My time in South Africa has been amazing. I am in my third weekend here. I landed in the evening at Cape Town International Airport and met my exchange family and drove 45 min to the town of Franschhoek where they reside. Franschhoek is a beautiful town known for its wine and olive oil. The town is surrounded by beautiful mountains that have trails for mountain biking and hiking.
My first day in Franschhoek I was still recovering from jetlag and didn’t do much. On my second day in South Africa me and my exchange family went to Table Mountain in Cape Town. Table Mountain is a spectacular mountain that dominates the skyline of Cape Town and provides beautiful views of the ocean and the city. Due to winter storms and fog, the visibility was very poor; however, on the mountain I was still able to see native plants and flowers which was incredible. Later we went to Signal Hill which is another place for great views and the visibility was much better there.
My first days of school were a wonderful experience. I had to wear a uniform but due to the cold weather we were permitted to wear the school tracksuit which was warmer and more comfortable. Everyone at the school was very welcoming and kind. I was able to meet many people during my first week. I am taking classes such as accounting, Afrikaans, and geography, which are subjects I had never studied before in my life. I also joined the football (Soccer) team here at Bridge House, which allowed me to connect with more people. Playing football in the rain late into the night is definitely one of my favorite experiences during my time in South Africa. The football team competed in a derby with a school seven hours away in a town called Knysna. We went in tour buses there and stayed the night. This was an amazing time to spend more time with my team and create lasting friendships.
I have many memories of hanging out with friends in the town during the weekends and exploring the rest of Franschhoek. I also returned to Cape Town to visit the beach side and promenade as well as explore more of the city. My host family also took me to Cape Point, which is the most south western point in the African continent. Here one can see where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Oceans meet and see more native creatures. I saw whales, penguins, seals, and baboons.
Overall, I’m sad that my time in South Africa is coming to an end, but I’m also looking forward to the many adventures in the coming weeks.
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