Laura G noticing the spirit of the people and how nice everyone is

When I first arrived in Cape Town, the first thing I noticed was the intense hustle and bustle of the city. Getting off the plane, we were hit with a rush of warm air and it was beautiful! It was surreal to finally be here after 24 hours of traveling. This city is truly incredible and I’m overwhelmed by the array of opportunities I’ll have while I’m here. Everyday we wake up and look at Table Mountain, and it’s a reminder of how immensely lucky I am to be here in the first place.

One amazing thing I noticed was the spirit of the people here. People here are nicer. People stop to say hello and greet you, and that’s refreshing coming from the US. Especially when it’s in such a divided state.

Walking around the city, you see all different kinds of people coming from all different socioeconomic backgrounds. There’s a lot more people begging and living on the streets, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking. South Africa has an intense, rich history. The more we learn about the history, the more fascinated I am by the people here. The scars of apartheid are still very physically present in the city, but the spirit of the people has remained strong and determined. I wish I could help everyone I see. Thankfully, my fellow co-educators and myself are placed at awesome internships that can hopefully make a difference, even if it’s small.

I’m very excited to see where my journey over the next three months takes me. I’m learning so much about myself and about people in general. I can’t wait to explore this beautiful city and meet people. I also hope I accomplish the goals I mapped out before I came here. It’s still hard to believe I’ll be here for three months!

Almost every person who knows we’re American has asked us about Trump. Taxi drivers, our bus driver, and random shopkeepers have asked us about Trump and our feelings on him. I cannot put into words my dissatisfaction with that man. Participating in the women’s march in Cape Town showed me how strong people can be when they ban together against a common cause. People have the right to protest, and they can’t stay silent if they want to protect their rights. I’m glad I was away for the inauguration, and I suppose being asked about Trump is something I’ll need to get used to, unfortunately.