I'M HERE I'M HERE!

After an excruciatingly long flight over, I arrived safely here in Cape Town. I landed last night so I went straight to bed after settling in a little bit.

It is currently 10:19 am and I should be taking advantage of the free day I have to catch up on some sleep, but my bed is right by the window...and we don't have blinds so the sun is blinding. And even with the sleeping eye mask I got on my flight over, the sun seeps through. AND, it's incredibly hot here so it's just not a very great combination to sleep.

(vent over)

Besides that, from what I've seen of Cape Town so far, it is beautiful!

I have the sea to look at when I wake up, and if I stick my head out the window I can see Table Mountain. Plans for today include going grocery shopping, exploring my area, running with my roommate, and grabbing sushi with a group of interns that I live with. I start work tomorrow and I am definitely looking forward to it. I'm not quite sure what to expect, but it's going to be great either way!

More updates soon to come.

Goals

I find that it is always better to go somewhere new with no expectations; that way, you will not be let down by the idealistic image you have in mind when it comes to seeing it in person. But I also find that it is important to go somewhere with a set group of goals. As I did when I studied abroad in France last semester, I also came up with a few goals that I would like to reach during my internship in Cape Town.

• Be punctual (meet deadlines, follow through, don't make people wait, wake up on time)
• Be open-minded (don't be afraid to say hi first, be flexible with new types of personalities)
• Be proactive (don't wait until the last minute to do something, initiate a fun idea to do)
• Become more knowledgeable of the non-profit sector (dive deep into learning about NGO governance and marketing, try to figure out if this is the industry I want to be in for the rest of my life or at any point of my life)
• Become very involved in the organization I will be interning for (offer as much time as they need, be patient, be receptive)
• Learn about the South African culture (people, food, places, things, music, language, etc.)
• Don't be afraid to try new things (go on a safari, go skydiving, join in on a traditional dance)
• Never take the experience for granted (live everyday to the fullest)
  

Two days left!

Travel Guides

T-minus 17 days until my departure for Cape Town, South Africa.
I am getting the same mixed emotions as I did when I left last semester to study in Lyon, France. Feelings of excitement, anxiety, fear, and thrill. I can't wait for what is in store for me the next few months.

Take a look at what these guys say about Cape Town:



Fodor's Cape Town Travel Guide

Lonely Planet's Cape Town Travel Guide