What inspired you to go abroad?
I wanted to leave the little bubble I've been living in my whole life. I only left the US once, and have been centralized in Pennsylvania for the majority of my life. I wanted to experience an amazing place that no one knows too much about.
First time at Camps Bay.
Why did you choose IES Abroad?
I was in-between IES and another organization, and I didn't really understand the difference between the two. I saw that IES was the fairly cheaper option than the other program, and my advisor said that she personally knew the IES people in Cape Town and recommended them to me.
What was your favorite part about Cape Town?
The scenery and beauty of living in Cape Town. The mountains in the backdrop and the pristine beaches literally took my breath away. Nothing compares in natural beauty after living in Cape Town.
Sunset over Camps Bay.
What made your experience abroad unique?
IES usually has 70-80 people (so I've been told) for the Cape Town program, but because of student wide protests at the University of Cape Town, the semester got pushed back one month. Due to this, all of us had to make a tough decision on whether to stay on board or switch programs. Staying on board was not an easy choice but it certainly paid off. The number of kids in my program dropped all the way down to 18, so we were all put in the same housing complex. This led to us become a unique group that all had the passion to stay, which resulted in us becoming incredibly close.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
They made the transition from the US life to South African life seamless. They were always there if I had any issues with school, being homesick, or actually sick. After coming back from Zimbabwe for Spring Break, I got strep throat (and possibly mono as well), which is the first time I ever got it, and it was brutal. With the help of the IES office, I found a doctor nearby and got the medication I needed to get better. My parents were also very pleased with how the IES office helped me throughout the difficult period.
Elephant Sanctuary during IES Garden Route Trip.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
I wish I got more involved with the student life at UCT. I went to my classes and did fine in them, but other than the coursework, I found myself retreating to the people in my program, rather than meeting more UCT students. I met people in other study abroad programs from the United States, but I never really became close with any native South Africans.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
I would wake up for my classes, get on the shuttle to upper campus, and stay until I was done. If I had extra work that needed to get done, I would go to the library to use the free wifi to get my work done. When I would get back, I would always try to workout in some fashion, whether it be the local gym or playing soccer. After that, I would meet my friends for some lunch and then hang out with them all day until we went to bed. The lack of wifi we had in our house was a blessing in disguise, because we couldn't retreat to our phones, literally forcing us to talk all night.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
When we could, me and my close friends would go to the local academic building and stream shows that we couldn't watch before. Because everything was so inexpensive, we were able to cook and go out to the local bars often, which is what we did. We enjoyed visiting novel restaurants in different areas of the city. Hiking was also a must do in Cape Town.
Rainbow caused by Victoria Falls.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
Everyone in my program (18) lived on the same compound, but two different houses, a big house (11) and a small house (7). I had a roommate in the big house, who I had doubts about, because before coming here, I was told he was Turkish and I have no experience with foreign people. He ended up being one of my best friends in the program, so it all worked out for the better. I liked how close I got with everyone, because I've never shared a house with so many girls and guys my age.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
Know that internet is very limited and the technology used on campus is scaled back immensely from what you are probably used to. This can lead to frustrating times when assignments are due and when you can't log on and print something. Everything is a little harder in Africa- most of the things are done in person/on paper rather than online, so some days I spent just running around campus to get signatures only to add one class that I wanted.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
My worldview has expanded. I feel more confident in meeting people of various backgrounds, and I can understand issues that I hadn't faced in my life before abroad. My time abroad also gave me the "travel bug", meaning I want to go out and explore the rest of the world more. The one bad thing is, I frequently miss the times I had with my friends there.
Would you recommend IES Abroad to others? Why?
I would recommend IES because they were so hands-on and helpful with everything, even if you didn't have an issue. I can't speak for other programs, but I will say IES had an amazing staff and friendly RA's.
