JR reflecting on all he has learned and who he has become

I should start by saying how very lucky I am to have been on this trip.  This past three months have brought me a new way of seeing the world, an endless amount of new memories, and 30 new people I am blessed to call my friends.  After this trip, I will truly never be the same and Cape Town will always hold a special place in my heart because of that.

            

One thing I learned about myself  on this trip is that I don’t give myself enough credit most of the time.  At my final one-on-one with Marita, she mentioned that people say they acquired more confidence over the semester, which I was unsure if that applied to me.  But after some reflection, I think that this is definitely the case.  I have always been my own harshest critic as many people are of themselves, and my sense of humor is one of self-deprecation (I figure if you make fun of yourself the most, who can really make hurt you? Also to a lesser degree, making fun of myself avoids me making fun of and potentially hurting others, I figure I can take it).  But being around such a positive group of people, who really love you for who you are, I think it’s a much better way of handling the problem; kill them with kindness, if you will.  My fellow co-educator Audrey and I were discussing the other day that by the end of the semester, we weren’t worried about our insecurities (for her, her weight; for me my height.  I used to constantly feel the need to literally “size myself up” against other men) because we knew we could come home to 20 people who couldn’t have cared less how we looked.  It was beautiful, and very liberating.

Audrey & JR: beautiful and liberated!

Another great change I’ve noticed that is that I am constantly critically thinking.  I see the world in this totally new perspective, and I have opened my eyes to so many things that I had never noticed before.  This long dormant critical thinking skill now awakened now makes me enjoy things like literature more, being able to delve deeper into works than I could previously.  I feel like a more contributing member to society, constantly wanting to educate myself on all issues, and it excites me that I actively want to do these things now. 

            

This class was an amazing experience for me, one that has certainly changed the way I think and left me with many questions as to my future going forward.  But I have a nervous excitement to this upcoming future, I feel more secure that I will eventually find my calling, and I feel excited to know that my co-educators will be with me at each step.  I feel like a changed person leaving Cape Town, and I really appreciate that.  

Brianna: mission accomplished even though the journey is not finished

It is April 29^th, 2013, the Monday following the return of our arrival and I surprisingly realized that today, above all emotions, I am happy. Who would have thought that after the most amazing experience that I just got home from, that I would be smiling instead of crying right now? What I have come to realize is that I am smiling because everything that I just experienced…happened. Secondly, I have realized that I can’t say that this journey is over because that would be the biggest lie I ever told.

It seems like yesterday when we all boarded the plane and took off for Cape Town. Who would have thought it would all go by so quickly? As I’m in my bedroom, typing this blog post, I am pleasantly reminded of all the amazing times I had in such a memorable place. To measure the greatness of this trip in one moment would be impossible. It is of course the most tiny moments that are sometimes even forgotten that amount to some of the best memories. Therefore, I am lucky that I am able to revisit these moments through the pictures I hold dear to my heart of all who touched my life.

Brianna with her students from City Mission Educational Services

I have realized that the mood I am in isn’t a sad one. Of course, I miss those that I left back in Cape Town and all the people who helped make my trip everything it was. But it is to my surprise that I actually stand here happy and I have realized that my happiness is because I found satisfaction in everything I was a part of and I know that as much as I have touched the lives of others, they have reciprocated the favor and for that I am forever grateful.

What I have come to realize through this trip is that although Cape Town is visually one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen, what has made my experience was not the mountains, beaches, penguins, or safari that we all excitedly prepared for.

What made my experience were indeed the people around me. Whether this was my co-educators or everyone else I met along the way, they all contributed to my experience abroad. Our tears, smiles, laughter and good company with one another is what made this trip so memorable and unforgettable. Everything was real…every tear, every hug, as well as every ounce of laughter, but above all every smile. Our happiness was the most genuine emotion felt and it was contagious among each and every one of us.

What I have come to realize, was that deep down we all set off for this trip with a mission at hand. Some of us came to find a piece of us that was missing, while others hoped to remember a piece once forgotten.

Some of us wanted to get away from home for a bit and be independent, fully on our own in a new place that would soon become all too familiar and some of us simply wanted something new and exciting that surely remain unforgettable.

But amongst us all we were each ready and prepared to embrace a new part of our lives. We each stepped into the unknown and filled our hearts with hope for the best.

But instead of focusing on all of the differences that got us here, I am going to focus on our similarities and what unified us all. What I have discovered was that no matter what each of our agendas were and no matter how different they were from the other, we were on a mission and within each of our missions, we shared one commonality: the quest for true happiness.

The beauty of it all, is that this happiness was found in the most obvious and difficult spaces. Sometimes it was in our faces and other times we had to look harder for it but at the end of the day, we all felt it not just independently but also as a whole…together…as one. Therefore, I have realized in this very moment right now, that my happiness is from realizing our mission was accomplished even though our journey is not yet finished.

 

Brianna (far right) with all her co-educators

Tekowa filled with thankfulness for this experience

Its very weird to be writing my last blog, especially since I will not be leaving Cape Town until June. I have to say from the bottom of my heart that this program has been such a gift. I have learned so much about the world and myself from my co-educators and from everyone I have met in Cape Town.  As cliche as it may sound, I have learned the true meaning of Ubuntu here. Ubuntu has permeated my mind and my heart and that attitude of love and connectedness will follow me wherever I go. 

I cant begin to explain how lucky I feel to have been able to spend the past 3 1/2 months with such beautiful people, inside and out. The people I have met through this program have some of the biggest hearts I've come across.  I truly feel that we have become a family over the past couple months. Regardless of any ups and downs, at the end of the day we all love and care about one another, and that is something incredibly special. 

Tekowa, Marita, & Vernon

To Marita, Vernon, and Vincent: thank you so much for all you have taught and shared with us. You have had a powerful impact on all of our lives and I don't think that words can begin to express what you and this time here has meant to me. As Marita has put it: You've left your hand print on my heart. 

To the rest of my wonderful co-educators: I am so proud of all of you and what you have achieved here. I have seen every single one of us grow beyond belief and come closer to the amazing people we are meant to be. I feel privileged to have been a part of your journey, and you a part of mine. I have no doubt that you will all go on to do incredible things, as you are incredible people. You have all helped to restore my faith in humanity and I really believe that together we will change the world. This is just the beginning!

To Cape Town: You have stolen a piece of my heart and become a place that I call home. This is not good bye for I know this is not the last time I will see you. Your spirit of Ubuntu will always be with me. I have seen such pain, joy, warmth, strength, struggle, and resiliency in this beautiful city and I have to say that there is no place in the world quite like Cape Town. 

To the blog readers: Thank you for following our journey. Words can not explain what we have experienced here in Cape Town but we have done our best to share that with you. I hope that some of you will visit this beautiful place we've come to call home and I hope that through our blogs Cape Town has touched your heart too.

It is hard to accept that this experience is over, but this also the beginning of the next chapter for all of us. We are all richer in spirit because of this. Thank you Cape Town. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. 

UBUNTU: I am because we are.

Love, 

Tekowa

Jerard hopeful despite the challenging dualities of life

3 months have come to an all too rapid and abrupt end. During this time I’ve done everything from wrestling with elephants to putting on a talent show. As I sit here reflecting on everything we’ve accomplished as a group I can’t help but feel a sense of pride as well as a bit of sorrow. When we first arrived we were all struck by how beautiful South Africa is, and I remember being immediately struck by the pockets of poverty amidst the beauty. That is what this trip has been for me, a combination of ugliness amidst beauty. During orientation we were taken to all of the gorgeous views Cape Town had to offer. At the same time we were shown the townships that sprawled across sections of the city.

After being properly situated and released into the wild so to speak, I developed friendships with many of the locals. Once again even the people demonstrated the duality between beauty and ugliness. I met some of the most physically and spiritually beautiful people of my life. The people were able to wax poetic about community, love, forgiveness, courage, you name it. They forced me to reflect on things that I had never even considered in my entire life. Those same people could say equally terrible things. One of my coworkers for instance talked about how the country was moving towards a better place and how happy she was her kids were being given the opportunities she was never afforded. Immediately after this she, a coloured woman, began to talk about how terrible the blacks are in this country. She warned me against trusting them because they were dangerous and base creatures. It just went to show me that some prejudices die hard.

The people that came with me on this trip even began to demonstrate this duality. We would have these profound discussions about life and race, and turn around and make assumptions about one another and people we’d met. Or we would come to the realization that there was no point in sweating the small stuff and that everyone should show compassion to one another, right before we started bickering and treating one another poorly. Overall this group has grown and done some truly inspiring things. I think everyone has honestly developed a greater consciousness about how our actions can affect others.

All of this ugliness and beauty has given me something I might have lost along the way, and that’s hope. Being in South Africa has given me a hope for the future of our planet and our species. I see now that no matter what terrible thing is going on there is always something good to be found. My peers and the history of South Africa have taught me that if just one person stands up then they can make the world a better place. Our activist projects have shown me that everyone wants to be happy and do the right thing. All it takes is the opportunity. So as I fly home I feel a great sense of sorrow at leaving a place that has given me so much, but I know that the beauty of it all is that I’m going home to another beautiful place that is yearning to learn the lessons South Africa has taught me. To all of my co-educators, to the people of South Africa and to everyone waiting at home I cannot express how much I appreciate every last one of you, and words cannot describe how much I love everyone.

Carl's ready to share what he's learned

This semester has been so much fun and has taught me more then I ever thought it would. After this semester I am so much more aware of my white privilege, sexist advertisements, the racism and sexism in Disney, the separation of people based on race and class in the world,etc.. Once I leave here I don’t want to stop learning about these social dynamics and issues. I have already decided that I am going to establish a human right minor when I return home. Even though I won’t have much time over the next two years to fit in extra human rights classes, I will still find time to take them, even if it means I will

have to take another summer or winter of classes.

I now also have to start thinking of how I will share what I have learned to others once I return to the USA, which won’t actually be until the end of July for me. As of now, all I am sure of is that it wont be easy. It is hard to describe the social dynamics of Cape Town with words. It is one of those things that you just have to come here to experience. So everyone reading this, come to Cape Town and spend a good amount of time here. Experience the townships and talk to the wonderful people of Cape Town. All I can share for now is that when I get home I must stand up for what I believe in by acting on my values and not giving into the racist and sexist culture or the USA just to fit in. Over the next three months Im sure I will have plenty of time to reflect on my experiences here and come up with other ways to share what I am learning.

Ethan established a philosophy for life

Finding my “career” has been something I have struggled with since I was young. Always interested in a large multitude of things, it has always been a question of where I would focus my time and energy and which one of my interests would I make profitable for me. Most of family has always encouraged me to follow my passion, but there has always been an underlying tone of pursuing a career that guaranteed a job, even if it didn't necessarily appeal to me. Majors such as engineering, economics, and business have always been ones that I was encouraged to take, while when I wish to pursue the arts, there has been a level of skepticism involved. However, this trip truly has liberated my mind from the idea of financial gain. Sure it would be great to be financially secure, but I would much rather live a happy, adventuresome purpose driven life. There is nothing I fear more than sitting at a desk for the rest of my life, regardless of the financial benefits. Experiencing a little bit of traveling on this trip, I know that I will continue this exploration of this world. I only have about 60 years left on this earth if all goes well, so that is 60 years to see every corner of the Earth from the highest mountains to the jungles of the amazon. Raised on Indiana Jones, the travel channel, and fantasy novels, I have grown to love an idea of adventure, of excitement. However our culture tells us to ignore this idea, to only live through the characters of the movies. I must try to fight against this notion, and strive toward this purpose-driven life. One where I am truly happy, not simply financially secure. This time in Africa has helped me to realize, money has little to do with happiness. I have met countless co-workers and friends, many who live in Khayelitisha, and have little, but show amazing joy and passion for what they do, and are truly happy. Happier than most of the wealthy I know back in the states. Therefore, though this trip has not helped me specifically decide on a future career, it has established the philosophy in my mind that I will live and a choose a career according to what makes me happy, not anyone else. 

Avery with love and appreciation

To live anywhere in this world, you must know how to live in Africa. The only thing you can do is love, because it is the only thing that leaves light inside of you."-          Rian Malan.

I will truly miss Cape Town. The people I have met on this journey have left gentle fingerprints on my heart where they have touched my life and reshaped my being. To all my co-educators, continue to question your surroundings and be a mechanism of change. I am so proud to have been a part of your journey and watch us each morph into new, more aware human beings. I am excited now to see us as we stand now together with our bags packed as new people; excited with new values and invigorated with a passion to accomplish what at first may seem impossible. I hope that you each go on to tackle the greatest challenges- knowing all the while that you have a huge supporting team at the ready beside you. My deepest appreciations for each of you for arriving at the end of this journey, and a rowdy cheer for the next one!

Until we meet again South Africa- hold on tight to my heart.