I can’t believe we’ve been here two weeks already!
Time is flying by. This Sunday was the end of orientation, which was an
exciting whirlwind adventure that was definitely helpful in preparing us all
for the rest of our time here, as it exposed us to a variety of different
aspects of Cape Town that we will encounter during our time here. Orientation
was amazing but I am looking forward to settling into a routine of classes and
internships after the packed schedule we have had over the past two weeks. I am also looking forward to starting my
activist project soon, as this, along with the internship, was one the main components
that drew me to this specific program in Cape Town.
This week is exciting because it is the beginning of
internships! I am working at the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), an NGO that
focuses primarily on improving access to clean water and sanitation in informal
settlements across the township of Khayelitsha, the largest and one of the
poorest townships in Cape Town. I was excited going into the internship because
I believe that these are basic, fundamental necessities that everyone has the
right to. I was also nervous, as I did not know what I was going to be doing.
After my first two days, I must admit that I am still unsure of my role in the
organization, and it has not yet been quite what I hoped for or expected.
However, I am optimistic that this is just because it is the first week and
that as time goes on I will be able to take on more projects.
After two days of internships, I am realizing how
little I know of the local languages. I am glad that we had a conversational
Xhosa lesson during orientation , as it has been helpful in having at least
basic conversations with people at my internship, since isiXhosa is the primary
language used there. It has also however showed me how little of the language I
know and is inspiring me to try to learn more.
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