Laura T not quite ready to go home

Sun setting on her time remaining in Cape Town

This is the last blog I will write in South Africa. The knowledge of this saddens me greatly. I can’t believe we leave in just over a week. I have done everything I really wanted to do, and a couple weeks ago I felt ready to go home, but now, realizing how little time I have left, I don’t feel quite so ready. I have used my time here well, have done so many different things, but I am still sad to be leaving so soon. I have enjoyed every day here and have loved living with my 16 other co-educators, and can’t imagine what it will be like to no longer see them everyday.

           

This was a great second-to-last week here in Cape Town. I went to a protest with SJC outside the SAPS (South African Police Service) Headquarters; we were protesting the new police station being built in Muzienberg, a largely white and safe area of Cape Town. Muzienberg in the past year had 27 murders. There are other communities in Cape Town such as Khayelitsha and Nyanga, which had 279 murders last year, that need these police resources to a much greater extent. But mainly people of color live in these areas and with institutionalized racism still governing South Africa they are often ignored. This is very frustrating to me and I enjoyed having the opportunity to protest this unfairness and prejudice with my organization.

           

Muizenberg

Nyanga

I also got to go to Khayelitsha this week for a soccer tournament that the Firefighters, a youth boy’s football (soccer) club that several of my co-educators help out at for their activist project, hosted. Although it was quite cold, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to help make the event run smoother. Soccer provides a safe space for these kids who live in a dangerous area, giving them something to do after school and on weekends to keep them away from the violence that is prevalent in Khayelitsha. This is such an important cause and it was nice to see how many people came to both play and watch. The event seemed like a great success and I am happy I was able to help, even in a small way.

             

It was also my 21^st birthday last week. The day was at first a little hard for me, partially because it was a long day of work with internship and class, but mostly because I have a twin sister. Although we have been apart for our birthday before, we have never had a 6 hour time difference to work around. Because of the time difference, our busy schedules, and the poor internet at our house, we were unable to Facetime or even call. This was hard for me but my fellow co-educators were so nice and helped make sure I still had a great day, even cooking me dinner and getting me a free ice cream. This was so kind and made me feel so happy, but also sad knowing that in two weeks I will no longer be living with them all.

This week we came back from our excursion in Johannesburg, and I was SO happy to see Cape Town again. Leaving the airport hit me though, the next time I'm going to be there is when we leave back for the states. Coming back from Jozi is the start of the countdown to go back home. I definitely feel hurt and sad to be leaving my home, but I can't wait to see the people I love back home in the states. This week I made my own bucket list for the last three weeks of my study abroad experience. On the top of the list is paragliding, which I will hopefully get to do on the 21st, and not to mention that my 21st birthday is also coming up this month. It's so exciting to turn 21 in a country that I have fell in love with, surrounded by the new friends I made here. 

Another thing on my bucket list is to live in the moment, which I have been trying to do for the past few months as well. However, I want to remind myself that even though I am sad that I am leaving, I must live in the present and cherish the last moments I have here. 

Coming back from Jozi, I had to get back into the groove of things. 

I went to Bo Kaap with Erica, Kat, and Shona and we had kind of a mini photo shoot which was so fun! I've been so stressed about finding a meaningful job or internship experience this summer, that I have forgotten to live in the moment for a few days. Today I forgot about my worries and had fun being and dressing up with my beautiful friends here. 

Rav, Erica, Shona, Kat

Taylor realizing she only has 3 weeks left here

During the week before we left for our excursion to Johannesburg, I was feeling a bit homesick because my birthday was on the 29th. While I was so happy to spend it in Cape Town with all my friends here, a part of me wished I could be celebrating with my friends and family back home as well.  But when I woke up on my birthday, surrounded by balloons and streamers that Sarah had decorated the room with while I was sleeping, I felt nothing but excitement for the day and the upcoming excursion! I had so much fun on my birthday and everyone here made it so special, from the delicious cake Marita made for us, to going out to a fancy restaurant that we could only afford to get appetizers and drinks at. While I was still missing my friends after seeing every birthday message and picture posted, I was so genuinely happy to get to spend my 20th exploring Cape Town and enjoying the day with my co-educators.  I realized for the first time that we will be home in less than a month and I can see all my friends and family then, but I will only experience having my birthday in South Africa once, so I wanted to make the most of it! I feel so grateful to have friends here who care about me and made my day so much fun.

People's Dispensary for Sick Animals

The rest of the week was spent preparing for our excursion and spending one more day at my activist project before our break.  Friday morning was rainy and cold, and even though all I wanted to do was sleep in, Karen, Rachele and I went to the animal hospital and had so much fun! I spent most of the time with the animals in the ICU, making sure they were healing comfortably and given food and water. One in particular was my favorite, a huge, fluffy, gray cat named Nikita. We also met a new animal, at tiny kitten we found all by itself in one of the kennels. While we were unfolding tons of newspaper to put down on the bottom of the crates, the kitten helped us by climbing all over the papers and running around playing with scraps.  Near the end of the day, I noticed a flea on her head, so the vet let me give her a bath!! We wrapped her up in a bunch of blankets and I held her until she fell asleep, which needless to say was my favorite hour of the day.  It ended up being such a fun day and I’m really glad we got to go before our excursion.

At this point I think it is really sinking in that when we get back from spring break, we will only have three weeks left in Cape Town.  I am so excited to see everyone back home, but it is a strange feeling that I will have to leave all this behind.  I am enjoying Johannesburg so much already, and I can’t wait to take full advantage of our last few weeks in South Africa. There is so much I still want to do and so many places I still need to see—there is no doubt the end of April will go by before I know it.