I honestly can't believe I'm writing
this as my last entry before I fly across the world in 23 days. Just the experience
of getting to know everyone in the pre-departure classes has been amazing. It
feels good to know that everyone is at the same maturity and is ready for an
adventure that will change their lives.
This class has opened up my eyes to
many things. I have been a virtual witness to poverty, to race, and to South
African culture. Even just seeing those things on a screen has so affected me.
It is a completely different world (only) a 17 hour flight away. I look forward
to being completely humbled by what I see in Cape Town. I look forward to
interacting with people completely different from me. I want to see more than
the "single story" that has been presented to me about South Africa.
I have been exposed more to the
subject of race than I ever have living in a white, Connecticut suburbia. I
will never be able to say that I fully understand, but hearing personal stories
and reading many articles has opened my eyes to the hardships African-Americans
face everyday. I know that our society has become systematic in the way that it
defines race; but the pigment of one's skin should never define who they are.
And the stereotypes have exponentially grown. I hope that being immersed in a
diverse culture will help me become completely immune to "seeing"
race.
I can't wait to experience
everything and anything with such a great group by my side.
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