I didn’t really get time to process that I was en route to do my LiA in Cape Town, South Africa. Finals season was, thankfully, over, I had just moved out of my sophomore year dorm room, and I was standing outside waiting for my Uber to JFK, unaware of what awaited me on the other side of the ocean: an adventure with the coolest cohort and coordinator.

On arriving at JFK, I met Elizabeth, my confidant and one of the people (among others you'll meet later in this reflection) I'd be spending time with in Cape Town during our LiAs – some of the most caring, supportive, and intentional people I've come to know. We checked in our luggage after having an interesting conversation with the attendant at the desk. It felt strange to be leaving New York so soon after finals, carrying with me the exhaustion of the semester and the uncertainty of what the next six weeks would look like.

That said, the journey to Cape Town was incredible. After stopping by JKIA for a layover before embarking on our trip, I leaned on the window of my KQ flight as I heard the flight attendant announcing our takeoff from Nairobi to Cape Town.

Me and Elizabeth

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen…” and in Swahili, “Hamjambo mabibi na mabwana…”

It was a cloudless day, so I got to see Mt. Kilimanjaro from my window, and Victoria Falls too! There was something grounding about watching the continent unfold beneath me, recognizing places I had only read about or seen in photographs. After 15+ hours of air travel, we were welcomed to Cape Town with incredible views of the mountains. I also got to meet Soyu, a Laidlaw Scholar from Brown University, for the first time in person.

Soyu

Week one was all about getting acquainted with Cape Town. Cape Town was calming. Cape Town was peaceful. Cape Town had that rare blend of scenic mountain views, sandy beaches, and a bustling city. Yet beneath that beauty was another story: the story of South Africa itself. Cape Town gave me space to come head-on with post-apartheid South Africa, where the problems that existed before apartheid still haunt its architecture, its people, and its structural systems. You can see it in the geography of the city, in the inequalities that persist, and in the conversations people have about what has changed and what has not.

At the end of week one, we went to SOS Children's Villages to meet the children, who greeted us with enthusiasm, given that our coordinator, Youness, had already built trust with them, making it easier for us to talk about our intended programs.

Youness

For my LiA, I'll be doing debate in a Model United Nations format, where the children in the village will role-play as delegates of different countries while tackling different debate topics in crisis. Additionally, I’ll be doing a music curriculum with Lily Coral (who’ll beat me in a rap battle as you’ll get to see in future LiA reflections). We’ll be singing and rapping not only to promote healing through music and community, but also to improve the children's reading and writing skills through song lyrics.

Lily

And that was week one! As we headed out of SOS on Friday, I got the chance to linger and talk to the children before boarding our Uber. They beatboxed, rapped, and showed me pieces of their own songs that they had composed. Some performed without hesitation; others joined in from the sidelines. What warmed my heart even more was seeing other children sing along to their friends’ songs, showing how much they support one another and appreciate each other's art. Their confidence, creativity, and willingness to share with one another was so wholesome.

When I left New York, I didn’t know how I’d find rest and calm after finals week. I’m glad that I’ve found rest in SOS Children's Villages, where I get to interact with the most incredible, inspiring, and confident children, who are inspiring me, day by day, to show up for myself and for others, to dream and be audacious, to put myself out there, and to try, even when circumstances may at times be daunting.

Elizabeth; solo shot

Can’t wait to share the rest of my LiA! 🌸