Brianna on family, acceptance, and things that really matter

If someone was to ask me what made me come on this trip, my response would be that I needed to challenge myself differently. I yearned for a change. My life back in the states is absolutely wonderful and I am consistently embraced by beautiful people who have all made me the person that I am today. I have a wonderful family that supports me in absolutely anything that I want to pursue and I have a beautiful group of friends that love me unconditionally for the person that I am. To come and study abroad was simply a choice of mine. It was a personal choice because to me it was the next step that I needed to take in this journey of mine.  I am a Senior and although I am very confident in my future, I needed some clarity as to what I am ultimately passionate about and get some direction as to what I want to go into once I graduate. I knew that South Africa was the answer.

 So, here I am.

I find it incredible that within a short period of time, one can feel so apart of a community in which they are embraced by. I don’t just say this due to my homestay experience alone, but it’s how I feel about South Africa in general. I came here to this country and knew no one but Vernon who I had briefly met at UConn during an interview and the rest of the UConn body. Within a month’s span, I met so many inspirational people and they have already had a huge impact on me as a person. I find it so interesting how within a short time, your life can be changed and everything you once believed can be challenged.

Brianna with her host siblings:  Cleo, Chloe, and Cleon 

This past weekend, I got the opportunity to stay with a family in a Coloured community known as Ocean View. I have to say that this experience has really made me realize so much about South Africa and the people that call this beautiful place their home.  My host parents were Byda and Justin and their niece also stayed with us. My host parents had three children of their own, Chloe, Cleo and Cleon. I have to say, I truly enjoyed spending time with the kids. Kids are always full of energy and even though at times I would be exhausted, I found that their energy is somewhat contagious.

Byda is someone who I have so much respect for.  Not only does she hold her family down but she works at a Kindergarten school and still manages to find time to do what she loves which is singing. I admire her so much because we often neglect what we are passionate about, especially as women because other responsibilities come into play. But Byda manages to balance everything so perfectly. She cooks for the family, works during the day, and then when she finds time to herself she is either practicing with the band or singing in church the songs that she had once practiced. I think it’s important to find time to make for yourself and your interests because that can easily be lost when life gets in the way.

Ocean View was an experience that I will never forget. I understand that the people I lived with did not have much materially but what they had was what was most important. They had one another and to have one another is truly all that we need. We ate together and socialized together very often and this is something that I think needs to be valued a little more back home in the States. I feel as though back home since we are so advanced and fast-paced, we begin to forget what should matter most.

It’s as simple as this…

Money. We all want it. We all go after it. Almost everything we do is to get more of it. We are rarely ever satisfied. We get it. We spend it and then it’s gone.

Family. We have it. Whether it is biological or created, it’s here and always remains. We don’t have to earn it and we don’t have to worry about losing it. It is something that remains for eternity both physically and spiritually.

It makes sense which one we should value more. I much rather value what will always be here rather than something in which the only value it holds is the amount written on it. I value family and the value that it holds is always stable and consistent. Family isn’t just who we are biologically linked to, it’s the people that have entered our lives and have expressed love and respect for one another on a consistent basis. Family is just a word that means there is a community in which love is continuously expressed and I found an addition to my family in just four days. 

Brianna & Chloe