I haven’t studied abroad anywhere else, so I guess I have no legitimacy when I say that this is the best program any person could possibly go on. I’ll leave that up to everyone else to decide after they read this.
You can never run out of things to do in South Africa. Surfing, hiking, the night life, Mzoli’s, Stoanes and other bars/clubs, the townships, concerts, museums that I actually enjoy, professional sports, Seal Island, bungy jumping, kloofing. I think you get the point. Out of my 97 days here so far, I have had 2 days where I stayed at the house and did nothing. This has been the most eventful 3 ½ months of my life, and it will probably remain that way. The city of Cape Town provides endless amounts of things to do and there is no way for us to see everything in a semester, but I can guarantee that our program allows us to see more than anyone else studying abroad can see. Between orientation week and our excursion where we went to Cape Point, Robben Island, Kruger Park and other must sees in South Africa we covered a lot of the country. We also are given more freedom than other groups which is essential to our experience. I’ve met other American students who have been told to never use the mini bus transport system. If I didn’t use these buses I would have run out of money half-way through my time here and would’ve missed a lot of great experiences. We are trusted and taught how to be smart in the city more than anyone else. Our RA Ben, who has lived here for years now, is probably the most helpful person when it comes to this. When we saw American students arrested at Mzoli’s for drinking in the street a couple weeks ago the first thing I thought was “it’s too bad they don’t have a Ben.”
The people I live with are amazing. We’ve all grown from our internships and other experiences together and we are as tight as family. I have no doubt that I have made some friends for life and will hang out with these people in the future. Everyone has their own distinct place in this family and the trip wouldn’t be the same without them. I’m normally the first to wake up in the pool house and I am shortly accompanied by my good friends. I’m going to miss this to no end. I live with 5 younger siblings, so I won’t be lonely at home, but it won’t be the same. I actually enjoy being woken up at 2 in the morning by my friends. I just go to hang out no matter what the time is. I never want to miss a moment with my friends.
The people in this country are equally amazing. Our friends from internships, human rights weekend and even the people we meet on the side are all willing to show and share their country with us. The same goes with their culture. They just want to make sure we’re having a good time. People become close friends faster here than they do back at home. This goes with my friends I’ve made at the house and outside the house.
I’m ready to see my family and friends at home, but I will miss my experience here forever. The people I’ve met and the things I’ve done have given me the most incredible experience and I cannot wait to come back.
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