Spiders Close Out Amazing Trip To South Africa And Return Home - Blog #8

Junior football student-athlete Kevin Johnson, sophomore men's basketball student-athlete Nick Sherod, freshman women's basketball student-athlete Alex Parson and junior women's track student-athlete Marshea Robinson will spend May 16-27 exploring South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Throughout their trip, the student-athletes will be reporting back to www.RichmondSpiders.com with blogs documenting their journey.

Blog Number Eight – By Marshea, Alex, Kevin and Nick

Being away from home, in these conditions make us surely appreciate the things we take for granted. We are all looking forward to drinking water, taking showers, and eating a good meal. South Africa is under a severe water crisis, so hearing the stories and adapting to simple things like brushing our teeth and washing our hands has been a challenge. It is difficult to believe the harsh conditions that lay beneath Table Mountain, one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

The township visits were a perfect prelude to visiting University of Richmond Men's Soccer Alum, Justin Groves' Soccer Academy. The Cape Town location of the Grove Soccer Academy was based at a local school where we were initially greeted by a couple of players, the director, and the multiple coaches on staff. We have truly never seen people so excited to see us. After brief introductions, we were treated like stars, each of us were individually introduced; it could have easily been confused for the starting lineups at a Spiders basketball game. Mrs. Courtney addressed the group of about 50-60 boys from an academic perspective, giving them an overview of our University and inspiring them to aim high in their endeavors. Then, we each discussed our daily schedules and what it takes to be successful on the division I level of athletics in the United States. We were amazed at how all of the kids, from youngest to oldest, were engaged and listening, there was not one distracted in the room. During the Q&A portion the kids asked the most intelligent questions, ranging from, "How do you prioritize academics and athletics" to "Do you guys have time to go out on the weekend." The coolest part was when the formal session was over and the kids were allowed to come and talk to us individually, and then presented us with Grove Soccer Academy shirts. We were able to take pictures with them, sign their shirts, and we even asked for their autographs. We wanted to make sure they felt as special as they were treating us!

We spent so much time talking that the daily training had to be cut short, but we were able to go to the field and watch the varying teams practice soccer for around 45 minutes. Little did they know, we had more surprises in store. We unpacked one of our Nike suitcases and distributed Richmond gear to each and every player on the respective teams. The smiles that the kids had on their faces when they saw us hand them a gift would have made anyone think it were Christmas or that they potentially won the lottery. Motivating them to achieve their goals as well as letting them know that we support them and that they have fans in Richmond was the most rewarding part. Just as we thought the trip could get no better, we were able to engage with the youth of South Africa. They are appreciative and grateful, but little do they know we are as much for them as they have made an everlasting impact upon our lives.

While traveling across the world is great and a good experience, all of us agreed that this is the type of stuff that we look forward to the most. Seeing the highest mountains and the most powerful animals are great, but they do not compare to the impact we had from this incredible learning experience. From the injustice this nation has faced to the disorder and problems it left behind, we learned so much more than we thought we ever could. Some things you just cannot teach, but you have to experience. All of us talked after and expressed that next time we travel, whether it be with family for family, or any reason, we would make an effort to be around the people of those cities we are visiting, instead of just sightseeing. You learn so much from listening to the stories of other people. South Africa has so much history to offer and learning about the many social and political leaders surrounding apartheid helped us to better understand the present day issues, because it is all connected. While we wish we had more days to spend in South Africa, it motivated all of us to continue to expand our knowledge of other places all over the world, and to value the history of other nations as well.

The last day of our trip was meaningful in a variety of ways, however, our trip was brought full circle as we visited Groot Drakenstein Prison, the last place in which Nelson Mandela was in jail. It was through those very gates we stood, the same gates Mandela walked to freedom in 1990. It is symbolic, especially having visited Robben Island and Mandela's jail cell earlier in the week, as we stood in the exact same place Mandela took his first steps outside as a free man.

We have much work to do in our own country as it relates to Social Justice and Leadership initiatives, and as the great Nelson Mandela once said, "I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." For now, we will rest, regroup and gather our thoughts, however, we still have much responsibility as student-athlete leaders at the University of Richmond.

Thank you all for reading and after 28 hours we are finally state side!

Cheers,

Kevin, Nick, Marshea, and Alex

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Spiders Close Out Amazing Trip To South Africa And Return Home - Blog #8

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Nick Sherod

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