Kaitlyn's decision to extend her stay was the right one for her

A new home for the final days in Cape Town

I still feel like I haven't processed what's happening. It's weird to think I'll see my dad in the airport in the morning and that I'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight. When Laura G recorded everyone saying one word in the pre-departure course, I said overwhelmed and that's still the word I would use to describe how I feel. But it's a different overwhelmed. Initially I was sad to leave friends and family, scared to be in a new place with new people, unsure of how my every day life would be in my new home, yet also so so happy and excited for the 4 months ahead of me as the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Now, this overwhelmed feeling comes from being nervous about adjusting back to life at home, not knowing how to explain my time here to the people closest to me, missing the lifestyle I had/being bored at home, and missing all of the incredible people I've met and come to love these past 4 months. 

Former RA, Ethan, becomes
flatmate for the final week

Sitting on the plane headed to JFK right now, I'm realizing how much Cape Town will always mean to me. Normally when I travel home, regardless of whether or not I'm ready to leave, I get to a point where I'm just sick of traveling and so excited to be home in my house, back with my friends and family. This time is different though because all I want is to be back in Cape Town. Laura T mentioned something in her blog that sums it all up pretty perfectly: I'm going to miss Cape Town when I return home more than I ever missed home while being in Cape Town. There were always people to miss here and there, but for me the feeling of missing others wasn't substantial enough to alter my experience or make me want to come home. 

Sara, Bongi, & Kaitlyn

This last week has been full of so many failures (for Maddy and I), but so many amazing memories too. A lot of the things we tried to fit in this week just didn't work out but that didn't stop us from changing the plans and working around each other. The view from our apartment was incredible, looking out over the city with Lions Head and Signal Hill the background. It was nice to have a change of scenery and be more in the city for the week. Maddy, Sara, Ethan, and I had a chill week and so much fun living together. We went to Stellenbosch markets, High Tea at Mount Nelson Hotel, hiked Devil's Peak, Clifton 4th Beach, enjoyed many sunsets either out in the city or from our apartment balcony, ran errands and finished up our commitments, went quad biking, and went out on First Thursday! Ethan was our personal chef for the week which was fabulous. His friend Alex, from London, also hung with us a lot of the week which was super fun. We had Marita, Vincent, Vernon, and Esme over for dinner which was so nice to enjoy one of our final nights in Cape Town with some of the most important people who made our time there what it was. 

Kaitlyn, Sara, & Maddy

I still wasn't ready to leave when the time came, but I appreciated every second of the last week I had and it made it a little easier. Saying goodbyes for a second time to some of the same people and some new people was not easy. I know I'll be back again some day, it's just hard to know when. I'm not ready to leave my life in Cape Town behind just yet, but I know the reality of life at home is going to hit hard. I do have so much to look forward to this summer and I need to remind myself of that. Life is still so amazing, no matter where I am. I'm happy I have my ubuntu tattoo as a daily reminder of these past 4 months, how I want to continue living my life, and of the person I want to be. 

Claire grateful for her time in Cape Town and confident she will return soon

Today I arrived back into the United States. Although tired after a long day of traveling, I am definitely already wishing I were back at my “home away from home”. As many may imagine, the last week and a half of our 15-week stay was extremely busy! We were made aware that we could no longer stay in the house we had been residing in for most of the semester, so we had just about 3 hours to pack up and move to a hotel just a few minutes down the road. I decided to look at this with a positive light and not be overwhelmed because ultimately, it adds to our Cape Town story. With heavy hearts saying bye to Loch Road, we packed up and found our new home in Newlands.

    

The closer it came to our departure date, the more I realized I really did not want to come home. The thought of saying goodbye to the people who I have come to know over the 15 weeks truly breaks my heart. But instead of saying goodbye, it was more of a see you later, another excuse for me to come back to Cape Town. I made sure to make the most of each and every day and to be in the moment. There is a weird feeling that I was experiencing towards the end of the trip. This weird sense that time did not exist. While talking to Shona, we both came across the conclusion that it was so hard to “be in the moment”. It is almost like there is a glass wall in front of us, keeping us from experiencing reality. I think this made it 10x harder to leave.

Going home and adjusting back to the US will be hard, but I am confident that as co-educators, we will all be there for each other and support each other through this difficult process. I am so grateful for everything that I have experienced in Cape Town and I am sure that I will be returning sooner than I think.

Lion's Head

Table Mountain

Erica sending thank yous to Cape Town and all the wonderful people she met while there

I am currently on a plane heading back to the United States, and we have about an hour before we land. It still hasn’t fully hit me that I’m going to be home in a few short hours, as opposed to being in South Africa. As I’ve discussed in previous blog posts, I have very mixed emotions about going home. In this present moment, I’m extremely excited to see my family, boyfriend, and dog; however, I know that in a few days it’ll finally hit me that I left Cape Town, and I’ll start missing South Africa very much.

Going abroad to Cape Town has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had over the past four months. From working in Khayelitsha and forming a strong relationship with Mums, to building friendships with my fellow co-educators, my time in South Africa was everything I could have hoped for.

After I get settled in at home, I’m planning on spending a lot of time reflecting and thinking about all the lessons I’ve learned this semester, so I don’t forget them. After that I’m planning on writing a more comprehensive set of goals for myself this summer, including becoming a vegetarian and exploring more in my own town.

All that I can think about right now is how lucky I feel to have been able to live in a foreign country for fourth months, especially South Africa out of all places. Thank you, Cape Town, and thanks to all the wonderful people I’ve built relationships with during my time here.

Erica & Anna

Erica & Kat

Rav & Erica

Shona & Erica

Ashley wants to fast forward to the point where she will be returning to Cape Town

It's crazy to think about how fast time flies. It feels like just yesterday my parents dropped me off at JFK to go to South Africa. It feels like just yesterday this amazing journey began. I wish I could relive this entire trip all over again. I wouldn't change a single thing, except maybe a few things that happened towards the end of the trip, but other than that I wouldn't change a thing. I'd just relive everything.

I'm definitely sad to be heading home to America, but what eases my mind is that I know I'll go back to South Africa. I think I left my heart there. I fell head over heels in love with the country. I just want to fast forward to the point where I'm boarding a plane to go back. I made great friends, did amazing work, and discovered more about myself than I ever thought I could.

Living abroad changed me for the better. I will never regret the decision I made to live abroad for a semester. I wish the program lasted longer though. Instead of it being just one semester I wish it were two semesters.

Leaving South Africa seems more bitter than sweet; only because I love it so much and I feel like I have unfinished work to do. I left my internship thinking that I was going to be extending my stay...unfortunately plans fell through, so I left IJR with a lot of work I wanted to do. I wanted to write more articles on whiteness and help run workshops on race and gender. I'm trying not to get too upset about leaving...maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe I'm meant to come home to America and go back to South Africa because I'll have something better to offer when I'm older. Fortunately IJR is letting me work on my articles from home.

All I know is that this experience will be something I always remember. I am so thankful for it and I am so excited to see what the future has in store for me. If it weren't for South Africa, I don't think I would have started to become the person I have fallen in love with. 

Ash left her heart in South Africa