Alex has learned so much in South Africa that she is unbelievably grateful for

So before I even start, I know this is going to be hard. I cannot even begin to explain this semester in a way that is coherent, includes everything, and pays homage to those who made this trip all that it was.

South Africa taught me so much that I am unbelievably grateful for. Firstly, it taught me how to love. I have never been around more friendly and caring people in my life. Whether it was the incredibly adorable and amazing children at Maitland Cottage who managed to put a smile on my face each and every day without fail, or the children who helped us paint at the crèche without us asking. The way that the community welcomed me in, made me feel more at home than I did back in the U.S. For the first time in my life I felt like I was a part of something, like I truly belonged and fit in. And for that, South Africa will forever have a place in my heart. The sick children at Red Cross as well as the Baptist church brought out emotions so deep even I was amazed. Never in my life have I been so happy nor have I ever felt so alive.

           

Saying goodbye to the kids at Maitland was so hard. When I told the kids that I was leaving, one of the mothers translated that one of the boys replied that his heart hurt. Not only this but the mothers wanted me to stay as well and each hug slowly broke me down. Though I expected to walk through the girls wing rather quick, one little girl who I would give hugs to every day gave me the longest and best hug of my life. Even before I said I was going home, she told me she never wanted me to leave and wouldn’t let go. Maitland Cottage has been one of my main sources of happiness so when I had to say goodbye, I was devastated. These kids have been as much a help to me as I have been to them and I will never forget them. I no doubt will continue to think about them always.

This semester taught me to be happy. Having battled a mental illness for countless years, traveling to an African country has always been my light at the end of the tunnel. For years I have dreamed of traveling to this continent to help and interact with the citizens, and for it to become a reality has been my biggest dream come true.I was able to play volleyball again after a hiatus of three years at UCT with a ton of cool girls and an amazing coach who is casually a part of the top beach volleyball team in all of South Africa. Volleyball has been one of the greatest things introduced into my life and to be able to play again felt amazing. Saying goodbye to my coach and new friends was honestly sadder for me then graduating from high school. I can never say it enough; the people here made my experience.

I learned to push myself. Never have I ever put so much effort into incorporating myself into a community like I did in Cape Town. By staying out and being a part of the things I loved, I was able to meet so many cool people I would never have had the pleasure of knowing. I would never have thought that I would have gone paragliding especially since I wasn’t sure if I had a fear of heights (yes I know I should know but I had my doubts). I also didn’t realize I could tackle a mountain where more people die on than Mt. Everest. Finally, during this trip I battled some upsetting family issues back home but I managed to cope and further immerse myself with the happy people we’d call Capetonians.

With most of the academics out of the way, this last week I was able to just relax and enjoy the best of Cape Town from a hotel. We were able to enjoy some of our last moments joining hands and dancing through the Lumineers concert at Green Point and reflecting on our crazy adventures.

This group of sixteen co-educators (plus Ethan) have not only been tons of fun and energy, but have been there for support. I truly believe that I have also come away with life-long friends after being a part of the most life-changing journey together and creating strong bonds with one another.

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

Karen believes to say she enjoyed this experience wouldn't do it justice

Where did time go!! Friday is our last full day here. I cannot believe that this trip is already almost over. I'm very happy with everything i've done, what i've learned and the friendships i've made. There are so many people in Cape Town who have made this experience wonderful. Not just my co-educators, but also the individuals that I have met and the people at my internship have taught me so much. I really appreciate everything about this trip. I don't even know how to put any of this into words, but overall I am so happy with everything. 

One aspect of this trip that I personally enjoyed was getting a lot of hands-on experience. I was able to actually walk some of the townships and become involved with the community within those townships. If it weren't for Vernon who placed me at a wonderful organization, and the team members from The Safety Lab who made these trips possible, I wouldn't know nearly as much as I do now. 

 I'm actually really happy because my internship at The Safety Lab has been nothing but rewarding. I am going to stay in contact with the team members and hopefully be able to continue helping from the US/ keeping updated with their projects. 

I hope one day I can come back and visit with my family. Until then, thank you to everybody who made this trip worthwhile. I loved spending time in this city... even if I got a little homesick here and there. 

I think Cape Town is the type of place that everybody should visit. 

If Cape Town has taught me anything, it's showed me who I want to be, and who I want to surround myself with in life. I want to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, I want to be optimistic and surround myself with people who make me laugh. I want to remember that racism and sexism still occurs at mass rates in this world. I want to remind myself that resources like water don't just come from nowhere.... I don't want to forget that instead of buying a $20 meal, I could purchase groceries and save that money to help others. 

The list could go on. There are so many little things that will constantly remind me of Cape Town. 

To say i've enjoyed this experience wouldn't do it justice. This trip was wonderful. 

Ethan, Kaitlyn, & Karen

Katherine will make it one of her priorities to return

It's now two days before we leave Cape Town. I feel numb to the incoming transition, and less willing than ever to leave South Africa. I find myself fearful of being bored at home, or that my life will lack excitement and adventure when I'm working in the U.S. as a college graduate. The next few days, my friends and I are taking the time to do things we want to be sure to experience while we're here, and to visit our favorite places one last time. I feel blessed to have met people who want to support me with their continued friendship and also professionally - we have a few friends who want to see us off at the airport, including Gadija, our activist project supervisor. Overall, I feel that I've gotten the most out of this study abroad experience and that I'm going to carry newfound knowledge and confidence with me to the U.S., along with an expanded comfort zone. The internship dinner was very cool - our friends and coworkers from Kuyasa were able to make it and had a good time. It was great to say thank you to everyone in the program that has made this an accommodating experience. After living here, I will always consider Rondebosch and the surrounding area a home away from home, and I'm going to make it one of my priorities to return. 

Laura T so incredibly thankful for this experience

So I lied in my last post, I didn’t realize we all had to write one more blog post. Oops! So this is officially the last post I will write in South Africa.

We leave in three days. Three days. That is so little time.  It doesn’t seem real to me. I feel like this has been my life for so long now, going to internship in Khayelitsha, going to class, exploring Cape Town and South Africa. It feels like home here now. Returning to the US is going to feel so different. It doesn’t seem real that on Monday I will be waking up in Maine instead of in Cape Town, that I won’t be going into Khayelitsha and that I won’t see everyone at my internship. I am going to miss this place and the people here so much.

This Sunday, I did the 3 Peak Challenge, hiking Devils Peak, Table Mountain, and Lion’s Head all in one day. This was the perfect way to spend my last weekend in Cape Town. Hiking alone for ten hours gave me so much time to think and reflect about my time here and how I feel about leaving. It was so relaxing and peaceful to be alone on these mountains and to look out at the amazing city of Cape Town and the vast ocean. Sitting on Lion’s Head I got pretty emotional. The sun was beginning to get low over the water and the reflection was so beautiful. I was the only one up there (a rare occurrence), and as I gazed out over the ocean I realized that out there somewhere, 8000 miles away, was the US, and realized that by that time next week I would be home. I actually almost started crying.  I don’t know how to describe all the feelings and emotions I had and how special it was, and I am so happy that I had this experience, and that I had it just to myself.

           

The emotional roller coaster continued with our internship thank you dinner on Tuesday. It was a great night, full of speeches and thank yous, delicious food and great music. It was a lot of fun, but also bittersweet, as it began to hit me even more how soon we are all leaving. I don’t know when I will see all these people again and that is so sad to think about. Wednesday, my last day at the Social Justice Coalition, was even sadder as I said goodbye to everyone I have worked with for the past three and a half months.

           

I am so fortunate to have been able to come to Cape Town and so incredibly thankful for this experience. I wish it wasn’t ending so soon, that it could last a little longer. I miss home and everyone there, but I think I am going to miss Cape Town more than I ever missed the US while I was here; I knew I’d always go home to Maine, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back to South Africa, although I know I will, someday.