Despite
my excitement to arrive in Cape Town, I was so exhausted by 26 hours of travel
that jet lag and fatigue clouded my awe of this amazing city for the first day
or so. That aside, each day of
orientation has exposed me to a new facet of Cape town, whether it be its
scenery ( which has been unbelievable) or its intricate cultural dynamic. Although I was aware that I had much to learn
about South Africa as a whole prior to my arrival, the first week of orientation
has enlightened me to just how little I knew of the country’s history and its
past and current struggles. Visiting the
District Six Museum in particular was fascinating. It was there that I was able to gain an image
of Cape Town before apartheid government took hold. Different cultures, religions, and
ethnicities seemed to live so peacefully and cohesively during this time, and
it’s extremely unfortunate, although not entirely surprising, that the ideals
of one particular group completely destroyed this type of harmony for years to
come. Throughout our visits to the
various townships, as well as our tour of the District Six Museum, it was made
very clear that, although apartheid may be over in a political sense, the
people of South Africa still very much suffer from its oppression. The challenge seems to be getting ALL of
South Africa to acknowledge this fact so that positive change can be made.
While
learning about the struggles that South Africans still face in the wake of apartheid
has been a bit disheartening, meeting and talking with those who have dedicated
their lives to bettering the affected communities has been amazing. It is clear that activism is alive and well
in Cape Town and I can’t wait to be a part of it.
This
first week, while hectic, has already taught me so much and affirmed my
decision to participate in this program.
I can’t wait to experience more of what Cape Town has to offer an continue
to fall in love with this city and its people.
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