Our Big Night Out

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Hey Everyone!

It’s Tuesday morning and we just returned to the hotel from our morning practice. 

Last night I was able to spend some time with my Dad for a few hours at a local mall on the waterfront.  We had dinner with Jocelyn and her dad John in the food court and browsed the mall for a few hours.  This mall was absolutely beautiful.  It had every store you could imagine, both American and African.  Unfortunately, the difference in price when it comes to jewelry, shoes and nice clothing is pretty much negligible, so I didn’t make any big purchases.  But before heading back to the hotel, my Dad and I stopped by one of the largest grocery store chains in all of South Africa, called Pick N Pay.  My Dad bought me some instant coffee, an ice cream bar and an Aero bar.  If you’re an American, chances are you’ve never had an Aero bar.  By Nestle, it’s a Canadian chocolate bar apparently sold here in South Africa and it is to die for…Americans: go online, order them, get them shipped to your house and try a little piece of heaven :).  Anyways…the Nestle instant coffee has made me a team favorite of my teammates and coaches, they can’t get enough!

Today on the way home from practice, our coach had some bad news.  Last night at around 3AM Mr. & Mrs. Higgins were poached…the Higgins were the rhinos from our safari last week.  South Africa is known for relentless poachers and they will do just about anything to get their hands on rhino horns.  Apparently the rhinos were sedated with morphine, their horns were removed and they are struggling to stay alive.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Higgins is pregnant; so hopefully they make a full recovery without their horns.  Little do the poachers know, a rhino’s horns are made up of keratin, the same proteins and what not that are in human fingernails and hair…it is sad that in a protected “sanctuary”, the animals’ lives are still in danger…I can’t even imagine what it is like for these poor animals out in the wild. 
Here's the write up from South Africa: http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/poachers-leave-rhinos-hornless-and-in-agony-1.1196340
Mr. and Mrs. Higgins
After our morning batting practice, our team is more than prepared for tonight’s game against South
Africa.  Now time for a nap!

GO CANADA!

Victoria

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