South Africa – Page 7 – GW Blogs from Abroad

Sawubona from South Africa!

AdminSeptember 4, 2013December 14, 2018

Sawubona (Hello)! I'm currently abroad on the School of International Training (SIT)'s Community Health and Social Policy Program in South Africa. I chose this program because instead of traditional study abroad where you take classes at a foreign university, SIT is a program based on experiential learning. This morning, our Academic Director discussed with us exactly what "experiential learning" is. Instead of straight lectures, it's a combination of concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. Basically, this means that we will be integrating trips to museums, NGO's, hospitals, and having discussions on-site at various places around South Africa. To culminate our trip we are each required to do an Independent Study Project (ISP), which completes the experimentation portion of SIT. ...continue reading "Sawubona from South Africa!"

Lions and Zebras and Elephants

AdminAugust 25, 2013December 14, 2018

By tinavisc

I've done it! I've crossed 'Safari' off my bucket list for once and for all. The experience was actually quite amazing. The company picked me up at the crack of dawn yesterday morning and trekked about 10 of us 2 hours out of Cape Town straight in to the bush. ...continue reading "Lions and Zebras and Elephants"

5 (fun) ways to move your body in Cape Town

AdminAugust 25, 2013December 14, 2018

By tinavisc

The following post is inspired by Elon Musk's design for a hovercraft disguised as the Hyperloop.

Students, plagued by insolvency and open mindedness, have a unique opportunity to travel around this world unbound from the ordinary. My own experience on the matter has equipped me with tools to help along my fellow peers seesawing on the fulcrum of adulthood. Thus begins a tour through Cape Town by virtue of my own terrestrial body: ...continue reading "5 (fun) ways to move your body in Cape Town"

5 (Fun) Ways to Feed Your Body in Cape Town

AdminAugust 25, 2013December 14, 2018

By tinavisc

Considering I've amassed a curiously wide range of eatery wisdom in Cape Town since I've arrived, and all human beings, by nature, fancy a bit of food here and there, I can only conclude that the best and safest way to introduce Cape Town to the outsider is via the global arena of delicious chow.

!. Steers is the half-Burger-King, half-Mcdonalds, wholly-fabulous chain of fast food restaurants here in South Africa. I was introduced to this gem my first evening in Cape Town. After 24 hours of airport travel and one terrifyingly awkward night of conversation with strangers in a strange land, that bacon-avo-cheesebuger with Steers' "special seasoning" (MSG) gave me the strength to veto my brain's votes for fear and provided me with some comfort in the face of the unknown. ...continue reading "5 (Fun) Ways to Feed Your Body in Cape Town"

The Final Goodbye

AdminMay 7, 2013December 14, 2018

By skatz14

What a whirlwind this experience has been! It has gone by faster than I thought possible. As I am finishing up at my volunteering site, I have been thinking about this whole journey and how it has impacted me and what I have learned. I started my volunteering experience happy with what was ahead of me, but unclear of what types of relationships I would build with my students. Over the course of this experience, I have seen my student’s achievements as well as their struggles. I supported my students by listening and helping, and as a result I gained their trust.

For me, the best part of this experience was building the strong relationships that I now have with my students and will continue to remember. It is hard for me to think that when I say goodbye to my kids, I will not be able to keep in direct contact with them and see how they are doing in school and in life. I would love to be able to know how they are doing and where they end up. Although most of my students have been exposed to certain things that no one should ever be exposed to, especially as 9 and 10 year olds, I see the drive and passion in many of them to get past the negatives in their lives. I believe that many of them will persevere against the odds and end up in good places later on in life. ...continue reading "The Final Goodbye"

Difficulties and Successes

AdminApril 8, 2013December 14, 2018

By skatz14

My most recent volunteering experience was really different for me because I was the only volunteer in my classroom. It was the day before UCT’s spring break started, so the three other people who volunteer with me in my classroom could not attend, due to pre-break midterms and papers. Every classroom was really lacking in volunteers that day, so I learned what the schools must be like, since they tend to be so understaffed. Because I have around 15 students in my class, the beginning of the lesson was really difficult. SHAWCO aims to have a 3:1 ratio with students to teachers, so 15:1 seemed like the impossible. Eventually, I asked if one of the volunteers who had a much smaller 15-person 5^th grade classroom could join me since it was too much, and she agreed. There was another volunteer in her class that day, so she was able to help me ...continue reading "Difficulties and Successes"

The beginning of my experiences in Cape Town!

AdminFebruary 10, 2013December 14, 2018

By skatz14

Hello from Cape Town! So far, this trip has been indescribable and I have begun falling in love with this place. While I have been exposed to all of the wonderful things that Cape Town has to offer, it has also been shocking to see the huge wealth disparity between the different people of Cape Town. Although it can be comparable to the U.S., I have really never seen anything like it. ...continue reading "The beginning of my experiences in Cape Town!"