A "Thank You" to Cape Town

As I return to Michigan, I find myself reflecting on the incredible time I spent in Cape Town. This post is my way of saying thank you to the people, places, and experiences that made my study abroad journey truly unforgettable. There are so many moments within my experience that cannot be encapsulated by this one post, but with this series of "Thank-you" 's I attempt to try as all of these moments, whether joyful, difficult, or unexpected, played a role in shaping my experience. By framing my reflections as thank-yous, I am able to recognize all the small and large ways Cape Town influenced me. This is my way of acknowledging the city, the people, and the experiences that have helped to build my resilience, independence, and self-discovery. With so many experiences shaping my time here, it feels natural to begin my reflections with the places and moments that grounded me.

Thank you to the Cape Town mountains for grounding me, reminding me exactly where I was, how small I was, and my problems were, and lucky I was to be in Cape Town. Also, thank you for being so beautiful!

Thank you to the University of Cape Town (UCT) campus for challenging me, teaching me about balance, strengthening my resilience, and pushing my boundaries. Thank you for teaching me that I am capable of more than I thought.

Thank you to the IES Abroad cohort and staff for supporting me, guiding me, and giving me the structure and advice I needed to truly thrive in Cape Town. 

Thank you to Langa High School and Sisters Inc. for teaching me what empowerment and community development looks like in practice, and for inspiring me and reshaping the way I take action back in the US. Additionally, thank you to the friends made through volunteering, we've been though so much together.

Thank you to my African Dance class for reconnecting me with my body, pushing me to be creative, offering a new perspective on cultural continuity and appropriation, and challenging my body to move in ways it never had. Thank you for the beautiful conversations that came from this class and topic, and special thank you to Karina. 

Thank you to South Africa for expanding my palate, for giving me reminders of home through dishes like Eba/Pap but introducing new stews and spices with this. Thank you for the new foods and flavors that became instant favorites, I am currently missing biltong and Lays Thai Sweet Chilli chips.

Thank you to First Thursdays for lighting up the rest of the month.  There was never a dull first Thursday in Cape Town. 

Thank you to my favorite study spots, where I laughed, cried, talked late into the night, and spent more hours than I could ever count. Special thank you to "Jose" from one of the coffee shops we would study at, who always knew how to make me and Ari laugh. 

Thank you for the independence I discovered while studying abroad, and for the confidence that encouraged me to keep exploring, taking me to Ghana, Tanzania, and whatever place I end up next. The picture above is taken at Elmina Castle in Elmina, Ghana, formally known as Gold Coast, Ghana. 

Thank you to the unexpected moments and all the little things I can’t name—the conversations, friendships, beauties in nature, quiet kindnesses, etc that left their mark on every day I spent here. I will never forget the impact that even these things made on my time here. 

Thank you to the Cape Town sunsets for reminding me that even endings can be beautiful.

With that, I say goodbye to Cape Town, but I will never forget the memories, the lessons it taught me, and friendships that I made here.