Morgan's feelings of connectedness

Right now there is so much I need to write about. So so so much. So many things have happened, I’ve traveled to a multitude of special places but I sadly do not have time to write. I will do a lot of reflecting when I’m home and have a minute to think, but everything is coming to a close too quickly for me to process. Right now my actions do speak louder than my words so I will continue to do what I’m doing here in Cape Town, rather than say (type) what I do.

I’ve been thinking about the 29 of us on this trip. The 20 of us in this house. The 15 of us who jumped off the highest bungy in the world this past weekend. The 10 days until we leave this country. The 8 co-workers we have invited to our farewell dinner next Friday. The 3 professors who have taught us so much this semester. The 2 suitcases I must fit all of my souvenirs and memories into. The 1 person I have become since this trip started.

 

Morgan (far right) with co-educators who are about to jump of the bridge

I have months ahead of me to do lots of reflection, to figure out who I want to be, what my values are, and how to truly embody those values. What I’m thinking about right now are the people who made this trip what it has been for me. South Africa is one big community: we are all brothers and sisters here. Over the semester this mentality has shaped the 29 of us, and we have become a family. On this trip we call one another co-educators rather than classmates. Our professors are co-educators, we are co-educators, the people I work with are co-educators…because we are all learning from one another. If there is one thing I’ve really experienced on this trip it is that I can learn from anything and anyone. I think I’ve generally held this idea to be true, but over the course of three and a half months I have learned from the determination of my co-workers, the discussions with my co-educators/housemates inside and outside the classroom, the life stories every person in South Africa is willing to share – I have learned about life. Life is so beautiful. Life is a story, a journey, thousands of pathways, the millions of stars in the sky, the air we breathe. Life is everything and learning is everything. Every single thing in the world is connected, and if there is one thing I have really felt on this trip, among the people, the stories, the trees, the stars and the experiences, it is that I am because we are, the most beautiful and inexplicable feeling of connectedness. Ubuntu, I love you.