New Adventures

This page is to chronicle the planned and unexpected adventures that inspire, change, enlighten, expose or challenge me while experiencing Durban, South Africa. It is my aim to cherish every new experience, embrace every opportunity, and capture every unique moment - to be absolutely present in the moment. I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to have this life-enriching experience.

Week of February 13, 2011
Church! I finally made it to one. This week we were invited by new African friends to join them at Durban Christian Center (DCC). The Jesus Dome where service was held is an octagonal, dome structured church building. It is based upon the fact that the very first church buildings that were built, were built with eight sides. It is built with an aluminium roof, which is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and the third largest in the world. The music was lively, and the members were warm and welcoming. While there, missing my church family at Grace UCC became very obvious.

While visiting DCC, Team Impact from the U.S. were their honored guests. Team Impact, an elite group of athletes, uses their uniquely mesmerizing strength performances to capture the attention of old and young alike. Once held, the group delivers the message of Salvation through grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Since our arrival, these were the first Americans I have seen who were not affliated with Fulbright. The feeling of connectedness was instant.

To learn more about DCC, visit http://www.dcc.org.za/
To learn more about Team Impact, visit http://www.team-impact.com/

From church, our new friends (Penny and her children, Shanice and Keagan AND Cola, Penny's cousin) shared their homes with us. A parade of Africans came over while we were visiting so that they could meet the "Americans." Being in Cola's home and then Penny's was a confirmation of the importance of building relationships while here in Durban. To open up one's home to us represents a genuine connection that has the potential to bridge a gap between cultures, shed light upon the unknown, and dispel bias and sterotypes often informed by the misinformed. Penny, Cola and I are well on our way. What we are learning from and giving to one another will definitely reshape the views of many who share our lives.

Penny's Home

Week of January 30, 2011
My daughter, Dailen, has embraced this opportunity to be in Durban full-force and have fully immersed herself within the culture of her new school, St. Benedict. Having been in school for only two weeks, she has  already become very involved. For example, she has taught a group of five girls a praise dance that she has performed solo at our home church. The music director enjoyed it so much, that the group was invited to perform it during the school's first Monday Mass. I could not be more proud of her ability to immediately adapt in a foreign country and be willing to live every moment to the fullest.

To see a video of the performance, please click the link below: (To be added soon)

Also this week: Enjoying the Waves at Suncoast Beach

Waves of the Indian Ocean

It was a beautiful -- and WINDY -- day at the beach where the cool, strong waves of the ocean splashed against my body. I enjoy water sports, so this experience was right up my alley.

Week of January 23, 2011 Exercising in South Africa
Having made exercise a regular practice in my life, I am excited to report that Dailen and I are continuing this practice at Virgin Active, a gym we joined in Durban. It offers cardio and strength machines and classes. My absolute favorite? Kata boxing!!! Imagine a highly active aerobics class that incorporates intense kicking and boxing movements, a series of routines done on a step, loud-pumping African beats vibrating within the room, and a very toned and masculine man with a contagious smile leading the class. We need kata boxing in the states!

Virgin Active

Also this week: The Long Arm of Racism and Oppression

Today, a young black African (Zulu) shared with me that there are NO white South Africans that live in areas of poverty - NONE! The only way that a white could be poor is if it were his choice. This happened to be the second time this same sentiment was shared with me. Although Apartheid ended in 1994, driving through different neigborhoods today and seeing the painful reality of EXTREME differences between the haves and the have nots (all people of color) was difficult to absorb. If you are not familiar, Apartheid  was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the government of South Africa between 1948 and 1993, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and minority rule by white people was maintained. I can feel the despair of my ancestors (my parents among them) who shouldered the weight of segregation in the U.S. governed by Jim Crow laws.  What a heavy load to bear.


January 19, 2011 Driving in South Africa
View a video of me driving in South Africa for the first time. Simply click the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI1_rdV6rSA

January 14, 2011 PARIS, FRANCE

"Why is there a piece on Paris when Roxie is in Africa?" you may ask. Well, thanks to flight delays as a result of the Atlanta snowstorm, my flight itinerary was changed to include a 12-hour delay in Paris, France. Together with my daughter and Maya (the other Fulbright award recipient going to Durban), we couragely boarded several trains that served as our escorts to world-reknown sights and french restaurants. Although not nearly long enough to take in Paris' full beauty and splendor, the time spent there was amazing. There is nothing like a living textbook!! 

Eiffel Tower





Notre Dame