I’ve done a lot of crazy travel adventures, but recently I leapt the farthest out of my comfort zone when I opted in for a charity roadtrip across southern Africa. I’m not talking just South Africa, I’m talking FIVE countries that we drove across, stopping to camp, sightsee, and donate shoes to children along the way. The name of this magical adventure, is Put Foot...
When I first decided that I wanted to go volunteer in Africa, I researched a TON of volunteer programs, and finally found one that not only sounded amazing, but affordable and legitimate as well. I had never heard of the town called Muizenberg where the IVHQ volunteer program took place in South Africa, so had to do some research to see where exactly it was, and what...
by Alyssa Ramos Before I went to South Africa I not only researched every possible thing about it and what to do, but also found and interviewed local bloggers for their tips as well. I ended up doing a lot of the things they recommended as well as a few other things on my own, and now can say what I thought the best things to do/see were, as well as the things you...
Naturally, seeing the cute little Boulders Beach penguins was on the top of my list of things to do in South Africa, but between volunteering at school all day and joining in on the other volunteers’ activities, I found myself penguin-less on my last day in Muizenberg. Oh, by the way, there are penguins in South Africa! I had just gotten back from my most...
by Alyssa Ramos Not even a Disney movie could have compared to my perfect day in Camps Bay, so I guess I could say that that day, My Life Was A Disney Movie. I mentioned in my very first blog post about living in Muizenberg, South Africa for the week I volunteered with IVHQ and Dreams to Reality that I realized the first day there that there were a few “trip...
by Alyssa Ramos It’s hard to know what to pack for a place you’ve never been to before, especially somewhere a lot different than your home. Sure, you can look up a generic packing list, but it’s a lot more useful to ask someone who has been there! Before my IVHQ South Africa trip, I contacted other bloggers in Cape Town (see Blogger Guides) to ask...
TUESDAY VOLUNTEERING Tuesday morning in Muizenberg, South Africa was even colder than Monday since the icy rain drizzle was still lingering from the downpour the night before. They really weren’t joking when they said bring things to layer. I put on a pair of leggings, skinny jeans, fuzzy socks, my new gangsta boots, a knitted head warming thing, a tank top, a...
From the moment I walked through the doors of 37 Albertyn Road, I knew that choosing to volunteer through International Volunteer Headquarters (IVHQ) South Africa program was one of the greatest ideas I’ve ever had. After postponing the trip for almost a year due to the typical anxiety of time and money constraints, I realized there’s nothing else...
by Alyssa Ramos Although I’d never been there before, Cape Town seemed familiar, as if I’d visited it in a past life or a lucid dream. It might have been due to my extensive research, or my curious project to interview local Cape Town bloggers before arriving, but the map of the town was embedded in my mind like a subconscious thought. It took thirty...
Interview With Featured Blogger: Karisa Nicholls, CapeTownMyLove.com by Alyssa Ramos How long have you lived in Cape Town and what do you absolutely love the most? I moved to to Cape Town in January of 2003. I love all the diverse options the city has to offer. From being able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, touring the winelands...
