Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Orientation- Cape Town

We travelled with our Rotary Sponsors, Gavin and Issy, to Cape Town last weekend to attend the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Orientation. There are fourteen Ambassadorial Scholars who have chosen to study here in the Cape Town area- 3 Germans, 1 Canadian, and 8 from all over the U.S. and 2 Texans. 

We had a great time meeting the other scholars and their Rotary hosts. We look forward to getting to know each of them over this next year.

Stellenbosch Wine Festival

We attended the famous Stellenbosch Wine Festival held this past weekend and it definitely lived up to the expectations. 

There were over 85 wineries from around the Stellenbosch area in attendance, collectively showcasing more than 500 of the region’s finest wines. With a nominal cover charge, festival goers enjoyed unlimited tastings along with options to purchase a variety of foods, coffees, ice cream, cupcakes and bottles of their favorite wines. 

The festival was held in a large grassy park in the center of Stellenbosch with picnic tables, lounge furniture, shade trees and umbrellas set up for everyone to enjoy. The wineries were divided into the different regions of Stellenbosch and each winery decorated a booth to give you a taste of what their wine estate looks and feels like. 

  

We met a couple from Holland and spent hours visiting with them about their travels to the States and their three week holiday here in South Africa.  It is interesting that we have come to South Africa and had the opportunity to meet and have conversations with people from all over the world!

Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club

On Tuesday, I attended my third meeting of the Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club. As my host club in South Africa for the year, it could not have been a better match.

Chartered in June of 2006, the club is one of the largest and most active clubs in the Rotary District 9350. The club hosts numerous fundraising and humanitarian service projects including marshalling at the Die Burger's cycle race, Wines2Whales, Literacy for All, Shelter Box, Ikhayalethemba Village Water Project and the Voice of Rotary opera dinner concerts.

David, Maretha (Rotary Club President), and Gavin (Rotary Sponsor)

The club also encourages a dinner club for members to get to know each other and their families better. So far we have had the opportunity to attend two dinner club events and had a fantastic time. We look forward to attending more club meetings and participating in future service projects throughout the year.