Ava's first impressions

Ava at Maiden's Cove

It’s 8:28 AM here in Cape Town and after nearly two weeks of sight seeing, lunches and dinners of all varieties, and meeting dozens of beautiful people, I’ve decided that I’m never going home. Just kidding, but Cape Town is a seriously beautiful place. From the moment I stepped off the plane (that sweet moment of freedom from airports and baggage claim lines), I noticed the colors were brighter. I could breath easier and the water feels just that much more refreshing. As we greeted Marita, we were sent home to our beautiful house to settle in and rest after a delicious dinner and greeting. However, early the next day we began our descent into utter Capetonian madness: orientation, South African style. These past two weeks of orientation have been a continuous stream of schedules, tourist activities, extreme bonding and lots of sleeping in public places. We’ve seen the absolute beautiful aspects of Cape Town including the waterfront, the Cape of Good Hope, and just the city in general. It’s large enough to feel like a city but still clean enough for me to know that’s it’s no New York. However, it combines all of the best parts of a city with its nightlife, shopping and food places with a suburban, small town feeling of community and a continuous culture.

While orientation comes to a close, I can only look forward to what’s ahead, to starting to feel like I live in Cape Town rather than just visiting on vacation here. The local people are kind and welcoming, but I still feel like an outsider. I still have a lot to learn and understand about South Africans and their societal norms. I am just starting to get my bearings and settle myself into the idea of expanding my comfort zone (as Marita says), which will be a bit of a challenge for me. Peeling back the layers of this beautiful place to feel like someone who belongs means facing some of the most crippling poverty and social inequality I have ever seen, setting in motion a dire need to make change immediately. Ben, our RA, put our first-few-weeks-struggles very beautifully at our first community meeting: “Whenever you are frustrated, remember why you chose to study abroad in South Africa. Most people’s responses will include wanting to make a change, but doing that will never be easy.” He is absolutely right. There is no journey without a challenge, frustration, anger, and sometimes, utter defeat and disappointment. Before coming here, I had several expectations. I wanted this trip to be life changing and grand and filled with moments of complete awe and that I would have this huge epiphany about the meaning of life and…and then I realized I needed to go in expecting nothing, and to just be.  And that is exactly what I will be practicing from now on. Until next time!