Emily ready to share the blessing of Ubuntu in all aspects of her life

Sun shining on life chnaging experiences

It’s crazy to think I’m writing my final blog post for the semester in Cape Town. The past four months have been nothing short of beautiful, sending me through a whirlwind of emotions and enabling me to find a deeper meaning to this blessed life. What I think I worried most about before departing Cape Town was transitioning back to life in the United States of America. I didn’t know how I was going to react to outings at restaurants with my family or in a circle of friends whom were much more invested in their social media sites. To be quite frank, not one part of me wanted to come home. Don’t get me wrong, I was extremely excited to be reunited with my loved ones, but I feel as though the sense of independence I gained during my time in Cape Town lessened any feelings of possible homesickness.

           

During the first few weeks at “home,” I was in the strangest limbo of emotions. One day, I would wake up feeling like Cape Town was just a wonderful dream and it didn’t really happen. Other days, I’d wake up angry at everything I saw happening around me. The feelings of anger were most prominent in public settings when I would observe people just being wasteful, especially at restaurants. I can’t help but focus in on the countless plates being taken back from tables, half full of perfectly good food. It’s hard to witness mostly because I know exactly where all of those leftovers could and should be going. Since my boyfriend lives in the heart of Boston, I find myself walking around that city with a heavy heart. The disparity that I saw in Cape Town is still prevalent here, when I see wealthy businessmen stroll by homeless people on the street.

           

Towards the end of the third week being back, I started to fully come to terms with all of my life changing experiences in South Africa. I’ve finally been able to start talking about my experiences in depth with the people closest to me. For some reason, I didn’t want to talk much about my time at all initially. I’ve found that talking about it helps me to feel less homesick from Cape Town, and even closer to it. This semester was the greatest blessing I’ve been given so far, and I can’t wait to spread the beautiful idea of “Ubuntu” in all aspects of my life moving forward.

Emily L reflecting on how she's become motivated to work for positive social change

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. 

Dani & Emily L

Emily L more fully embracing the notion of doing "small things with great love"

Since last posting, I was lucky enough to have embarked on a truly eye opening excursion with the group to Johannesburg. We spent the good portion of the week traveling the city and going through museums, and ended the time with an incredible three day adventure through Kruger National Park. When I first read through the itinerary for the week, I wasn’t too thrilled to see the number of museums we’d be going to. However, I could not be more thankful that these specific locations were made a part of our time in JoBurg.

           

The site that struck me the most during excursion was absolutely the Apartheid Museum. Right from the beginning of the tour, we were brought into the world of the past. We were given tickets prior to entering the museum that either stated “White” or “Non-White.” Depending on what your ticket said, that was the door which you used to enter the museum. This made quite an impression on me because I had never before physically experienced racial separation, even if it wasn’t completely being enforced. As I walked through the museum, everything that I have been learning about Apartheid in class and from conversations with locals came to life. One particular portion of the museum that struck a cord in me was all about the police brutality during that time. The tour guide told us about how the police would freely kill a prisoner for no reason and then state the prisoner had just committed suicide. This really broke my heart. I can’t fathom the idea of being so innocently murdered for nothing other than your skin color and the people you love being fed false information about your tragic death. The cruelty and evil of Apartheid continues to amaze me. How could humans behave so horribly to one another? Better yet, how are we CONTINUING to do it?

I struggle with ideas like these, like what is it going to take before we start to accept and love one another. Luckily, another experience in JoBurg gave me some hope. Dani’s aunt Cheryl kindly had a group of us over for a dinner party while we were in the city. Her aunt has been a very significant political figure in South Africa, and hearing the experiences she shared were nothing short of inspiring. Hearing about her time, as well as her friends’ time, during the struggle and what they’re doing now to address it made taking action seem so DOABLE. Ever since that dinner party, I’ve been brainstorming a variety of ways in which I could return home to Massachusetts and hit the ground running with service opportunities. Mother Teresa’s quote, “do small things with great love,” is becoming more and more clear to me each day in South Africa.

Dani, Emily, & Onna

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.

           

Emily L on an emotional roller coaster

The past week has proven to be quite the emotional roller coaster for me. Most of this stemmed from my work at my internship, which is in Mitchell’s Plain. Mitchell’s Plain is a very large township, and the clinic is constantly packed with people from all over the area. While at work this past week, I was unfortunately faced with dealing with a patient who had just been diagnosed with HIV. I knew that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS was high in South Africa, and the topic seems to be talked about everywhere here. However, this was my first time I was forced to see the disease in real life, in a living being. The woman seemed very confused and sad, and it honestly broke my heart while I was referring her to the counselor. It’s crazy how common this disease is all around me right now. Yesterday in class, one of Vernon’s friends came as a guest speaker. He is a highly educated man, and a traditional healer. I was hooked on every word he was saying since I’ve always been very interested in the idea of natural, herbal remedies. Dr. Guma spoke to us about the differences between how Western medicine approaches issues like HIV/AIDS as compared to traditional medicine. Thinking about these different methods of treating sick people caught my interest because traditional medicine has been effective for centuries. It seemed that Western medicine has often stemmed from these treatment methods that Africans have been using for generations.

Another new experience I was lucky enough to have this week at internship was working in the pediatric side of the clinic. As a big baby lover, I knew working in here would be great. Working on this side of the clinic, however, brought the poverty of the area right in front of me. There was no ignoring it. Seeing some of the kids in dirty clothes and some unwashed, it was definitely an eye opener. It’s so easy to forget the fact that while there are beautiful views here in Cape Town, there is also so much poverty. Many of the parents of the young children had to be educated while in their appointments so that they’re able to give their children proper care. The lack of education is prevalent, and when explaining things they must be broken down into the simplest terms. This is all just something I took for granted, and I’m happy to be reminded once again how valuable my education and environment back at home really are.

Emily L realizing how much she's learned

Emily & Ricky at Aquila Game Reserve

This past week was exactly what I needed at the midpoint of this amazing adventure. As much as I absolutely love living with so many awesome people, being able to get away for a few days with my boyfriend was a great mental break. Sometimes living in a house with 16 other people can get a little nuts!! Ricky and I continued our adventures through Cape Town with more trips into the Company Gardens, Greenmarket Square, the Waterfront, and an amazing safari! That was probably what we had been looking forward to most. The safari really made me feel, once again, so far from home. It has always been a dream of mine to see elephants, and I freaked out when I saw my first one! What a moment. This past week I also celebrated my 21^st year of life! Spending my birthday in Cape Town was quite the experience; one I know I’ll never forget. It started off with a sunrise hike at Lion’s Head, then a trip to the Old Biscuit Mill (my new favorite food spot!), and a relaxing day by the pool. I feel like playing host to someone who had never been here was a great experience because I realized how much I have learned about this city since arriving back in January. Having to inform Ricky about certain locations and even some of the history behind them shocked me because I really wasn’t aware of how much I’ve truly learned. Saying goodbye was sad, but I’m very grateful for the experience we had here together. What’s even more saddening is that we’re over half way through this awesome program! Where has the time gone? I’m trying to take each day as it comes and enjoy every second of it, because it’s moving way too fast…

Emily's awesome week

This past week has been especially awesome because my wonderful boyfriend arrived for his two week stay in Cape Town! I’ve been anticipating his arrival for weeks, so finally being able to be here with him has been awesome so far. It’s weird how just two months ago this city was so new and foreign to me, and now I’m the one showing someone else around it. It was fun seeing his reactions to new situations, mostly the mini buses! We went into town yesterday and walked around the beautiful Company Gardens and St. George’s Mall. I’ve been looking forward to spending time in those two locations especially because they’re so vibrant and full of life, just like the city as a whole is! This morning we woke up at the crack of dawn to go cage diving with Great White sharks. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so happy I did it! The sharks were massive, but also very gentle and majestic. This experience definitely altered the “man eater” mentality I used to have on sharks. My birthday is this Saturday which I’m psyched to celebrate. I never knew before coming here that the 21st birthday is such a big deal in South Africa. I learned back on the home stay weekend that it’s a big moment in one’s life to receive the key from their parents, which symbolizes the key to life and new beginnings! My host family even invited me back to their home so that they can present me with my 21st birthday key, how awesome is that? I’m greatly looking forward to what the rest of the week holds for Ricky and I!