Highlights: Two experiences stand out more than anything else on this trip. One was volunteering along the Garden Route, along the South Eastern Coast. We stayed in a different hotel almost every night for a week, and me and one of my friends would wake up and explore by taking a nice morning run. I got to volunteer with a Hospice care worker for a day, going in and out of shantytowns and the make-shift shafts of cancer and AIDS patients. Words can’t even describe how amazing this experience was for me. I saw life so differently afterwards…especially in regards to how much we take for granted and how we let little things bother us too much. Even in the conditions the patients were in, they seemed so happy and were so warm and welcoming.
Similarly, when I stayed with a family in a rural village, I saw true happiness. Happiness brought upon by family, loved ones, time spent together, playing soccer with any type of ball they could get, and dancing at night. They didn’t need television, electronics, games, computers…even a bathroom or running water! I was so appreciate of this experience and will carry it around with me forever!
Morning: Everything varied depending on the week! If we were on campus (Stellenbosch University), I’d wake up and have some breakfast before heading to class around 10am with the rest of my group. If it was a service day, I’d wake up early and have breakfast before boarding a bus to go volunteer at a public health facility. We went to centers focused on AIDS, rehabilitation, fetal alcohol syndrome, nutrition, tuberculosis, epilepsy, and hospice care.
Then there were the mornings we traveled to different parts of South Africa where I woke up in either a hotel room, camp site, or a hut in a rural village! Those were the best mornings…walking out of my bedroom and being greeted by a bright sun and nature all around me.
Afternoon: On campus, we’d all get lunch together in the University dining area and then head back to our afternoon classes. When we were volunteering, we would usually help the facility set up for lunch and eat there with them. This is where we got to experience true South African cuisine: lots of greens, butternut squash, maizemeal, breads, and meats. Then we’d start volunteering again! We usually helped clean and organize rooms. Every Friday, I was at the same Primary Health Care Clinic. Here, I would help the nurses with basic patient care…testing blood pressure and blood sugar. Eventually, the nurses taught me how to test for HIV and let me test patients under their supervision.
Evening: The 16 people in my group always hung out so it was very fun! We became regulars at a local Irish Pub and went there for trivia games every Tuesday. We tried a ton of restaurants around Stellenbosch, went on some wine tours, and would go into Cape Town every now and then to explore and try more restaurants. A VERY typical evening activity was a Braii…which is kind of like a BBQ but way better! It’s held over an open flame and once it gets started, EVERYONE is welcome. People bring their own meats, vegetables, and sauces, and everyone cooks, eats, and enjoys each other’s company. It was common for a Braii to be started by a couple people, and have at least 20 by the end. We even had a lot of Braiis as we traveled through the country. Definitely a good way to socialize and experience South African culture.