Having never been to, or heard much of, South Africa before I really had no idea what to expect after getting off the plane in Cape Town. As usual, there was the normal nervous --I have no idea where the hell I am-- feeling when I got out of the airport on my way to my first "backpackers" (hostel). Anyways, its been almost a month now and it's been f'ing incredible so I'm going to do my best to give the highlights (in no particular order):

Meeting up with my travel partner and fellow VA board member Cam

So we're still trying to figure out the most unhomosexual way of describing how we met to people who ask on the road, but basically the short version is, "we met in Barcelona in 2009 at a hostel, partied together for 3 days, skyped every week for the next two years, then reunited in Cape Town". Sort of a buddies at first sight moment I guess. Anyways, we met at the Cape Town backpackers and didn't skip a beat. Best travel partner ever; barreled over laughter on a daily basis. I guess we're still in the honeymoon phase.

Table Mountain

So in Cape Town, one of the biggest attractions is this beautifully hectic mountain that sits as a backdrop to the city. I got the opportunity to climb it twice, with massive double rainbow moments each time.

South Africans, especially Mymoena and family

We've had the pleasure of staying with Mymoena, the Managing Director of Where Rainbows Meet and felt right at home. Her husband Anwar is one of the coolest dudes I've ever met and the inspiration for the title of this blog post. The work she's doing with the local community is really freakin' inspiring and she openly shares it with all willing and able international volunteers from around the world. Seriously!!! check out her profile, make a trip to Cape Town, and work with Mymoena. It will change you for the better. Also met some really cool people in Victoria Bay -- thanks to David, Lauren, Kirsten and Sebastian for the FULL RETARD new years. 

Christmas Miracles

Miracle 1: Although I'm a gazillion miles from home, I spent about a week in Vrygrond with Where Rainbows Meet and felt like I had lived there my whole life. I'll never forget the impromptu Christmas Parade around the community with the local highschool band. Everyone was singing and dancing together. A sense of community we just don't get back home in the states.

Miracle 2: While Cam and I sat down for our microwave noodle Christmas dinner we decided to chat with an American couple at our hostel. They tell us how they once volunteered in Tanzania and decided to start an organization where volunteers could connect directly with organizations. After a couple hours of "OMG's", "what are the odds" and other expletives to express our blowing minds we forged a partnership with Bricks and Books. Stay tuned for a ton of new Community Based Organization profiles from Tanzania and Uganda. Nathan and Ashley, if you're reading this, SUPER happy to have you on board.

The Garden Route

Since all the organizations are closed for the holidays Cam and I decided to take a holiday ourselves down along the southern coast of the continent. We got a hop on hop off bus ticket and have been checking out all the little beach towns along the way. Spent Christmas day canoeing up a river and climbing a waterfall, and new years partying on the beach, learning to surf, and racing ostriches. I didn't know you could either, but you can, and we're doing it. 

Happy Holidays friends, family, volunteers and organizations. 2012 is gonna be AWESOME!!!

One more thing: Cam loves Maria Carey's "heart breaker" and knows all the lyrics to Justin Bieber's "baby baby" song. Just FYI.