Our friends, the Germans

April 26 (I wrote this yesterday, but was just able to post this to the blog today)

We’ve been able to spend the past few days with the GSE team from Germany as they are also being hosted by the Heldeberg Basin Rotary Clubs at the same time we are here. They are here in District 9350 for the same dates as us, but they spent the first 8 days in Namibia. We will go our separate ways again after we leave here tomorrow but reunite with them at the district conference at the end of our trip.

We’ve had a lot of fun getting to know them. They have a great sense of humor and we’ve enjoyed laughing with them about our similar experiences on this GSE journey. We’ve had many of the same impressions and challenges. However, they are also having to deal with the language barrier which makes this experience even more exhausting for them. They haven’t had any rest days at all and definitely look like they need one.

We spent yesterday together at a wine farm in Stellenbosch, part of the beautiful wine region of South Africa. Unfortunately, we had a steady rain all day, so the otherwise magnificent countryside and vineyards looked a little dreary, but it was still very beautiful. The Solms wine farm was really interesting because the owner decided to make all the workers (many who have lived and worked on the farm for generations) part owners of the farm. He convinced a local bank to loan the workers money to purchase shares in the farm using part of the farm as collateral. Now the workers have a real investment in their work and a sense of equality has been restored. This is the kind of thing that will help bring South Africa out of the troubles of its past.

Last night two of the local Roteract clubs (a division of Rotary for college age and young people) hosted a braai and social get together for the two GSE teams. We were at the student center at the University of Stellenbosch. We were also joined by three women who were on the GSE team last year from South Africa to Italy. It was very interesting to hear about their experiences and reflections, also so similar to our own.

Today we went with the German team and a group of our hosts and other Rotarians to the Spier Estate, a wine farm and wildlife center with cheetahs and raptors. Barb and Sarah paid extra for an “encounter” and got to get up close and pet an adult cheetah. We got a great tour and got to learn more about cheetahs and their unique physiology that makes them such fast hunters. We enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch and some shopping and then got to see a bird show with some different types of hawks and eagles. We got to hold and pet the birds and I’m pretty sure got some great photos.

We’ll be heading out tonight for a little “farewell party” hosted by the Heldeberg Basin clubs for both our teams. We’ll be saying good-bye to our new friends Arne, Martin, Sandra, Turin, Marian and Gunther, but will look forward to seeing them in 10 days at the district conference.