Weird is the only word I have to describe being home,
at least right in the beginning. Everything felt so natural of course, since I
have lived here all my life, but it was all so unreal at the same time. The
last four months in Cape Town became my new reality so it’s odd being back in
my typical reality that surrounds me in Westbrook, CT. A few days after being
home, I drove up with two of my friends to the Bronx for a Yankees Game. We
were stuck in some traffic close to/right over the NY border and there was an
older man selling water bottles on the highway; he was walking through the
traffic, yelling that there was water for sale, and going up to car windows to
sell it. My two friends were in complete shock at this man, but it was
something that seemed so natural to me, given the fact that that is the norm in
Cape Town. This wasn’t necessarily good or bad, but it made me come to the
realization that situations like this will continue to happen often and remind
me of Cape Town. I know I’ll have the urge to talk all about it, but depending
on who I am with and what the topic is, I know I need to hold back some of my
thoughts and feelings. It is one thing I am really trying to focus on; however,
I also have noticed how easy it is to keep my trip as a whole to myself because
it was four months that no one else can understand and I’ve accepted that… I
just thought it would be way more difficult to do so.
My friends have changed, but so have I. It was so so
wonderful seeing some people, but also so tiring. I’ve accepted the fact that
most people won’t want to hear about my trip, and I honestly prefer that; it’s
something I want to keep inside me, something special and unique that I’m lucky
to share with my co-educators. It was refreshing explaining more details to a
few people who genuinely cared, but that was plenty for me. Even my dad on the
way home from the airport was acknowledging the fact that it’s just an
experience that no one else can ever understand (even with him visiting and
seeing so much, he still knows he cannot understand it all); it is truly
indescribable and that’s just what I say when someone asks me how my semester
was. I find myself constantly looking through my pictures (definitely on a
daily basis), just reminding myself of my life there and how I can bring a part
of it back to my life at home. I miss living with all my co-educators and owe
them a HUGE thank you. I learned so much from all 16 (& Ethan) about life
itself through our daily conversations, internships, class, random stories, and
using them as support since being home. I love that we’re all at UConn (we’ll
miss ya Kat) and I’m so thankful this program was faculty-led and set up the
way it was because it allowed me to meet these amazing people that have become
some of my absolute best friends whom I never would’ve known otherwise.
Since being home, numerous people have told me how I
radiate happiness and look as if I’m truly loving life (both now after
returning home and in all my pictures while in Cape Town). It’s been reassuring
to hear that because that shows me how much my outlook on life really has
changed and been noticed. My time in Cape Town taught me to truly cherish every
single moment and make a serious effort to take less things for granted. Even
though being home is not something I was looking forward to, it’s comforting to
know that even other people can recognize my contentment with life in general,
something that wasn’t fully there before this semester. I’m just a happier
person and it feels great. This summer has already been crazy busy for me
between my CNA class, work, and seeing family and friends, so it’s helped to
distract me a little. I second what Maddy said and would easily jump on a plane
to go back if I had the option, but I know I’ll make it back some day (although
that might not be for a while). Being home, I can feel how I’ve changed and all
the knowledge I’ve gained. I learned more about myself than I thought I could
and that’s already been helpful while being back at home. I control some
situations better and have a more matured, aware view of them. I learned what
the true definition of love feels like. I miss the kids at Maitland Cottage
every single day, but I learned so much about my future career while interning
there. Being home has allowed me to fully comprehend just how much I’ve
personally grown and how amazing the last four months of my life have been.
Knowing that so many people out there would never even be able to fathom doing
some of the things that I have done, has pushed me farther than I thought I
could go; I know it will continue to motivate me to be more active in my
community. I’ve seen first-hand how one person can truly affect the behaviors
of another person; I want to continue to see and do that… just as Kieth Rose
says, I hope to “be all things for all people to reach some.” Thank you, Cape
Town, for reviving my passion for life and for the most humbling, genuine,
fun-filled adventure.
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The entire crew of co-educators during their first week in Cape Town |
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Kaitlyn with one of her friends from Maitland Cottage
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One of the little one's who stole Kaitlyn's heart |
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Sunset over Table Mountain & Devil's Peak as seen from Loch Rd
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Watching one final sunset over the Mother City |