Howzit!
Wow, I cannot believe how long I have been in Cape Town already! The time is just flying by! I apologize to those who have been waiting on the blog- it took awhile to get everything set up, there were some issues with uploading the photos and school has been rather hectic lately! I have so much to talk about and will now be blogging consistently. Okay- I want to get everyone up to speed on what has been happening over here in South Africa. The first two weeks were completely PACKED with various orientation activities. I spent most of the time with the other international students in my program exploring the popular spots in Cape Town and touring the University of Cape Town (UCT) where we would be taking class. We stayed in UCT residential halls for the first week and at the start of the second I moved in with my host family!
Classes are now in full swing and I have turned in my first few assignments. Now that I have had time to get into a routine and actually know how to get to the bus stop, where my classes are and how to walk home, things are going quite well. I did struggle a little at first; everything was so new and different and I didn’t know anyone! When classes started it really hit me that I was not at Hope anymore. Sitting in lecture halls of 300 students, not knowing how to print in the library or where to go in between classes, I was definitely challenged. Yet, any time I became anxious or overwhelmed I would just say to myself, ‘It’s all part of the experience’. I am experiencing so many new things every day, and whether good or bad I am learning from them; learning more about South African culture and more about myself in the process. In short, I am loving it. I went for a hike up one of the mountains recently and at the top as I looked out in awe over Cape Town, I just couldn’t stop thinking, ‘I am here- I made it!’ Feeling so blessed by this amazing place. It is difficult to describe everything in words so below are some photos I have taken thus far!
Well, that is all for now but more to come soon! I can’t wait to see all that Cape Town has to offer! 🙂 Peace and Blessings!