Sawubona! Howdy from Zululand! After galloping our way through the Drakensberg Mountains, where we went on an incredible horseback ride and came back together as a community after our time at ALA, we found our way to a little place called Eshowe. Eshowe is the oldest European settlement in Zululand, a traditional cultural region of present-day Kwazulu-Natal province. While in Eshowe, we jumped back into classes and went on a Zulu cultural tour with our wonderful guide, Joe. He showed us his village, taught us about Zulu traditions and beliefs, took us to a medicine man’s shop, and brought us to meet a local traditional Zulu healer known as a “Sangoma”. We’ve also had the opportunity to celebrate Maddie’s birthday and Thanksgiving! During these fun celebrations, we’ve taken the time to eat delicious meals, participate in dance parties, and share our many gratitudes. In this blog, we take some time to reflect on what we’re thankful for this Thanksgiving…
Today I am so grateful for my family. Even though I’m missing home today – especially the football games – I am so happy to be at TTS. All of your support in getting me here, through card selling, bike riding, crazy stressful packing, endless encouragement and motivation, means so much to me. I know that whatever I strive to do you will all help me in any way that I need. Thank you all so much for that! I love you all!
~ Piper
I will be forever grateful for my family (my parents, grandparents, little brother & sister) whose constant support & overwhelming enthusiasm gifted me these amazing opportunities. I love you all & miss you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
~ Maddie
I am grateful for the community we have managed to build over this semester. It has changed drastically from the beginning, I now feel like I can fully be myself and I am valued by everyone here. I am also grateful for my dearest sister Catherine.
~ Claire
I am thankful to Kate and Aunt Stacey for introducing me to and encouraging me to come to TTS! I wouldn’t be experiencing this incredible semester if it weren’t for you. And to my parents, thank you for making it possible to be here.
~ Ashelynn
Recently I have been so grateful for my family. Through the entire process of getting me to TTS, I felt so much support from them. Every goal I have of adventure I want to pursue, I know there are so many people who have my back, and that are there to help me along the way. I am truly so thankful and appreciative for that. They make me feel loved every day, and they are my biggest supporters. I miss you all, thank you for everything.
~ Love, Marley
Mom, thank you for being an amazing role model for me to look up to. You are the strongest woman I know. Watching you continually overcome challenges and pursue your dreams (even when they are scary) to live a life you are proud of has inspired me. Your resilience has shaped me into the independent young woman I am today. I would not be here if it wasn’t for you. I am eternally grateful! I love you!
~ Savannah
I’m thankful to my mom for pushing me to apply for TTS and instilling in me confidence to travel abroad through stories of her trips to other countries. I’m thankful to my dad for teaching me how to love the outdoors and bringing me on hikes, canoe trips, bike trips, and ski trips. All those activities helped build my confidence in my ability today.
~ Hazel
I am thankful for a person who pushed me to love the outdoors – something I never truly understood until I had to camp in tents for three months. A person who brought me car camping and skiing every weekend with his friends, because my friends never did that kind of thing. For all the late night boat cruises around the Anesquam and blaring tunes on the drive home, no doors, and no roof. Thank you for being such a good big brother, KB.
~ Harper
Usually during Thanksgiving I am sitting around a big table with my parents, sister, cousins, aunt, and uncle in New York. This year, I’m across the ocean with a whole new family, feeling so grateful to be here and missing those who are supporting me from home. A tradition that my family has is writing what we’re thankful for on leaf-shaped pieces of paper and hanging them with ribbons from a branch from our backwoods. My leaves this year would be filled with the names of every single friend, family, and community member who has supported me in being here. Whether it be those who showed up to my fundraising events and donated, my parents and sister who helped me plan, organize, and execute my goals, thank you. You all have helped me change my already wonderful life and I’m looking forward to sharing so much about what I’ve learned with you. It took many thoughtful conversations and helping hands to get me to where I am today, literally and figuratively. I’m endlessly grateful to all of the teachers, coaches, mentors, and role models who have taught me what I know and encouraged my curiosity and enthusiasm about the world. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
(P.S. Huge extra thank you to mommy and daddy, for your endless, unconditional support and love in everything I do, and for going the extra mile for me and Sam always)
~ Much love, Macy
I’m grateful for my family who made this once in a lifetime experience possible for me. I wouldn’t be sitting here on Big Blue looking out at the mountains and towns of South Africa without you guys. Love you!
Mom – You are my #1 supporter and always there for me no matter what. I’m eternally grateful for you and all you do for me and Liam. Thank you for busting your butt off to get me here. I this experience has been the best experience of my life and I wouldn’t be here without you and your love and dedication to being my om, the best mom in the world. <3 I love you so much.
Liam – Thanks for always making me laugh and looking out for me. I miss watching the Pats with you. I hope you won the Turkey Bowl for the Bradley’s this year.
Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Chuck, Wannie, and Aunt Pat, forever grateful for your support and generosity that made this experience possible for me, love you guys!
Dad – I’m so grateful for your support and confidence in me to send me all the way to Africa for 3 months, you might have been sure the whole time but it was definitely the right choice. Thanks for always looking out for me. I can’t wait to watch Pats post season and work at Green Cow Cannabis and watch Selling Sunset Season 7 when I’m back. I’m grateful for you dad, love you!
~ Cora
My road in applying to TTS was full of complexities. Because of this, I am deeply grateful for everyone and everything that contributed to this journey of mine. This extremely special program has allowed me to grow in ways I could not have conceptualized just over three months ago! (:
Mama and Papa – Thank you for letting me chase my large goals despite the fear they may induce within you. It was a HUGE deal for you to let me study abroad my senior year of high school but you knew how much I wanted it. You’ve taught me so much and provided me with endless experiences. THanks for sharing me with the world!
Camp Bishopswood – Thank you for being my home every summer. Through attending summer camp, I have had the opportunity to discover my passion for spaces in which intentional communities are fostered. This is the factor that ultimately drew me to TTS and has continued to benefit me greatly. Helen, Hannah, Ava, etc. – I appreciate your enthusiasm for all of my ideas, regardless of how reasonable they may be. Your love and laughter provided me with a large sense of belonging everywhere I go.
A few more (extremely) honorable mentions and areas of gratitude:
Mountain views, grainy film photography, and silly homemade zines.
The works of Adrianne Lenker, David Bowie, Joni MItchell, Elliot Smith, Frank Ocean, and Laura Marling
Turtles!
Every lovely person taking the time to read this.
Lastly, my biggest thanks goes to my ten new best friends and four admirable role models who have supported me this semester. Truly the coolest people I know!
~ Lilla
I could make a list of a hundred people who got me here to a teensy town in Zululand with a rad group of students and teachers. It took many people to become me, It took many people believing in me to be confident that I could take on this role. And it took a whole lotta people to get these students here, and I can’t pretend I’d be here without them, nor would I want to. So instead of naming names here’s some qualities that I’m thankful for. If you see yourself in these, if you’re even reading them, know that I’m grateful to you and that you’ve helped me on this journey. Okay here’s gratitude to:
Those who give comforting words and actions
Positive female roles
The words “you can do anything” and those who speak and mean them
Those who choose to invest in education in this way- whether by time or money
Parents who have enough strength to let their children grow without them
Curiosity about how things could be
Furry friends that give care without words
People who mentor when they aren’t obliged to
Creativity
Generosity
Anyone whos made a meal for someone in times of stress or need
The world and its unfathomable complexity
The stars, the sand, the earth
Health
People that made it hard to leave home <3
~ Morgan, Statistics Teacher
Blog by Lilla and Leslie Sandefur (Honors Environmental Science Teacher)
