So, I have been “officially” been transitioned back into my life at home in Minneapolis after spending a month in South Africa. I am back to my normal routines- working full time at my student services job on campus, getting iced coffee’s at Starbucks, hanging out with friends, working out at my gym- and It definitely doesn’t feel weird anymore. The first few nights back from South Africa in Minneapolis were weird. I got home back to my apartment, emotionally exhausted and physically exhausted. I only got to see my family for a little bit so that probably didn’t help either. I was overwhelmed with questions, phone calls, facebook posts, etc. about how my trip was and to be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was talk about my trip because I still felt like I didn’t know what to think or feel. But to my biggest surprise, I was upset and sad that I was at home. I was excited to come back to the US when I was in South Africa towards the end of the trip because I was getting sick of having such long days and not having “comforts” conveniently located where I wanted them. I hadn’t slept on the plane rides at all really because I had to sit in the middle of snoring men and crying babies, fun! I thought the first thing I would want to do was go to sleep when I got back, but instead I sat up all night ( literally) thinking about my trip. I could NOT go to sleep. I feel like it was my first full time to really “process” what I experienced. I thought about the people I met, the places I visited, and realized that my time in Guguletu was the best week of my life. I had also realized that I had fallen in love with a culture different from my own and that I want to travel more. Not just to a few destinations, but the world. I want to see and experience other cultures, peoples, and communities and have different traveling experiences, because of what I have seen that travel teaches. Travel has taught me to appreciate myself, my home community, my comforts. Travel has also taught me that even though I can be across the world, I can also adjust and be comfortable in different surroundings and with different people. In my opinion, there is just something incredibly exhilarating about waking up in a different country and I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that.
I’m also rereading Kevin Winge’s book, Never Give Up. I would highly recommend those of you who went on this trip to do the same and for anyone who hasn’t read it, buy a copy and read it!!! It gives a great glimpse into South Africa and township life and all of the proceeds go towards JL Zwane. I’m actually just going to buy both of my parents copies and give them to them when I go home next. It is SO neat to reread this book and when the author talks about the things he saw, I cannot believe I have been there. I also understand what he is talking about more because now I can paint mental pictures of what he is talking about because I got to see these things. Wow!!
This past week was very difficult for me, as far as thinking and processing my trip. I found myself become sad during all parts of the day. Someone would say something or do something that reminded me of my trip and I wanted nothing more than to turn and relate to someone who had experienced South Africa. I saw new pictures being posted on facebook with the faces of the people who inspired and impacted me and I wanted nothing more than to hug them and spend my evenings feasting and dancing the night away. Someone would ask me about my trip and I wasn’t sure how to respond. I felt frusterated when people would complain about the hot weather, not having money to go shopping ( but really having money), or having to work ( at least you’re employed!!)……and I even found myself complaining a little too. At times, I wanted nothing more than to go on a rant on how good that person had it in comparison to the people I met across the world, but obviously that wouldn’t be exactly appropriate, nor would it be my time or place to judge. I also found myself constantly rethinking a future career path. Was I in the right place? Am I headed down the right path? Is there another option I should maybe explore because I might find a hidden talent or passion? I have questioned myself daily about this. Will I be able to make enough of a difference in what I want to do?
So, overall, I have realized how much my experiences in South Africa impacted me. I want to do something and I want to be able to help, no matter how big or little. I still haven’t fully decided what I want to do on a personal level, but assure you I will follow through because I don’t want to let myself down. It would be too much of a tradgedy to not use my experiences in South Africa to create change, no matter how big or little they are, because I know it will make my life more meaningful ( and you all know I am constantly searching of ways to improve J). I will probably continue blogging when I decide what this is going to be…. But I also know that I will go back. I would LOVE to revisit South Africa within the next couple of years and explore more of Africa. Not only would I like to visit, but would even more so participate in some sort of volunteer work for an extended period of time. If 3 weeks has a significant impact on my life, I can just imageine how much several months would. I want to reconnect with the people who shared their hearts, stories, homes, and most of all their country with me.
I also want to make note of some of the highlights of my trip and what I will never forget. A lot of people have been asking me what my “favorite” part of the trip was and to be honest, I can not narrow it down to one. Some are more memorable than others, though and I figure I will post them so you can all see what I am trying to describe…the first set are my favorite memories/moments/places during my “tourist” part of the trip. The second set is from my week spent in Guguletu.
- Visiting the Cape of Good Hope. This is an area of South Africa that is the “most southern” tip of the continent of Africa. Something about the name of this area just inspired me! J I really enjoyed this area because it was absolutely breathtaking ( as far as scenary), but it was the first time on the trip I feel like I got some good exercise ( something I had been really missing!). We climbed up a walking path made out of stone to the top of the moutain area where there was a lighthouse and you could overlook the ocean. It was just one of those moments where you would have never imagined yourself seeing or experiencing something like so.
- The beach. We had a Sunday off where nothing was schedule and we could do whatever we wanted. Amanda, Emily T., Christen, and I went to a beach in the suburbs of Capetown, about 45 minutes from the Mowbray/Raundabasch area. It was a colder day, so we obviously couldn’t swim, but just spent a good amount of time having a picnic on the beach and walking the beach. I felt like it was the first time on the trip that I really sort of had to myself, which was refreshing. I needed some alone time and I got just the perfect amount of that walking along the beach. The beach was also absolutely breathtaking….situated along some mountains. We later revisited that beach as a whole group on one of our last days in South Africa.
- THE SAFARI!!! From the time I was a young child, I remember myself dreaming of going on a safari and how cool it would be. I loved animals, more in particular, WILD animals. The safari wasn’t what I imagined it though. It was a very windy/cold day, so we all bundled up ( with what warm clothes we had! Haha) and spent our morning and afternoon in a jeep exploring the “african” wilderness…..We saw giraffes, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, zebras ( my personal favorite, I think), and several types of deer-like animals. We also had lunch at the place we went on the safari and it was delicious!
- Hands down the best memory I had in Gugs was getting to know Johanna ( and I journaled/blogged about her earlier). Just for the reminder, Johanna calls herself a social worker and volunteers for JL Zwane. She spends her days bringing meals and sharing her company with people in the township who need someone to visit with. She has her regular visits- such as the orphan and brother we met and a couple of other families- and sure just seems to know everyone. I admire Johanna to an amount that is undescriable. She is extrememly giving, friendly, compassionate, sweet, and forgiving. For having so little, Johanna’s is one of the happiest people I have ever met. What I was able to take away from getting to know Johanna are some of the most important lessons I feel I will ever learn ( and I’ll keep them to myself for now J). This is where there will not be a closed door in regards to South Africa…..I think of Johanna a lot and would love to revisit her someday.
- The food and evenings we spent with our host families. Each evening, after we were done at JL Zwane, all of the students and the host families would get together at a particular scheduled host families’ home and have dinner. And this was not an ordinary dinner, trust me. It was literally a Thanksgiving feast for 5 nights straight!! We always had several types of meats, vegetables, pap, and of course coke/fanta! My favorite part about the way we spent these evenings was the good food and good company. Not only did we get to talk to eachother, but we got to know eachother’s host families. A couple of the evenings, we also listend to music and danced ( and I loveeeeee to dance!!). They would play music and taught us what we would know as the electric slide. During these evenings, there were lots of laughs and so much fun. I remember ( for a moment in time) at our last get together we were all dancing, singing, laughing, and enjoying life and I stepped ( to look back on the balcony, in leadership terms) back for a moment and the room was like a scene out of a movie. I can’t forget to mention how great of hospitality these families provided for us. They were incredibly gracious and definitely knew how to entertain!!
- The children. I have realized that this is where a lot of my person passion lies for this trip….the kids. I was both saddened and touched by the children of Guguletu- from the kids at the Rainbow After School Program, Priscilla’s children that are orphans, the children at the disability daycare, and children that ran around on the streets. Everytime, I saw a child, my heart was tugged at ( for a better lack of words). I sometimes think it was more exciting for me each and every time, than it was for the children when we would approach them, introduce ourselves, hand out Dum-Dum suckers ( thanks for that Ben….such a good idea!!), and take pictures and then show them their faces. I bet some of some children had never even seen themselves in a picture before and the excitement on their faces when they did is so unexplainable. The irony of their lives is what struck me the most. These children grow up in extremely difficult situations ( in comparison to what I have or other Americans). Some of them have no education ( if they cannot afford to or because they cannot afford uniforms) and if they do, there is little chance that college can become a reality, many of them have been orphaned because their parents have died from HIV/AIDS, there lives are in general very unstable because they are passed around from family to family throughout their lifetime, they go to bed hungry, their living conditions are very uncomfortable in their small shacks, and the list could go on and on. The irony of the situation is that these children seem to be the happiest of all children I have ever seen. I was truly inspired by their energy and zest for life- something a lot of people struggle to find on a daily basis. Additionally, during one of our last days in Capetown, when we had our Braii ( South African barbeque), the interstudy director, Ouma, brought her two children. She had a daughter who is about 10? And her son is 3. We spent a majority of the evening running around with these two….they were great! I loved Ouma’s daughter’s attitude. She had attitude like no other and was such a diva. I couldn’t stop laughing!
I also had a great conversation this past week at work with one of the academic advisors I work with. He has lived and spent a good amount of time in Capetown because he has extended family living there. In addition to working at the university, he also is a DJ and does tours in South Africa during winter breaks to DJ at clubs there. It was so refreshing and helpful to have someone to talk there who has seen and experience South Africa. When he is there, he spends his time working/volunteering at an organization ( I’ll ask him again what it’s called so I can post a link for those of you who want to check it out) where his job is to basically be a social worker and reconnect families together who have been separated. These families are usually separated because of parents fighting, parents not being able to provide for their children, or because there has been rape/incest within the family ( all incredibly sad). He also has a person friend living there who has a daughter who is now 17 and he has been paying her education since she was 5 ( something I thought is SO neat because he has chosen to do this all on his own). We talked a lot about South Africa and his passion for helping people. He plans to move there for an extended period of time in the next two years and live there. Additionally, another academic advisor went to South Africa to do a sight visit for a week just before I went abroad and we ended talking about our experiences. I got around to reflecting upon how grateful I am to be working where I am. I have a job that I love and am able to make a difference in student lives….the team of academic advisors I work with care SO MUCH about the students they advise, as well as do my bosses….I also want to mention that I have a good friend from highschool going to Tanzania this July for a month for study abroad and I am so excited for him! I think these are all subtle signs that I didn’t get enough time in Africa and that I need to go back.
I think one of the biggest takeaway’s I have gotten out of this trip is that there is a bigger world out there ready for me to explore. From small town Wisconsin to big city Minnesota to Capetown, South Africa has been an interesting dynamic. I will never be able to replicate or fully experience the things I did while on my, nor the people I have met. If study abroad taught me so much in three weeks, I cannot imagine what possibilities are out there for future travels. I am excited to be studying abroad again in the Spring of 2010 in the Virgin Islands and have decided that I will be getting involved in some sort of volunteer work while I am there (because it will make it that much more enjoyable and meaningful). Beyond these experiences, I hope to be able to visit more of Africa, China, Australia, And Europe ( let’s set a deadline and do all of these by the time I am 30!!!). So, if you ask me, how is South Africa, I think I will tell you that you need to experience it yourself. There will never be words that will best or fully describe/illustrate what I experienced. Thanks for reading my blog and getting a glimpse into my journey. Don’t forget to look for my new blog next spring when I spend a semester in the Virgin Islands!
