Kaitlyn's fun packed Garden Route adventure

This past weekend felt like an extension of orientation. Although we went on the Garden Route MUCH earlier in the semester than most groups go, I think it worked out great. After week one of everyone being on their own and settling into their own routines, it felt so nice to come together as (almost) all 17 of us… we missed you, Rav! I love how we still have the human rights weekend, home stay, and spring break to be all together again. Here are a few highlights of our weekend: Maddy and Sara drinking people’s leftover aloe tea (wish I witnessed that one); not being able to recognize the animal out our car window (they were sheep by the way); seeing baboons on the side of the road while driving, along with the insanely beautiful scenery of the Eastern Cape; standing in the the Indian Ocean for the first time; drinking the most delicious strawberry daiquiris at a beach bar; and Sara plugging her nose as she bungee jumped (that video will never get old). This weekend definitely served as a reality check for me. I came here knowing things would be significantly cheaper for us as Americans with the exchange rate largely in our favor, but never once have I thought about the reverse concept. Everything would be roughly 14 times more expensive if a South African were to travel to the United States. That’s such an impossible reality for so so many South Africans, even if they are considered to be more well-off here. Hearing our tour guide, who appears to live a comfortable and adventurous life, say that he lives in a completely different world than us just hit me hard. A world where no matter how much rand he makes here, he would struggle immensely in America simply because of South Africa’s poor economy that he was born into.

The game drive we went on allowed us the opportunity to see so many amazing animals up close in a spacious, natural environment; this was my favorite part of the weekend I think. I got some really neat, close-up pictures of a few of the animals with my zoom lens. I attempted to get over my fear of heights by completing a treetop obstacle/zip line course. There were a few others in the same boat as me, but everyone was so wonderful at supporting and encouraging each other. Walking around the market in Sedgefield on Saturday morning was another one of this weekend’s top moments for me. I love admiring and supporting people’s unique handiwork. Time and time again, visiting markets serves as a humbling experience as I’m reminded of the fact that for some people this is their job, their sole source of income and what they put all their time and effort into. It makes me feel so grateful and so guilty at the same time. 

We also walked with the elephants at a sanctuary of which I happened to have mixed feelings about. After learning so much about these incredible animals while staying at an elephant sanctuary in Laos this past summer, it was hard to see only 2 acres of land for up to 9 elephants and people paying extra to ride them. Riding elephants is NOT okay in any way. I was guilty of thinking the opposite until my time in Laos, but awareness on this topic needs to continue to spread. What kills me is that many of the people who run both the Asian and African sanctuaries/organizations, along with elephant tourism sites and logging camps that utilize elephants, seem to have no choice as they need the money to survive. On a more fun note, it was so cool (and slightly frightening) watching a majority of our group bungee jump off the highest bungee bridge in the world! On our loooooong drive back to Rondebosch, our tour guides surprised us with a stop at the edge of a game reserve where there were three zebras. We all were able to pet them through the fence which was super cool and even though they slobbered on a few of us, it was incredible being able to see them significantly closer than we were able to on the safari. They’re such goofy animals! 

Even though the Garden Route excursion made for such a fun weekend with fantastic people, I found myself thinking a lot about and missing all the children at Maitland Cottage Hospital. My internship there has improved immensely and has been such a positive experience. I’ve gained more confidence and knowledge working there for 5 days than I did interning at an emergency department clinic in my hometown for an entire summer. That’s partly due to the fact that I am able to have more responsibility and hands-on involvement here. Vernon was right when he told Alex and I that we would never want to leave because we’ll become so attached to the kids. It’s been less than two weeks and we are already so sad to see some of them being discharged (although so happy for them at the same time, knowing it means they have recovered and are now without pain). I have been floating all around the hospital, trying to gain exposure in various different areas. I assisted in putting a cast on a little boy’s leg, helped a physiotherapist get a girl to stand for the first time since her traumatic injury, looked at X-rays, spent time in the play room area, and so much more! I didn’t realize or expect that every single thing I (and all the 10 other interns) do there, whether small or large, would be so rewarding and beneficial to both the staff and patients. A total of 11 interns sounds overwhelming and at first it was, but we are split up in two different departments; it’s actually super useful having other students ranging from low 20s to mid 30s collaborating and figuring out new tasks together. Hygiene is not something that is stressed to the same capacity that Alex and I are used to seeing in America, so although not wrong, it came as a shock. We are planning on buying water bottles for all the children there since they drink an extremely minimal amount of water and have nothing practical to drink out of that they can keep at their bedsides. 

I’m so excited for this weekend because I think some of us are hiking and going to the beach, both of which will be firsts for me since being here. We are all also going to a soccer game Saturday evening which will be so fun. I’m cannot wait to get out and explore more of Cape Town, meet locals, and start my activist project (whatever that ends up being) in my free time!