South Africa

  • Prosper & Xavier

    January 23, 2017 by

    My final blog about this trip will be dedicated to the brave African men who showed us around for our 2-week adventure. Prosper was with us for the entire duration of our trip, and Xavier joined us when we got to Cape Town. I quickly learned that Prosper was a deep-thinking 26-year-old who, like myself,… Read more

  • Our final day…Horses & Gold

    January 22, 2017 by

    Monday, January 16, 2017 Today was our final full day in Cape Town. The town we stayed in is actually about 25 minutes outside of Cape Town, called Noordhoek. We stayed at the Team House which is right on Noordhoek Beach. On our second day at the Team House, we decided to investigate the beach.… Read more

  • Spirituality & Humanity in Kayelitsha

    January 21, 2017 by

    Sunday, January 15, 2017 Not a religious person, I went to a church service for the first time in many years in the Kayelitsha township outside of Cape Town. Driving out to Kayelitsha was especially striking to me because it was located so far removed from Cape Town, similar to the distance of Soweto outside… Read more

  • Table Mountain & Cooking in Bo-Kaap

    January 21, 2017 by

    Saturday, January 14, 2017 We began today by riding the tram to the top of the notorious Table Mountain. If I ever make it back to Cape Town I would love to hike to the top. I hear there are baboons on the hike up…if you ever make it to South Africa it is strongly… Read more

  • Lions, Elephants, & Zebras—oh my!

    January 16, 2017 by

    Friday, January 13, 2017  Is it possible to go to Africa and not do the typical, predictable tourist safari? Yes, but I would not recommend it. Aside from the steep cultural submersion we had in a lady’s home in the Soweto township, the private cooking lesson of Malay food in Bo Kaap (upcoming blog), and… Read more

  • Parliament, District 6, & Lion’s Head

    January 16, 2017 by

    This morning (Thursday, January 12) we went to Parliament in Cape Town. There are technically three capitals of South Africa: Pretoria is the executive capital, Bleomfontein is the judicial capital, and Cape Town is the legislative capital. Joburg is the largest city but is not technically a capital. We toured the building and were shown… Read more

  • Capes, Baboons, Penguins, and Fire

    January 14, 2017 by

    Like Tuesday, Wednesday can be most accurately described in pictures. Here is a brief synopsis of the day…we began the day at the Cape of Good Hope, which is considered the most south-western point of Africa. Cape of Good Hope was originally called the “Cape of Storms” by the Portuguese explorer, Dias. The path around… Read more

  • Grapes in Solms Delta

    January 13, 2017 by

    ​ We spent most of Tuesday at a winery called Solms Delta in an obviously beautiful area, of course (can’t imagine there are any “dumpy” wineries?) The scenery, like the few wineries I’ve been to, was spectacular. We toured some of the property, learned some of the history (from what I could understand from our… Read more

  • Living History: Robben Island

    January 11, 2017 by

    Today we were taken to “The University,” as Nelson Mandela and his fellow political prisoners called Robben Island, the prison where they were kept during the apartheid rule. This is where the head leaders of the anti-apartheid movement were sent after the Liliesleaf raid, and was home to any political activists who were found to… Read more

  • Farewell Joburg…Hello Cape Town!

    January 10, 2017 by

    On Sunday we spent the remainder of our time in the Maboneng neighborhood of Joburg, at Arts on Main, before heading to the airport to catch our flight to Cape Town. Maboneng is a bougie (urban dictionary version, not the medical instrument) neighborhood that has been part of the efforts of the regeneration of Joburg.… Read more

  • Sophiatown

    January 9, 2017 by

    The weather forecast for our 5 days in Joburg was calling for rain on several days; fortunately the weather people were wrong and it only rained (all day hard) on Saturday. We spent our Saturday morning in Sophiatown, which was a place of forced removals—relegating each non-white race to their designated location, blacks to Soweto,… Read more

  • Soweto and Resilience

    January 7, 2017 by

    Each day so far we have been exposed to a wealth of culture, history, and emotion. Friday, however, was a cultural immersion that I don’t recall experiencing in previous travels. For whatever reason I woke up extra early on Friday with my mind racing and could not go back to sleep. I suppose that I… Read more

  • City of Joburg

    January 6, 2017 by

    Today is Friday, right? So then this summary is based on Thursday’s urban activities in Johannesburg, affectionately known as Joburg. Our guide, Jo, was exuding passion, knowledge, and a quick wit that made for an awesome tour. One thing which I love that Jo loves is graffiti. She was quick to discuss the art we came… Read more

  • Brief thoughts…

    January 6, 2017 by

    After 35 years, I would hope that I would have gained some more compassion for myself in how I learn—I must absorb. I am quick-witted funny, but am a slow absorber of new information. Maybe that’s why I love to write, it gives me time to process what I am thinking. Some people process quickly,… Read more

  • Day 2: Memorialization

    January 4, 2017 by

    Today was dedicated to the Voortrekker Monument, Freedom Park, the Union buildings (home to a way larger than life statue of Nelson Mandela), a trip to the local Woolworths for lunch and snacks, and being denied purchase of “burner” phones without a letter from our hotel proving residence. I’m writing this a day later on… Read more

  • Day 1

    January 3, 2017 by

    Today was filled with 18+ hours of travel to Johannesburg, swollen feet, crocodile tails, venison stew, and peppermint cheesecake. Topped off with a big fat serving of bed!

  • Pre-departure reflections…

    December 17, 2016 by

    Why study abroad? I. Love. To. Travel. It’s really that simple. I am a graduating senior and figured that a Study Abroad program would be a solid way to close out the 10 years I’ve dedicated to completing my BA degree. Seeing our planet through the different lenses of culture is one of the most… Read more

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