Hey there! My name is David, I’m a
senior at UConn with an individualized major focused on public health and the
social determinants of health, and I am filled with so many shifting emotions
right now. Anticipation gives way to excitement, wonder, awe, glee, curiosity,
certainty, uncertainty, doubt, serenity, and calm. These feelings are so
surreal, especially the fact that everything I want to get out of UConn this
year – my senior year – I have to accomplish in the next eight weeks. Oh my
gourd. I just counted that out for the first time. See? My emotions are
shifting.
I followed an unconventional path to
studying abroad. I only began to seriously consider the notion of studying
abroad during this past spring, after several of my friends returned from Cape
Town and shared their experiences with me. I had spoken with a handful of Cape
Town alums, and they had all encouraged me to study abroad, but it was the act
of figuring out how it would fit into my graduation plans that truly allowed me
to believe that studying abroad could be a reality for me.
Since I received my notification of
acceptance to the Cape Town program, I have struggled to think about anything
besides South Africa. I searched for Rondebosch on Google Maps and tried to
find our house using vocal clues picked up from conversation with Marita and
friends. I Googled the website for my (possible) internship, studied the
geography of Cape Town, researched South African national parks, fantasized
about hiking the Otter Trail, researched opportunities for extending my stay
into the summer, watched an Apartheid documentary on YouTube, learned who the
president of South Africa was, and then chastised myself for failing to get
work done even though I sequestered myself in the library basement for that
specific purpose.
I will feel more feelings
later. For now, I will count the days while also treasuring each one. I can’t
wait to bond with all my Cape Town co-educators, realize my dreams, and define
myself in an entirely new context.
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