South Africa Update #1

Hello friends and family! 

For a while now, I have wanted to send semi-regular updates about my life and everything I was doing! Second semester was incredibly busy between work, school, the sorority and socials. Now that I am in South Africa I found myself with a little more free time and with much more exciting updates to share!
I am mid way through my third week here in Cape Town, and I think it is going to be quite the feat to leave. 

I live with three girls: Bri from Texas but a senior at Ole Miss, Anna from Alabama and a recent graduate of Auburn University, and Lindsay from Illinois but a Junior at Mizzou. The roommate match makers did their job well as we all get along and have a great time hanging out together. We share an apartment on the second floor (technically the first floor, but South African culture says otherwise) with an amazing view of the beach. I love waking up to this view every morning. I cook for us frequently, but we all take turns burning things in the kitchen. 

In the first week, we toured the city, started our Global Leadership class, and adrenaline-junkied our way through the Western Cape. I ziplined with a bunch of people on my program I wasn’t able to meet before and I loved it. A girl named Hayden is from San Luis Obispo and goes to Ole Miss and rushed ADPi. Hmm, a California girl goes to the south and rushes adpi. Sound familiar? 
The next day, I jumped out of a plane. I thought it would be more of an adrenaline rush or at least exciting, but it was peaceful. I took a mini nap on the plane ride up there and then the door opened and I jumped out. 10/10 would do it again. 

And here’s my video: Preview YouTube video Tandem skydive of Madison MillerTandem skydive of Madison Miller 
On our second week, we ventured to The Garden Route- the southeastern side of the country with every adventure. We stayed in a cabin with our house mom, Leisl- she was the coolest. Our tour guide, Lourens, was super fun, even if he had to shake me awake on our long bus drives. 
Day 1 was a game drive and saw nature in action. Cheetahs hunting and eating, lions sleeping, elephants socializing, and rhinos trotting. 

The next day we went to an elephant sanctuary and I got to walk with an elephant with her trunk in my hand and then hug her later. This was the highlight of my trip and I cried tears of happiness basically all day. 
On Thursday, I jumped off the world's highest bungee bridge (216m or 709 feet) and I had to jump first. My name was randomly picked out of the hat and alas I was tied to a rope and pushed off. I was so scared but everyone cheered me on, and after the first 3 seconds of complete panic; it was so freeing. I didn’t want to take my harness off so I could go again (this time backwards) but they told me there wasn’t enough time. 
Here’s the link to my photos and video!
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Finally that Friday, I cage dived with a 15 foot shark named Betty and 9 foot shark, Mindy. She was a little shy to come out but once my version of “Benny and the Jets” was sung, she made an appearance. I repeatedly yelled “Betty” but with a snorkel mask on. We were only 10 minutes from shore by boat, which makes me scared to swim in Newport again.

This week, we visited Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. We talked to a former inmate who showed us around the compound and shared stories of his time with Mandela. Today, we hiked Table Mountain which was basically a stair stepper for 2 hours. It was so cloudy and foggy but on the top there was pizza and coffee which made it all worth it. 

 
All my love, 
MJ