Arriving at the rural homestay.

To Zululand and ready for an experience. As we turned onto the dirt road and passed different traditional houses, I felt nervous but exited knowing this would be one of the best experiences in South Africa. As I, Brian and Nick, pulled up to our homestead, a large woman came to the door to greet us. As the door open, her booming voice welcomed us and she gave us hugs and brought us to our room. We had a traditional hut to ourselves and the homestead overlooked the ocean and a beautiful red clay cliff. Like my first day in my Bonella home stay, I/we felt awkward, but our homestay mother, Mama Joyce, was very welcoming and exited to have us. Mama Joyce is a large-and-in-charge jolly woman with one daughter, Sisi Cindi, her boyfriend Raymond, and Raymond’s little sister. As the sun began to go down, some boys came into our hut to meet us. I was very happy to meet them, and they were extremely exited to not only meet us, but hang out with us over the 10 days we were there. One of the boys, Spiwe, spoke the best English and promised to take us on a tour of the red cliffs the next morning. After the boys left we went into the house to eat. We were fed a feast of muttan, beef, beans, pap, and more that was delicious. Mama Joyce told us we were going to become “fat ones” like mama as she slapped each of her large arms. We ate too much and slept well awaiting a day of the unknown.