I knew it was coming to end. But that end came really quickly. I honestly felt depressed most of today, and I think I’m going to be for a while. It’s going to be strange to be back home, not with the same people, where no one can relate to the experience you’ve just had, they are the only people who know what it was like. When I say “yebo”, “hows it that side”. “haibo” or “sawubona” well no ones is going to know what that means. SIT is a family. Although I wasn’t best friends with everyone, they are all my comrades, we did this together.
This has been the BEST three and a half months of my life. Words cannot even express how grateful I am that I was able to come to South Africa, that I was able to meet the people that I met, see the things that I saw, and expand my consciousness. I had thought about European countries, but I believe that this experience was much more valuable for me than studying abroad in a European country.
First of all SIT. I am extremely happy I chose SIT and Durban as the city to come to. After spending two days in Cape Town, Durban and Cape Town are worlds apart. I feel like Durban is my home, like I am a “durbanite”. That city has culture, it has history, it is busy, and sometimes it is scary, it is beautiful, it was my home. The people in South Africa are nothing but kind and friendly. I’ve gotten to befriend so many interesting people, talk and hear life stories about their struggles in South Africa, and their proudest moments, and their fights for freedom. I got to experience every culture, from Black Zulu, to rural Zulu, to Indian, and the “touristy” white side. I even left the country and went to Lesotho! SIT goes above and beyond to make this the best experience, and they succeed. It’s not just going to class everyday, It’s going on excursions to museums, temples, schools, NGO’s, and other universities. It’s an overall “experience”
I am beyond grateful for the academic directors that I had. They made this experience. They were my friends. Not only the directors but the staff as well. I got to learn from individuals who were part of the liberation movement, this was there life, their passion. They inspired me, and I am going to miss them so much (but I am seeing two of them in August!) I think that if we had had different directors, this program may have turned out much differently.
I got to work at an non profit organisation that was incredible to me. It opened my eyes to so many things and so many potential options for my future. SIT gives you the freedom to choose and explore South Africa. I was pushed to write a 55 page research paper, and I am so proud of the way it turned out. I now know I can accomplish something that seems so impossible.
I was challenged culturally. I ate so many new foods and I now love curry, roti’s, steamed bread, and stews. I say “hows it” and “that side” and “just now” all of which have their own South African meanings. I know how to ride a mini bus, I know when to watch myself in the street, and I know how to covert the dollar to the rand. Although I still don’t know how to tell military time. I’ve learned that every South Africa has had a different experience during and post apartheid, and I have to learn to accept and hear about their thoughts even though I may not agree.
I saw extreme poverty, I’ve seen violence, and death, and sadness. I’ve taught in rural school where there didn’t seem to be any hope, and I’ve helped babies who’ve been abandoned by their mothers. I’ve learned how to deal with the extreme numbers of beggars and street children, even though I always want to help. I’ve seen the goodness in people, who are really struggling, and I’ve seen the violence in people who are really struggling.
I’ve learned that not all white people in South Africa are racist, although a lot of them do really suck. I’ve become even more aware of my race. I’ve lost a lot of internalized racist notions, and I don’t want them back. I know that will be hard going back home, but I’ve changed.
I’ve been to many a bar, and happy hour, and restaurants. I’ve seen a rugby game, and a soccer game at the World Cup stadium and Hunters cider is my absolute favorite drink. I’ve laid on the beach for hours on end. I went to Ushaka Marine world and Hullule Game Park. I’ve gone on hikes in the woods and up mountain tops. I’ve been to the highest point in Africa (over 3,000 meters) and I’ve been to the top of table mountain; one of the seven wonders of the world. I’ve been to Robben Island and I’ve seen Mandela’s cell where he spent 17 years of his prison sentence. And I’ve chanted at a Hare Krishna temple with devotees and ate the BEST Krishna meal there.
I’ve made amazing friendships. I’ve been challenged to interact with people I normally wouldn’t. I love all of my friends here, and they are the ones who I have shared my best moments with. I don’t know when I will see some of them again, but I will never forget them.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. That life plays out the way it should for you, maybe it’s not written out by a God, but the way that it happens is right, good or bad, and this was nothing but good. I don’t think I’m blessed, but I certainly am grateful. Grateful to my parents for sending me on this trip, grateful to the SIT staff, and my SIT comrades, to all my host families, to every South African who has shared their story with me, told me directions, or given me advice, and grateful for all things I’ve seen, tasted, and learned. I’ve learned so much, more than I ever have in one semester at Manhattanville. I wish I could go back and do it again, but I’m glad I have this experience to carry me through life. Welp, I’m almost back in New York…….
Lesotho and the Drakensberg Mountains. The most beautiful place I’ve probably ever been.
But it’s not gonna happen. Off to Cape Town tomorrow and then HOME. I’m excited. But right now I’m really sad and sentimental and grateful. So grateful I had the opportunity to go to South Africa, (thanks mom and dad), so grateful I chose Durban, so grateful I had the opportunity to see so many different places and live with so many different people.
Time goes so fast it all feels like a blur. But an amazing blur.
Also Lesotho and the Drakensberg Mountains were probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
About to do a 20 minute presentation of my research project, kind of nervous, but not really since I’m second to last and I have lots of cute pictures of babies!
This is a view from the balcony of my apartment. We’re moving out tomorrow morning! What a great location, (even though the staff at the flats sucked) I’m still really glad we picked it. I spent almost everyday on the beach. Hopefully I’ll have another chance in my life to live in a beach front flat after I win the lottery of course.
Tomorrow morning night we’re going to have a braii and a slide show of the trip, and also this talk of “re-entry” back to the states. I’m getting to the point where I’m ready to leave, although I am going to miss it so much. It’s been great, and it will be great to see all my friends and family again (sometimes it can get annoying being around the same 25 people all the time, although I really haven’t had a problem with anyone).
I’m so glad I got to see this country in the way that I did. I went back to Cato Manor the other night to visit my first homestay family and it was hard to believe I ever lived there. They had the thank-you letter I wrote them hanging on the wall behind the t.v. and my passport picture, and I could tell they were thrilled to see me, and I was so happy to see them. But the world I am living in now at the beach front flat, although only 20 minutes away from Cato Manor, is completely different. Getting to see so much of the Durban area and South Africa in 3 and half months is incredible. But it will be nice to go back home and not get begged from and hit on every time I step outside the door, that has sure been annoying.
So yeah, this time next week I will be home, hopefully in my bed, and have a bagel in hand. YEBO
I’M FINISHED. One month and 55 pages later I’m done!
Presentations on thursday and friday, a trip to Lesotho this weekend, final days in Durban, then Cape Town and HOME.
Starting to get real sentimental!
Happy Freedom Day! Also Happy 21st Birthday to my roommate maggie!
Yesterday, I handed in a rough draft of my independent study project to my advisor, 54 pages in length and I still have more to go! I’ve never written so much in my entire life.
So today I took the day off from writing watched a movie, went swimming in the ocean, and laid on the beach.
Tonight a bunch of us are going out to dinner at a restaurant on the promenade for my roommates birthday, and then out to a bar or a club!
I’ll be home in 2 weeks from today. I’m going to freak out. SO WEIRD.
