My worst fear is coming true: I can count on one hand how
many more weeks I have left in Cape Town before my return to the U.S. That
being said, I am making a conscious effort to take advantage of every
opportunity that is presented to me between now and then (unless, of course,
it’s the chance to go white water rafting again, in which case I say, “No thanks!”).
Just yesterday I was thinking about how astonishing it is
that a place that was once so foreign to me began to feel like home so quickly.
I’m not quite ready to reflect on everything studying abroad has taught me
because that list will be endless. That’s for another blog post entirely and I
know it will get the waterworks going, which is never a cute look. For
now, I want to share a few things that have been making me happy lately, all of
which truly encompass the beauty that is South Africa.
Recently, I took an adventure to Monkey Town (yes, that’s
the real name of an actual place) to visit a wildlife center for monkeys and
apes. The median age of people on the tour was about 8.5 years old, but that
didn’t stop my friends and me from being in awe of the animals. We even opted to
do a “monkey encounter,” which entailed stepping into a cage with a few of the
monkeys. The man in charge gave us lettuce and bananas to feed the monkeys, but
they really only wanted the jellybeans he fed them, further proving humans and
monkeys aren’t so different after all.
Lately, some of my most cherished moments in South Africa
have occurred when I’m not doing the “touristy” things. For instance, I had a
lovely Rosh Hashanah potluck dinner with a handful of other study abroad
students, which I know made all of our Jewish mothers very proud. The night was
filled with lots of laughs, raisin challah, and apples and honey. All of these
things made me realize that I had made a home in Cape Town and I wasn’t missing
out by not being with my family for the holiday.
Even something like the sun setting at dusk doesn’t get old.
The beauty of this city never ceases to amaze me.
The prettiest cotton candy clouds! (Click photo to enlarge.)
Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel
to Johannesburg. While I was there, I visited the Apartheid Museum and Nelson
Mandela’s home, among other notable historical sites. During my stay in
Johannesburg, I found a sticker featuring my favorite quote (which I am guilty
of including on every college essay application). I am a true believer in this
sentiment and think it perfectly captures the wisdom of Mandela. It was such a
special surprise to find this in Joburg, and I think about it often.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
(Click photo to enlarge.)
When the site seeing was complete, I had the great fortune
of meeting a few extended family members who live in Johannesburg. Even though
we had never met before, they truly made me feel like a part of their family with
a warm welcome into their home. I am so grateful to have finally gotten the
chance to get to know them. Though our visit was short, we made plans for a
return trip at some point in the not too distant future.
A wonderful evening spent with wonderful people, The Waner Family. (Click photo to enlarge.)
I continued my escapades last weekend at a local music
festival called Rocking the Daisies. Since I’d never been to a festival before
I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I should’ve known Cape Town wouldn’t
disappoint. The weekend was spent camping on a wine estate, listening to South
African and international artists, and exploring the festival grounds with
friends. Although the heat made me feel like I was in Texas again and I now
have some sick Chaco
tan lines on my feet, it was one of the best weekends I’ve spent in Cape
Town and I will always remember it fondly.
I coordinated my outfit with the music festival... Rockin' a daisy skirt at Rocking the Daisies! (Click photo to enlarge.)
I’m sure the next few weeks are going to be a blur as I
attempt to check the final few things off of my to-do (and to-see and to-eat)
list. Now, please excuse me as I go off to continue my African adventures!
