Audrey couldn't be more happy to be here

Audrey at top of Signal Hill

Hi! My name is Audrey, normally just Audrey, sometimes Aud. I am a history and pre-teaching major at UConn, also looking to pursue a minor in human rights after my exposure to it this past semester and my continuation of human rights courses and activities this semester. I plan to graduate in 2015, hopefully. Honestly at this point in my life my career aspirations are a bit up in the air caused by my want to help anyone and everyone but also my fear of failing. I know I love working with children and seeing their excitement while learning and exposure to new things in life, which caused me to choose a path towards teaching. But I would not mind taking a round about way to teaching, maybe continue on with a human rights influence by going to other areas in the country and the world that are in need for help, such as Americorps or Peace Corps. While being in Cape Town I will be working in Christel House, a school that is funded through donations around the world meant to give students who normally would not have the opportunity to succeed outside of their community to do so.

Is there any way to describe my first days in Cape Town without using every cliché in the book? While I am writing this I am sitting around the pool with a few other housemates, some of us reading, some writing, and some working out. How can this get any better? We have done I believe most to every tourist destination possible in and around Cape Town. I don’t think I will ever get tired of this place, hopefully I won’t be eating my words throughout this semester, but I truly believe I wont. As we continue our explorations throughout this orientation, I expect to feel multiple emotions because as of right now I have seen the beautiful natural areas of this place. I have not yet been exposed to the townships or to anything that hasn’t taken me back from its natural beauty. As I walk around and experience and observe all of these new sites it is constantly in the back of my mind the history of this place. It is noticeable in some areas that the past still plagues the present but I believe that as I continue my explorations and studies outside of the tourist areas of the country and city I will have more thoughts, opinions and feelings on Cape Town.

Closing up my first blog entry to this semester in Cape Town all I have to say is, I can not be more happy that I choose to take this path in my life and cannot wait to continue with it.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ~ Ghandi (a quote hanging up on our fridge to remind us every morning, afternoon and night.)