Alumni Interview with Joseph Oliver

What inspired you to travel abroad?

I wanted to improve myself in numerous ways. I wanted to share my skills and knowledge with others in order to help people and communities. I wanted to learn from others in a community that was different from my own in Australia. I love South Africa and its people and was always keen to return in some form of constructive capacity. Qualifying as a lawyer also played a big part in wanting to return to South Africa. I had previously visited the Magistrates Court in Simon's Town in 2013 and have since that visit always wanted to return with some legal experience. Africa has much to teach the world including patience, tenacity, living in adversity and compassion.

Why did you choose Masambeni South Africa Internships?

I selected Masambeni because it offered a customized experience that suited my objectives. The program was flexible and allowed for a healthy balance between work and leisure. I was able to gain some really valuable skills and knowledge in my place of work during the Internship. My supervisor at work, Alec, was flexible and supportive. He went out of his way to provide for an extremely diverse experience in the workplace. This experience incorporated attending Parliamentary committees, visiting clients in prison, attending court and general legal duties in the office. I already had some experience working as a solicitor so participating in this specific program provided the opportunity to build upon my skills and to share them with others.

What was your favorite part about Cape Town, South Africa?

Cape Town is a wonderful city with an infinite number of outdoor activities to explore. Blessed with beautiful mountains and a stunning coastline it offers the ultimate sightseeing experience. The people of Cape Town are generally very warm and generous. It also offers huge diversity which is both welcome but also quite concerning. It is welcome in the sense that it provides a holistic experience for the visitor that is eager for a range of different experiences. It is concerning because the diversity showcases the systemic inequality that continues to exist both in South Africa and of course globally. Each township offers a different unique experience in terms of language, culture, economics, and hospitality.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

The people I met made my experience abroad extraordinary. I have many unforgettable memories that I will cherish forever. These memories include travelling on the Garden Route, climbing table mountain and experiencing the vibrant nightlife of Cape Town where I met people from all walks of life. I was lucky enough to live with people from all around the world including France, Holland, Germany, USA, Belgium, Britain, and Russia. The combination of great company and the participation in many great activities including hiking, carting, rugby, cricket and quite a few Braais made the experience truly remarkable. I will never forget it.

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?

Local staff were incredibly supportive. I was supported from the moment that I arrived. I was picked up from the airport and given a personal tour of Cape Town. Elisha, our program coordinator, was constantly checking up to make sure that everything was going according to plan. It is not an easy job to facilitate the transition to life in South Africa for people from all over the world. It is great credit to the staff that they manage to achieve successful outcomes. Similar assistance was provided throughout the duration of the trip until the moment I was dropped off at the airport for my departing flight.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

There is not much that I would have done differently to be honest. I did not make it to Durban. I will definitely have to try and visit next time and explore the beach and maybe even try a famous Durban curry! Maybe more sleep! Although there is not much point in too much sleep when there is so much fun to be had! With that in mind there are some other things that I didn't quite get time to do like climb Chapman's peak or visit the beach at Muizenberg. There are also many places along the Garden Route that we did not get the opportunity to visit so if you think long and hard enough there are always one or two things that you wish you could have done differently.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

A typical day was filled with rich activities. Most days started with the drive to work to meet and discuss the days proceedings. On some days, I would go to court, on others, I visited clients in prison and on others I was busy conducting legal duties in the office. After work would normally comprise of exercise, socializing and more socializing. The days were extremely busy with no two days the same. In order to get the most from the days it was important for me to establish a routine. The busiest days were those that included travel to court, prison, and parliament. Somehow you would always find the time and energy to enjoy the night.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

Hiking, swimming, experiencing different elements of African culture especially within the townships and other sporting activities. I also enjoyed partying as the nightlife in Cape Town is extremely vibrant. Top night spots include Long Street and Camps Bay. I also enjoyed attending live music events, many of which were in the southern suburbs. A great band that I was lucky to hear was Oceans Riff. They play some really funky music with a large repertoire of music styles and therefore songs. I was also lucky enough to see some live sporting events with friends including Super 16 rugby and cricket. We were even lucky enough to be invited to the Stormers training session where we got to meet players and coaches.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

I stayed in a shared house. It was great because I stayed in one house in a complex consisting of five houses. It was extremely social and fun. It was also good because I had my own private room for most of the time. The facilities were good and for the most part kept clean. There were plenty of amenities to use despite the large number of people living in the house. There were at least 2-3 showers per house which made morning a little more bearable. Perhaps the most important thing in terms of South African tradition is that the House was equipped with the facilities to have an awesome braai.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

There is nothing to worry about. It is a great learning opportunity. So be prepared to listen, learn and to share. I did not find that there was a lot of pressure with the program. It was more a case of tailoring the experience to make it beneficial for everyone. Don't be afraid to ask questions because it presents a tremendous opportunity to learn. It is also important that participants are upfront about anything they are uncomfortable about either in the present or future. For instance a participant may be uncomfortable about visiting prison. So one important thing to remember is to communicate confidently.

Would you recommend Masambeni South Africa Internships to others? Why?

Yes. The Masambeni program provides great personal service. The leaders, Elisha and Annemarie, are always supportive and willing to help. The program provides a healthy mix of work, education and leisure. What an opportunity to travel with a purpose! There are many different opportunities for internships across many different disciplines of work and study. The list is potentially endless. It is just a matter of giving it some thought about which program is best for you.

What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?

Education and the opening of one's mind. It is also a great way to meet many different people. I think the combination of learning new things and meeting new people helps to foster empathy and understanding and an appreciation of difference and diversity. Travel always places things into perspective so what seemed like big problems prior to travel can seem rather small and, vice-versa, small problems seem rather large. It can open one's eyes to both great wealth and great suffering. Cape Town certainly provides for that experience. But at the same time these experiences can also open one's heart to others. It can be the start of a new journey in life with new perspectives and understandings about both local and global issues.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

It has equipped me with much more confidence. I now have a clearer mind as to which direction I would like to go in my career. The open nature of the South African people gave me the confidence to communicate freely which, in turn, enhanced my learning experience greatly, increasing the number of people that I met and made friends with. I will now take this positive forward with me in my future endeavors. It must be said that life is a little unusual for us all at the moment due to the pandemic but I am sure that my experiences abroad will eventually have a positive impact on my life.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

It means taking the time to listen, to share, to enjoy and to reflect. Although many of us have the propensity to talk first, it is listening that by far provides the greatest joy in life and that is learning through art, speech, music. One cannot truly have a meaningful travel experience if one does not share. We travel because we want new experiences by meeting new people, visiting new places and it is most important that we are generous and share the journey so that both ourselves and others get the most out of it. Enjoyment comes with listening and sharing plus a positive attitude. Meaningful travel to me is about enjoyment. Ultimately the company of others which provides the most special of memories. Lastly meaningful travel is taking the time to reflect on the journey. Reflection may be looking at pictures and thinking about the small things that made the experience special. Taking the time to reflect is the most human of experiences involving the art of self examination.