Emily L's jam packed week

My past week and half or so of life abroad has been jam packed with different events that have taken me on (another) emotional roller coaster! On the Saturday before Easter, I was lucky enough to run in the Two Oceans Half Marathon along with 16,000 other people from all over the world. This was only my second half marathon, so I was a tad bit nervous as I knew this course was going to be significantly more challenging than the one in Hartford. However, almost as soon as I got to the start line, all nerves subsided. The positive vibes in this setting were practically tangible and I could feel the good energy radiating from everyone around me. Sure, some people were there to get a good time and compete. But even still, I felt nothing but joy coming from everyone around me as they wished each other luck and a great run. This just coincides with the general feel of people in Cape Town. It was the epitome of the attitudes people have here, wishing everyone well even if they’re strangers. It really was beautiful to witness as well as be a part of!

           

Right after the race, Onna and I went off to our activist project at Elonwabeni orphanage and children’s home in Mitchell’s Plain. Our activity for the day was the paint canvas’s with some of the older children that we plan on hanging on the wall in their sanctuary room. Although I was super tired from the run, the young women and men we worked with seriously lifted my spirits! Despite having been through so many negative events in their pasts, they were ecstatic to be there with us and had a great time. Seeing them work and enjoy their time expressing themselves was quite rewarding. I’m constantly grateful for the activist project portion of this program because being here in Cape Town exposes us to the severe needs of so many. The task of “doing something” always seems so daunting, but this required portion of our study has made it anything but that.