Laura G having a chance to share the city she has come to love with her mom

This week was super exciting! My mom flew all the way from Connecticut to visit me. Although I’m not used to planning everything out, I had a very nice time with her. I got to show her some of my favorite spots, like Muizenberg and Coco Wawa’s! It was her first time flying out of the country, and I’m very proud of her for coming all the way over here by herself.

I took her trip as an opportunity to further explore some sites I had already seen. As my mom asked me questions, I realized how much I have learned about this beautiful place. On Monday we went on the township tour. I was worried that my mom would be intimated by the idea of driving through the townships, since it can be hard to look at, but she actually really enjoyed it. Vernon surprised us with the drum circle again, which was definitely a highlight of the trip for her. The rest of the week was spent exploring the famous sights of the city, like Table Mountain and Cape Point. I was really glad I could share my experience with my mother. I think it helped her further grasp why I’m here and why I love it so much.

Laura & mom Susan enjoying a drumming lesson at
Guga S'thebe Arts and Culture Centre in Langa

While staying at her guesthouse one night, I had an interesting experience. We were coming home from dinner, when some South Africans invited us to have some wine with them. In the Ubuntu spirit, they gladly shared their wine with us. We began talking about politics, and I was really surprised by what some of the locals said about their current president. One woman, who was a white South African, was making pretty offensive and racist remarks. I won’t go into too much detail, but it further showed how much of a divide existed within the country post-apartheid. Since I’m in a township for my internship, I don’t really talk to too many white South Africans. It was definitely an interesting experience. They also assumed that I agreed with their opinions since I am also white, but I didn’t and I tried to make that clear.

After my mom left, I decided to go paragliding off of Signal Hill. It was a totally different experience than bungee jumping, which is the other adventurous activity I’ve done in my time here. It was a very relaxing experience. It felt like I was sailing through the sky. Next on my list is skydiving! I can’t believe how many amazing experiences I’ve already had in my time here. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that I’m actually here in this beautiful place.

I’m really looking forward to spring break and Kreuger! I can’t wait to look at the stars and go on a game drive.