listening, learning, and living: a life-changing South African experience

i really couldn't say one bad thing about my experience with sit in South Africa! it was really really amazing and the program did an incredible job of ensuring that we were given the opportunities to make the trip such a special and life changing one. I did the homestay and that part was a great way to get immersed in the people and culture within the township of Cato Manor. I learned how to cook with my mama, was exposed to the ways of living for both children and adults in this community, and was able to gain experiences that could never be taught in a classroom. Going out at night, meeting people our age and hearing of their lifestyles and interests was another really special aspect of the trip. I can honestly say that i have made life long friends from around the world as a result of my ventures out with other SIT students. The program and its structure constructed a great balance of learning about traditional zulu culture and history, in tandem with experiencing contemporary durban culture for young adults in our same place in life. The field based work was really special as well because we not only learned from the best professors in durban (which imraan and the team did a terrific job of scheduling for us) but we also were able to apply that learning to our observations in classrooms across the province. From staying in rural, tribal lands, to visiting prisoners and learning about other systems like the prison system, to going out with amazing people from around the world, to visiting museums and art galleries across different cities, to hearing from young and old students and educators, the experience really could not have reached a more vast and diverse range. I can genuinely say that this program was flawless in my mind.