I am actually here!
It’s weird to think that I woke up in Africa today when just last week I was in my house in the small town of La Verne, California.
The flight was very long. I went from Los Angeles to New York to Johannesburg, and finally to Cape Town. It was on that fifteen-hour flight to Johannesburg that I realized how far I was going. So far that I was able to watch two full-length movies and two shows on the flight, and so far that the flight crew served me dinner and after a long while, served me breakfast. This really gave me the perspective that I was actually going to be worlds away from home.
When we got there and as I got my bags and headed towards the transportation pick-up, a group of the CIEE (my study abroad program) Residential Assistants were holding up signs and were very enthusiastically singing and dancing to greet all of the students. They then took us on the bus to the University of Cape Town campus, which stood majestically right in front of Table Mountain.
This week was the CIEE orientation week. We signed in at our temporary housing for the week, Graça Machel hall. And that’s when my “repeat” freshman year began. Everyone was very eager to meet new people and mingle. Many American universities are largely represented, such as USC, George Washington University, and Georgetown, which includes myself and another student.
But I actually prefer not knowing many people.
It forces me to out of my own comfort zone, especially since I’m in South Africa, and I believe that taking these risks often lead to the best experiences and memories.
To top off the initial discomfort of being so far away from home, there was no Wi-Fi in our dorms. I could not communicate with anyone from back home through Facebook or email. However, I made an effort to call my family just let them know I was there safe and sound. Even in our permanent residence, the Internet is strictly limited. With no streaming webcasts, it would probably be impossible to Skype in the dorms because the Internet is extremely slow.
But surprisingly, I kind of like these circumstances. I feel less tied down and expected to uphold a certain image in the Internet world. It’s very refreshing to have a break from that reality and fully immerse myself in my surroundings.
Trotter: “I definitely want to go back and hike up the mountain. It was through seeing one of the new Seven Wonders of the World that reminded me of the fascinating nature of our planet.” (Photo courtesy of Trotter)
This week was jam-packed and full of activities. But two activities stayed with me as the most significant. At the end of the day on Wednesday, I went up with a group to the top of Table Mountain; it was indescribable! The picture does not do it justice. As we were taken up higher and higher I could feel my ears pop, and as the buildings and the beach became smaller, the image looked like it belonged on a postcard.
The top of the mountain was breathtaking. You could go very far down on the rocky flat top and the clouds in the distance were right at eye level. Many people packed lunches and wine and set up little picnics while enjoying the mountain view. I definitely want to go back and hike up the mountain…It was through seeing one of the new Seven Wonders of the World that reminded me of the fascinating nature of our planet.
The other highlight for me was last night’s dinner in Stellenbosch. The wine land was gorgeous, like something out of a painting. The venue was dimly lit, outside, and fairly fancy. It reminded me of a wedding reception. It was buffet style and the food was incredible. There was every kind of meat imaginable, including ox tail, which I actually found to be quite good. After we all stuffed our faces, the RAs started to dance to this great upbeat music and it turned into a huge dance party with African music and circles forming.
I left that dinner with an impression of the South African culture as being peppy and full of life.
The Resident Assistants are some of the happiest people I have ever met, which shows that there is something about South Africa that affects people in a positive way and brings a sense of community; it is a community I can’t wait to be a part of.
Now I am more excited than ever to begin my journey and experience more of what the country has to offer. I look forward to starting classes soon, joining clubs, volunteering, touring, shark cage diving, and whatever else I can do to make this the best semester possible!
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
