Category Archives: Uncategorized

After leaving Cape Town, my mom and I flew 4 hours north to Kigali, Rwanda. We spent 10 days exploring the country- learning about its history, its people, its land and its animals. Although we came for the adventure, my … Continue reading →

After 15 weeks in and around Cape Town, my semester abroad has come to a close. Through the ups and downs, home-stays and excursions- I’m walking away from this experience with a full heart. The best part of my semester? … Continue reading →

Each year on April 27th South Africa celebrates Freedom Day, a public holiday commemorating the first democratic elections held in South Africa 17 years ago today. After a half-century of white elitist rule, the 90% black majority took power just … Continue reading →

While Vanderbilt partied at the annual spring weekend, Ricky, Gerik and I declared this week Rites of South Africa. Ricky joined Gerik and I for the week for his holiday from studying abroad in Brazil. Gerik took a bit of … Continue reading →

By the time I post this I will have finished my fourth and final homestay. I have gone from a black township, to a rural Xhosa village, to a white Afrikaner family in wine-country, to a Cape Malayan Muslim family … Continue reading →

Last week we spent three days in the bush outside Cape Town. We visited !Khwattu, a San cultural center. We spent three days learning about the San people- the first indigenous people of Southern Africa. We learned about their traditional … Continue reading →

I have previously mentioned that this is a country of great contrast. In the past week we have done a complete 180. We arrived last Sunday in Stellenbosch for our third homestay. We stayed with a white Afrikaans family in … Continue reading →

After our week in Tshabo we spent three days at a backpackers lodge on the coast of the Indian Ocean. We spent the whole weekend under the sun- unwinding and preparing to switch gears for the homestay ahead. The beach … Continue reading →

A glimpse into the Xhosa lifestyle in Tshabo… AmaXhosa culture is full of loud singing and energetic dancing. Art is a form of expression that unites the women in Tshabo. Our mama’s and sisis gathered together to give us a … Continue reading →

I spent last week in the rural village of Tshabo in the Eastern Cape of SA. The Eastern Cape is the homeland for the amaXhosa. Many families have moved to Cape Town, Jobhannesburg and other cities around the country where … Continue reading →