Despite the fact that we have less than two weeks
left in Cape Town, I am truly starting to appreciate what I have gained from
this experience as a whole. Perhaps it
was my mom’s comments on how I’ve changed, or just the fact that I’m being
forced to come to terms with departing soon, but for some reason this week felt
different. I felt different. Showing my mom the people and places that
have claimed their spot in my life for the last three months made me realize
the strength of the attachments I have formed here. I think living in any place long -term puts
an individual at risk for taking their surroundings for granted. While I don’t
necessarily believe that I have ever stopped finding the view of Table Mountain amazing, I may have done a disservice to
this program by downplaying the lessons I have learned here and impact they
have had on me as an individual. For
instance, after attending the community tour (thanks Vernon!), my mom talked
endlessly about what she had learned and seen and how, just within a day, she had
expanded her view of the world significantly.
Being able to engage in this conversation with her, and provide
information and anecdotes from my time here, made me realize how this
experience has changed me as well. I
could never imagine the struggles faced by the people I have come in contact
with, especially in the townships, but my heart truly hurts to think of the
fact that many of their struggles are purely due to the color of their
skin. The fact that I did nothing to
deserve my privileges and they did nothing to deserve the aftermath of systematic
oppression is something that I have struggled with during my time here, and
subsequently grown from immensely.
My mom was also struck by the hearts of the people
here. Her interactions with various
individuals allowed her to see what I have already come to realize. The struggles within South Africa are no
secret, and are actively acknowledged by its citizens (albeit in different
forms depending on one’s background).
However, I have found that most South Africans are infinitely proud to
call themselves such. The love that they
have for their community and their willingness to share any success they have
for the betterment of that community is incredibly admirable. It is individuals that incorporate these
ideals into their everyday lives that truly make me want to be a better person,
here and when I return to the U.S.
Aside from my own inward reflections, this week was
also immensely refreshing and just what I needed. I had missed my mom at some point each week
during this trip, so being able to finally spend time with her gave me a
feeling of being at ease that I hadn’t yet been able to achieve this semester. In addition to her cultural lessons, I also
made sure that she received a solid picture of every beautiful facet of Cape
Town and its surroundings. My favorite
day of her stay was when we toured the entire Cape Peninsula (courtesy of
Chantel). This was my favorite part of
orientation, so I was eager to see the incredible views one last time.
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| Trista with her mom at Boulder's Beach |
As I close in on my last couple of weeks here, I’m
really trying to take in all that I can, both in terms of activities as well as
my own personal growth. Every other day
I switch from eagerness to see my friends and family, and a tinge of sadness
that I won’t wake up to this incredible place every day. Having my mom visit has only strengthened my
connection to my own home, but seeing her fall in love with Cape Town as much
as I have has solidified its place in my heart.
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