This past
week I had the privilege of being a tourist once again because I welcomed my
mom, dad, brother, and sister to Cape Town! It is usually my dad who does the
extensive research into our family vacations, but this time, it was I who knew
the ropes. Based on my recommendations, we crafted a really jam-packed
itinerary that would not only highlight the landscapes and attractions that the
Mother City is famous for, but one that would also showcase some aspects of my
daily life. If I described in detail everything that we did together, I would
be typing until I got back from Johannesburg, but I will highlight some of my
favorite experiences.
Tuesday was
a day of firsts for me, even though it sometimes feels like I have done just
about all there is to do in Cape Town. I was able to take the day off from
Tafelsig to finally hike Table Mountain with my dad and brother. We were unsure
if the weather would work in our favor since the forecast called for the same
high winds that spoiled my first attempt on my birthday. However, the sky could
not have been any clearer and the winds any calmer, which made for a beautiful
trek up Platteklip Gorge. Though my dad and brother were unhappy with the brisk
pace I was pushing, the view, cool breeze, and sense of accomplishment made it
all worth it. We met up with my mom and sister, who took the cable car, and while
we took lots of pictures, we all took a figurative step back to reflect on
where in the world we found ourselves at this very moment. 
After a
quick shower, we caught a ride to the Spice Route in Paarl. The Spice Route,
situated on a property similar to Goedgedacht Farm where we completed our Human
Rights Training, is home to several businesses, including a glass blower, winery,
brewery, distillery, chocolatier, deli, pizza restaurant, coffee shop, and
trading post. We worked our way through mostly every storefront, taking full advantage
of the samplings and tours. My personal favorite was the Cape Brewing Company
tastings, although the dark chocolates from the likes of Uganda, Venezuela, and
Madagascar were hard to beat. I could hardly keep my eyes open on the ride
home, but it was a day I will never forget.
If you
asked my family their favorite experiences, they would probably say they
enjoyed the peninsula tour (thanks, Chantel!) and the community tour (thanks,
Vernon!) the most. I think my mom nearly bought out the Guga S’Thebe Arts &
Cultural Centre in Langa, but given the beauty of the sand art, mosaics, and
pottery, how could I blame her? I am glad that they were able to come by
Tafelsig because they got a real sense of where I have spent a majority of my
time in Cape Town. I felt really proud showing them the clinic, introducing
them to the hardworking staff I work with, and demonstrating the skills and knowledge
I have acquired.
I know
Mariko mentioned it in her blog post about spending time with family, but I too
have this intangible, hard-to-describe sense that I have changed in some capacity
since arriving in Cape Town. I am still trying to figure out what exactly about
me has changed, but a lot of it has to do with the way I see the world and the
people and events in it. I know that sounds lofty and philosophical, but I
truly believe that I don’t react to situations in the same way that I used to,
which rubbed my family the wrong way more than a few times this week. I think I
am realizing that re-entering the United States will be a bigger challenge and
adjustment than I originally thought. Fortunately, we will all have each other
for support and advice when we return to UConn in the fall.
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