Emily B on learning her way around

Everyone on this program has his or her own personal and unique reasons for choosing study abroad in Cape Town. A first I thought it was because I wanted to experience a new culture, to do some good and learn more about myself in the process. While that is all definitely true, I realized recently that I came here because I wanted to be uncomfortable. I wanted to try and do new things that were outside of my comfort zone and into the “Oh sh*t” zone as David has so eloquently dubbed it.  I am a creature of habit. I like routines and knowing what to expect. To a certain degree of unconsciousness I became bored with that at Storrs. Who wants 4 years of predictability? And off to Cape Town I went.

One of the things I was most uncomfortable about but also looking forward to (I like a challenge), was getting lost. I am notoriously getting lost, even in areas I know. I am constantly getting turned around or thinking I know where I am when I don’t. My housemates can attest to the number of times where I have said things along the lines of, “Wait? Isn’t it the other way to Loch?” or “Do I go left or right to Main Rd.?” So it came as quiet a nice surprise to me when I began to get my bearings. I went from being in a state of constant geographical confusion to being able to predict what the next stops were on the train. I am now able to navigate my way around the city and suburbs by train or minibus taxi with relative ease. This all has added up to me feeling comfortable here, not quiet at home, but definitely not a stranger.

My favorite stories of my newfound abilities involve others asking me for directions. The first occurred a few weeks ago when I was waiting on the corner for my minibus to my internship. Another international student from the United States asked me where to get the Jammie bus that goes up to the University of Cape Town. I easily gave him directions (granted it was literally across the street) and thought to myself “I got this.” Earlier today I was walking to my internship after a pit stop at the grocery store when a South African came up to me and asked me where the mall was and subsequently how to get to it. I was able to tell her the closest mall, which minibus taxis to use (you can take few different ones going toward Cape Town) and roughly how long it would take her to get there. Not to boast but I was pretty proud of myself.

There is something to be said for familiarity. Although I left Storrs to escape it, I definitely appreciate it in Cape Town.