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A message to the Hound Dogs traveling to Memphis:

Stick to the nice neighborhoods, don’t end up In The Ghetto of Memphis.  Be sure to cheer on the Dawgs on New Years Eve and hopefully we’ll beat UCF so no one has to check into the Heartbreak Hotel.  When you go out to ring in the new year find a pretty woman to give a Hunk of Burning Love to at the stroke of 12.  Don’t celebrate the win too hard or you may find yourself doing the Jailhouse Rock (Damon Evans style).  If you run into a cop have A Little Less Conversation and tell him your name is Johnny B. Good and you’re just having some fun!  Hopefully you’ll leave saying… “Memphis, I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You”

As most of the Bulldawg faithful make the trek to Memphis I am ending my trip to Tennessee.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Memphis recently and I wanted to give a few pointers to the Bulldog Nation:

*Check out Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis mansion.  The King of Rock and Roll is the pride and joy of Memphis so stop by his crib.

*Get some good ‘ole fashioned BBQ.  You can’t leave Memphis without trying some pulled pork.  Ask a local their favorite spot and Let the Big Dawg Eat!

*Obviously you’ll want to watch the Bulldogs take on Central Florida, but check out some of the other Liberty Bowl festivities:

Thursday:

5pm – The Bash on Beale Pep Rally — Show some support for the Dawgs!

7pm – Memphis Tigers vs. Lipscomb basketball game @ FedEx Forum

Friday:

8pm – After Dark NYE celebration – Ring in the new year with live music and the annual guitar drop at midnight @ Handy Park on Beale St.

Kids in Township

For part of the study abroad program our student group spent the night in a South African township (slums/projects) and lived off of $1/day.  I didn’t really know what to expect before this experience but I have a completely different mindset now.  Immediately off the bus we were welcomed by the entire Sir Lowery’s Pass Township community.  We spent hours playing rugby and soccer in the streets with kids and riding them around on our shoulders.  These were probably some of the happiest kids I’ve ever seen outside of Disney World!  After hours running around with them we went into our respective homes for the night.  My host family was amazing.  The father was a pastor and librarian and he built his family’s home on his own.  His children were great and reminded me of my own family at home.  Faith and education were clearly the most important things to this family.  The father was studying to earn a degree in Information Science and his college age son was in school to become a civil engineer.  All of the other kids were in school and doing well.  He told me “In Africa, without an education you will fail.”

Many times as Americans we think we will come into a “3rd World Country” and show them the “our way a.k.a. the best way” to live.  But this family taught me more than I ever could imagine about the importance of faith, family, friends, and education, no matter where you live.  I can’t wait to go back next week to spend time in this community and learn more from these wonderful people.

After our initial overnight visit to Sir Lowery’s Pass Township we were issued a challenge by the Global LEAD staff.  We were all handed an envelope and told to watch a short video clip.

After watching the clip we were told about how a church in Atlanta issued a challenge to its congregation.  They gave each member $1, $5 or $50 and told them to multiply it and change the world.  We all opened our envelopes and inside was 10 Rand (around $1US) with the instructions to use this money over the next 3 weeks to change the world.  At this point I have no clue what to do with my 10 Rand but I really would like to make an impact on someone’s life.  Feel free to give me suggestions!

With my first full week in Africa completed it’s almost impossible to sum up everything that has happened in one blog post but I’ll try! Our first week in South Africa was dedicated to adventure.  We travelled the country seeking thrills and conquering fears.  My group travelled the country going from city to city hitting up South Africa’s best adventure sites.  We spent all day adventuring and spent the nights in some amazing hostels with great views.

Adventure Week = Shark Diving + Zip Lining + Worlds Highest Bungee Jump + ATV Four Wheeling tour + Safari + Elephant Rides + Caving + more!

Animals were a big theme of this trip.  I got more up close and personal with some dangerous animals than I could ever imagine.  Between diving with sharks and getting surrounded by a herd of elephant on safari I definitely got my fill of wild animals!

South Africa has some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen.  Driving around the country gave me a new appreciation for the beauty of the continent.  My pictures don’t even do the country justice but I’ll put them up anyway.

(Click pics to enlarge!)