Emily B first impressions confirm this is the perfect study abroad location for her

My first impressions of Cape Town, South Africa were as diverse as the city itself. It is an incredibly beautiful region with the mountains looming on one side and the ocean on the other. For some reason when I pictured Cape Town before I came here, it looked more like a savanna, as in the Lion King and I also thought that the city would be much less developed. To my surprise when I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful greenery at the base of the mountain and the modernity of the city. Aside from the stunning scenery the city has an energy unlike any I’ve ever experienced before. The sidewalks are dotted with outdoor cafes and vendors. I was surprised to notice for a city of its size it has a relaxed way about it. Though my introduction to the city has been brief, I am very excited to explore Cape Town and experience all that the city has to offer!

The city had been so hyped up in my mind that when I got here it seemed almost strange that this was a real place where people go about their daily lives. The sense of normalcy here is one of the things that has surprised me the most. In many ways it is far different from anything I have ever experienced before and then in other ways it is stunningly similar. The hardest change to get used to so far is the cars driving on the other side of the road, but I have no doubt that I will get used to it soon enough. The landscape reminds me of a combination of Florida and some of the different Islands in the Caribbean, while the atmosphere of the city and surrounding suburbs feels European. Though there is without a doubt a uniquely South African and Cape Townian flair to the city.

One of the most obvious physical aspects of the city that surprised me was the blatant wealth disparity. Before arriving I knew that Cape Town and South Africa as a whole was plagued with extreme wealth inequality however even as I was leaving the airport for the first time I could see informal shacks packed together along the highway for miles on end. This imagery has continued throughout my time in Cape Town thus far. One moment I will be in a suburb with large beautiful Dutch style homes, then just a few minutes down the road I will be in a township plagued with many urban problems. While I am viewing the juxtaposing images I try to remember that South Africa is a young democracy with the notorious past of state enforced racism known apartheid. It took the United States over 100 years from The Emancipation Proclamation to the Civil Rights movement and racism is still a prevalent issues. It could come as no surprise then that South Africa is experiencing pervasive political, economic and social problems.

           

My first impressions of the country and the city have been overwhelmed by the sheer experiences I have had while in orientation. As I try to reflect back though, I have no doubt that Cape Town was the perfect place to study abroad for me.