Cheers

The six weeks I spent in South Africa were the most rewarding, educational, humbling, and exciting weeks of my entire life. I never could have anticipated that my last-minute decision to volunteer there would turn out to be the best choice I have ever made. Although it was difficult to get used to life there at first, once I got the hang of it, Muizenberg became my home.

As I began my gap year I was a bit worried that my time away from school would put me behind my peers, but in the last six weeks I have gained invaluable insight that I wouldn't have been able to receive through formal education. On the surface level I am now an expert at long division, multiplication, and converting Rands to US dollars. I also learned a bit of Afrikaans, got a look into Xhosa culture, saw what life is like in townships, and experienced firsthand post-apartheid South Africa. But on a more fundamental level I have learned about the struggles, and more importantly the resilience, of people all over the world.

One of my favorite things about being at Christian David is that the children love the volunteers and are eager to talk to us. Soon after meeting me, they would begin to tell me about their family situations, life at home, and the problems that they deal with on a daily basis. One day a girl handed me a folded piece of paper. I opened it up and saw that she had drawn herself with her mother, her father, and her sister. She had written "I love you mom. I love you dad". I told her it was beautiful and that her parents were going to love it. But she responded that her father left the family and that her mother and sister don't like her. And then she gave the drawing to me. We played together for the next hour, and her energy and happiness completely disguised what she had just told me. The smallest kid in school is nicknamed Simba, and playing with him was one of the things I looked forward to most each morning. The day before I left he wasn't at school which really worried me. The next day he came and when I asked why he didn't come the day before, he told me that his mom had hit him on his leg and arm with a belt because she accused him of stealing. When he showed me his cuts and bruises I rubbed them and told him how strong he is. And then he flashed me the biggest smile and we played together, just as we would have any other day.

The most important things I am taking with me from South Africa are the relationships that I made with not only these children, but also with the other volunteers. In the US I often felt like I was the odd one out amongst the people I've grown up with. We are taught that there is one way to do things -- graduate from high school, attend a well-renowned university, get a 9-5 job that pays well, and have a nuclear family. Most of my friends from home are already well on their way to accomplishing this, but I didn't want to go on that track. In South Africa I met so many other people who are in similar mental and emotional states as me. Whether they are taking time off before going to university or still deciding what they want to do next, with them I feel totally comfortable for the first time in my life.

The hardest thing about leaving South Africa was saying goodbye to all the wonderful people I met on my journey. But the best part is I know there are going to be so many hellos again. My life has been forever changed by those who I met along the way, and for that I am so grateful. I could write for days about how amazing everyone is, but I will choose instead to focus on the experiences that we had together that illuminated all those wonderful attributes within the people I met.

So here's to Africa: Riding from the airport with Nick and having no idea where we were. Hiking Lion's Head. Almost driving in the taxi with the man who took the taxi sign off right after we got in. Going to our first Brass Bell. Late night conversations with Shari. Going on a safari. Partying at the beach bar. Bungee jumping off the highest bridge bungee in the world. Watching sunsets. Seeing penguins at Boulder's Beach. Coloring with the kids. Having an ant holocaust in our kitchen. Admiring my visa photo mugshot. Taking polaroid photos. Painting "A Trip Around the World" banner in three days. Oliver not knowing the Union Jack. Going to Mama Africa. Cooking Chinese Food with Richard. Hugging the kids. Being on bedrest for a weekend. Hiking Muizenberg Mountain and not getting arrested. Playing mini golf. Eating Tim Tams. Going to Brass Bell every Wednesday. Meeting Veronika and Tara at Gary's. Missing our flight to Victoria Falls. Finally getting to Victoria Falls. Gambling in Zimbabwe's largest Casino (along with eight other people). Walking from Zimbabwe to Zambia. Ana croaking in the middle of the night. Showing Tara how to eat goldfish. Taking a ferry to Robben Island. Reading A Long Walk to Freedom. The days when Diego would hang out instead of taking a siesta. Making self portraits with the kids. Having family night with pancakes and quesadillas. Bragging to everyone about my mom. Having dance-offs during interval. Waking up every day to a note from Hannah. FaceTiming with Vince and Riley and Matthew. Watching the kids Whip and Nae Nae. Making crowns with the children. Having lunch on Muizenberg Mountain. Going to Clifton Beaches. Meeting Beyonce. Playing soccer with the kids outside Royal. Cameron painting my face. Waking up on Thursday mornings. Letting the kids freestyle during class. Going to Cape Point and Stellenbosch. Hiking a Devilish Peak with Garrett. Getting kisses from the kids. Setting up my tent. Making GoPro videos with Clara. Going to Signal Hill with Sam. Finally receiving the package from my parents. Hiking Table Mountain with Hannah and Jordi. Almost seeing Ruby Rose in Cape Town. Spending my last day on the beach with the kids. Waking up for sunrise on my last day.

"And in the night we'll wish this never ends. We'll wish this never ends. I miss you, miss you."