Molly is dealing with an internal battle over the way she has been her whole life

So…week two is now officially over. When I heard Marita say during our class that now we are down to only three months left in this country, it hit me a little just how fast time is moving. Ever since visiting the townships, I find myself having somewhat of an internal battle. I have seen the hardest areas of Cape Town and yet we live in this beautiful home and are planning our expensive excursions surfing, kayaking and more. It’s just hard to go back to living a normal life after seeing what we saw. I think of the young school kids in their nice uniforms walking back to a sand filled box with asbestos roofs who waved at me in my van full of students. I just think back on the moments where I have been so greedy and selfish and just really need to make a change and start appreciating life like those kids. I believe that if you have a family who loves you, you are already so lucky. I have so much and I need to start appreciating that. This internal battle over the way I have been my whole life and the realization that these kids with nothing look happier than I do most of the time is going to be a struggle for me throughout this trip but I am hoping that I will make a change by the time I land back at JFK.

           

We finished visiting all of the internships this week and it was amazing to see where everyone will be spending their time and see the experience they will get. This also means the end of orientation. I think now, for many people, is when things will really start to set in. Once we have a daily routine of internships and classes I think it will really hit some of us that we are staying here. I am a little homesick this week even though I have been able to talk to everyone at home; it is still just really hard for me to be away. I didn’t think this would be a problem for me because at school I usually don’t see them for a long period of time but sometimes I just get that urge to see my parents, my dogs, and just to be home. I think this will get better as we start to get busier and for now I just try to talk to them as much as possible.

I am a little nervous but beyond excited to start my internship. I know that when I walk in and see the entire clinic packed with people I may get a little more nervous but it is going to be so amazing to help out. Especially after touring Mitchell’s Plain and seeing the people that I will be working with was really special for me.

Maria knows her internship will be a perfect fit

After being here for 2 weeks it’s starting to hit me that I will actually be living here for the next 3 months. I think I realized I had hit this point after visiting all of the internships and getting to see how everyone will be spending their time during the week. I really enjoyed orientation as a whole because it was the perfect segway in how to live here in Cape Town. The public transport exercise helped so much because transport was definitely one of my biggest worries since it’s not my strong suit at home. The mini bus taxis are super convenient and are not intimidating after all. 

One of my favorite parts of the orientation was visiting all of the internships. We listened to a brief summary of what each organization, hospital, or school did and how they did it; I could picture myself loving every internship that we visited. It’s going to be interesting to listen to everyone’s stories when they come home at the end of the day since we will all have such different experiences. The description I will never forget was at Caitlin’s internships at Treatment Action Campaign. When Mandla Majola depicted some of the incidents that happen there, my jaw dropped. You can listen to it and you can feel pain for these people but it still makes you feel so useless. I was angry, confused, and heartbroken all at the same time because I couldn’t grasp how and why our world is like this. 

As orientation comes to a close I have the chance to reflect on my experiences. I’m so ecstatic to start interning at Maitland Cottage Hospital. The children are precious and so anxious to get better, so the fact that I will be aiding them in that process is extremely rewarding.  My two main passion’s are to help people get better and the love I have for children so being able to intern in the field of both passions I have is truly amazing; it is the perfect fit and I cannot wait to start on Monday.

Christina on the many sides of Cape Town

The past few days have all been amazing and busy as orientation is now coming to an end. My journey here has only just begun although I feel like I’ve done so much already. We’ve been on amazing tours, seen beautiful gardens, and have met incredible people. 

           

One evening we got to attend an event called the Arts at Home hosted at a woman’s house. People from the local community came and performed including singers, a brass band, a rapper, and poets as well. The talent these people had was incredible and the message from a young poet named Faith nearly brought me to tears as she recited her piece about an abusive father. All these people who performed were so amazing and don’t come from the nicest areas, yet they find a sense of togetherness and belonging through art. It was amazing to be there and get the opportunity to be so welcomed in such a powerful environment

           

On Sunday we had the opportunity to attend a concert, JimmyNevis, at the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen, Kirstenbosch. The gardens are set right along Table Mountain with amazing flowers, food, and people. Such an amazing beautiful place and I’m thankful to have gone but during orientation we’ve also gotten the privilege to see not only the beautiful places Cape Town has to offer, but also the parts such as the townships, a constant reminder of the struggles the city still faces today. 

           

Kirstenbosch Gardens Summer Concert Series

It’s hard to even begin with the emotions I encountered while visiting each township. The conditions these people live in are horrid with poor sanitation, shacks as homes, and fear of crime such as gang violence and rape everyday. Yet you see kids playing and smiling outside, people who have good jobs such as working in the police force and you think how can these people succeed and find happiness when they live in the places they do. It’s amazing that they do but these visits just made poverty so real when we’re so sheltered from it in the U.S. and it reminds me how thankful I am for all I have. But South Africa is such a progressive country and has so many beautiful and wonderful things to offer; yet there is so much work to be done as well.  And now orientation has come to an end and classes and internships start soon. My time here so far still seems surreal but the journey is only beginning.

Julia comes face to face with some of the legacies of apartheid

I never expected to come to Cape Town and not experience homesickness, but I’ve been lucky so far. Even going away to UConn for the first time was such a shock, so I’m surprised to see that being in a different hemisphere from my family isn’t such a big deal after two long weeks. Hopefully, even after our event-filled orientation ends I will still be enjoying Cape Town and all it has to offer despite being away from the people I love.

           

Visiting all the internships this week was a good way to see what organizations and clinics around Cape Town are doing to help relieve social justice problems, health problems, and poverty. Seeing patients in clinics and hearing stories of violence that happen in the townships on a daily basis left me with a sense of the reality that most Capetonians live through. Here I am visiting the most beautiful places on earth and the citizens of this city don’t have the resources, free time, or ability to visit half of them. It’s unfathomable, like living an hour away from New York City, but never actually experiencing the grandness of it all. I was especially interested by Mandla Majola’s speech from Treatment Action Campaign. The stories he told about rape and violence could be stories from a horror film. It’s so hard to believe that these actions were committed by human beings and how it all connects with the themes of apartheid, poverty, and disease. It makes it so hard to decipher what area should first be addressed to reduce the prevalence of the cycle. I’m starting to realize just how complicated it is to approach the problems of poverty and social injustice. The fact that this society was built on a system that was designed to put these problems on the majority makes it even harder to think of how to reverse it or move forward.

           

We also got to visit my internship, the Gender Equity Unit at the University ofthe Western Cape. I am excited to start, but I am not really sure what my internship entails. I know the focuses of the internship include women’s rights, gender rights, LGBTQ rights, gender based violence, and sexual abuse, but not what I will be doing exactly. I think it may include planning events and fundraising for certain events that the organization holds. Mary Hames also mentioned something about food security, which I would like to get involved with because I think I am switching my major to nutrition. It’s cool that an organization focusing on gender also brings in food security. Mary seemed like a very strong, and confident woman. I can’t wait to know her better and learn from her. Vernon mentioned she’s a radical feminist, so I really want to hear her opinions and join her if she attends any rallies or conferences during my time here. One thing I really like about my internship is that I will be able to talk to people my own age most of the time since it’s on a college campus. I want to know how similar and different our experiences will be regarding safety on campus from sexual abuse and acceptance of different genders and sexualities. I think this will be a rewarding experience and will better inform me on issues I sometimes don’t even realize exist.

Jillian confronts the shocking reality of the millions of people living in townships

 Orientation week has been jam-packed with exhaustion and excitement. We’ve done everything from seeing Cape Point and the penguins to visiting the townships. Going through the townships was definitely more difficult and different from what I imagined. I was utterly shocked when Vernon said that millions of people live in them. I knew a large number of people lived in townships but what I heard about them didn’t do it justice. We went up to an overlook to see how big the townships were which I liked. I was able to visualize how far the townships stretch. It was hard to see people living like that when we came from such a beautiful part of Cape Town. The townships are such a huge part of the city and I barely noticed it before. After seeing the townships, I am able to appreciate this experience on a much deeper level.

View of Khayelitsha from Lookout Hill

Over the last few days we visited everyone’s internships which was really cool to see. I liked hearing about all of the different things everyone will be doing and the different ways we will be helping out the community. Seeing my internship (Sarah Fox Children’sHospital) made me both excited and nervous to start. I can’t wait to help out in any way I can and I hope to be put to good use!

Dani is ready to begin her internship

As orientation comes to a close, I have been reflecting on all of the exciting and eye-opening things we have done over the past two weeks since the start of our program.  We saw the beauty of Cape Town, as well as getting an inside look at the hardships that Capetonians have to deal with on a daily basis.  This past week, we visited the District Six Museum, the Slave Lodge in town, Robben Island where political prisoners including Nelson Mandela were held during Apartheid, and various townships including Langa, Gugulethu, Khayelithsa, Mitchell’s Plain and Manenberg.  There we saw the reality of how many people in Cape Town live in informal housing and the high unemployment rate.  Although seeing that made us quite upset, we did visit an artist project in Langa that helps previously unemployed people learn to make beautiful art to make an income.  There we met a man named Odon who creates gorgeous sand paintings of animals and landscapes.  It was great to see the creativity that emerges from these places as well.

Some of the art work at Guga S'Thebe Centre in Langa

Odon demonstrates his art of creating sand paintings

In addition, this past week we visited everybody’s internship placements.  It was wonderful to get a chance to see where everybody will be interning over the next three months, and all the organizations in Cape Town that help improve the lives of so many.  When we visited my site (where I will be working with Emily L, John and Maria), Maitland Cottage Hospital, I was thrilled to finally see the hospital and meet some of the staff and patients.  It is a pediatric hospital, and while interning there, we will get the chance to help with the daily hospital routines, physical therapy, watch surgeries, and I will also be assisting with an art class.  I am thrilled to begin working at the hospital.  Our work will be extremely rewarding, and hopefully it will help me figure out which area in the health field I would like to enter in the future!

Emily E's rejuvenating experience

During my class last semester my professor asked my white classmates what the purpose of tanning was. I was eager for the answer; however, everyone remained quiet. Maybe they feared whatever answer they had would insult the professor, who was African American. If having slightly darker skin is so desired why all of those who do naturally possess these qualities are treated unequal and are oppressed? If many darker toned minorities meet this beauty standard, why are they treated less and are not represented? Watching television felt like a rejuvenating experience in South Africa. For the first time I saw an advertisement which focused on a black ballerina (which seems nonexistent in the States). Then I saw another ad with seemingly an Indian family and other diverse commercials. As much as the United States is diverse you would think they would have the same things, if not more. 

While visiting the many historical sites in Cape Town, I truly realized how recent the South African Apartheid had occurred. As two ex-prisoners on Robben Island described what it was like to be imprisoned, it was something a textbook or documentary could that reiterate. These were real experiences told in real time at the place in which it had occurred. I felt honored being in their presence as I felt the same way with those who forcibly removed from District 6. The townships are the physical and emotional result of history and there are organizations that are slowly putting its people back together. 

Former political prisoner shares the
story of his time on Robben Island

Emily L finds love the common denominator among people she's met

It’s amazing to me that I haven’t even been in Cape Town for two weeks and still feel like I’ve been exposed to more than I ever imagined I would come across. The past 12 days have lifted my spirits, worn me down, filled my heart with love, and brought me to tears. The range of places we’ve travelled to and people we’ve met just during orientation has opened my eyes to the fact that there’s so much more out there in this world besides what lies comfortably back at home in New England.

           

When reflecting on everything I’ve come across recently, one experience stands out clearly in my mind. A few days ago, Vernon and Marita took us on a “tour” through the townships of Cape Town and we got to drive through areas so laden with poverty it brought me to tears. The shacks made of tin and wood were people’s homes, where they laid their head down at night and rose every morning. They were where they raised their children, ate their meals, and became who they are. All of this occurred in an area no bigger than my bedroom at home. I tried to wrap my mind around this concept and put myself in their lives, but it seemed near impossible. The entire time I couldn’t help but think, “Why them and not me?” I felt unworthy of having the material possessions I have when there were people living not far from where I am now who didn’t even have shoes on their feet. It’s not fair. Viewing the townships set a motivation in my heart to do something, and I can’t wait to start working on my activist project to see what I can do to try to help these wonderful people.

           

In addition to the townships, another experience that struck me was attending church this past Sunday at a Baptist church in Guguletu, a township in Cape Town. The service was unlike any I’ve ever experienced. Even before we set foot in the church, you could hear the beautiful and soulful sounds of the parishioners signing and praising. The service was completely in Xhosa, except at one time the pastor stated to us that, “Although we are not connected in language we are united in The Spirit.” This statement perfectly exemplifies just how welcoming those people were. They made us feel so loved, and it was obvious that they felt so much love in those moments as well.

           

Love seems to be a constant denominator in all of my experiences so far in Cape Town. Whether it’s from the local people in the streets, waiters at restaurants, or students at UCT, I have never come across more genuine, kind, and loving people before. This city’s people are so beautiful!

Until next time…

Emily

Caitlin is ready to see what life brings during her time in Cape Town

I've really been enjoying orientation and being exposed to different aspects of Cape Town. The landscape is gorgeous and I can't wait to go hiking and check out the many beaches in the area. I especially want to hike Table Mountain and see what's on top! I've also been trying lots of new food, and I was surprised at the prevalence of Indian food here in Cape Town. I love the music that you can find all over the city- we've been to several jazz restaurants so far, and I like how the music brings people together. We also have learned about the area's history by visiting the District Six Museum and the Slave Lodge. The impact of South Africa's history is still so visible today, and so things that we learned there have been really relevant to understanding the city as a whole. 

The past week and a half has helped me become more comfortable with little things like using the currency and understanding local slang. Through our tour of the townships I also experienced a different side of Cape Town than the one in which we live. The economic inequality here is visible and striking, and can be seen most readily when you compare the large houses and expensive waterfront shopping malls with the informal settlements that lie farther from the mountain. I'm excited to be interning in one of the poorest communities because I hope to gain an understanding of what life is like for the majority of people living here. I've found that overall people here are quite friendly and like to talk, and are more comfortable talking about topics that people shy away from in the US, like race and politics. Today we visited the different places where our classmates will be interning, and it was great to be exposed to so many organizations that are doing so much good in the community- it made me hopeful about the future and excited to start my own internship. As I look forward to our first classes on Thursday and internships on Monday I'm ready to see what life brings in the next three months!

 

Dani & Caitlin at Cape Point