Sarah's realizing Cape Town has a lot more to teach us than we have to offer it

Being in Cape Town has been a remarkable whirlwind. 

Sarah

I think if I could only choose a few adjectives to describe this city, stunning would be one of them. The eclectic mix of landscape makes the city magical. Look left to see fog rolling down Table Mountain, right to see skyscrapers rising from the ocean, up to see rows of brightly colored houses, and over to see palms trees and pines dotting the horizon-it’s still surreal.  And the people of Cape Town I’ve met are so alive–so vibrant and hospitable. Tour guides have shared their personal views so candidly, strangers have welcomed us–calling us their own children immediately–and others have spent the time and energy to shake the hands of 26 college students individually.  If that isn’t welcoming, I don’t know what is. When experimenting with the Jammie shuttle system at the University of Cape Town, one graduate student missed multiple of her buses, simply to stay and talk with a few of us. When she finally hopped up to grab her shuttle, she missed it again because she was too busy hugging all five of us first.

Yet perhaps more startling than the vibrancy of people and place here in Cape Town are the lucid, unglamorous facts of inequality. Remnants of South Africa’s past are actually quite present. History feels much closer here. Perhaps this is because it is, in a sense, with this being the 20^th anniversary of democracy. I’m still trying to comprehend the poverty of those living within the informal settlements, of makeshift shacks and tents, of quarters often too tight to sleep a family of four. It is here that people’s lives appear so far removed from the beauty of this city and yet so intertwined . . . for I’ve seen people come together for Sunday morning church, or for afternoon community jazz. In each instance, the energy, the radiance, and the joy were more tangible than the humidity drenching the heat.

Ubuntu is my new favorite word without question. I was warned it would be evident here but I never imagined just how visible. The term translates into the likes of “community” in the fullest sense, into phrases like “I am a person and you are a person because we are.” I will never say I haven’t experienced community back at home, because growing up in a tiny shoreline town I have again and again. But I’ve also experienced a broader culture very much shaped by rugged individualism. The sense of community here glows because it seems to exist without qualifier or caveat. I notice it even as a foreigner . . . community appears as a way of thinking, of acting, of being.

As my housemates and I continue to adjust to Cape Town and our internships, I only look forward to getting to know everyone better. I want to make more memories, enjoy more laughs, and explore the city. As importantly, I want to learn. I’ve been kindly reminded that we aren’t here to save the world–Cape Town has a lot more to teach us than we have to offer it. And still, I’m not sure exactly what to expect over the next three months. I just hope to give my time, patience, and energy during our stay and leave a little wiser.

Manuela's first impressions

It feels like just yesterday when I was packing at three am the morning to board my 16-hour flight to Cape Town, the city in which I would be living in for the next three and a half months. For some reason I thought that when I walked out the airport South Africa was going to be something completely different to anything I have ever seen. I expected to have extreme culture shock but that was not the case. It’s as “normal” as anything else that I have seen and it is actually very similar to Colombia. When I see the mountain in the background from downtown Cape Town to when we went to go visit the various communities I was reminded so much of Medellin, the city I live in when I visit Colombia.

 

Manuela capturing the sights from Chapman's Peak during Orientation

Orientation was filled with so many amazing activities that sometimes I was just so overwhelmed with what we were seeing and experiencing. We did a variety of things from visiting the UCT campus, going to Cape Point (which was so beautiful), going to Robin Island, attending a South African soccer match (so much fun), visiting the District Six Museum, going to Jazz performances and the list goes on. Despite how tired I was feeling at times I was glad that we were always busy because I didn't have to think about all the overwhelming feelings I was having of experiencing so many new things at once; such as being in a new country were I didn't actually know anyone besides seeing people in the pre-departure class, going grocery shopping to cook for myself real food for the first time in my life and living with 19 other people in one house

Katrina's first impressions and excitement for all Cape Town can teach her

My first flight overseas was probably a little longer than I was prepared for. 16 hours on one plane was definitely an experience to add to the books, but hey I survived right? The adrenaline and excitement of finally saying goodbye and meeting up with the 25 other equally excited UConn students got me through the first few hours before it really began to sink in that there was no turning back, so for better or for worse South Africa here I came! At about 2 PM, sun shining bright in the sky, the airline suddenly decided it’s time for us to get used to the time change (7hrs), so they shut all the window shades and lights off and all of the sudden it was 9 PM and nighttime. From then on time and perception was a blur, as you continually shifted between American and South African time. Luckily the airline had quite the selection of movies, so a shoutout to The Notebook for keeping my sanity around 4 am. 

           

After what seemed like an endless night of tossing, turning and bathroom breaks, Manuela (my lucky plane buddy) and I took a peak out the window for the first time. The sun came streaming through and we got our first look at the African sunrise and almost simultaneously I forgot how long the plane ride was. Unfortunately, despite sprinting through the Johannesburg airport with carry-ons and two full luggage suitcases a piece, we still missed our next flight. And before you knew it you had 26 hopelessly lost students from America trying to figure out how to get to Cape Town, while splitting up in every direction with no money or means of communication. I still don’t know how but we managed to get every last one of us (even Ken’s two surf boards) safely onto a connecting flight to the place we’d call home for the next 3 ½ months.

           

The moment we saw our first glimpse of Table Mountain and the beautiful city of Cape Town from the plane window my mind was blown.  I’d seen the exact picture online or on video so many times before, but nothing can describe how mighty and beautiful it truly is. The next few days I was still in shock. It seemed like every turn in our large coach bus revealed the most beautiful scene I’d ever laid eyes on, every restaurant had some new treasure I’d never tried before (why had I never had sushi before…..) and the fun of living in a house with my new family of fellow students seemed unreal.

           

Katrina

Our 2 week orientation started the moment we stepped off the bus, with no time to wait around for jet-lag. We quickly learned that Cape Town time is not strict, and going out to dinner could easily be a 5 hour affair. On our first full day we got the amazing chance to see a soccer match, South Africa vs Mali. Immediately we were immersed in the vibrance of the city, of the people, even of the colors. Looking around Cape Town seemed almost too good to be true. Never before in my life have I felt so ALIVE. Exhausted, but alive. In the two weeks following of orientation, jam packed with every tourist location, famous restaurant and insider views of Cape Town, my feeling towards Cape Town have only grown stronger. From the buzz of the city to the heart and soul in the townships I’m so excited for everything this place has to teach me, and if I’m lucky, will become a part of who I am forever.

Savannah's first impressions of her internship site

Savannah has a day to explore the beach
before  beginning her internship at
Maitland Cottage Hospital.

What an amazing two weeks it has already been.  Orientation came to an end today and I will be starting my internship tomorrow at Maitland Cottage Home.  We toured the site yesterday and my heart instantly dropped.  We were brought through the girls wing and the boys wing of the hospital.  The dorm style rooms were lined with about ten beds on each side, all filled with patients recovering from all kinds of orthopedic surgeries.  We were told that some kids stay there for months at a time, most without visits from their families.  I can already tell that my time at Maitland Cottage will be a major learning experience for me.

Before touring our internships, we visited several museums and tourist sites this week.  We went to RobbenIsland, Muizenberg Beach, and Cape Point just to name a few.  We also went to a handful of different restaurants last week where I tried ostrich and had African food for the first time.  

Now that I am settling in and finally unpacked (as of this afternoon), I am eager to see what the rest of the semester will bring.  I am looking forward to lots of new experiences, good laughs, and making new relationships along the way. 

Emily W first impressions

Cape Town is awesome!! My first glimpse of Cape Town was of Table Mountain from the plane.  I didn’t really know what to expect but the view from the plane far exceeded my expectations.  In just the first few days I have fallen in love with this city.  I love the pace and the people. Everyone is incredibly helpful and so friendly.   I feel like I fit in here because everyone is on their own time. They arrive when they please and leave as the please and I absolutely love that way of life. After spending the semester here I may not be able to adjust back to the every day life of America and it will most likely be a huge struggle.  Maybe I will just never return. Cape Town is very warm and I have already started working on my tan…duh. UCT has the most beautiful campus and most beautiful people I have ever seen and I can’t wait to start taking classes there and making friends.  I’m especially excited to join the wine tasting club. One of my favorite activities here is running around the commons.  Although I haven’t been doing it as much as I probably should, running at the base of Table Mountain is absolutely unreal and I am pretty stoked that I get to do that almost every day.