March 2, 1996, they arrived in Cape Town, South Africa. Cherese and friends planned a trip to Table Mountain. They took the cable car up and hiked down the mountain. It was very cold and windy. It took them 2 hours to get to the bottom, when they looked back, Cherese felt a great sense of accomplishment. Later that evening was the Welcome Reception at the University of Western Cape. There was a festival for the students, however, Cherese was disappointed there were very few students to interact with. Cherese and a friend, an African American from California, decided to roam on their own. They were in the dorms and stopped to talk with a male student, a Zulu studying law, his name was Seth. Cherese noticed Seth would not make eye contact with her and would only speak with the other girl. When Cherese asked Seth if she was welcome there, he said the name of Amy Biehl, the girl from California who was killed there in 1993. Cherese had known about Amy, in fact her family didn't live far from our home. Cherese asked him how he felt about her being white and being there and he said it was okay, but Cherese still felt that he did not want her there. Two days later, they visited an African Township and a schoolhouse. The children lined up to sing for them. Cherese said, their voices were so powerful and beautiful words could not do it justice. She felt so overwhelmed at that moment as chills went through her body and their voices went straight through her heart. She said, I had to fight back the tears only because I didn't want anyone to see me cry, but it was a shame I didn't because I was so touched.

Cherese joined the Multi-Cultural Committee on the ship, since this was such a pressing issue at home and of interest to her on the ship as well. She decided that it would be good for her to join a club and get involved to try and smooth out some of the tension on the ship between groups and make others aware of the diversity that exists.

March 13th they docked in Mombasa, Kenya. A trip to Nairobi/Masai Mara was planned. Dr. Mary Leakey was to speak, but she was sick and Cherese was disappointed. Next morning, a van full of students drove 5 1/2 hours to the Mara Sopa Lodge, after lunch they left for the safari game drive. Cherese was amazed as she saw camels, zebras, giraffe, wildebeasts, black farfet monkeys, vultures, impalas, cape buffalos, jackals, thompsons gazelles, ostriches, lions, elephants, and many more animals. The following day, they visited a Masai Village, they paid $10.00 and this included taking pictures, but Cherese wasn't sure if morally this was a good decision, but she knew the money was helpful for the people. The Masai lined up their goods to sell to the students. Again, Cherese felt like it was so wrong. The children had flies all over their faces. March 16, Cherese and friends ate at the Carnivore Restaurant where they serve zebra, lamb, giraffe, chicken and antelope. After lunch, they visited an orphanage, which was the highlight of her time spent in Kenya. Cherese met a little girl, who had a twin brother, both adorable. She was tall and thin, wearing a green and red striped dress and a smile that melted Cherese's heart. She took Cherese's hand and went outside to play. Playing with all the children, Cherese said, it was incredible to have these kids clinging onto you trying to get some love and affection. It broke her heart to have to leave these beautiful children there.

Later, they departed by train and they were on their way to Madras, India. Cherese and Kristy, a fellow student, began talking about how they both wanted to help people and how great it would be if they could open some sort of orphanage or community center to help children and teenagers.

March 25, 1996 the ship arrives in Madras, India..........................

March 27, 1996 the last day of Cherese's life. We have been told the students flew from Delhi to Varanasi, where they viewed the Ganges River early in the morning, and later they flew back to Delhi. Then they were put on a bus for 5 or 6 hours on the road that lead to 7 people's death. The itinerary had been completely changed without Cherese's consent or knowledge. The itinerary Cherese paid for, weeks in advance, was to fly from Varanasi to Agra. We know that Cherese and the other victims would all be alive today, if Jill Wright, from Semester at Sea had not changed their itinerary.

After the tragic accident, the ship continued on to finish the voyage for the rest of the students. (click on Semester At Sea for more info about this tragedy)

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