Life in the Mother City

My semester abroad through Arcadia's College of Global Studies in Cape Town, South Africa was the single best experience of my life. Before leaving the U.S., I knew I was embarking on a trip of a lifetime, but little did I know the adventures that were in store for me and the personal challenges I would overcome. Leaving the U.S. in the dead of winter, and being greeted on arrival by Arcadia staff and a warm 80 degree sunny day was a good indication of the five months to come.

The classes that I chose at University of Cape Town (3) were very different to the small classroom setting I had been accustomed to. Going from classes of 20 students to lectures of 300 students was a challenge at first, but by the end of the semester I enjoyed the extra sense of freedom. A word for the wise, this is a top-tier university and as such the classes are rigorous in comparison to some study abroad classes. Yet, Arcadia's academic director, Alan, was very helpful in ensuring the success of all his students and making sure to help with any type of registration issues.

Cape Town itself is the perfect city to study abroad in. If you prefer the hustle and bustle of a vibrant urban city, Arcadia's residences are a quick 15 minute ride on a mini-bus taxi (for 6 rand/ $1usd) into the city. Day trips to the beach are easy; the train station was only a block away from my apartment, and about a $3 roundtrip fare. Similarly, if you prefer nature, hiking table mountain, lion's head, and exploring Kirstenbosch botanical gardens were frequent activities for me and my friends.

Other adventure activities that I was able to do while in Cape Town include going shark cage diving, bungee jumping off the tallest bungee bridge in the world, going on a luxury safari trip and seeing the "big 5", doing a full day wine tour in Stellenbosch, and going on a 10day horseback trek through the villages of Lesotho during Spring Break. The possibilities are simply endless for thrill seekers.

Overall, I've been looking for opportunities to return to Cape Town ever since I left. While I would recommend Cape Town no matter which study abroad company you choose, Arcadia's program is small and personal. My semester there were a total of 28 total student in our program, which meant that we all became close friends and we received the personal attention from the staff that you need during a new experience such as this.