Downtown, Cape Town!

One of the many struggles of living in Cape Town is the inconsistent access to the internet. Although I am very fortunate to be able to stay connected to home and the rest of the world, it is frustrating not to consistently stay connected. I have learned that South Africa is still a developing country through many different forms but Wi-Fi is simply not a part of the advancement agenda. Therefore, my companions and I enjoy many nights of hunting Wi-Fi and connecting to the rest of the world. These nights are usually accompanied by wine and reflections of the day; thus, we have the infamous Wine and Wi-Fi Parties! Last night was a failed attempt to successfully host a party so this post will contain my activities from the past two days! Enjoy J

July 15^th: Touring the University of Western Cape!

The University of Western Cape is a partnership school for the MU Teach Abroad program. Being a part of the inaugural teaching abroad experience in South Africa, it is our duty to meet with faculty and administrators with the school and begin developing the relationship that would hopefully continue for many years to come. As we arrived on the steps of the University, our first initiative was to meet with representatives from the archives building and to tour the library. Afterwards, we headed toward the College of Education to meet the Dean of Education and other representatives. We enjoyed coffee, tea, and snacks while conversing over our plans to teach in the schools here in South Africa! It was quite interesting to hear their thoughts and feedback. The day concluded and we enjoyed the rest of the day to ourselves.

July 16^th: Touring District 6 and the Green Market Square

7:00 a.m. arrived with another ear-shredding alarm. Sleep is something that also does not exist here in South Africa. The day that was before us was jam-packed with activities but I was highly looking forward to the day! Our first stop was the District 6 museum.

District 6 was an area of Cape Town that was highly populated and racially diverse during the time of the apartheid. As part of the apartheid propaganda, the apartheid forced many of the citizens out of the area and demolished it. The museum is located in what used to be a Methodist church of District 6. It seemed as though I could feel the emotions, prayers, and faith of those who once worshiped there when District 6 thrived. We left the museum and walked the streets and rubble-stricken area of District 6. I could feel the sadness within the voice of our tour guide but it was interesting to know the history, the recent history, of what occurred here. As the tour concluded, we returned to the museum and saw pictures from the citizens of District 6 before its demise. It was breath-taking.

At the conclusion of our District 6 museum visit, we headed further into downtown Cape Town for the Green Market Square. On our journey through the streets, we had the pleasure of being stopped in our tracks by a heart-stopping occurrence. Thousands of people lined shoulder to shoulder were walking through the street. Signs were bouncing above them reading many different things: “Goza, End the Siege,” “Goza, Stop the Massacre.” It was South African citizens from Palestine. They were walking through the streets of Cape Town expressing their emotions in light of a massacre that occurred from Israeli citizens in a recent act of violence. It was absolutely inspirational to experience their thoughts on the matter. After the procession ended, we continued our journey through the streets and grabbed lunch at the Food Lovers Market!

After lunch, we experienced for the first time since our arrival in Cape Town a misfortune in our group. My fellow companion was robbed in her attempt to withdraw cash from the ATM. Although it was a very fearful event, she remained professional and handled it very well! The proper authorities were contacted and the situation was contained. This proves that no matter how comfortable we are in any situation, safety should always be our top priority! We have learned that we should now be more cautious as a group and be prepared for anything!

After this fearful occurrence, we gathered our emotions and continued our day at the Green Market Square. This was our first attempt to barter authentic South African products from local vendors. It was quite enjoyable negotiating prices and experiencing their determination to sell us their products. As a group, we had strength in numbers and most definitely walked away with some great deals. My favorite purchase was an authentic, burlap shirt that featured the Big Five of South Africa: the lion, the elephant, the leopard, the rhino, and the buffalo. I have found my favorite lazy day shirt!

We concluded the day with our emotions racing but as a group we became stronger than ever! No matter any situation we may find ourselves in, we continue to support each other like a family. I feel so close to my fellow companions and I look to forward to the life-long relationships that we will build as our adventure in South Africa continues. Until next time my lovely followers, Good Night!