Sydney having fun but also appreciating all she has learned

This past weekend I went to hike Table Mountain for the first time. Being my first time hiking ever I thought it would be hard but not super hard. Well Table Mountain was hard but very rewarding for the views it gives and the experience in general. I went hiking with Libby and we sadly did not make it all the way to the top because of the fierce winds. However, it was great to just hang out and hike, and now that I know how it will be I will be more prepared when I go again. Also talking to the people that we passed and passed us was great, because everyone was so encouraging and kept telling us we were almost there. Even though it was clearly not true, it was nice to see a stranger encouraging you to keep going. In addition to this awesome experience, a lot of us went to see Of Monsters and Men live in Kirstenbosch on Thursday! First, I love Of Monsters and Men, so to get the chance to see them live with friends I have made on this trip was a great experience. I was surprised to learn a good amount of the people on the trip enjoyed the same music as me. Second, seeing the mountain and the skyline of Cape Town as a backdrop was stunning. I wish a camera was capable of capturing the moment because it was breathtaking.

Besides all of the fun that I have been able to have on this trip I can truly say I have enjoyed the things I have learned in class. Learning about informal settlements in particular has really opened my eyes to the communities that I pass and see. From the outside looking in these settlements look as if they have no order and make a lot of people uncomfortable when they look at it because of the very real poverty that is shown. However, despite the poverty these communities face their communities do have order and there is a very strong sense of community within them, which cannot be said for a lot of neighborhoods. Hearing about how these communities are working to make their homes and environment better and that process has helped me understand everything better. Also the class reading and interactions with people have helped me understand how people have found themselves in these positions. I think everyone needs to understand these things and not jump to conclusions on the character of someone else or try to fix what they perceive to be broken. I think the most important lesson I have learned is that it is not anyone’s job to tell someone what they should do to fix their problems. We should instead ask them what the problems are and help them come to a solution on their own. Also, in my non-fiction reading for class I picked Run Racist Run by Eusebius McKaiser. This was super helpful for me in understanding racism within South Africa and the struggles that people face in post-apartheid South Africa. Reading this book has certainly made me reflect on racism within the US and my on perceptions, so I think it would be helpful for others who might be interested.