Sara W experiencing Cape Town adventures locals could never afford

As I finished writing the list of things I did this week, I realized that these activities in no way summed up my week or the thoughts and feeling I had during it. I decided to format my post differently this week to make it more valuable.

At my internship on Monday when my supervisor asked what I did this weekend I told her how I went shark cage diving and sand boarding. As I said these things I felt guilty because I knew that she who has lived here her whole life, has probably never been able to afford these activities. She explained to me exactly this and how none of the locals are able to afford most of the activities that bring tourists to South Africa. She said she does the Cable Cart to get to the top of Table Mountain only twice a year- on her birthday and her husband’s birthday. This is because on your birthday you get to go on for free. Although I love all of the tourist-y activities I have done here in Cape Town, in makes me feel guilty that so few of the locals have experienced even a fraction of what I have been fortunate enough to do.  

Besides these activities I did over the weekend, I also had an interesting encounter with a man named Ismail. He was painting on top of Signal Hill and I asked him about his work. He explained how he grew up during Apartheid and helped with the beginning to the end of the time period. He drew a painting with the colors brown, black, and white, symbolizing the racial classifications of the people during Apartheid. He wanted to show that you need different colors to make something work. He used this explanation for why we need everyone to work together in society. It was interesting meeting this man and hearing his story. I love meeting new people here in Cape Town.

After this encounter, our parasailing was canceled because of the way the wind was blowing. The man who was going to take us felt bad and brought us to a small, cozy restaurant called Jimmy’s. There he bought us food and milkshakes. Meeting people like this on a daily basis continues to blow my mind. There is so much love here in Cape Town and everyone seems to think of others and put others before themselves. I love this mindset and hope to bring it back to the States.

Through writing about this past week, I realize that there are so many experiences I have had that have made these past months like none else. I am so happy with everything I have learned on this trip and am excited to keep learning more. It makes me sad to think that this experience is more than half over!