Sydney's getting used to the idea of leaving

As I finish my second to last week in Cape Town I am slowly getting used to the idea of leaving. At the beginning of this month I was anxious about leaving and did not want people to even talk about how little time we had left. However, as I reflect on all I have experienced and the amazing people I have gotten to know I have no regrets. This thought has been further cemented into my head because I had the opportunity to touch a baboon! (Disclaimer: Baboons are wild animals and should not be fed or touched by humans.) I did not go up to a baboon and just touch it as this might sound. One of the dominant male baboons in the Gordon's Bay troop was captured and tagged for identification purposes and radio collared to monitor the troops movement. The baboon was given two different colored ear tags (one to identify the troop he is in and one to identify who he is), which is similar to getting your cartilage pierced. In order to do this a veterinarian was present who administered anesthesia to the baboon and ensured he was asleep before they took him out of the cage. In addition to his new accessories he was measured and his teeth were checked to see how he was doing. During this time the other students and I were able to watch along and feel his fur before he was put back in the cage and administered drugs to reverse the anesthesia. This was a really great experience for all of us because being able to see a baboon up close and seeing him when he woke up is not something people are able to do since they can be dangerous. I would like anyone reading this to note that I am reflecting on my experience and and the baboon was not harmed by our actions and is safely back with his troop.

Along with this my activists’ project group was able to bring new toys to the children of Haven’s Nest temporary child care and recreation center. Setting up a couple of new swings for them and knowing that we are going to bring smiles to their faces makes me happy. Although we did not see their reactions I know they will love it and will have a good time. I’m glad I joined this activists’ project because of the impact we are making in other’s lives and the joy I feel in giving back and showing the kids love. However we were able to get almost all of the children’s hand prints on the fence we were painting. This was my favorite part of the day because some of the kids were jumping up and down and laughing when we put the pain on their hands. Others were a bit shier about what to do but we managed to get little smiles out of them when it was done. Besides these fun events I have learned how important love is in a child’s life, along with education. They have so much love to give and genuinely get sad when we leave and I can see how much attention they want. I wish I could spend more time with them and not be another person that comes and goes in their lives but I hope they remember the good parts more than the leaving. All of these tiny humans I have met will definitely be on my mind when I get on the plane next week.