Excursion To South Africa Proves Memorable For Lewis Softball Duo

Lewis seniors Carolyn Nojiri and Lainie Schweickert spent two weeks with the Beyond Sports organization.

Carolyn Nojiri (L) and Lainie Schweickert

Softball | 8/11/2016 2:03:00 PM

Lewis senior softball players Lainie Schweickert (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) and Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) took part in a trip of a lifetime, as the pair competed in the Cape Town Softball tour in South Africa as a part of the Beyond Sports organization. Schweickert recaps her and Nojiri's trip.

   The purpose of the trip was to help spread the game of softball to a country that doesn't know much about the game. This organization gives athletes who are unable to study abroad during the school year the opportunity to do so. We took a 22-hour trip across the world for a 12-day excursion with people we have never even met before. We didn't believe we were in South Africa when we landed. It took a day or two to realize where we were on the map!
   The first full day, we had orientation to learn more about the South African culture. We were introduced to the head organizer of the Cape Town Softball Association. Everyone that was a part of the association was extremely nice and very welcoming to us.
   We had our first practice with 60 other girls on the trip. The organizers made four different teams and Carol and I were on Team Zebra. We met all of the amazing coaches and softball players that were a part of this trip.
   The day after practice, we went to the District Six Museum and the Castle of Good Hope tour. I enjoyed how we had a deeper understanding of South Africa's history and culture while also playing softball.
   That Thursday, we went on a boat ride to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held captive for 28 years. The view from the boat was beautiful as we left the tip to head to the island. You could see all the little houses at the bottom of Table Mountain, which we climbed later on. When we got back, we headed to the field to play our first softball game.
     On Friday, it took us about an hour and a half to reach the top of Table Mountain. It felt like climbing a stair master for that long. The weather was clear as we were climbing it. Once we reached the top, the view was breathtaking and one of those 'You had to be there' moments to know what we felt because pictures don't do it justice. Shortly after we reached the top, we got to see what the (South Africans) call the "tablecloth," which is when the clouds roll over the mountain. We concluded the day with dinner on the beach and saw the sun set.
   Saturday was the first day of the softball clinic we put on for the kids. This really put into perspective how good we all have it in the United States. A lot of the kids didn't have gloves to wear or bats to use. We brought over donations that the Softball Association would distribute to them. Throughout the day, I helped out with the fielding station. Seeing the smiles on their faces as they learned more about the sport was the greatest feeling and best part of the trip. After the camp, we played our second game under the lights.
   After we had breakfast at the hotel on Sunday, we headed out for the township tour. It was really sad to see how some of these people lived. A kind lady showed us into her home and told us about herself. We then enjoyed a delicious meal at a restaurant, that was also a home. We finished the second day of the camp and played our last game there.
   We spent all Monday traveling to the Wilderness Hotel while driving along the scenic Garden Route.
   On Tuesday we enjoyed a safari at the Garden Route Game Lodge. It is a huge reserve that the animals roam free as we rode along in a big open jeep. We saw elephants, lions, giraffes, a cape mountain leopard, a cheetah, white rhino, buffalo, elands, hippos, black wildebeest, kudus, zebras, and many more. We stayed at the lodge a little longer after the safari, had dinner then enjoyed a bonfire.
   On Wednesday, we got to decide what we wanted to do. It was either seeing elephants or go shark diving with great whites… in a cage of course. We took a boat out to Seal Island, which is where great whites are spotted quite often. Seal Island is where they film shark week and we saw about five different great whites! It was an awesome experience!
   That Thursday we traveled back to Cape Town, ate at a restaurant on the bay and then went to see penguins at Boulder Beach. We concluded the day with a farewell dinner with the Cape Town Softball Association.
   We had to say our goodbyes to everyone on Friday. It was sad to split apart from the ones we got so close with in such a short period of time. This trip definitely made a positive impact on my life and I won't forget the people who made this all possible.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#1 Carolyn Nojiri: IF; 5' 5"; Junior; L-R

#21 Lainie Schweickert: P; 5' 9"; Junior; R-R

#1 Carolyn Nojiri: OF; 5' 5"; Senior; L-R

#21 Lainie Schweickert: P; 5' 9"; Senior; R-R

Players Mentioned

#1 Carolyn Nojiri
: 5' 5"; Junior; L-R
: IF

#21 Lainie Schweickert
: 5' 9"; Junior; R-R
: P

#1 Carolyn Nojiri
: 5' 5"; Senior; L-R
: OF

#21 Lainie Schweickert
: 5' 9"; Senior; R-R
: P