My South Africa in 1997.

One of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in my life was during the Spring of 1997.  I was a sophomore at Arizona State, but I spent the Spring semester aboard the S.S. Universe Explorer as a student on the floating campus of Semester at Sea.  I was one of about 600 students studying in the shipboard classroom and in-country “live” classrooms in each of the 9 countries we visited over 100 days.

When the opportunity to race in South Africa through 11global came about, I dusted off the photo albums of that once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world, reminiscing about the eye-opening experiences in each country.  Man I was lucky!    Cape Town was our third port, and unfortunately, our shortest stay, with only three days in country.

These photos take me back to the adventure and thrill of exploring a new country, culture, and the feeling of being 19 and without a care in the world.  Since we’ll be in Cape Town next week, here’s a little preview of my South African experience, 12 years ago . . .

On a ferry, ready to explore Cape Town. Braids courtesy of Salvador, Brazil.

In the harbor . . . Nice “mom jeans.”  Not sure what was going on there.

Traditional dancing in the middle of the city. Killer abs!!

Celebrating my 20th birthday in Cape Town.  I apparently convinced the bartender that his pirate hat would be better suited for the birthday girl.

My shipmate buddy and I decided to take a float trip on the Breede River. After a bus, a train, and then hitchhiking with these two Afrikaaner guys, we finally arrived!

I’ll be celebrating my 32nd birthday in Cape Town next weekend, 12 years later!   I wonder if I can find that pirate hat?