Well, the dreaded day has come…the
final blog post. I really don’t know how to write this so I guess I will just
start by saying that this was one of the most amazing four months of my life.
By saying that I don’t want to imply that I was happy every single day and that
every single day was absolutely incredibly. Like any other semester, it had its
ups and downs. However, unlike every other semester, I feel like I actually
grew as a person other than simply as an intellectual.
At UConn I have only ever lived in a
standard dorm so this was the first time I have ever lived on my own in a
setting where I had to do really practical things like buy groceries. Simple
tasks like that where I was spending my own money that I saved, as cheesey as
it may sound, “really showed me the value of a dollar.” Even though this may
not necessarily be incredibly accurate since the dollar is worth a lot more in
South Africa currently. Either way, it did give me a small understanding of all
the background work my parents have to do to keep our home running day to day.
My internship was another very
educational piece of my time in Cape Town. I interned at Prevention in Action
in Kuyasa, Khayelitsha. As most co-educators will note, the pace in South
Africa is completely different. Starting each day with about an hour of reflection
period before starting the day’s work was an adjustment for me. Despite the
slower work pace, I learned an incredible amount at Prevention in Action. The
organization was recently defunded and I was continuously so impressed by the
organization leaders’ work despite lack of resources. This was a continuous
reminder to me that one always has something to give, even if it may not seem
that way.
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Kayla (far right) with Paige, Sydney, Emily & Maria at Heaven's Nest Child Center |
My activist project was another very
influential part of my time in Cape Town. I chose to do my activist project at
Heaven’s Nest Child Care Center. My time there taught me an indescribable
amount about children and their development. However, more than that, it taught
me how easy it is to become involved in volunteering. In the past, I have often
looked at causes or organizations and really felt passionate about them but
never became involved. My time at Heaven’s Nest showed me how welcoming
organizations are to help and that all one really has to do is reach out to see
what they may want or need. This summer I plan to continue volunteering with
children at home because my time there really sparked a passion for me.
Overall, I can’t believe my time in
Cape Town has come to a close. I will miss so much about Cape Town- the food,
the people, the natural beauty, and the list could go on forever. When I look
back to why I chose to study in Cape Town, no outstanding reason comes to mind.
I really don’t know what exactly drove me to that beautiful city, but I am so
thankful I came. I know that my time in Cape Town has changed me in ways that I
may not even know yet, but I am very excited to find out.
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