On Thursday, August 9th, was National Women’s Day here in South Africa, so here’s a little history lesson for you all to start off this post! National Women’s Day is a public holiday that started in 1995 in remembrance of one of the largest protests in South African History. On August 9, 1956, about 20,000 women …
Tag Archives: Africa/South Africa
UCT Academics
One of the biggest culture shocks I’ve had so far would have to be school at UCT. Even starting out at orientation and registration it was much different. In the US most schools have an online registration process near the end of the previous semester in order to sign up for classes and figure out …
The Garden Route
Last weekend was full of crossing things off the South Africa bucket list! IES organized a road trip for us along the Garden Route, a stretch of southern South Africa that is made up of farmland and some incredible sights. We had an early morning Friday to drive to our first destination, Wilderness. Wilderness is …
The Mother City
I arrived safely in Cape Town a week ago for my fall semester at University of Cape Town and began what I hope will be the adventure of a lifetime! When I landed, I met my study abroad program director at the airport to drive to where I’ll be staying for the semester: a small …
It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later
It has been four days since I returned home from the Mother City. It has been a pleasure to reflect on my time abroad while embracing the reverse culture shock of home. Thank You Cape Town: for your beauty for your diverse cultures for your exotic flavors for your mountains overlooking the ocean for your …
Destination: Desert
Unlike finals week at Hope, finals at the University of Cape Town span over a three-week time frame. I somehow ended up with a 10 day gap in between exams and decided to make the most of it 🙂 We traveled North to the recently declared country of Namibia; a past colony of Germany and …
A Night in Gugulethu
My first sight in Cape Town after landing was the sprawling townships stretching for miles on the outskirts of the city-center. These areas were recognizable for distinct living conditions founded in poverty and injustice. Just over twenty years ago living areas were divided by race and individuals were forcefully removed from their pre-existing homes due …
Leaving the Island
Cape Town is often considered the ‘gateway to Africa’. Even with diverse backgrounds and beliefs, a common ideology when viewing the rest of the nation and the surrounding countries is present. While Cape Townians pride themselves on uncovering truths and opening up deep conversations, the lack of the ‘rural-minded’ individual has instituted a specific story about …
Looking to the Future (the Outsider Perspective)
On one of the many historical tours I have joined in South Africa, I had a gentleman say that “because we [the touring group] were from the United States” he could “reveal insight that he doesn’t bring up with white South Africans” since we were “outsiders and wouldn’t be offended to the truth”. This comment truly …
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The Smoke That Thunders
After the IES trip was sadly over, I had the amazing opportunity to continue my adventures into Northern Zimbabwe to the global phenomenon of Mosi-oa-Tunya (meaning ‘the smoke that thunders’ in the Shona language or more commonly Victoria Falls!) Victoria Falls is known for being one of the natural wonders of the world and the largest …
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