i love you, positive or negative

Wola Nani: Xhosa for "we embrace and develop one another."
A non-profit organization committed to providing a caring and developmental service that enables people living with HIV to respond positively to their status. Through counseling, home care, income generation opportunities, support groups and HIV/AIDS awareness and education, people with HIV are empowered to take control of their lives with confidence, dignity, and hope.

aka: My home for the next 4 months.
I accepted my internship with Wola Nani because I knew I wanted to get a more hands-on look at the non-profit sector, especially of one that specializes in an epidemic that impacts so much of the human race. South Africa has the fastest growing infection rate in the world. I am blessed with this opportunity to do my share and contribute as much of my skills as I can to further promote awareness for this cause.

Today is my first day of work.
It started off with an introductory meeting with the executive director. We sat and talked for a little bit about ourselves and the organization. She then gave me a tour of the office. It was definitely a lot more modest than my last co-op with CSN, but I like it. It's nice, small, and cozy. The employees here are very friendly and open. I was a bit nervous with how they would react to my Asian complexion (seems to be the case that everyone loves to stare at whoever looks different. oh well, at least I intrigue them), but they are all great. I have no clear job description, which is AWESOME. I love the fact that I can have all the flexibility I want to do whatever I want. My main goals are to: give the website a complete makeover, create an online catalog, work on product development ideas, help with design & sales of the craft shop, use photojournalism at the program/counseling sites to make brochures/newsletters, and whatever other help they need. It seems a bit ambitious, but hey...this is my first day of work and I tend to be too ambitious for my own good anyway. It's good to set goals, no? "Shoot for the moon: even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." [ha. ha. ha. gotta love the cheese]

Anyway, take a look at their website.
And look: they have a few products available at Anthropologie

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Yesterday's dinner was at this trendy sushi place called Tank. (Cape Quarter)










-Pink mojito (traditional mojito with added raspberry for flavor)


-Eel crunch roll (mmmmm, soaked in oily tempura batter)

Prices were great - for the ambience and awesome food, it only came out to R100. aka $13. I bet anything if it were the same exact restaurant in the states, it would've come out to well over $20. Gotta love the favorable exchange rates.

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Tomorrow's plans include: work & then drinks with Connect-123 interns @ La Med (Clifton) & clubbing at Hemisphere. (ABSA Centre)

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