Browsing Tag

africa

South Africa

Ten Years Later: The Difference between “You” and “Ubuntu”

Ten years ago I went on the trip of my life. I was insistent this wasn’t going to be the case. Not only was I a young woman who had already seen the world, but no singular trip could change who I already was.

I have to say, it’s been only been recently I’ve come to admit the deep changes I’ve felt over the past ten years, brought specifically from the decision I made at 20 years old to travel to Cape Town, South Africa. My friends and family have reminded me for years that this trip was my great love. Continue Reading

South Africa

Rainy Day Last Day in Obs

It is rainy and overcast today in Obs. As a woman from the desert, it’s a treat to feel the protective surrounding of low-hanging clouds. It rained all night last night and the noise is something I’d not anticipated. Our home is constructed out of metal and paper insulation and our community is surrounded by sand. As the wind blows through the neighborhood, it sweeps up and scatters granules on the sides of the homes, making a smattering sound around the home throughout the storm. The contents in the house sporadically displaced as the wind blows pushes in on the walls and sneaks in though more porous areas of the home. Continue Reading

South Africa

African Time

I am learning the way in which I look at my world is not necessarily the most profitable to humankind. Yesterday, a few friends of mine on the trip and I were talking about the distinct difference in urgency between the U.S. and what we’ve experienced so far in South Africa. For most of us, we’ve never experienced anything quite like this before. Time, it seems, is a moving target here. Time is given, appointments are made. However, it doesn’t seem like there’s much stress in arriving at said time.  Continue Reading