Isabel's week of many different aspects

This week has been full of a lot of different aspects.  Most of us spent the weekend after we got home from excursion as time to settle back in and relax.  We all scrambled to catch up on laundry and stock up on groceries.  I think we also all needed some alone time as well to just collect all of our thoughts and get back into the Cape Town routine.  We spent Saturday in heaven – also known as Old Biscuit Mill.  I splurged and got breakfast in a pan there and it made my whole weekend.  On Sunday, Maria, Emily, Kayla, Paige, and I went to Heaven’s Nest Child Centre to give the kids an Easter egg hunt and dye hard-boiled eggs.  I should say we attempted to dye eye.  The kids loved the thought of putting their little fingers straight through them.  It was a beautiful disaster to say the least.  It was a great way to spend the holiday, although I think we all needed a nap after being around such high energy little ones for the whole morning.  It was hard being away from my family during Easter, but it definitely helps being surrounded by your Cape Town family here.  Monday was a national holiday, so we all had off from work.  I finally got a call back on a summer internship opportunity I applied for, so that evening Marita was kind enough to let me use her flat to make the Skype call.  I think it went well, but cross your fingers for me!

On Tuesday, Josh and I started our new internship placement at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR).  Our past placement, at the Surplus People Project, was a great organization with a good core mission, but they did not really have much room to involve us.  A lot of SPP’s work was in regions further away from Cape Town, and Josh and I just could not take off full weeks to go to these workshops.  It was hard to turn away from a placement you had put a lot of time into, but I do think if you have a better opportunity to learn, you should take it.  IJR has turned out to be an amazing change.  The office is right in the middle of town and Josh and I are each mentored by two of their staff members.  I am currently working on a project called ‘The Theory of Change’.  I am writing a narrative on how this theory has worked in the broader scope and what other countries and organizations have done to be successful.  The Theory of Change is a segment of IJR’s larger project to help mobilize youth to get involved with decision-making processes in South Africa.  The staff at IJR is very informative and willing to help.  I am really looking forward to my next month there and putting my all into that short period of time.

As I continue on the search for employment this summer, I find myself applying for a lot of internships within corporate companies.  The missions and visions of these companies are hard to swallow, especially being here in South Africa.  They are working for affluent individuals to manage their wealth, or they represent huge corporations in order to keep shareholders happy.  It has struck a cord of guilt in my system.  I love the field of economics, but I do know how one-sided it can be.  I hope to one-day find a realm of economics that can benefit every class and every individual.  Perhaps, I can be apart of shaping that model, but I know how valuable experience is.  I am excited for this next step after my time abroad and hopefully a summer with more opportunity and experience.  Again fingers crossed!

On Thursday night, a large group of us all went straight from UCT to the Kirstenbosch Gardens for the Of Monsters and Men concert.  I love this venue.  It overlooks the mountains and there is a huge lawn that everyone picnics on.  The vibe is just amazing.  We all spread out our blankets and witnessed an amazing performance by the band.  It was a great memory with people that I have grown so fond of.

 

Concert at Kirstenbosch Gardens with the gang

This weekend has been spent catching up on assignments and cuddling up inside a bit.  The weather has been turning out to be very cold and rainy, but tomorrow is supposed to me sunny again.  We all plan to spend our night in Kalk Bay tonight and hopefully climb up Table Mountain tomorrow.  Wish us luck!