[smirt362]

I'm alive! I haven't had internet in awhile but since I've last posted I've seen some dancing ostriches, mountain hyraxes, dwarf mongoose, klipspringers, and crested guinea fowl (my research focus) out in Swaziland and Marakele National Park in South Africa.

We also went to the Apartheid Museum and walked around Soweto where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu both lived for awhile. The income gap from one street to the next is crazy. We saw very rich and the poorest of the poor. We went for a walk through one of the many shanty towns and it was absolutely heart breaking.

Our group also walked through the Cradle of Humankind where they found a half ape half human child and are currently excavating the bones. The museum was interesting, there was this weird boat ride you take that takes you through different eras and elements that reminded me of the Bund Tunnel in Shanghai a bit but with better production values.

I left our study abroad group for a bit and made my way to the Reserve where I'll be spending the next few months. As I got there I started feeling crappy and it turns out I got Tick Bite Fever. It feels like a hangover that just doesn't end. Every 12 hours you feel good and then back to crappy. I had to go to the local clinic which wasn't too bad. 140 rand (about $14) for a visit and all the meds you need. No insurance needed. Anyway, hopefully I can actually deliver some of the pictures I've taken but I never seem to have time to edit them together. We're exploring Blyde River Canyon the next few days and then off to Kruger National Park.