Age: 24

What work did you do while on the program?

I worked at Sunnyside Primary School in Athlone, Cape Town.

What was your accommodation?

I lived with 3 other volunteers with Mr. and Mrs. Prince. It was a two story house very close to the school. The volunteers had the entire 2nd level of the house to ourselves. The house had a pool and a nice view of Table Mountain.

Did you travel while you were there?

Yes. I was in South Africa for a total of 3 months. My friend and I traveled up the coast using the Baz Bus, which was safe and a good way to meet other backpackers.

What is your top tip for future participants?

Go with an open mind. Listen to what the locals tell you, especially about safety. They live there; they know what they’re talking about. Remember you’re in a third world country; you have to be more aware of what’s going on around you. Pack light! You will hate yourself if you over pack. You don’t need much. Just wear the same things over and over. No one cares! You only have 8 weeks at your placement, which goes by so fast. Make the most of your time. Talk to everyone you can. Make as many connections as possible, because the people you meet and get to know in your time will be your most profound experiences and memories. Get ready to have an experience that will change your life!!!

What do you miss about your host country?

Sunsets behind Table Mountain. Drum circles. Muesli, yogurt, and fresh fruit for breakfast. All the different accents. Outdoor kitchens and campfires. The seafood! Eating raw oyster’s right out of the ocean. Whales breeching in the harbors. Braai’s. Cheap beer. Fantastic local wine. Seeing baboon’s as you drive down the road. The kindness of the people…

What did you miss about the USA?

Driving. Fast internet. Real American hamburgers. College basketball. American football…

What's your best story from your travelling?

One of my best memories from volunteering was when I went with the 4th years to Froggy Pond for the night. Froggy Pond is an open air camp near Simon’s Town overlooking the water. There were 40 kids in the class and not everyone could afford to go, even though it was less than $10 per child, so all the kids in the class did a car wash to raise money so that no one would be left out. Everyone met at Sunnyside in the morning and the children fought over who I would ride with. I hopped into a van with two parents and 3 kids and we took off down the scenic road along the water to Simon’s Town. It was the first really warm day we’d had since I’d arrived in South Africa and the water was so green that I remember looking out the window and pinching myself to make sure I was really there. When we arrived at Froggy Pond I threw my stuff in the girls bunk room and took off down to the water for a walk along the rocks. I walked down to Boulder’s Beach where I saw a few penguins sunbathing and splashing in the water before heading back to see what the kids were getting into. They were all out on the beach preparing for a sandcastle building contest. As the evening grew closer and the sun started to go down the air got a chill to it, so we all headed in for showers and warmer clothes. While dinner was being prepared by some of the mother’s who had come along, the children split into groups for the talent show we were having that night. The dinner was pasta and meat sauce and tasted wonderful after being outside all day. The talent show was the highlight of the trip for me. The kids were so cute, talented, and full of laughter. After everyone performed, their teacher got on stage and they all sang songs and danced together. My heart fluttered and I silently thanked God for giving me the opportunity to be there and have these experiences. Everyone still buzzing with the excitement of the talent show headed back to the kitchen to play cards and board games. All the sweets and chocolate that their parents had packed them were finally allowed to be eaten. Getting them to go to sleep that night was going to be a mission! The children gathered around me and wanted to know everything about America. They wanted to know if all the schools had McDonald’s in them and if I was near the Twin Towers when they were hit. They sang 50cent “In Da Club” to me, which makes me smile to this day whenever I hear that song. I woke up the next morning after a restless night of sleeping in a cabin with 20 giggling girls and walked outside and sat on the steps over looking the water. A mother whale and her baby were right out front so close to the shore I couldn’t believe it. I sat there in awe as they breeched and blew water high into the sky. It was the most stunning scene I’ve ever seen. Eventually they swam on and it was time to head back to Sunnyside. That night in Athlone, I sat on the balcony of the Prince’s house and watched the sun set behind Table Mountain, listening to the children playing on the soccer field, and feeling light at heart. I wondered how I could ever describe any of this to someone back home and I knew no one would truly understand. As the sky turned shades of orange and red and the last sliver of light sunk behind the mountain, I could feel the changes within myself and hoped that my short time here has made a difference, even if it’s a small one.