Trip to Africa is a dream come true

Sandi Howard - Special to the Sun

It has been a dream of mine to travel to Africa. But when I went, I wanted to get off the tourist path and really connect with people. After doing much research, I found and international volunteer organization named Cross-Cultural Solutions that would help me achieve my goals.

So, I started by saving all my vacation time for one whole year and took it to volunteer in Cape Town, South Africa. Each program has a fee and with the help of friend, family, people of the Kern River Valley and some fund raising that I did, that soon was accomplished.

For three weeks I worked at Sarah Fox Children Convalescent Hospital taking care of babies from two to eight months of age. They needed a volunteer who was able to cope with children with terminal illness or physical disfiguration. To bring a little joy, a little laughter and lots of love and attention the children. I loved working there.

Sad and bizarre to see how people in South Africa live; it is scary and interesting at the same time. After my 44-hour round trip, I could kiss the ground I was standing on when my plane landed.

During my free time I visited the townships where the shack, shelters and shantytowns are. I saw the Slave Lodge, Nelson Mandela Island, and even learned a little bit of a new language, Afrikaans. The history of South Africa is fascinating and I learned all I could.

About one week before I left Cape Town it erupted in violence, something that had not happened in 20 years. Looting of shops, homes burned and hundreds for foreigners (refugees) forced to flee their homes. At this time they have millions of displaced people sleeping on the streets and in tents.

Sad and bizarre to see how people in South Africa live; it is scary and interesting at the same time. After my 44-hour round trip, I could kiss the ground I was standing on when my plane landed.

Will I go again...maybe next year? I will fund raise again and volunteer in Tanzania or Morocco to work with the children again. I had a memorable African experience and hope to continue it in the years to come.