I know of a city cradled by the seaside

where I watch the future crawling in

one day at a time.

The city that gives wings to my dreams

its heart throbs with violins and trumpets

and sounds of mooobrai-clearmont-keeptown.

Leisurely walks on the beach lulling smog clogged hearts.

The earth quietly sipping tears

of the homeless,

fighting for stray crumbs with seagulls.

I know of a city with five seasons

where virulent winds keep me awake at night

where magic rain appeases seductive summers.

this city keeps me smiling

this city keeps me writing

this city keeps me singing

this city keeps me hoping for love to come.

-Halejoetse Tsehlana

One of my favorite things about South Africa has been the unanimity of humanity.  They get it! Community is what we are created for. Walking down the street I am greeted with ‘molo sisi!’ (hello sister!) and countless smiles. It’s hard to understand that in the country with the largest Gini Coefficient (gap between rich and poor); the most people living with HIV (1 in 5), and a life expectancy of 50 and dropping, we can learn so much about the ideology of our inherent ‘sameness.’ I have found such a peaceful solidarity in Cape Town, something I will forever be grateful for and longing to come back to. As much as I am ready to make the long trek home, my journey here has caused me to leave a part of myself behind. One of the most difficult tasks I’ve had all semester has been creating a body map, literally a life-size outline of myself on a blank piece of paper.  Our incredibly influential theology professor Chris Ahrends asked us to explain without words our answers to seven questions- from where do I come? of what am I made? what forces shape me? what is my experience? what is my struggle? what is my work? what will I create? Certainly a daunting task but I thought hey, this entire south african experience is one big question so I’ll probably be able to work through it. My lack of creativity and artistic ability proved insignificant compared to my lack of knowledge regarding the ‘who are you’ question. Body, mind, and spirit, but which matters most? Is it possible to refrain from defining myself in relation to others? Sure, I’m a sister, daughter, and friend, but what really makes me who I am? It took five months and a lot of reflection to realize that its okay not to know. Some might say that it’s the easy way out but as long as I acknowledge that the question exists, I figure I can take time to discover the answer. Be present! Above all, Chris encouraged us to wake up and acknowledge ourselves as the creators of our own contexts. From getting close to Judy Mayotte ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Ann_Mayotte ) to singing along to The Lion King to dancing until dawn at Baghdad Cafe to climbing Table Mountain to complaining about having to write 2 essays all semester to almost stepping on a Cape Cobra to being called ‘megs’ at my service site to Sunday night family dinners to wine tastings in Stellenbosch to watching shooting stars in Hermanus to walking down Clifton Beach with Matt to going days without electricity or internet to buying every pair of earrings I see to eating breakfast with Desmond Tutu to Friday afternoons on the roof after class to all-you-can-eat sushi to bed bugs to embarrassingly telling 70 sixth graders that ‘smiling is contagious’ to surfing to slumber parties in the living room to spider bites to energy exchanges with barefoot tree huggers to bungy jumping to Mzolis to having to use a million keys to embracing radical love on Lion’s Head, this experience has taught me to approach love and compassion with reckless abandon. Life is good! Thanks to my grandparents, parents, and friends, I was able to acknowledge and experience the difference between the pristine sand of Muizenberg beach and the glass-filled sand lining the narrow paths between the shacks in Gugulethu.  How amazing to be able to create my own footprints.   I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to read my blog and have an interest in my time here. One week of rafting in Namibia and then it’s back to Milwaukee. I can’t wait to hug all of you!

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