Wolverines in South Africa, Day 1: Signal Hill, Albie Sachs and GOLD Restaurant
5/4/2019 5:34:00 PM | Football
• Michigan Embarks on Experiential Learning Trip to South Africa
• Photo Gallery
The Michigan football program is on a one-week experiential learning trip for its student-athletes in South Africa, which includes stops in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Follow the Wolverines on social media (#UbuntuBlue) and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- The team got a great night's sleep in the Camps Bay area before starting their first day in South Africa with a scenic hike, a talk with Albie Sachs and some great African cuisine and culture. Everyone matriculated to the meal room for a nutritional breakfast and a quick meeting before starting their adventure.
The group boarded buses for the short ride to Signal Hill, a landmark flat-topped hill located next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain, where the Wolverines took a scenic stroll. The area was used for weather warnings and anchoring instructions to visiting ships in the 18th and 19th centuries. A Noon Gun, operated by the South African Navy and South African Astronomical Observatory, has been a historic time signal in Cape Town since 1806; the guns are fired precisely at noon every day.
From left: Christian Turner, Vincent Gray, German Green, Gemon Green
From left: Chris Partridge, Jay Harbaugh and Michael Zordich
While at Signal Hill, the travel party was able to split up and spend an hour hiking and taking photographs from a variety of locations overlooking the city and ocean. At the conclusion of the visit, Michigan took a group photo and individual position group photos before taking the buses back down to the historic VA Waterfront shops. The team had 75 minutes to walk around the stores and harbor area before traveling to a beachfront lunch at the Grand Cafe and Beach Restaurant.Â
Albie Sachs, an activist and a former judge on the Constitutional Court of South Africa, spoke to the team for an hour about the history of the country, his background, including his work helping write a new democratic constitution, and the connection between sport and race.
Albie's over-arching goal during his professional career was to help create a new nation, one that was non-racist and non-sexist. Appointed to the court by president Nelson Mandela, he spent six years helping write the 1996 constitution that is still in effect today. Sachs became of the country's most prominent Jewish individuals during the anti-apartheid movement.
After the educational discussion with Sachs, the team enjoyed a traditional South African meal at GOLD Restaurant that featured a multi-course meal inspired by ingredients and textures from all over the African continent. The players and staff joined in the entertainment with some pre-dinner drumming for about 20 minutes after receiving guidance from one of the restaurants experienced facilitators.Â
The Wolverines were also entertained by live dancing and singing to the rhythmic beating of African djembe drums during dinner. A group of players were brought up to the stage to perform with the dancers, including Joe Milton, Tyler Plocki, Mike Sainristil, Gemon Green, German Green and Christian Turner.
The Wolverines retreated to their hotel for a nights rest before Sunday's trip to Robben Island and a rugby clinic with the Springboks.
