JMU South Africa Study Abroad

What a trip! The girls are at the airport preparing to fly back to the states. Thank you, South Africa, for the most amazing, fulfilling, and enriching trip. Until we meet again 🇿🇦 also a big thank you to the best program director, , for organizing the most amazing month!!!!

Katie here! 👋 Families and friends: they’re on the way home! Thanks for letting me borrow them for a month ❤️ They’re coming home with stories, lessons, and new friends! 🇿🇦➡️🇺🇸

Lastnight together :( today the girls visited some local markets to get a few last minute souvenirs. We ended the day with a final reflection of our time in South Africa & awarded each other with much deserved superlatives. See you soon America 🇺🇸

In South Africa load shedding is the action of reducing the use of electricity within the surrounding areas of the city. It happens about 2-3 times a day and happens during high usage times. It originally was 2 hours a day, but now it is 4 hours like tonight it is going to be from 8 to 12. Since we left Cape Town it has happened more frequently. It originally started in order for the electrical company, which is run by the government, to save money in order to pay their workers better, but since it has occurred the workers are still not being paid as much but no one knows where the money is going. As of present day South Africa is in Stage 6 load shedding.

Today we did a wine tasting🍷 and learned a lot about the history and structure of the wine industry in south africa! It was a great day for everyone to relax and have fun together while also admiring the beauty and history of Stellenbosch!

One last safari drive this morning and then we hit the road to Stellenbosch University. We toured the beautiful campus, learning about the duality of their history that mends the past founding with their very diverse present. The day ended with a fun braai to meet and mingle with the Stellenbosch students (local and international). Full bellies and happy hearts 🍗🐘🤍

Girls being bros. Five more days of being besties with these folks before we are all not studying and not abroad.

We have experienced so much in South Africa! Using our daily journals has been a great way to record our daily events and reflections abroad. If you’re lucky, maybe we will share some of our stories with you when we return home!

Was a beautiful day out here on the land! Sunrise and sunset in the safari, with a nice relaxing/studying lounge by the pool in between 🙈🦒🦏🐆

Today was the first day of our educational safari. We are so grateful to have this experience and having the opportunity to see animals such as cheetahs, African buffalo, and rhinos.

Today was our last day in Plettenberg Bay. Our group split to do different excursions, some went zip lining while the others had a beach day! 🌊 Then we went out to dinner at a local restaurant to close out the day!

Rainy day in the bay, today was a free day for the girls. Some chose to spend their time wine tasting and putting together a charcuterie while others decided to visit local shops & get some much needed rest. Ending the day by the fire enjoying some homemade stir fry. 🧡