To be honest, I have been struggling
a bit this past week coming to terms with the approaching departure from Cape
Town. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to be able to go back to living the way
I did at home because I feel completely changed from these past few months. In
class last night, we did a few exercises that required a good amount of
self-reflection. My ability to reflect within myself has become so strengthened
since coming here, something I’m proud of. One of the questions Marita asked us
was whether or not we were going to have a hard time assimilating back into
life at home. I immediately knew that my answer would be “yes.” During my time
here, I have become such an open minded, positive person. Almost all of that
can be attributed to my time working in Tafelsig Clinic and conversing with
locals while out and about. I’m going to miss the welcoming spirit of Cape Town
and how people are, for the most part, full of light and love.
This past weekend, I was lucky
enough to be able to spend time in Noordehoek with Onna, Dani, and Dani’s
cousins who live there. We spent the evening watching the sunset at Noordehoek
Beach, an experience that had a lot more depth to it than I would’ve expected. Watching the hot pink and vibrant oranges
dance across the sky filled me with such a sense of peace. This peace comes at
such a troubling time in South Africa. Lately, the xenophobic attacks that have
been occurring are all I can think about. Who am I to be feeling such peace in
the same land where people are terrified to leave their houses? I’m realizing
that these kinds of feelings are going to be a lifelong struggle, and that
should motivate me to act against change.
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| Dani & Emily L |
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