In order to leave the Bakabung Bush Lodge by 8:30 AM, we all had to get up bright and early to pack our bags and eat breakfast. Some chose to wake up earlier and relax around the lodge one last time, but most of us tried to get as much sleep as possible to prepare for the next day and a half of constant travel. We were treated to another wonderful breakfast buffet, including an omelette bar, homemade crepes, and fresh fruit. After eating our final South African breakfast, we met our bus driver, Peter, and our tour guide, Catherine and loaded all our luggage onto the bus. On our way to the Apartheid Museum (Johannesburg), Peter drove us down a different route from what we had driven to the park a few days prior, allowing Catherine to show us all the different mines along the way, as well as Soweto. Following a long but interesting drive, we arrived at the museum and ate a quick lunch. When we entered the museum, we were randomly assigned white or colored admission tickets, which let us experience different perspectives upon entry to the museum. After the entry, singers traveled through the different exhibitions, sticking mostly to the permanent Apartheid exhibit and the temporary exhibit which documented Nelson Mandela’s life and his efforts fighting Apartheid and unifying South Africa. The museum was a beautiful display of South Africa’s modern history, and we were all sad when we had to leave after an hour and a half of walking around and gathering information from every aspect of Apartheid and the battle to overcome it. It was an incredibly powerful place to visit on our last day, as we left the country with a stronger understanding of all the people, places, and stories we had come across over the past three weeks. We gathered in the courtyard outside the Mandela exhibit, where Siveny lead us in a final impromptu performance of Asimbonanga, a South African call and response song that asks “Mandela, where are you?” which was written during his 27 years in prison. Singing it at the museum was incredibly meaningful because we had just deepened our knowledge of the tragic reality of Apartheid and how Mandela was an inspiration to many oppressed peoples.
From the museum, Peter took us straight to the Johannesburg airport, which was a quick 30 minutes away. We unloaded the bus in 1 minute 9 seconds, which, although not our fastest time, was fairly impressive considering the cramped confines of the parking space and the busy traffic surrounding us. We said our goodbyes to Peter and Catherine and grouped up inside the airport. Once we got our passports, Zach had to head in the opposite direction to catch his flight back to Cape Town, where he will be living until October! Zach exchanged hugs with all of us and then headed on his merry way. We wish you the best of luck Zach and we miss you already! The rest of us all safely made it onto the plane without issue and spent the next 9 hours on a red eye to Dubai on an Emirates double decker plane! Upon arriving in Dubai, we parted ways with one of our support staff, David Price, who had to catch his plane back to his home in Ireland. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us this trip David! We love you! We were then treated to breakfast in one of the airport lounges before boarding our flight to Boston, where we currently sit as we write this entry.
Though we are all a little exhausted, it is incredibly sad to leave this wonderful country. Over the past three weeks, we have shared so many powerful experiences together. We have been constantly bombarded by beautiful views, amazing people, moving music, humbling stories, and rich culture, making for a truly transformative tour. Thank you to everyone who made this tour possible, from our parents to our sponsors to the incredible team of staff that kept us safe and sane. This was both Drew and my last international tour, and we both agree that it was our favorite and most memorable one yet.
Natalia & Drew
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Quote of the Day: “To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” -Nelson Mandela, taken from the Apartheid Museum
Singer of the Day:
The staff will like to recognize ALL our Tour Choir singers for completing such an incredible journey. We are so proud of your music making, your relentless energy to seek a unified sound, and the willingness to tell your stories through song. Keep on singing!
Shoutouts:
Natalia, Drew for writing such a thorough and descriptive last blog post, thank you.