This past weekend, UCT was closed Friday through Monday for the Easter holiday. The break gave me a chance to visit with friends, celebrate Easter with my host family, and do some much needed catch-up!
I met up with a friend on Saturday, and we toured the Bo-Kaap area (also known as the Malay Quarter) of Cape Town. In the past, this area was home to slaves that came to Cape Town from Southeast Asia. These groups were mainly Muslim, so the area has Islamic schools and mosques. The houses in the area are painted bright colors, and not without reason. When the people in slavery were freed, they were allowed to finally buy their own houses and decided to paint them bright colors to represent this freedom.
After touring Bo-Kaap and its museum, we then traveled into the city to walk around. We came across a drum shop which was hosting a drum circle outside, and got to try our hand at playing! After a while we caught on, but it was impressive to watch the experts play so effortlessly.
We ended our Saturday by going to Signal Hill to see a beautiful sunset. There were tons of people (both locals and visitors) coming to watch the sun go down over the Atlantic. The sun kept it warm, but once it set and the wind came, the temperature dropped quickly! If you ever come to visit in the fall or winter, definitely don't forget your jackets (especially if you're coming from Florida!).
On Sunday, Jo and her family welcomed me to join her family in an Easter dinner. We drove about an hour or so out of town to visit my first wine farm. The drive out was full of gorgeous views of the countryside and farmlands. Dinner was great, and I got to connect with another recipient of a Rotary Global Grant. She is originally from South Africa, and actually went to Gainesville (UF) for her degree in veterinary medicine! We got to talk about Florida, and, of course, the Gators. After dinner we took a walk around the property, which sits right on the side of a mountain. Afterwards, when we were on our way back home, we even saw a few zebras!
I had a great time over the break and I was very grateful to get the chance to explore so many new parts of Cape Town.
Wow, What a wonderful experience. I love hearing about your adventures and am learning so much.
Abby, Great to live vicariously through your experiences!
Make sure to invite the South African RI scholar to join Rotary in her area now that she is "settled" into her career and life. You have a sense of how meaningful Rotary can be both for the Rotarian and the community/world the Rotarian's Club serves. One of my best friends in Allentown, PA was a RI Scholar, pastor of his church, wrote the book identifying every person named in the Bible, friend of the PBS actor Mister Rogers, and extraordinary community leader partly because he was also an active Rotarian. You are the vehicle that others may be introduced/re-introduced to Rotary.
Let us know if your mother and/or family need anything…
Thank you Abby for keeping us all informed as to your experiences. Have you been affected by the flooding we have been reading about? We all look forward to your future postings and are so happy that this has been such a positive experience for both you and those you are interacting with!! Charlie Rogers, PDG