Parrish Checks In From South Africa
7/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT WORTH, Texas - Brandon Parrish gives fans an inside look at his study abroad to South Africa to learn about conservation and much more.
Parrish is currently in South Africa with 10 other TCU students, focusing on rhinos, conservation and biodiversity. The senior, who will travel to Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa, has been kind enough to share his experiences with the Horned Frog community and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of his trip.
Parrish's Weekly Blog
It seems like everyday this trip gets better and better. Along with enjoying my time here, the group of people that I'm with have made this trip 10 times better. We've developed a very strong bond amongst each other and I wouldn't want things to be any other way!
Cape Town is a stunning city. My time here has been simply amazing! When we first got here we landed and dropped things off at the hotel to head to the bizarre, which is towards the middle of downtown. At the bizarre you shop for native souvenirs and pieces, but the catch is that you get to negotiate the prices. I remember doing this while I was in China a few summers ago and it was a blast.
After that we headed to a shoreline that took my breath away. Seeing the water hit the rocks and looking out seeing the ocean go on for miles and miles were a few images that'll stick with me forever. Being at the shoreline made the beach look so much more promising. Sure enough that's where we were headed next. Cape Bay was the perfect spot. A coastline with beautiful water that you could look down and see your in the sand.
The restaurants along the coast were great! Most of them served seafood, which I was a little skeptical at first, but after tasting the fish and chips - I was hooked!
Just when I thought things were at an all time high, we were on our way to Table Mountain where we would take a cable cart right up to the top. Getting to the top of the mountain and looking out at the horizon was breath taking. Being up 1,086 meters above the ground was a little nerve wrecking at first, but to take it all in helped me to relieve the stress of being up so high. Seeing the sun hit the ocean so majestically left me speechless for many moments on top of the mountain until the winds hit. The beautiful 76 degree temperature soon felt as if it was 40 degrees. I immediately had to start moving because I HATE being cold, so I was running all over the top of the mountain to get my blood flowing. People probably thought I was crazy, but every moment I stopped to look, the cold winds became irrelevant. That was probably the most beautiful image I've ever seen with my own two eyes.
So the next day, we woke and headed to seal island. The boat trip out to the island was a little bumpy, but it was just what I needed to wake up. Seeing the seals in their natural habitat was so beautiful. They're playful animals so you could see them playing with each other in the water. Hearing them make their calls definitely beats my experience seeing them at Sea World.
Next we headed to Boulder's beach to see the African penguins. Honestly, I didn't expect to see so many them, but watching all of them waddle around put a huge smile on my face. During one moment, I was recording them with my GoPro on an extension stick and a penguin seemed very curious of what I was doing. The little guy walked up to the camera trying so hard to determine exactly what it was. Before I knew it, the penguin had pecked my camera in the middle of me recording a video, so I got some pretty good footage.
Next we were headed to Cape Peninsula to see the lighthouse. Hiking up of the trail to see the light was a nice little workout. On the way up, you'd just look out and see the ocean for miles and miles, and then you'd make a slight turn to the right and see table mountains and different peaks in the distance. My favorite part of the lighthouse was the fact that there were lizards, black girdled lizards and they were EVERYWHERE!
With the type of person I am, I'm not just going to look at them - I've got to catch one. The tough part was that I'm a pretty big human being believe it or not, so the element of surprise was absent for the most part. When it comes to catching lizards, I'm a very determined individual. I would say that about 15 lizards got away before I actually caught one, but when I did all the failures just made the experience that much more significant.
Soon afterwards we reached the Cape of Good hope, which is in the furthest southwestern point in Africa. Before I knew it, me and a few more students were climbing a giant rock to get a better view. When we touched the highest point of the hike it was well worth it. There I was again, looking out to the ocean and seeing the mountains. This was when I realized how much I actually adored the view of a natural landscape that wasn't built my man, but shaped by God over millions of years.
We then went to an ostrich farm where they had rescued ostriches and horses. We had the chance to feed the ostrich and it came on a little strong, but having the chance to get up close and personal with the largest flight less bird in the world made me very happy.
So Saturday we are heading to Port Elizabeth to spend 10 days on the Amakhala Game Reserve. This is what we've all been waiting for so I'm super stoked to have the opportunity to see African animals in their natural habitat, which is something I've dreamed of doing my whole life. I can't wait to get there and share this experience with everyone.
Being in Africa as an African American has given me a connection with the natives that I've never felt with anyone else. When they look at me, they see me as one of them in a sense. From speaking with them, many of them have enlightened me about the lives they live.
When I see them, I can see their past struggles, but I can also see hope in them as well. Very few of them seem upset about their current situation, but instead they're glad to be in the moment.
Yesterday a guy stopped and asked if I played basketball. After assuring him that I did, he tells me how basketball is his game and how good he was, but he never had the chance to make something of it being in Africa. He told me to, "pave the way for our brothers, so they can have the chances that you've had to fulfill your dreams." That was one of the moment that really changed my perspective about a lot of things, but above all, it made me realize how blessed I am to be in my current situation. An African American with a full ride to pay for my college education, and playing the game I love on a national pedestal. I am literally, LIVING THE DREAM. He will never have that opportunity, but that doesn't mean that the upcoming generations of young men in Africa have to have the same fate.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers and good wishes! I deeply appreciate the love and support. Talk to you all soon!
BP
