Capstone

As many of you know, the entire semester was centered around our Capstone projects. Mollie and I worked at Masiyile Secondary School (grade 8-12) in Khayelitsha for the entire semester. With the help of amazing teachers and enthusiastic students, we were able to implement an after-school writing club, called "My Masiyile, My Words" that focused on youth empowerment through creative expression. Essentially the club provided a safe space for students to express how they were feeling through song, dance, and writing.
    We were able to compile all of the students work into a book that will be kept in the Masiyile library. Furthermore, we were able to bring several students to University of Cape Town to perform their poems and share their short stories with an audience during our capstone presentations. Everyone was blown away by their passion, talents and confidence.

Four amazing Masiyile students singing at U.C.T Baxter Theatre

Me and Mollie with Mrs. Matyatya, the head Life Orientation teacher at Masiyile and the CIEE Liason. Amazing woman!

Me and the incredible Masiyile writing club!

SHARKS

This blog title pretty much explains it all. On May 1st, a bunch of us (Katie, Lauren, Lauren, Mollie, Caitlin and Alvand) boarded a small boat and navigated the high seas to find Great Whites. Despite having an untimely date with seasickness, it was by far one of the greatest days in Cape Town. We woke up at 4:30am and arrived by 7, ate a quick breakfast, and we were on the boat all day.
     All seven of us were able to fit in the cage at one time which was awesome. The ship crew would through chum in the water to attract the sharks. They were HUGE. Shark week on the Discovery Channel does not do them justice. They came right up to the cage, which freaked me out a bit, but we knew they wouldn't be able to get in. If anyone reading this ever travels to South Africa, I definitely recommend this!

Molls looking dapper in her wetsuite

Me and Katie waiting like champions before we hopped into the cage of death

SHARKS!!!

Langa Homestay

On the weekend of April 20th, the service-learners had the chance to do an authentic homestay in Langa township. Langa is about fifteen minutes outside of Cape Town and one of the oldest townships in South Africa. I stayed with a single mom and her 21 year old daughter in an RDP house. There was a tremendous sense of community and Xhosa culture and although townships often get stigmatized for being dangerous, I felt completely safe and loved the entire time. It was one of my favorite experiences because I had the chance to feel completely uncomfortable and rely on basic human interactions. I had the chance to learn about her life, her family and her community. We also spent all day Saturday at Aces, an outside meat restaurant. It was great!

Easily the cutest kid I've ever met

Me and Aleah, a 5 year old who lived in Langa

Me and my host mom!

World Cup Stadium in Cape Town!

World Cup Stadium- Cape Town, South Africa (Ajax Cape Town vs. Orlando Pirates)

Me, Caitlin and Katie at a soccer game at the World Cup Stadim (April 27th, 2012)

Emily, Caitlin, Johanna, Justine, Katie, Me and a Security Guard outside of the World Cup Stadium!

Five Months Too Little

It's hard to believe that the past five months came and went. As I sit at home, in a familiar setting that somehow feels extremely unfamiliar, I try to piece to together how the time went by so quickly. Everyone warned me that abroad would feel like a break from reality, and that time would essentially stop. I suppose it did.

I always rolled my eyes at the people who claimed to be so enlightened when they returned to the States post-abroad. I'm not claiming to be enlightened but the people I met and the experiences I now have in my memory have definitely changed me for the better. Between the dive bars of Stones and Pig & Swizzle, to hiking Table Mountain, to swimming with sharks, staying in Langa township, to the beautiful campus of UCT, my time in South Africa was the best five months of my life. I am so appreciative and grateful that I had the chance to experience all that I did.

To my mom and my friends- you were right. To you, this blog was a failure. But, to me, my infrequent blogging is a testament to how busy I was in South Africa. Sure, I could use the ongoing excuse that my internet accessibility was limited. In reality, I was constantly on the move- trying something new, meeting someone new, learning something new.

So, I propose a solution to the problem of my lack of blogging. I can't turn back time, but I can post a picture blog of all, or most, of the memorable events that happened post-penguins.

Enjoy!

G

PENGUINS!

I can't believe I forgot the most exciting thing I've done since I've been here! Wednesday was a public holiday (human rights day) so we all took the train to Simon's Town and saw PENGUINS!

Here's a view of the beaches before Simon's Town from the train (photo cred. Ms Lauren Waldenburg)

I wanted to take them all home with me but there was a big sign that read "Don't Get Handsy with the Penguins". Oh well.

Toodles!

Updates from Cape Town

I've been pretty elusive these past weeks with school work and service (and swimming with the cast of Happy Feet) but I'll take a minute to update any of you who are still faithfully following my blog. For starters, service work at Masiyile is going great but it's overwhelming to know our capstone is due in just about two months. Mollie and I started an after-school drama club, hoping to provide the students a  platform for personal expression and creative growth, but sadly not too many people have showed up. The first week there were 20 students, then 10, then 5. Ouch. But, then again, can I really expect hormonal 16 and 17 years dealing with the stress and drama of high school to really want to hang out with me? A girl can dream.

Aside from trying to make a connection with the angsty Xhosa speaking teens, I've been busy doing exploring Cape Town. A few weeks ago a bunch of us went to the gay rights Pride festival and Cape Town and boy, was love in the air. Love is love, baby.

This was probably the first time since arriving in Cape Town when I've felt that class, race and gender didn't factor into the general feel of the environment. It was great!

Later that day CIEE brought us to Newlands to watch the Cape Town professional Rugby team (The Stormers- how daunting! really, they're all huge and kind of scary and wear uncomfortably short shorts). Apparently the game was as big of a deal as the Superbowl (who knew) because I was too busy trying to gather some semblance of knowledge regarding rugby rules.

The week following the rugby match CIEE brought us to Kirstenbosch, which is about 30-35 minutes out of Cape Town, to the Goldfish concert. It was a gorgeous venue- very central-park-mid-summer-with-a-mountain-in-the-background type feel. Also, not to mention Goldfish is the greatest band ever. It's as if Avicii and Duke Ellington had a love child.

Pretty much its been an amazing two months and I am still in disbelief that I've been here for that long. Every day I wake up with a new appreciation for being here but at the same time I get so sad knowing I'll have to leave! But I'm looking forward to having my mom and sisters come the week after next for spring break. Hopefully we'll be able to surf in Muzienburg, go to Stellenbosch vineyards, beach it at Camps Bay, go out on Long Street, visit District 6 and do everything in
 between!

Dankie, tots siens!
 (thanks, see you later in Afrikaans!)
-G
(Yes, the dramatic one letter name IS catching on)