants drink from a small stream.

Work and Play in Masiphumelele by Hardy Reisner and Gavin Schwartz (Monday, June 19, 2023)

Hardy: On June 19, we split into two groups to work in the township of Masiphumelele.  My group went to a man’s home to replace his roof.  His neighborhood is made up of very small houses built from wood framing and corrugated steel sheets with no running water and only one room with a half-room loft above it.  

The work itself was not incredibly difficult.  The real challenge was the poverty that we stood in.  I remember climbing up on the roof and seeing a sea of small shanty shacks housing many families.  Even worse, about a hundred yards to eat left across a field was a community of noticeable wealth.  

The room I stood in housed a 19-year-old cyclist named Sphatela.  He told me about his travels and achievements across South Africa on his old rusty bike.  He did this all while sleeping in a room about the length of my bathroom.  However, he held a smile on his face as we rebuilt his roof.  Meeting Sphatela was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget.  

Gavin: On June 19, we had a service day in Cape Town.  I was part of the group that went and played with the young school kids around the community called “Masi.”  The kids were taught in a small room where they all were basically cramped together.  I was so shocked when I walked in and realized how little space they had to play in.  But that did not affect their happiness and excitement because from the moment we walked in each room all the kids had smiles on their faces and were jumping up and down.  That moment made me realize how special the South African people were because although most of them were very poor they were always very friendly and happy when meeting them.  

We entertained the kids and got them moving by first doing a warm up dance with the music played from Ms. Sharon’s speaker.  She is the founder of Kidz Africa, an organization that works to bring hope through sports and activity.  The first dance with the kids showed me how much energy and joy they had for us just being there, which meant a lot to me.  I had made their day better, which was a good feeling.  After the warm up dance we played Simon Says along with freeze dance, which personally was my favorite to play with them.  Finally, we ended each visit with a cool down stretch.

My favorite part of the visit was when we were leaving and all of the kids came up to give us fist bumps and high fives, which let us know how much our visit meant to them.  This day with the kids helped me realize how much we as people can help make other people’s days better.

Birthdays, Baboons, Boulders Penguins and More by Alex Abramson (Sunday, June 18, 2023)

Our last non-service day in Cape Town was one that did not disappoint. After a delicious breakfast at the Chartfield Guesthouse, we began our drive towards Cape Point. We all took a quick picture at a “Cape Point” sign and then proceeded to hike up to the lighthouse. The views were breathtaking. Some daredevils also sat on some ledges to grab a picture.

We then drove to another location (with baboon sightings on the way) and took a group photo at the iconic “Cape of Good Hope” sign, situated right near the sea. Some of us also ran up a cliff next to it to get some pictures.  After a, quite literally, windy morning, we had lunch in a small town, where we celebrated Michael Ikejiani’s 18th birthday with two cakes.

We all then proceeded to Boulders Penguin Colony beach. Everyone stood upon a boardwalk from which we viewed the numerous penguins. Most were asleep or sunbathing on land, some were building dugouts, and some swam in the ocean. 

After the penguins, the group decided to go to the Greenmarket Square. We spent some time there looking at the merchandise, buying items such as rugby uniforms and bracelets.

Since it was Michael’s birthday, we all went to the GrandWest Casino for a bit of fun. Half of the group spent time in the arcade, and the other half ice skated.

We concluded the day at the energetic and fun Gold Restaurant. At every seat at the table there was a drum. A person on a stage in the front of the room led everyone in coordinated drumming rhythms. Following this activity was the delicious, 14-course dinner. Each dish came from a different African country, allowing us all to embark on a culinary journey through the continent. During dinner, many singers popped in and performed for us, including one woman who threw gold flakes at each table. The night ended with dancing on the stage.

Overall, this day was packed with action. Not only did we see some of the world’s most famous landmarks, but we also were able to blend in some fun.

Quotation of the Day: 

“I found my hat.” - Hardy Reisner, after his hat blew off a 50-foot cliff

What a Day! Another Great Cape Town Experience by Palmer Elzen (June 17, 2023)

Today we woke up early, not sure if we would be going to Robben Island or not due to weather conditions. We then found out it had been canceled and we would be going to an indigenous tribe here in South Africa, named the San tribe, in order to learn about their past experiences and struggles. We learned about how Europeans had come in and began to colonize South Africa by means of pushing out and killing the natives there. Fast forward many years and the Europeans began doing inhumane studies of the tribe members with the idea that they were a different subspecies of humans, often forcing them with the threat of death. Most were also forced into work and would be killed if they questioned why. Now the San have claimed a piece of land in South Africa close to Cape Town where they welcome visitors to help teach and prevent the evils of the past from happening again. Although they have begun to bounce back, their original language has been widely lost.

Afterwards we got on a tractor and saw their land. Here we saw many animals we have never seen before, like Guinea fowl and zebras, which is pronounced with a short e, as we were often reminded. Although it rained and some might have gotten somewhat wet, it was still an extraordinary experience.

Lastly, we went to V&A Waterfront, which is perhaps the biggest mall I have ever been in, to meet up with the Kidz Africa kids we had met on youth day. A noteworthy event while there is Alex and Ryan getting under 1:40 on a 500 meter erg challenge to help raise money for a local collage crew team. Meanwhile some others went into the Rolex store to learn about watches, transforming Eamonn into a “watch guy”. To end the day we took pictures and said goodbye to the Kidz Africa kids and had an excellent dinner at the hotel, where I had some of the best soup of my life.

For me, today was an incredibly impactful day where I learned about how even though they have face immense hardship, the San tribe continues to live on and share their story to all that will listen. It also gives us an insight into things we may be doing today that are doing more harm than good. We need to realize that we must try to look at everything from a view opposite of our own. As an example of this, the scientist responsible for the brutal experiments on the tribe thought that they were doing the right thing, “saving the tribe from extinction.”  In reality, they were only furthering the problem. As we move on and finish our trip to South Africa we should consider how to try and see from the other side’s point of view, rather that be with friends, family, or politics.

Quote of the Day:
“You got a lot of security in here, huh?”
-Alex to the very armed security guard inside of Rolex

Painting, Playing and Making New Friends by Max Miller (Thursday, June 15, 2023)

After long flights and days of travel, we are now on our second day at South Africa. We start off the day with a delicious breakfast provided by the chefs at Chartfield Guesthouse. We get on the bus early in the morning and travel to meet Sibulele. 

Sibul is one of the mentors for Kidz Africa, the organization we are working with on this trip, and we are coming to his house to help him. With the money we raised at MBA we bought Sibul a geyser, which is a hot water heater, so he and his son could take hot showers. While the mechanics set up the geyser we were divided into two groups; one group went to the school and the other painted Sibul’s walls.

The students who went to the school were welcomed with smiles and laughter by many young students. After seeing all the smiles we soon noticed how small the classrooms were. Most of the kids were so crammed that the backs of their chairs touched one another even when pushed in. Aside from the tight classrooms we played freeze dance and simon says with the kids. Even though most of the kids had never played these games, all it took was less than a minute of instructions, and they immediately caught on. We played with three different age groups, but they all enjoyed the same games and activities. Going to the school was a heartwarming experience and brought joy to the young kids and the students at MBA.

Meanwhile over at Sibul’s house the boys were hard at work painting the interior of his home. The boys painted it a nice lavender color and brought much joy to Sibul. Even though Sibul’s home is small enough and he has a kid, Sibul welcomes one of his friends, a painter, a place to sleep in the rain becuase he lost everything due to covid. After hearing that it made everyone realize just how good of a person Sibul is. 

After dinner we arrived back our hotel and reflected on the day, went over the game plan for day 3, and hung out in room 1. Some of us crowded room 1 and stayed there for a while. As it was time to go to bed, we encountered a problem. The door would not unlock. 8 boys were trapped in a 2 bed room after a long day. It took over an hour until they could open the door. It was a long and stressful time, but it also got us tighter with each other. 

To wrap things up, this day was a hardworking, stressful, crammed, heartwarming, and meaningful day to us all. 

A Wednesday in South Africa (June 14, 2023) by Eamonn Kilduff

After recovering from two days in airports, today was our first real day in the beautiful country of South Africa.  To start off the day, KG (our trip guide) lead us down to the Castle of Good Hope.  Built in 1672, the Castle of Good Hope was the Dutch headquarters at the time of their control.  Our tour guide, who kept us engaged with his fast pace and jokes, showed us all corners of the Castle ranging from the Governor’s balcony to the torture chamber.

Following that adventure, we went to lunch at a very unique location.  It’s hard to describe, but in an attempt to relate to America, it felt like a food strip in New York.  This one was tucked under some buildings and consisted of numerous food choices on the right with table and chairs on the left.  When eating it felt different.  In America, there’s the frequent comment about food sizes and unhealthy options or even how expensive something could be, but this place was none of those.  These portions were healthy amounts that tasted rich in local flavors and left you feeling great afterwards.  Many of us were shocked by was how comparatively inexpensive it was.  When ordering we split up into groups of four, each allocated 125 rand.  If you do this conversion, that’s about $7 US.  We were shocked, though, because all of us had change leftover, meaning we all used only about $4-5 US for a wonderful, healthy, flavorful meal.  We were all appreciative and found it surprising as well.

Moving onwards, we all hopped back into the van and were off to Table Mountain.   Being more of a sightseeing day, we were excited to go see the city from a different angle.  But … the weather had other plans.  As we climbed the hillside in the cable car, some of us fighting our fear of heights, the fog began to engulf us.  Once we reached the top, after debriefing, the pack leaders and students split up to go adventure.  As this is a written copy of experienced events, I am only available to be in one place at a time.  Therefore, I can only account for my group’s actions.  Here it is.  

As we continued to walk further, the fog continued to thicken, resulting in roughly 50 feet visibility, which was good for us because it left more freedom ‘cause no one could really see us.  Also, the fog created an awesome environment for some photography.  As we explored further along the “table” we found rock ledges here and there that made great locations for photos.  Seniors, sophomores, friend groups and new friends all mixed and matched and worked with each other to find new angles and new ideas along the way, and of course, we took a couple of pictures … well, maybe more than a couple.  Incidentally, I think I summed it up pretty well when I said, “It was so nice to naturally have fun and make new close friends and memories along the way ‘cause that’s why I’m here.  It was so touching.”  That moment is also when I assigned tonight’s blog.

Later in the evening, we went to a cooking class.  A wonderful woman let us into her home and showed us how to cook some local recipes with simple and healthy ingredients.  With that, many new flavors, combos, and foods and drinks were tried.  Overall, it was a very welcoming, warming and delicious experience.  

When back at our hotel, we reflected on the hilarious bus rides, memories made, and new experiences along with things we were surprised about.  After discussing tomorrow’s plan to start work with the kids and leaders here in Cape Town, we went back to our room to shower, clean up, and, of course, write the blog, and this blog doesn’t do it justice.  

Today was a great day.  In closing, I wanted to leave y’all with the quote of the day: “I don’t care if you die, I just don’t want to see it.”  Sam Hall

MBA Guatemala Adventures on June 8 by Owen Anderson

Today the MBA Adventurers embarked on another great adventure.  We started off the day by traveling to the school in Chipococ for service work and then traveled back to the compound for lunch.  Later in the afternoon, we went to a strawberry farm to pick fresh strawberries for dinner.  

After that, we headed back home for hours of basketball and tag.  We ate dinner and played more games and reflected upon our day through playing charades around the bonfire.  A few hours later the MBA boys decided to catch some z’s and head to sleep.

Overall, the day was filled with adventure and fun.

Day 3: Adventures in Guatemala by Harrison Washington

On a sunny morning, Ms. Williams took her group to the school of Chipococ, where they resumed their work on the basketball court.  They helped to carry bags of concrete, mix the concrete and pour the concrete in the pit.  After they were finished, they played soccer against the students and got demolished by them.  They were surprised how good the kids were and how well they worked together!  The students put on a performance and picked some of the MBA students to come and dance with them. 

After they left the school, Ms. Williams took the group to a lady’s house, and she told and showed them how she make chocolate.  They were able to try it and enjoyed it with hot chocolate.

They left for the compound and played basketball, had dinner and watched Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.  Then they took showers and hit the hay.  Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog!

Day 2 in Beautiful Guatemala by William Martin

The MBA gentlemen started their second day in Guatemala bright and early.  After a nutritious breakfast, the gentlemen made the journey to Atitlan Lake, where they visited five cultural locations: a weavery, an art shop, a coffee shop, a chocolate shop, and a honey shop.  Each place had traditional roots and followed the same ways for years.

After a delicious lunch, the gentlemen went back to the compound, where exercises, card games, and activity were accomplished.

Guatemala Adventures Day 1 by Townes Bradley

Today the MBA Adventurers embarked on their first day of service and fun.  They started off the day with a sweet little drive to the school where they are helping out.  The children gave the gentlemen gifts and food.  The gentlemen poured concrete and played with the students. 

After that the gentlemen went back to the compound for lunch.  Then they went back on the road to the nicest pottery lady ever, and they made some bowls with her.  

They came back to the compound, played basketball, ate dinner, had a meeting and played Pictionary.

Overall, the gentlemen had a great day and more are coming in the future.

For photos follow us on Instagram or Facebook @mbaserviceclub.