Amelia learned more than she could have imagined

Throughout the course of this semester I learned more than I could imagine going into it. Our class was a way for us students to bond and engage with each other all the while discussing current events that deal race relations seeing as that is a common conversation topic in South Africa. We talked a lot about our American identities and the injustices people on our land face every day. We also learned about the history of South Africa and apartheid and how it began. I learned that in addition to separating people by their race of black and white, a third category was formed called Coloured. This was shocking to me as it showed how organized and systemized the era of apartheid was. I think all of this information will be valuable as I will have some idea of what kind of questions to expect from the people I encounter in Cape Town in addition to having some questions of my own I want to ask. One of the most important takeaways I received from this course was the power of listening to other people and not instantly trying to help them. This is something I do whenever people tell me a problem they’re having I try to fix it automatically but I want to learn how to just listen to people to fully understand their predicament and what they would like to get out of it. This course helped me realize my views on racial relations in America, want to learn more about South African race relations, and gave me an opportunity to learn who I am now before I go in Cape Town to grow into the person I want to become. I’m unbelievably excited to begin my journey in Cape Town to learn and embrace the vibrant culture and wonder the city has to offer!