Molo (Hello) from Cape Town!

Hello friends and family! I safely arrived in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon, and since the moment I landed at the airport I have been learning so much and having an absolutely incredible time.  I would like to sincerely apologize to all my dedicated readers for the delay in this post, but we have extremely limited access to internet at UCT so I will only be able to post every few days for the rest of the month (versus every day, like in Geneva).  


The arrival was quite an adventure.  After two delayed flights, one missed flight, one 45-minute re-booking of tickets, one lost suitcase, two layovers, and 24 hours of travel, I was beat.  Once the eight of us arrived in Cape Town, we weren't allowed to go onto campus because Michelle Obama was visiting UCT and the entire campus was blocked off. I had hoped we would be able to catch a glimpse of the first lady, but there was so much security, it was impossible.  


Cape Town is unlike anything I could have imagined. The terrain is breathtaking, with huge mountains that can be seen from anywhere in the city, sprawling greenland with wild animals, and trees that remind me of those in Lion King. At the same time, however, Cape Town is completely developed and modern!  There are trendy cafes, skyscrapers, and universities. The people here are so friendly and welcoming, and their accents sound like a cross between Australian and British, except a bit harsher. There is an extremely interesting racial dynamic, which I will attempt to touch on more in later posts. 


June 24th, 2011
During our first full day in Cape Town, we visited two townships near the city: Khayelitsha and Manenberg.  We will be working in Khayelitsha throughout our time in South Africa, so this visit was our first exposure to the types of people and environment we will be experiencing.  As we drove through the townships, I was overcome with emotion. It is one thing to see pictures in magazines or scenes in movies in which people live in shacks and on the streets, but to witness it in person is completely different.  The immense poverty, terrible health conditions, and lack of privacy and space that these South Africans experience in their daily life is unfathomable.  When we pulled up to Manenburg, seven or eight children ran up to our bus with huge smiles on their faces.  The shook our hands, introduced themselves, and thanked us for coming.  While we listened to the SHAWCO representative speak, two seven-year-old girls came up and put their arms around me.  They were so friendly and loving--it is sad to imagine their living conditions at home and the awful violence they have been exposed to in their lives.  I cannot wait to work with the people of the townships, hear their stories, and teach them all I can.


After the visit to the townships, we attended a two-hour lecture at UCT from a visiting professor.  She was a radical socialist, and the lecture turned into a heated debate between the students, our William and Mary professor, and the guest lecturer.  We discussed the pros and cons of socialism, the benefits and disadvantages of a capitalist system, and the effects of globalization.  It was very interesting hearing an alternative prospective and extremely eye-opening to see how American students feel such a strong connection to the capitalist system.  After the lecture, the eight of us continued the conversation on our own time, sharing opinions and exchanging ideas about how the world should work economically and socially.


June 25th, 2011
On Saturday we were treated to a touristy trip around the Cape Town area.  We left the dorm around 9am and took a bus tour of the Cape, starting at False Bay to see the penguins.  I laugh looking back on the experience, because something like that never would have happened in the U.S. for liability reasons. We literally opened the gate, entered the beach and could walk right up to the penguins.  There were hundred of them!  They are miniature penguins, reaching no higher than one's knee.  Many were nesting, others were waddling around in groups, and some were squawking. 


Afterwards we drove to the Cape of Good Hope, where we went for an invigorating hike, watched grazing impalas, saw aggressive baboons, and stood at the edge of high cliffs to see beautiful views of the Cape.  Once again, the terrain was like something from the Lion King and was such an out-of-body experience to see. I have taken lots of pictures, so hopefully you all will be able to share in my experience.  


The tour continued to Hoets Bay, which has serene beaches and upscale cafes.  The six of us girls ordered fancy cocktails at a restaurant that overlooked the water and toasted to Cape Town.  The SHAWCO bus took us back to the dorm, we enjoyed dinner at the dining hall, ran errands, and retuned to UCT to get ready for the evening.  Cape Town is well-renowned for it's nightlife, so we were excited to partake in the festivities. Seven of us journeyed to Long Street...which is essentially a street with bars, clubs, restaurants. and boutiques. Long Street felt a lot like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, and there were hundred of locals walking around outside. We bar-hopped all night (11pm-3am), dancing, drinking, and meeting locals.  


Running out of internet, I will post pictures soon!