My South Africa Study Abroad adventure began early morning at the Tampa International Airport. Conflicting emotions surged through my mind and body, pulling between excitement, anxiety, and wonder. I have never been outside the United States and here I was, heading halfway around the world to South Africa.  As soon as my foot met the ground upon our arrival, it struck me. I was in Africa!  The trip was brimmed with lectures and interactions with faculty and students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), a trip into the scenic mountains to a farm, excursions and tours.

For the next two weeks we would begin our mornings traveling to NMMU and participating in lectures held by professors from the university. The human rights discussions rang truly intriguing to me. As we descended deeper and deeper into discussion, I quickly realized the similarities of the issues that South Africa faces and the issues that we face back home in the United States. With the apartheid government ending only in 1994, it was almost like taking a step back in time. With South Africa’s heart-wrenching but yet all too familiar history, I could still see glimpses of racism, segregation, inequality, corruption, and poverty that echoed a sonorous tone, one you could see that rang more noticeably than our own. Something that fascinated me was that I, a mixed race individual, belonged to a particular group called colored. Sort of being cast into the wind and not falling into a particular race in the U.S., in South Africa I was no longer black and white, but colored. Although South Africa has adapted one of the most progressive constitutions, I could still see the fresh wounds of the past trying to heal. Even though everyone was integrated, there was still a clear hesitation to interact with those outside of one’s race.

As the weekend approached, we headed to a farm in the mountains. The ride alone was amazing as I gazed upon mountain tops and windmills. The very first day we hastily drove off to a swimming hole with cascading waterfalls. The sun was just about already set and the water probably in the 60’s, so the swim was a bit chilly, but I was not going to pass up the opportunity. Moments of meditative-like serenity hooked me as I reached the summits of the mountains and hills we climbed. The sheer beauty and vastness on top of the mountain was like nothing I have ever seen before. I sat at the top and scanned everything around me. I took a moment, deep in thought and absorbed all that I saw and at that moment I was in another place.

All in all, my favorite part of my South Africa Study Abroad experience was interacting with the people of South Africa. To indulge oneself in another culture is truly a life changing experience. I went not fully knowing what to expect and in return got something I will never forget: a chance to learn and further understand how people across the world live. I got to see the truth, the reality, and the beauty of South Africa. It was a truly humbling experience.

—

Want to participate in a life changing experience like the South Africa Study Abroad program? Click here to learn how!