Upon stepping through the automatic doors of the Cape
Town airport and into the outdoors, my first feeling was relief. We were
greeted by a cool wind and could see a blue sky untouched by clouds. Driving to
Rondebosch from the airport, Table Mountain grew larger and larger and I was in
awe – on the whole, this area has given me sights that I can’t imagine I’ll
ever find uninteresting. When it comes to people, I was surprised and pleased
to find that people from all walks of life, any ethnicity and race, religion,
or class can be found in Cape Town. I was not surprised to find mostly white
people frequenting shops in upscale or touristy areas, served by people of
color, and far more black or colored people around train and bus stations, the
parade, and townships outside of the city.
The food here has been fantastic and I feel very
lucky to have gone to some of the most popular restaurants to try a wide
variety of food
 |
| Anna, Rachele, Karen, Ashley and Katherine at Addis Ethiopian Restaurant |
– but individuals approaching my housemates and me on the street
for leftovers was a new, eye-opening experience. Seeing people who are
desperate for food or money while moving through the city or going to bars on
Long Street served as a reminder of the significance of this semester – to
support disenfranchised groups of people, understand their history, and devote
our time to organizations that help them in some way.
I feel blessed to return home to a nice, spacious
house with a closet full of clothes and a comfortable bed, and I’m not sure
what it will be like to intern in Khayelitsha three days a week and then come
back to a clearly wealthy part of Cape Town.
It has also been a pleasure meeting residents of Cape
Town and the surrounding area – everyone seems pleased that we are studying
here and eager to remedy our cluelessness towards their culture. I look forward
to learning, taking classes – the Cape Town University campus is breathtaking –
and interning, and hope that I can use the resources at my disposal to better
the lives of others.
No comments:
Post a Comment