There
is really no way of describing how life changing this whole experience has
been. These past 10 days have been the best days of my life.
If
someone was to ask me "How was Cape Town?" There wouldn't be a way
that I could explain how I am feeling right now after spending a day of saying
good bye to our friends at Welcome and reflecting on this whole experience. Of
course the easiest answer would be that it was amazing but I truly don't think
that 'amazing' describes all the feelings in my heart at this very
second.
Let
me start of with all the tourist stuff we did. Seeing Robben Island,
Table Mountain, the Water Front has made me fall in love with Cape Town.
It's beauty and the life in it has made it so much harder for me to say good
bye as I have never been to or seen anything like Cape Town. There is one
sentence that I have seen a lot driving around Cape Town and it says: "You
don't need a holiday, you need Cape Town"
I
really cannot put it better myself, no holiday can compare with what I have
experienced in Cape Town.
Visiting
Welcome Primary School, working with GCU and going on a Langa township tour has
made me appreciate the things that I have so much more as I got to see that
people have to live in little huts made out of scrap metal just so they can
have a roof over their head. It made me realise how silly I have been by
complaining about the littlest things when people even in countries so
developed like South Africa still don't have access to running water. I truly
think that after experiencing and seeing with my own eyes, not just through
photos or videos, how unequal the world is I will try and help out those in need.
As
for Welcome, well I would've never imagined how much I would grow to love all
the children and staff there. Each and every one of the amazing children
and staff that I had the honour of spending my days with at Welcome have become
very important people to me. With really very few resources at hand, and
not much money, they have managed to make such a difference in other people's
lives just through love and determination. Every one of those kids have dreams
and goals that they want to fulfill and want to stick to which is so inspiring
to me as they never give up. There have been so many moments where I just
wanted to give up, but people like the kids and staff at Welcome or Mario and
his wife Michelle, have shown me that you can't ever give up as you can always
reach your goals if you work hard.
Oh
Mario, after hearing McGuck talk about how amazing and incredible he is I was
expecting so much and really I wasn't at all surprised when I saw the masses of
people coming to Woodlands just to work with GCU and do things like football,
extreme skipping, soft ball and baseball. I really cannot believe a person
would set up a non profit organisation just to keep young people out of
trouble and off the streets. It is hard to imagine just how kind hearted Mario
is because after spending only a few days with him I have grown to love
him so much. Although he may not love us as much as we have embarrassed him in
front of a mass of people at table mountain by serenading him with a few songs
(sorry, not sorry).
As
to Boothy, Airlie and Murdy, well there is no way I could explain how mind
blowing it was to be able to spend these 12 days with them. From walking around
airports, to hiking up mountains, to making sure we don't pass out from heat
exhaustion they have been the most caring, funny and enthusiastic people on
this trip. From singing along to songs to cutting some shapes on the
buses they have never failed to put a smile on my face even when I thought I
was going to pass out from deoxygenation. I have become so attached to them
that it'll feel weird having breakfast with no one telling me to put sun spray
on or walking through town with no one telling me the 'interesting' facts about
everything and anything we can see. I would just really like to thank the three
wonderful teachers for being patient with us, helping me with everything and
just being part of the Capetoniants.
My
dear Capetoniants, thank you so much for this experience because to be honest I
wouldn't want to be with anyone else. That is all I have to say as I have no
words for how amazing you guys are. I love you guys.
Now
for Mcguck. I really cannot describe how thankful I am for all that he has done
for us, without him I wouldn't be here and without him this link between
Welcome and Balwearie wouldn't exist. Although I may not say it out loud
because I am not one to tell others how I feel (so it's pretty hard writing
this) but I honestly think he is the most inspiring person that I know as he
has worked so hard from the very beginning and probably stressed himself out a
lot but never has he complained about anything. I just really cannot put into
words how happy I am that he made all of this possible for me and the other 14
people that have come on this trip. Although he is very sarcastic and
thinks he's funny (but isn't!) he has been so kind and encouraging to us all
and for that I don't know what to say. Thank you Mcguck for all that you
have done for us, these 12 days have been the best days of my life and I will
never forget them.
Thank
you to all the people reading this blog. You make people aware of this link and
by that you are helping us make a change.
So
there it is a summary of how Cape Town has been for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment