Friday, April 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Here I Am
It's been a week and a day since I've been back home in the states. It's still a little difficult for me to pin-point what kind of perspective changes I have gone through and a little more time needs to pass before I draw my conclusions. But for the time being, I will give a little synopsis of what I did for the past 4 months and what I have learned from them.
Working for a non-profit organization that specializes in providing aid to those affected by HIV/AIDS in one of the highest victim counts in the world has been utterly challenging and eye-opening. From the first day I walked into the office to greet my supervisor, I sensed a connected and warm feeling from the organization and its staff members. I went into the job knowing that I needed to be patient, open-minded, and flexible. But what I did not realize was that I would need to be more than that. On top of being a typical proactive and punctual employee, I needed to be personable and receptive. It was just that kind of environment. I started off with a few projects on my plate - the main one being to re-design the website. A few others were to research potential donors, brainstorm new products for the income generation project, and to work on the catalog. As soon as I got my hands onto the income generation project, my supervisor and I both kind of knew that this was where I was needed most. The income generation project is something that helps families impacted by the AIDS epidemic. It provides income to many women who are HIV+, and also provides a sense of accomplishment, hope, and even distraction. When customers and buyers from all over the world order some paper mache bowls or beaded items, our clients (the women) will make them and receive money in return. I had the opportunity to expand this project. I started off with getting a feel for what colors, designs, and trends were popular this season. But then I realized I needed to just design pieces that were timeless, fun, and practical. So I started cutting and pasting all sorts of color swatches. And then I sat down with my supervisor and we chose a group of color combinations that would be made into prototypes. The turnover took awhile - maybe a week or two. But as soon as all the samples came back, I set up a little panel in the boardroom for my co-workers to choose their favorites and their dislikes. After drawing conclusions from the survey, I decided on 12 new designs. Just as a side note, Wola Nani has been carrying the same 10 or so designs for the past 10 years. So I helped them expand their product range to double the size. After deciding on which ones would make it to the catalog, I needed all the women to create every single color in every single shape and size. This was the hardest part because there are many sizes available - all the samples that needed to be made numbered well over 100. But in the meanwhile, I started to retake photos of all the original products. I created a new product catalog layout and started to edit and reformat the pictures. This was a verrrrrrry tedious task. It required a lot of patience and dedication. I actually worked up until the 2nd to last day I left, and even on my weekends. But I finished... well, for the most part. Although all of the products aren't on the catalog, it is easy to insert as soon as the samples are returned. It would've been nice to completely finish the catalog, and even the website design, but with the time I had in South Africa and the other opportunities to travel and spend time exploring a new country, it was honestly difficult to solely dedicate my time to the job. And on the first day, my supervisor advised me to take time off to go out and explore. So it's been a huge mix of work and play. I still committed to keep working on the projects while I am here, so my relationship with them isn't over just yet.
Apart from my job, there was still 50% of my time that was spent with friends, exploring, and experiencing. After work, most of the interns hung out - in same circles, groups, or overlapping cliques. But the point was, someone was always doing something. Whether it was hiking Lion's Head or Table Mountain, grabbing dinner at one of the hot spot eateries, watching a movie at home or at the theatre, going for a run at the boardwalk, playing soccer by the ocean, or just straight chilling. That is probably one of the things I miss most about Cape Town. How easy and accessible my friends were. I was never bored or anxious to do something. If anything, I was burnt out from doing too much. I was once again forced to break out of my comfortable and familiar bubble to expand my group of friends and to learn about different cultures. I met great friends along the way. Friends I can see myself hanging out with regularly once I get back to Boston, and even meeting up with in different cities. I can see that I have changed a lot over the past year with all the traveling and new experiences, but that is exactly what I wanted and needed. Different = good. Change = good. Now it is my job to assimilate my old life into my new life. Taking my old values and goals and placing them into my new lifestyle, with new ambitions and perspectives. All in all, it has been an incredible (geez, I need to find better adjectives..I seem to play them out too much) experience. Definitely unforgettable, eye-opening, and nearly impossible to leave.
Working for a non-profit organization that specializes in providing aid to those affected by HIV/AIDS in one of the highest victim counts in the world has been utterly challenging and eye-opening. From the first day I walked into the office to greet my supervisor, I sensed a connected and warm feeling from the organization and its staff members. I went into the job knowing that I needed to be patient, open-minded, and flexible. But what I did not realize was that I would need to be more than that. On top of being a typical proactive and punctual employee, I needed to be personable and receptive. It was just that kind of environment. I started off with a few projects on my plate - the main one being to re-design the website. A few others were to research potential donors, brainstorm new products for the income generation project, and to work on the catalog. As soon as I got my hands onto the income generation project, my supervisor and I both kind of knew that this was where I was needed most. The income generation project is something that helps families impacted by the AIDS epidemic. It provides income to many women who are HIV+, and also provides a sense of accomplishment, hope, and even distraction. When customers and buyers from all over the world order some paper mache bowls or beaded items, our clients (the women) will make them and receive money in return. I had the opportunity to expand this project. I started off with getting a feel for what colors, designs, and trends were popular this season. But then I realized I needed to just design pieces that were timeless, fun, and practical. So I started cutting and pasting all sorts of color swatches. And then I sat down with my supervisor and we chose a group of color combinations that would be made into prototypes. The turnover took awhile - maybe a week or two. But as soon as all the samples came back, I set up a little panel in the boardroom for my co-workers to choose their favorites and their dislikes. After drawing conclusions from the survey, I decided on 12 new designs. Just as a side note, Wola Nani has been carrying the same 10 or so designs for the past 10 years. So I helped them expand their product range to double the size. After deciding on which ones would make it to the catalog, I needed all the women to create every single color in every single shape and size. This was the hardest part because there are many sizes available - all the samples that needed to be made numbered well over 100. But in the meanwhile, I started to retake photos of all the original products. I created a new product catalog layout and started to edit and reformat the pictures. This was a verrrrrrry tedious task. It required a lot of patience and dedication. I actually worked up until the 2nd to last day I left, and even on my weekends. But I finished... well, for the most part. Although all of the products aren't on the catalog, it is easy to insert as soon as the samples are returned. It would've been nice to completely finish the catalog, and even the website design, but with the time I had in South Africa and the other opportunities to travel and spend time exploring a new country, it was honestly difficult to solely dedicate my time to the job. And on the first day, my supervisor advised me to take time off to go out and explore. So it's been a huge mix of work and play. I still committed to keep working on the projects while I am here, so my relationship with them isn't over just yet.
Apart from my job, there was still 50% of my time that was spent with friends, exploring, and experiencing. After work, most of the interns hung out - in same circles, groups, or overlapping cliques. But the point was, someone was always doing something. Whether it was hiking Lion's Head or Table Mountain, grabbing dinner at one of the hot spot eateries, watching a movie at home or at the theatre, going for a run at the boardwalk, playing soccer by the ocean, or just straight chilling. That is probably one of the things I miss most about Cape Town. How easy and accessible my friends were. I was never bored or anxious to do something. If anything, I was burnt out from doing too much. I was once again forced to break out of my comfortable and familiar bubble to expand my group of friends and to learn about different cultures. I met great friends along the way. Friends I can see myself hanging out with regularly once I get back to Boston, and even meeting up with in different cities. I can see that I have changed a lot over the past year with all the traveling and new experiences, but that is exactly what I wanted and needed. Different = good. Change = good. Now it is my job to assimilate my old life into my new life. Taking my old values and goals and placing them into my new lifestyle, with new ambitions and perspectives. All in all, it has been an incredible (geez, I need to find better adjectives..I seem to play them out too much) experience. Definitely unforgettable, eye-opening, and nearly impossible to leave.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Time Flies When You're Having Fun
I can't believe another 4 months have passed and I have to say "see you later" to another place I have grown to love and cherish. I admit...I am not very good at letting go and saying good-byes. I suck at it very bad, actually. I almost get unemotional so I can avoid bawling like a baby. And then it hits me minutes, hours, or days later when I am alone and then it is too late to do anything about it. This time around, I want to tell people how I feel upfront and in the moment rather than waiting until later.
I can point out who I will miss most.
And that, to me, is a success. It means that I have grown close to people who were completely new strangers months ago, but now have become some of my closest friends. I am relieved that those who belong in that pile also live where I have homes: the south and the northeast.
------ (warning: sap level will be on high) -------
It's unbelievable.
It hurts.
Really, REALLY hurts.
I've been repressing it pretty well.
But....
It's starting to hit me all of a sudden that in a matter of a few days, I will be taken away from here.
And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.
I even tried to check if I could extend my flight for a few days.
But I know my parents would flip out and it would also probably cost me more than my entire ticket.
As much as a few days in Cape Town are golden and irreplaceable, it won't be worth it. I'll just be teasing myself and allowing myself to get even more attached.
It's sad to be parting from friends and my co-workers. But it is even sadder that I don't know the next time I will be back.
I was completely certain I would return for the 2010 World Cup, but now I have changed my mind. I fast forwarded in my mind to how it will be, and I pictured a changed Cape Town. One with ginormous waves of tourists, commercialized everything, a facade. And I know how I will react. It will taint my image of the Cape Town I love. So instead of having two years to wait, I will wait a few more than that. And it will be okay because I would rather have the Cape Town without all the tourists, although I technically fall into that category.
Crazy.
Crazy crazy crazy.
I am not going to sleep for the next 72 hours. I planned ahead and saw everything I wanted to see from Cape Town and around, but I still need as much time as possible these last few days.
I'm not ready to go back to the real world. Not just yet....
hey cape town.
hey friends.
a piece of my heart belongs to you.
I can point out who I will miss most.
And that, to me, is a success. It means that I have grown close to people who were completely new strangers months ago, but now have become some of my closest friends. I am relieved that those who belong in that pile also live where I have homes: the south and the northeast.
------ (warning: sap level will be on high) -------
It's unbelievable.
It hurts.
Really, REALLY hurts.
I've been repressing it pretty well.
But....
It's starting to hit me all of a sudden that in a matter of a few days, I will be taken away from here.
And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.
I even tried to check if I could extend my flight for a few days.
But I know my parents would flip out and it would also probably cost me more than my entire ticket.
As much as a few days in Cape Town are golden and irreplaceable, it won't be worth it. I'll just be teasing myself and allowing myself to get even more attached.
It's sad to be parting from friends and my co-workers. But it is even sadder that I don't know the next time I will be back.
I was completely certain I would return for the 2010 World Cup, but now I have changed my mind. I fast forwarded in my mind to how it will be, and I pictured a changed Cape Town. One with ginormous waves of tourists, commercialized everything, a facade. And I know how I will react. It will taint my image of the Cape Town I love. So instead of having two years to wait, I will wait a few more than that. And it will be okay because I would rather have the Cape Town without all the tourists, although I technically fall into that category.
Crazy.
Crazy crazy crazy.
I am not going to sleep for the next 72 hours. I planned ahead and saw everything I wanted to see from Cape Town and around, but I still need as much time as possible these last few days.
I'm not ready to go back to the real world. Not just yet....
hey cape town.
hey friends.
a piece of my heart belongs to you.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Love Today
Everything about today has been splendid.
I woke up and expected to see the white fog that has been covering the mountains for the past week. Instead, I woke up to a patch of sunlight (yay!) and a glimpse of Table Mountain. It has never looked so good. The only good part about having glass doors as windows is to look out and see something. anything. Throughout the day, the fog has dissipated into thin air and now I see the Cape Town that I grew to love. The mountains towering over the city is so very comforting.
Work went really well too. Knowing the fact that these are the last few days I'll be working, I have been extra motivated and focused. I also had a chance to talk to some of my co-workers on a more intimate and beyond-business level. One co-worker, Nomonde, has been one of my strongest inspirations here. She has a heart of gold. She invited me to her house for dinner with her husband tomorrow. I'm really excited to see where she lives since I've never been to that part of town before. I am truly going to miss our long conversations in the kitchen/lunch room... Another co-worker, Leigh-Ann, is about ready to pop! She is expecting a baby boy next month but I don't think she'll make it... She always comes over to me because she knows I want to feel it kick. We're throwing her a surprise baby shower this Friday. Which reminds me, I need to go buy her + her baby presents!
Tomorrow is going to be a bit jam packed. Starting with a busy day at work, driving home with Nomonde for dinner, and then going straight to the airport to pick up Agnes. (!!!)
But that is tomorrow and I shouldn't be worrying about that.
So back to today. And my love for today.
I had a conviction to make a video collage of my experience here. I've been documenting a few events, such as concerts and sporting events, but I need more footage of EVERYDAY LIFE and my friends. I love pictures and all, but there is nothing more real and true-to-life than live..action. I started to take some videos on the way home, and I learned the hard way, but I shouldn't be driving a manual in traffic at the same time.
Yep, so I'm back to driving a manual. A white Chico to be exact. It's fun (well, not the part with no power steering. But at least I'm getting some exercise in my non-existent work out plan). I drive barefoot, always on low gas, with my iPod in both ears, and a crack of my window down. I hardly miss the automatic Hyundai that Courtney took along her road trip. Driving manual is so much fun - the pick up is good and it saves gas. I doubt I can return back to automatic driving.
We're planning on going to Pancho's for dinner tonight. Mainly for Doug's going away occasion. Sigh, another friend to say see you later to. But he's supposed to move to Georgia, so I'm sure I'll see him around again.
Anywho, I am such a workaholic..but I need to finish the catalog so that is calling my name now.
lataah
I woke up and expected to see the white fog that has been covering the mountains for the past week. Instead, I woke up to a patch of sunlight (yay!) and a glimpse of Table Mountain. It has never looked so good. The only good part about having glass doors as windows is to look out and see something. anything. Throughout the day, the fog has dissipated into thin air and now I see the Cape Town that I grew to love. The mountains towering over the city is so very comforting.
Work went really well too. Knowing the fact that these are the last few days I'll be working, I have been extra motivated and focused. I also had a chance to talk to some of my co-workers on a more intimate and beyond-business level. One co-worker, Nomonde, has been one of my strongest inspirations here. She has a heart of gold. She invited me to her house for dinner with her husband tomorrow. I'm really excited to see where she lives since I've never been to that part of town before. I am truly going to miss our long conversations in the kitchen/lunch room... Another co-worker, Leigh-Ann, is about ready to pop! She is expecting a baby boy next month but I don't think she'll make it... She always comes over to me because she knows I want to feel it kick. We're throwing her a surprise baby shower this Friday. Which reminds me, I need to go buy her + her baby presents!
Tomorrow is going to be a bit jam packed. Starting with a busy day at work, driving home with Nomonde for dinner, and then going straight to the airport to pick up Agnes. (!!!)
But that is tomorrow and I shouldn't be worrying about that.
So back to today. And my love for today.
I had a conviction to make a video collage of my experience here. I've been documenting a few events, such as concerts and sporting events, but I need more footage of EVERYDAY LIFE and my friends. I love pictures and all, but there is nothing more real and true-to-life than live..action. I started to take some videos on the way home, and I learned the hard way, but I shouldn't be driving a manual in traffic at the same time.
Yep, so I'm back to driving a manual. A white Chico to be exact. It's fun (well, not the part with no power steering. But at least I'm getting some exercise in my non-existent work out plan). I drive barefoot, always on low gas, with my iPod in both ears, and a crack of my window down. I hardly miss the automatic Hyundai that Courtney took along her road trip. Driving manual is so much fun - the pick up is good and it saves gas. I doubt I can return back to automatic driving.
We're planning on going to Pancho's for dinner tonight. Mainly for Doug's going away occasion. Sigh, another friend to say see you later to. But he's supposed to move to Georgia, so I'm sure I'll see him around again.
Anywho, I am such a workaholic..but I need to finish the catalog so that is calling my name now.
lataah
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Oh, the Irony
Remember that dream I wrote about in my last post?
Well, I was talking to my brother the other day and being the forgetful guy he is, he always asks me the date I am coming back home. To be 100% sure that it was May 31st, I dug through my Gmail inbox and found the e-ticket, expecting it to say: Departure - May 30th, Arrival - May 31st. To my disbelief, my departure is at 1:40 pm on May 29th. To describe how I felt, it felt like someone punched me really hard in the stomach (even though I have no idea how that would feel like).
I have been hanging out with Lauren a lot more, recently. We go out to drink and dance, throw after-parties aka eating our hearts out and talking about everyone's silliness, then attempt to be productive in the day time. Well, in the midst of all these activities we have been bonding over our love of S. Africa and the dark despair of having to leave. But her and I are both the type to try to stay optimistic. The last time we spoke about it was at Lola's Cafe on Long Street, talking over her 4-cheese macaroni and my two-choice Indian curries. She reminds me a lot of my Lyon roommate, Claire, because I usually bring up how much I will miss something. Their response is usually to forget about it and to just focus on the now and make the most of it. It's good to have people like that in your life. They kind of just bring everything to light and slap some sense into you. I haven't brought it up since. Not out loud, anyways. But after looking at my calendar, and going forward a few pages in my weekly planner, realizing that 3 pages later I will be at home, well. I can't help but think about it again. It's like an annoying tick that won't go away.
Well, on the brighter side of things, my friend that I met in Lyon is coming to visit for a week!! I am super excited about it because it will give me more reason to go out and explore the city.
Plan is to go out tonight, so time to wrap up some unfinished work. Cheers.
Well, I was talking to my brother the other day and being the forgetful guy he is, he always asks me the date I am coming back home. To be 100% sure that it was May 31st, I dug through my Gmail inbox and found the e-ticket, expecting it to say: Departure - May 30th, Arrival - May 31st. To my disbelief, my departure is at 1:40 pm on May 29th. To describe how I felt, it felt like someone punched me really hard in the stomach (even though I have no idea how that would feel like).
I have been hanging out with Lauren a lot more, recently. We go out to drink and dance, throw after-parties aka eating our hearts out and talking about everyone's silliness, then attempt to be productive in the day time. Well, in the midst of all these activities we have been bonding over our love of S. Africa and the dark despair of having to leave. But her and I are both the type to try to stay optimistic. The last time we spoke about it was at Lola's Cafe on Long Street, talking over her 4-cheese macaroni and my two-choice Indian curries. She reminds me a lot of my Lyon roommate, Claire, because I usually bring up how much I will miss something. Their response is usually to forget about it and to just focus on the now and make the most of it. It's good to have people like that in your life. They kind of just bring everything to light and slap some sense into you. I haven't brought it up since. Not out loud, anyways. But after looking at my calendar, and going forward a few pages in my weekly planner, realizing that 3 pages later I will be at home, well. I can't help but think about it again. It's like an annoying tick that won't go away.
Well, on the brighter side of things, my friend that I met in Lyon is coming to visit for a week!! I am super excited about it because it will give me more reason to go out and explore the city.
Plan is to go out tonight, so time to wrap up some unfinished work. Cheers.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sea of Sadness
Interns are dropping like flies.
Saying "see you later" to 8 friends is exhausting. Especially if you don't know the next time you will see them. Optimistically, I will cross paths with everyone I have made special ties with but realistically, I won't see most of them ever again. In addition to sending people off to their worlds back home, it struck me that it is finally May. Scratch finally. What I meant to say was ...already May. I had a dream a few days ago while sleeping at a backpackers in Noordhoek. The date in my dream was April 30. One of my friends, Doug, approached me saying that I had to leave for the airport right away. I had to pack my bags on the spot, say my goodbyes, and bawl like a baby on the way to the airport. In my head (in the dream) I thought my ticket was actually April 30, when in real life it is May 30. So it was definitely plausible in the dream that I had misread the ticket by a month. When I woke up, I had a deep heavy feeling in my chest because I thought I had to go home that day. That's when it hit me. My conviction. I need to keep making the most of what is here. If anything, I need to make more of it. Time is too short. Days go by slow, but months go by fast. I sit here, my third month into my internship, and it breaks my heart to think that I will have to leave in 3 weeks. If I had it my way, I would stay until fall semester. But Boston and summer school is calling my name, so I gotta run with that. I guess the brighter side of all this sadness is that most of the closest friends that I made here are from school or from the south. Reunions will definitely be possible.
.....
Yet, I am still swimming in my sea of sadness.
Saying "see you later" to 8 friends is exhausting. Especially if you don't know the next time you will see them. Optimistically, I will cross paths with everyone I have made special ties with but realistically, I won't see most of them ever again. In addition to sending people off to their worlds back home, it struck me that it is finally May. Scratch finally. What I meant to say was ...already May. I had a dream a few days ago while sleeping at a backpackers in Noordhoek. The date in my dream was April 30. One of my friends, Doug, approached me saying that I had to leave for the airport right away. I had to pack my bags on the spot, say my goodbyes, and bawl like a baby on the way to the airport. In my head (in the dream) I thought my ticket was actually April 30, when in real life it is May 30. So it was definitely plausible in the dream that I had misread the ticket by a month. When I woke up, I had a deep heavy feeling in my chest because I thought I had to go home that day. That's when it hit me. My conviction. I need to keep making the most of what is here. If anything, I need to make more of it. Time is too short. Days go by slow, but months go by fast. I sit here, my third month into my internship, and it breaks my heart to think that I will have to leave in 3 weeks. If I had it my way, I would stay until fall semester. But Boston and summer school is calling my name, so I gotta run with that. I guess the brighter side of all this sadness is that most of the closest friends that I made here are from school or from the south. Reunions will definitely be possible.
.....
Yet, I am still swimming in my sea of sadness.
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