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Welcome to Our Blog

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

As anyone who has participated in UConn's Education Abroad in Cape Town will tell you, there are no words to adequately explain the depth of the experiences, no narratives to sufficiently describe the hospitality of the people, and no pictures to begin to capture the exquisite scenery. Therefore this blog is only intended to provide an unfolding story of the those co-educators who are traveling together as companions on this amazing journey.

As Resident Director of this program since 2008 it is once again my privilege and honor to accompany another group of remarkable students to this place I have come to know and love.

In peace, with hope,
Marita McComiskey, PhD

(marita4peace@gmail.com)

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Kayla excited to discover the ways she has changed because of this experience

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.

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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