With each coming day in Cape Town, it begins to feel
more and more like a home. I remember back to the beginning of the trip when
being here felt like a vacation. Now, although the location is still amazingly
beautiful, I am beginning to feel less like a tourist and more and more
comfortable here.
Yesterday was Human Rights Day so I had
both Monday and Tuesday off of my internship. This weekend
was packed with fun activities. First, I hiked Lion’s Head with Maddy and her
family. Although I have gone several times now, the view never gets old and it
impresses me every time.
On Saturday morning, Claire and I went to
tutor the football players. Five out of the six players were there this time.
They seem excited about their opportunity to go to the United States and are
also taking the tutoring seriously, which I am glad about. After tutoring the
football players, we went to Muizenberg for a relaxing couple hours at the
beach. We went swimming and at one point I was only a few feet away from a
seal! Then on Saturday night we went to the Cape Town carnival, which
was filled with incredible floats and people from all over. Next, on
Monday, we went to Clifton 4th beach for another relaxing day.
Monday night, Claire and I went out
on Long Street with some friends that we met from Saudi Arabia. The night went
by fast and when the club closed something happened as we were waiting for our
uber outside. An older man grabbed another girl we were with by the arm. When
my friend Haws told him to let go of her, the man made a racist remark to Haws.
After that, I don’t know exactly what happened but a fight broke out. It was
the scariest thing I have witnessed since being here. There were at least 10
people involved and people were being pushed into cars. Our friend, Saleh, made
sure Claire and I got into our uber safely. On the way back home after the
fight, I had to hold back tears. It was incredibly disheartening especially
because these people who I have been getting closer with were involved. I was
thinking about racial divides and how much heartache would be saved if the
social construction of race were never to exist. It is extremely unfair and it
was difficult for me because it was our friend who was a victim in the fight.
It began with sexism, the man grabbing the woman, which was followed by racism.
If the social constructions of race and gender were never to exist, this fight
would have been completely avoided. I have never been witnessed a fight that
has had such an impact on me. Although it was not a good memory it really made
me think and I have been thinking about the fight ever since.
The next day, we went to Bloubergstrand beach.
On the way to the beach the uber driver was telling me how he did not go to
this beach anymore ever since the 1994 election. He said it felt exclusive and
as if he wouldn’t be welcome there because of the color of his skin. Him saying
this, ties into everything I have been learning through this semester both in
class and outside of class. Racial divides are detrimental to everyone and I
hope to help change these divides little by little with each day.
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