Cape Town, South Africa- Sean
1) Why did you decide to Study Abroad? Specifically, what made you choose to go to Cape Town?
I chose to study in Cape Town because I wanted to go somewhere that I probably would never go to in my life. I figured that I’d likely have another opportunity to explore Europe in the future but it was unlikely that I’d ever get to spend time in South Africa, so going somewhere “off the beaten path” was important for me!
2) What was your favorite part about Cape Town?
My favorite part about Cape Town was definitely the natural beauty of the city. There are dozens of beaches within a few minutes of the city center and 3 mountains to hike within the city! I would hike every week and spend a lot of time on the beach! The natural beauty of Cape Town and South Africa in general is what made it such a special place to be.
3) Describe a day in the life of a student in Cape Town?
Every morning, I’d take the “Jammie” (a shuttle for University of Cape Town students) from the bus stop outside my house to main campus. Most classes met four days a week, so I’d go to my classes and then get lunch somewhere on campus or in the surrounding neighborhoods. One part of South African life that was very different than college here is that everyone has off between 12pm-1pm. During this time, called “Meridian”, campus is packed and alive because everyone is enjoying their hour free from class. Campus was beautiful and sat on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, the tallest mountain peak in Cape Town. After school, there wasn’t that much out-of-class work in comparison to Geneseo so I had a lot of free time after school ended for the day!
4) What were your accommodations like?
I lived in a house off-campus with 10 other international students. It was a really great experience because we had a lot of independence. Since we were off-campus in a neighborhood about a mile from the University, we were really immersed in the Capetonian culture. There was also a complex across the street that a lot of students from various parts of Africa lived in. Our home was a nice house with a small backyard patio. Cape Town can be a “sketchy” city but our home had barbed-wire fencing, bars on the windows and a security system that would alert authorities! Our house had a full kitchen, a living room with three couches, a dining table and some lawn chairs in the backyard patio! My house was one of the best parts of my experience abroad. My housemates became my best friends and I loved the independence we had!
5) Did you do any traveling while abroad in Cape Town? Where?
While staying in Cape Town I had the opportunity to explore the surrounding parts of South Africa as well as neighboring countries! Me and two of my friends spent “Spring Break” in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and then did a five-day camping safari in Botswana. We slept in tents, surrounded by lions and elephants, while in Botswana and had the opportunity to see the world-famous Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe! I also enjoyed some time on the southern coast of Africa driving the “Garden Route”, a famous drive in South Africa. My housemates and I ended our semester abroad with a trip to Hermanus, a small town known for its whale watching and great white shark cage diving!
6) What is one thing you wish you could have done differently?
I wish I remembered to put on sunscreen. One of my first days in South Africa, we went to the beach. The UV Index in Cape Town during the summer is extremely high and I got pretty bad sun poisoning on the back of my legs. I couldn’t walk normally for a few days which was pretty embarrassing. So, if you’re going to South Africa during their summer, make sure you wear sunscreen!! Other than that, my time abroad went better than I could’ve ever imagined!
7) What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
I hiked at least once a week while in Cape Town. There are so many trails to hike up Table Mountain, Devils Peak and Lions Head. Hiking was definitely the best part of my semester abroad. When it was a really nice day out, I’d spend my free time laying on one of Cape Town’s beaches! Walking around the Waterfront, a tourist area filled with people from all around the world, was nice whenever I wanted to spend some time feeling like I’m on vacation. Cape Town has an incredibly large and diverse nightlife as well! Whether I was going to Long Street in City Center or playing trivia at the local bar, I always knew I could find something fun to do every night of the week! Also, when in Cape Town, you need to take a trip out to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek and go on a world-famous wine tour! South Africa produces some of the best wines in the world!
8) What is one thing that anyone interested in going to Cape Town should know?
Parts of Cape Town are very developed and safe. On the other hand, there are many neighborhoods that are still developing, including some of the neighborhoods that international students live near. Being aware of your surroundings and taking precautions is extremely important in a city like Cape Town. Because of South Africa has only been free of apartheid for about two decades, there is still a lot of inequalities in the country. You will notice this the second you leave the airport and see the townships. Being aware of South Africa’s political past and former white-minority rule will help you to make sense of the city. Also, make sure to download Uber before coming to South Africa. You will use it just about every day!
9) What was something you didn’t expect to experience while abroad in Cape Town?
I didn’t realize until about a month before I was set to depart, but Cape Town was experiencing the worst drought by any major city in over a century. While in Cape Town, I was limited to 90 second showers while standing in a bucket (the water collected in the bucket would be used to flush the toilet). The city’s taps were all supposed to shut off about two months after I arrived in the city, but thankfully this day was eventually pushed back to after my departure (and it still has not occurred). Learning to live in a city that was so different from my home town while simultaneously trying to make friends and also trying to cope with the lack of water was difficult at first. But I think that it enhanced my experience abroad and made me into a better person in the end!
10) How has studying abroad impacted your life?
I learned a lot about myself and about adapting to new environments from my studies in Cape Town. The city definitely changed my perception of the world and made me more capable of adapting to change in my life. Seeing the townships created during apartheid and witnessing injustices in South Africa furthered my desire to try and make a change in the world. After graduating college, I’ll be joining the Peace Corps and my time in Cape Town helped me to decide that this was the right decision for me!
11) Would you recommend that other students study abroad in Cape Town? Why?
Getting the opportunity to study abroad in Cape Town was amazing and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants some adventure in their life. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world that has so much diversity. You will never grow bored of being in Cape Town! There is always something to do, whatever your interests are! I would encourage anyone who wants some adventure in their life to choose Cape Town because it is really an incredible place to further your education and knowledge of the world!