Pauline settling into Interning and classes

So, the first week of interning and classes is over and I suddenly feel a little relief now that I am settled into my internship and in my classes. I had to substitute for a class on my first day of interning and though that was an overwhelming experience, I was also very excited. I imagined I’d only be shadowing other teachers but little to my surprise all of the students eyes would be on me and Meg. What I was able to notice in my first week of interning is the obvious differences in education that students from City Missions receive in comparison to public schools in the inner cities of the U.S. While many of the students have a language barrier, (being familiar with both English and Afrikaans) many of the students find it hard to recite and write in English. I am excited about a new reading program that Meg and I will be involved with at City Missions can’t wait to take students out of their classrooms and help get them engaged in a whole new way! I guess it is also safe to say that my experience with the Mini Bus Taxis has also been an interesting one this past week. I got to sit in the front seat of one and that was scary but epic! After taking the “Jammie” to UCT for the first time for Vincent’s class, I can say that I feel like a student at UCT but I definitely don’t feel like I’m at home. When I look around at the beautiful campus at UCT, I’m then reminded that I’m definitely not at UConn anymore. I can’t wait to get more in depth with my internship to compare what I learn there with what I am learning in my classes. That shall be the most interesting part of all!

Jameson Hall (center) at University of Cape Town, Devil's Peak in background