June 8-9

Yesterday morning I woke up still upset that everyone had left, but still focused on my own remaining time here and Cape Town feeling excited for the World Cup. As the days get closer, the flags continuously multiply, the vuvuzelas get louder, and the tourists fly in. The Waterfront, where the tourists will stay and is very expensive and beautiful, is all decked out in World Cup, flags, performers, ferris wheel, giant soccer balls, stores, food, and lights. Derek and I went to walk around there for a few hours and look around. It was nice, but we didn't like how people kept thinking we were only here for the World Cup. Some of my friends I've met here and I would say we get defensive towards tourists coming in. The City looks beautiful as well; huge flags on the poles all the way down Main Road. Derek and I plot stealing them every time we walk somewhere. Everyone is just excited in general, wearing Bafana Bafana jerseys all the time (South Africa's soccer team). I am also excited and cannot believe that I'm actually going to be at the World Cup. It begins on June 11 and that's when I go to see France v. Uruguay play in the Green Point Stadium. Most of the remaining people from my program are also going to that game. Then the next day is when USA plays, and is Derek and Annika's 21st birthdays. The next few days are basically going to be rediculous.

BUT along with all of that greatness comes the downside of the World Cup. Today I attended and participated in a protest against evictions of people to clear land for FIFA. The people that were protesting were evicted from their homes and moved about 30 minutes north of the city to this "town" called Blokkiesdorp. This area is used to house and essentially hide these people from the World Cup tourists. This website http://antieviction.org.za/2010/04/20/blikkiesdorp-its-a-concentration-camp/ can explain it better. It's terrible what FIFA and the South African government are doing to these people. So, while watching the World Cup, keep this in mind.

World Cup: 2 days

Winding Down

As the semester comes to an end, so does this incredible journey. Most people left yesterday, a few more today, and waking up alone in the upstairs of Highstead was very weird. I heard Sarah and her loud voice leaving for the last time this morning, and will no longer have my new friends only a yell away. It was an unbelievable semester, but I am beginning to see how when I get home these past five months will seem like a dream, so I am trying to soak every last ounce of this that I can. All of the people that I have met here have all been unique and brought something different to the table. Many have helped me to think about myself and ways to improve upon who I am now. I have also learned many lessons from them AS WELL, providing new opinions and outlooks on the world around me. I have just finished packing up the rest of my apartment, as Adam left last night, and I am about to move to another place for the next week an a half. At this point I am trying not to think about how weird it is, being in this new environment without all of the people whom I have experienced, learned, and lived here with, but rather focus on getting excited for the first African World Cup ever. It will be exciting to be here for it, but I am no longer a resident, I am now looked at as a tourist here for the World Cup, and that sucks. I do not feel like a tourist, but will be viewed as one. I know the ins and outs of Rondesbosch and surrounding towns like they are my own. From here on out this is a new experience for the next 10 days, and I'm sure it will be an incredible one that I will too remember forever, yet very different from my first 5 months in Africa. Thank you to all my new friends for making these last 5 months incredible. See everyone at home in 10 days exactly!