I can't believe I've already finished my first week of work! So many emotions filled my week as I try to figure out my place at this organization. Not only am I trying to adjust to working full time with an added hour of transport every day, but the majority of the 20 person staff speak Xhosa (one of the 11 national languages of South Africa) during regular conversation. This makes my ability to engage in conversation a bit more difficult than usual so it will take longer to actually find my place. I guess this means I will just have to continue to learn Xhosa! If anyone has any resources for learning Xhosa that they currently aren't using, feel free to send them my way :)
By the end of the week, I felt relatively settled into my new desk and early next week I will have a proper meeting with the managing director and intern coordinator to actually determine the specifics of my job description.
As far as adjusting to life here---well, let's just say it's been pretty wonderful. Yesterday I hopped on a mini bus taxi to town and went shopping in Green Market Square where I whipped out my bartering skills to get some great prices. I hailed a cab to go around the side of the mountain and was able to give him directions--I have no idea how I remembered!
On Friday night, we had some house guests from Malaysia, Italy, Germany, Russia, Holland, and France who were passing through and it was so great to sit and get to know people from all over the world. There's so much to learn from other people! So, you guys at home who don't have a lot going on...go out and meet someone new. Maybe they won't be from a different country, but everyone has a story---learn it!
I'll leave you with a few pictures from my adventures so far. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Some kiddos I befriended at one of the primary schools in the township of Nyanga
Dinner with Ahmed Kathrada (on trial with Nelson Mandela--statue to left), Judy Kendall, and Linda Biehl.
My arrival in Cape Town with Larry Kendall!
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