Sharon looking forward to her internship

Carl, Sharon, Anna, JR

This week we went on the internship tours and I absolutely loved it. Visiting the various sites gave me a sense of hope—great people are doing amazing work in this country, such as fighting HIV/AIDS, facilitating social cohesion, and educating South Africans on human rights. I am particularly excited to start my internship tomorrow at the Cape Town Refugee Centre, where I hope to build relationships with refugees from all over the continent.

Our visit to the Cape Town Refugee Center was on the second day of our internship tour and it was the last site of the day. Although I was exhausted, I was immediately sparked with a burst of energy and nervousness as I entered the center. I learned that the center holds consultation days on Mondays and Tuesdays in an effort to meet with refugees directly, helping them apply for asylum and search for employment. This past summer, I interned at the International Institute of Connecticut (IICONN), which also serves similar work to help refugees become self-reliant, so I am excited and curious to compare the two experiences. I know that working in an international setting will obviously pose for different opportunities, especially considering South Africa’s history with apartheid and xenophobic attacks in 2008.

This past Friday, I went to visit Muizenberg beach—it was gorgeous!! Never before have I seen such fine white sand. I enjoyed hearing the familiar soothing sounds of the waves while watching the surfers trying to ride them. Hopefully, I will learn how to surf by the end of the trip-- I'll let you all know how it goes!!