Taylor L. seeing the contrasts within Cape Town that many visitors miss

Taylor's first day in Cape Town

Just over a week ago we traveled 7,785 miles to Cape Town. For the past week we have been introduced to a variety of different foods, events, and places that Cape Town offers. It has been tiring, but we all know that we will be prepared to live in this beautiful country for the remaining three and a half months.

While I have enjoyed everything we have done so far, I really enjoyed seeing the townships. I believe so many people come and visit this wonderful city but they only visit the touristy places. By doing this, one leaves out a huge part of South African history and culture.  We spent the day before the townships wandering the waterfront shops and restaurants. I liked that orientation was set up this way, because it allowed me to reflect on the differences between the different areas of Cape Town. It was heartbreaking to see just how relaxing and clean the waterfront section of Cape Town is and then compare it to the living conditions that so many Capetonians live in. While we were told that 800,000 people lived in Khayelitsha, I did not realize how big of a town that is until we climbed to a lookout. There were just informal houses after informal houses. It was not only saddening to see just how many people live in these informal houses, but also really rewarding to have the chance to visit the different townships. I appreciated doing so because it gave a chance to see the type places that the students I will be working with come from. 

One view from Look Out Hill in Khayelitsha

While we were in the townships, we visited two of the internship locations. It was really remarkable to hear about what some of my peers will be working with, and it made me excited to visit and begin work at mine. 

Molly experiencing confusion about how she's feelng

After landing in the whole new world called Cape Town I had no idea what to expect but also came with preconceiving notions of what I would see and experience. I was wrong. For the first few days with the exception of being sick for one of them, the group traveled around and saw the sights and went to museums and other touristy activities, which was expected. However, for me that all changed today, Friday the 23^rd when we spent the day travelling through the townships of Cape Town that span miles and miles and consist of millions, yes I said millions of people. Hearing that number is inconceivable and I had no idea that the struggles that people living in the townships face are dealt with by that number of people. I had seen pictures of these areas but it is hard to have true feelings when you look at a picture versus seeing it and seeing these families first hand. I am so confused by the way I am feeling after this that I cannot even put it into words. How can these people literally living in scraps of metal put together in a 4 by 4 foot home have a smile on their face? They wave to us in our passing bus full of American students who attend an expensive university wearing clothes and accessories that would probably buy them food for a month. I feel so selfish and feel so guilty. Why should I enjoy these things and why should I be able to get an amazing education while living at a beautiful and safe school where I go home every night to a heated/cooled dorm room with my friends and sleep on a tempur-pedic mattress pad because the bed wasn’t good enough for me when these people sleep on mats or maybe even the sand. How can they wave to me and be happy to see me? It’s hard for me to swallow. Coming to Cape Town I knew that there were people living like this but driving around today showed me how large of a population is actually living like this, literally millions of people.

Visiting the community center in Manenberg I loved to see the man, Keith Dumas, who had gone back to help a community that he was lucky enough to leave and get an education in the states, yet he went back and chose to spend his time helping people in the situation he was once also in. While touring the facility we came across a dance studio and I thought wow what a great way to get kids into new activities and keep them off the streets. Yet then the man tells me that they are unable to use the facility because of the gangs surrounding this area. This really saddened me and it made me consider my activist project. Having been a dancer for 12 years of my life, I loved going to dance with my friends and making such beautiful art with ones own body and talent. I am thinking maybe I could do something to teach or help lead a group of children that may want to take up dance to get them off of the streets and to give them a passion of their own. This is an initial thought but I was just really saddened that they had this facility and could not even use it. I just hope that while I am here I can help in any way and I am hopeful for the future of those smiling faces.

Sam is in AWE of this place

Sam exploring on Signal Hill

so far i have literally just been in AWE of this place. it still hasn't wrapped around my head that this is my home for the next few months. i look around at the beauty and i'm just like "wow" and can't believe this is my home. i haven't even been here a week and i already understand why people are in love with this place.

the plane ride was LONG but i can already tell it is so worth it!! i am literally speechless and i don't know how to describe how impressed i already am with this lovely place. i am in the pool house and am so excited! the house is so cute and i'm so excited about living with everyone and getting to know everyone. 

we walked around rondebosch today and got to know the area a little bit. i am excited that we will be doing a lot of walking! cocoa wawa seems like an awesome place to hang out and maybe get some work done.

bernie and i did get stuck today though, in the grocery store a man brought us a basket to put our stuff in and naturally we were like aw thank you but then he asked for 3 rand… whoops haha. 

it still doesn't feel real, it literally feels like a dream. i am so excited to take in the rest of the beauty and get to know the area more.  

visiting the townships..

Wow. Today we visited a few townships and it was just unreal. Hearing about this poverty and lifestyle means nothing Until you see it. I imagined what it would have been like but then it was just indescribable to see. It makes me very excited to start working with kids from these areas but it also will break my heart. 

It blew my mind to see how everyone was so happy, and welcoming, when we as white people are the ones who took everything from them. It makes me feel guilty that I am so fortunate, and for what reason? these people deserve so much more than what they have. It makes me wish I could help them all, but knowing I can’t is frustrating, but I want to make a difference in atleast some of these people’s lives. It also makes me sad to see because some of these kids just look so happy and carefree, but soon what life will they lead? are they gonna get drawn into gangs, get shot on their way to school? It’s just sad to me that there aren’t options and opportunities for them. 

It makes me feel so incredibly lucky for all that I have, but also so incredibly frustrated because these people deserve it too.

today i'm in sick with the stomach virus that everyone has had… fun! but i could use the rest.

Taylor P is finding Cape Town the ultimate adventure

Taylor explores at a stop on the way to Cape Point

Finally being in Cape Town is absolutely unreal. Getting off the plane and finally going to the house was a huge wake up call. I have been looking forward to this for so long that finally being here took a little while to sink in. After I got over being sick, exploring this beautiful place has been an adventure. I never try new foods so all these exotic food places has definitely been an interesting experience. Ethiopian, Portuguese and Indian were all insanely good and I am a little mad at myself for not trying these foods sooner. I am super excited to try more new foods.

Aside from food, the places we have visited have all been amazing in appearance, culture and history. Boulder's beach with the penguins was definitely a highlight because I love penguins and didn't really know they even had any here before about 2 months ago. Cape Point was absolutely gorgeous however it was a little cloudy that day so I definitely want to go back there. I totally need to go back to two oceans because that food was too good and I definitely need to try more items on the menu. Signal Hill was also an incredible experience because overlooking the entire city was really awesome. I'm really into taking pictures so beautiful views are my absolute favorite. I cannot wait to go hiking up Table Mountain and lion's head. I definitely want to strap my go pro camera onto myself while hiking because that will be an interesting adventure. Also, the views at the top will definitely be worth the struggle I will indeed encounter getting up there.

Robben Island and the Waterfront I think may have been my favorite part so far. Robben Island was so interesting and learning about the history from the tour guides who experienced it first hand was completely enlightening. The waterfront is gorgeous and there is so much to do. I cannot wait to go back. So far Cape Town has been the ultimate adventure and I cannot wait to explore more in the next few months!

At the District 6 Museum  Taylor (far left) listens intently as Joe Schaffers, fomer resident of
District 6, decribes forced removals which took place under the Group Areas Act.

Taylor (far right) hears what life was like on Robben Island during apartheid as told by former political prisoner Derick.

Onna hasn't stopped smiling

Emily L & Onna at Signal Hill

It’s a forever and yesterday feeling.” Marita said this in a conversation we had a few days ago and it has never ever rang more true It has been a week since I’ve landed in this magical land and I already feel so at home. Upon arriving at Cape Town International we were greeted by our beautiful RA’s, Ben and Jessica, Marita, and Vernon with a “welcome home balloon”. On the way to our house I grabbed the window seat and became mesmerized as I watched the city pass me. At one of the robots a man was sitting in a chair making animals out of small beads (a very popular work to see on the sidewalks, and the beadwork is amazing).  He looked at me, saw my smile and returned the biggest, toothiest, most genuine grin right back to me.

I really don’t think that I’ve stopped smiling since I’ve gotten here. We’ve already experienced so many incredible views, people, food, music and it hasn’t even been a week yet. We’ve visited the District Six museum where our new friend Joe explained his own experience of being forced out of his own energetic, thriving neighborhood in the middle of the city to another much farther way, simply because of the color of his skin. His emotion was so present, but his hope and spirit shined through everything. Later that night we ate at Mannenburg’s, a very yummy restaurant with a jazz club. It turns out our tour guide Joe was the singer of the band that night; he had a beauuuutiful strong yet gentle voice.

What’s really surprising me is the incredibly contagious spirit of this town that has such a recent and harsh history. At times I find myself frustrated of what these people experienced and experience today; gang violence, poverty, judgment from outsiders. Yet the way they react to it is constantly inspiring me. Cape Town, thank you for welcoming me with these warm open arms; it’s almost like we’ve met sometime before this. But, you keep surprising me and I can’t wait to explore everything that you have to offer! 

Onna taking in the sights at Maiden's Cove

John is impressed most by the people

Coming to this trip I didn’t really have any expectations on what I was going to encounter. Aside from the amazing things I’ve heard about the program and the little research I did on my internship, I was coming in with a blind eye and an open mind. Granted I’ve been here less than a week, Cape Town hasn’t stopped amazing me at every turn of a corner.  Just by walking down the streets of this beautiful town you’ll see warm smiles, contagious laughter and wise eyes everywhere you look. I’ve never seen such loving people celebrating life everyway and everywhere they can. Capetonians have been through so much and yet keep such a positive attitude, which is one of the many things I admire about them. One of the things that has impressed/touched me the most occurred as we were leaving a restaurant and I said a simple “thank you” to the waitress, she then replied “pleasure.” I noticed instead of saying “you’re welcome,” people here say “pleasure.” We often say things we don’t mean in the states, but for some reason when this woman and the people from Cape Town say “pleasure,” I feel like they truly mean it. It almost seems like they enjoy spreading joy and happiness to everyone around them.

Maria is still slightly in shock that she's actually here

Maria arriving at
CPT airport

It’s amazing to think that we landed in this country a week ago. It has blown away every expectation that I had in my mind. As soon as I stepped out of the airplane there was a long chain of mountains right in my sight, which immediately put a gigantic smile on my face. I was so eager to start exploring this city.

 Our orientation has us living like kings and queens. From Portuguese to Ethiopian to Indian, we’ve tried a ton of different cultural restaurants, and I can definitely give myself a pat on the back for trying all these foods. Back home, I would have never gone to these types of restaurants but I’ve already expanded my comfort zone being here for only a week. I love doing all of these touristy things with the group because for now it simply feels like a long vacation. If you step outside the door into our backyard there lays a pool ready to be jumped in. It still hasn’t hit me yet that I am fortunate enough to call this place home for the next three and a half months.

Yesterday we went to The University of Cape Town to get ourselves registered at the university itself. All I can say is: wow. I really do not think I could ever get used to a view like that everyday. The people are also so kind here and are willing to help you with anything you need. It makes me want to wake up every morning with a positive attitude and fully appreciate what I have. I still think I am slightly in shock that I am finally here and finally starting this semester, one that I have been looking forward to for a long time. 

Maria on Chapman's