Today, on our last full day in Cape
Town, I have had Andrea Bocelli’s “Time to Say Goodbye” stuck in my head all
day, thanks to Mteto’s incredible rendition at last night’s supervisor dinner. I
must say that the dinner last night was an absolutely beautiful and touching way
to round out this semester. Together in one room were all of the incredible
people who helped to make this program all that it was. I thought it would be
appropriate to take this time to thank everyone who played a part in making
this the most unforgettable experience of my life to date.
To the staff of Tafelsig Clinic:
Thank you for so readily welcoming Derek, Paige, Abby, and me to the clinic. Each
day I came to my internship knowing that someone would take me under their wing
to teach me and show me the ropes. You threw us in head first, but I learned so
much that way. Your patience and compassion for the patients even under chaotic
conditions is remarkable and a quality I hope to adopt in my future work. We
shared many laughs, smiles, and even tears together. Thanks for making us feel
like part of the family.
To Bongi, Power, and the Khayelitsha
Fire Fighters: Our time together seemed so short, but it left a huge impact on
me. I can see why students have been helping the team for over 5 years now—no
coaches are as personally invested in the growth and development of their athletes
as you are. You recognize the need in your community to keep the boys away from
drugs and violence and to provide them with structure and a home away from
home. It was an honor to be able to conduct training sessions and to cheer the
boys on in Kensington. The way they handled defeat was humbling and epitomized
what sports should be about. I’m going to bring this mindset back to the
win-first attitude of the United States. I can’t wait to see how the Fire
Fighters do this season!
To Marita and Vernon: I am convinced
that the UConn in Cape Town program would be a shell of what it is now without
you two. Most of the work you do to give us every opportunity to learn and grow
is done behind the scenes, but it surely does not go unnoticed. Both of you are
so loving, caring, passionate, and dedicated to this program and to the
betterment of our world. I came into this semester as a science major with little
background in race, gender, or human rights, but am returning home with a
newfound interest in all of the above. You have both changed the way I see the
world, including my own country, the United States, which I thought I knew all
about. I felt uncomfortable at times coming to terms with my previous
assumptions, but I slowly found the value in taking risks and opening myself up
to being challenged and corrected. When I go home, I won’t be able to see
society or approach conversations in the same way, but that prospect is both
exciting and frightening. This program sparked an intellectual fire within me
because of you two.
And finally, to my 28 brilliant
co-educators: There is not a single one of you whom I would have traded for
someone else. I thoroughly enjoyed our discussions
and debates in class. I loved being able to share a laugh or hold a
conversation with all of you. As much as I learned from our readings and
videos, I often learned more from just talking and throwing ideas around. Of
course, I will never forget all of the good times we had outside of class. From
the Garden Route, to Johannesburg, to the music festivals, to the beach, to
hiking, and to Long Street, we made memories together that will last a
lifetime. I am so excited that this program was able to bring together such a
diverse group of people that might not have even met otherwise. I really look
forward to seeing how we all progress through the rest of college and beyond
because I know everyone is destined to do great things. If you ever need an
extra body at an event you are putting on or just want to talk and grab a bite
to eat at the dining hall, never hesitate to ask!
It is definitely bittersweet to be
going home, but I feel better knowing that this will not be the first and last
time I come to Cape Town. I have made such strong connections not only with the
people I mentioned above, but also with people like Vincent, Chantel, Mteto,
Sizwe, Joe, and many, many others who welcomed us to their country and culture
for three and a half months. I’ll be leaving part of my heart here when I
leave, but I now know I have another place on this Earth to call home.
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