cape town

Alarm systems, swimming pools, movie theaters, black maidservants, lectures, and sightseeing. These are only some of the many things that are a part of our lives here in Cape Town. Being here is so different from any other part of our trip. For the first time, we are more of traditional students and tourists than we are simple house-guests.

The bustle of life here in the city is almost refreshing... it's familiar. Cape Town is so much more than just one city. It's an entire area, really. From wineries to surfing, hiking to shopping, classes to camping; it seems that there is something for everyone here. My host parents already have a whole list of things they want to do with my roommate, Anna, and I. They are far to generous with us; we can hardly believe it. I am beginning to feel spoiled! We've already driven all the way down to the Cape of Good Hope, seen the penguins at Boulders, and took a tour of the city on Hop-on/Hop-off bus... and there are still many full days ahead of us for the next two weeks! I once again feel blessed to have been put into such a wonderful home. Our parents, Richard and Ria, are a lovely older couple who take good care of us. It has been fun to get to know them and a couple of the neighbors who live around us. Though, it's not quite like getting to know your neighbors in Soweto. It's a little harder to visit when you have gates, locks, and bolts to work past.

This part of the trip has just been interesting in general. It definitely has made some things about the country quite clear. One thing that is painfully visible here is that there is still such a huge social and economic divide between the black and white peoples who live in South Africa. Can you guess who gets the good jobs? Who works in the kitchen as opposed to being a waiter or waitress? Who is trying to sell little trinkets to stopped cars at traffic lights? Who is flocking to local boutiques and ritzy restaurants? Apartheid may be "over" but it certainly left a stink. It was hard to not feel a little confused and frustrated when I found out that the family we are living with has a black xhosa woman who works for them as a maidservant. We are definitely living on the other end of the spectrum now.

There is so much more to say about this trip that I feel I'll never be able to write about. Since I've begun reflecting a bit more (seeing how it's the end of the trip and all), I'm really starting to realize just how many things we've done, experienced, and learned. I certainly have a lot of feelings, memories, and thoughts that I still need to process. I'm really looking forward to coming home, but it will also be sad to leave here. And I know that I'll still be thinking about all of these things for years to come... who knows, maybe I'll never be able to stop writing about it. Maybe in the coming blog posts I'll try to focus in more on topics or stories. We'll see!

But anyway, I just wanted to take a few minutes to check in with you all. I'm pleased to report that I'm quite healthy at the moment... of course, this is after I went to the emergency room for an ear infection. Don't worry, they didn't have to cut it off or anything. I'm looking forward to coming home in one piece.