Erica's having a hard time processing the fact that soon she'll be getting ready to leave

Shona, Erica, Sarah & Kat

All I’ve been able to think about lately is how we only have a little over a month left here in Cape Town. Thinking about the end of this trip is bittersweet; I miss my friends and family at home, however; I can already tell that I’m going to miss South African very much. Like many of my co-educators, I’ve grown accustomed to my routine here and I love the sense of independence this experience has given me. Although I’ve gotten to see and do many things here, there’s so much I’d like to do, and I’m worried about running out of time. Cape Town is such an eclectic and vibrant city that even if I was here for a longer amount of time, I think I would still feel like there’s more to see. I’ve also been thinking about what it’s going to be like not living with my fellow co-educators. I’ve gotten close to many people on this trip, and it’s difficult to imagine what it’s going to be like not seeing them every day. Needless to say I love it here, and it’s hard for me to process the fact that a month from now we’ll be getting ready to leave.

In other news, today Katherine and I hosted a community dialogue for Prevention in Action in Khayelitsha. The event went really well, and we’re hoping that we can partner with different organizations in order to implement the solutions community members came up with to make Kuyasa a safer community. Additionally, Anna, Katherine, and I have been working on our activist project together for an organization called Dignity Dreams. Right now we’re in the process of planning two workshops about menstrual health in order to educate young girls about their periods, and to end the negative stigma around periods in general. I’ve enjoyed doing work for Dignity Dreams because it’s different than what I do at Prevention in Action, but it’s still related to empowering women.

My mom and my brother are coming to Cape Town this Friday for ten days, which I’m really excited for. I have a feeling that showing them around is going to make me feel like a Cape Town “pro”, although I know that I still have a lot to learn. Anyways, I’m really looking forward to sharing my experience here with them.