(Photo credit to Nico Pascaral)

Reciprocity
resəˈpräsətē| noun
“the practice of exchanging ideas, goods or services between two entities for their mutual benefit”

To everyone at home who is under the impression that I am galavanting all over South Africa having a marvelous time... You are right. It is my fault, however, that this is probably your only impression. A bad excuse as to why this is my first time writing about my internship is that I still am trying to wrap my head around the massive black hole that is “inclusive business”. Prior to arriving in Cape Town my perception of “inclusive business” was defined by “social entrepreneurship” and the Triple Bottom Line model (people,planet,profit). But, that was just the tip of the iceberg. A lesson learned from the UNDP report that we have been writing that dissects these concepts in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. With a general understanding of social entrepreneurship many of us think of brands such as: Toms shoes or Warby Parker sunglasses, or really any of those products that you can buy where a small percentage of the profits goes to a social or environmental cause.

First off,the players involved in this system are not just trendy brands but also, policy makers, NGOs,multinational corporations, think tanks, researchers, academics, consultancy firms.... The list goes on. And this is the general idea- there are over 4 billion people that live at the base of the socio-economic pyramid (BoP) that are currently not formally included in developed economies. But what if they were? What if multinational companies like SABMiller, PepsiCo, Nestle, Colgate, molded there business models to include these 4 billion people in their supply chains, distribution channels, and consumer base? Well by empowering the BoP through employment in supply, whether it be agribusiness or textiles or manufacturing etc., you improve their livelihood by providing a solid source of income. Including the BoP in distribution channels opens up opportunities for further employment and also facilitates entrepreneurship in disadvantaged communities. Such improved economic stability then allows for general social development in education, healthcare and housing. Which then opens up a whole new market for these companies to sell their products or services. Companies are always looking for ways to penetrate new markets... Well hello people, there are 4 billion people out there with potential purchasing power that can also help your business do more business along all three tiers!
The idea of Reciprocity.

The concept makes enough sense, and despite the obstacles that have kept this from actually already happening, is still a necessary step that the developed economies of the world have to make. The economic crash of 2008 should be enough to convince you that reform must be made. The road that we are going down is not sustainable and as populations begin to increase, particularly in the BoP, even the developed economies will start to feel the repercussions. Which is why four areas of support for this change must begin to happen:

1) Policy making- governments of developing nations must implement policies that encourage businesses to invest and do business in their countries.

2) Advocacy & Research- think tanks, consultancies, academic institutions must produce and share primary research so that the market of the BoP can be understood. Companies do not implement new initiatives without first understanding the cultures, trends, and obstacles that exist in the marketplace. They are in business to stay in business and have to allocate resources efficiently. If companies understand the BoP they will be less resistant to trying new models in that market.

3) ICT (Information and communication technologies) It can not be argued that our world isn’t becoming more and more connected and reliant on technologies for information and communication. Who reading this doesn’t own an Apple product? Not everyone needs an iPhone, but basic mobile and Internet services will help the BoP immensely.

4) Implementation support- companies need guidance and support while implementing these new projects in developing communities. Language and education barriers, lack of resources and infrastructure, limited funding, all are obstacles that companies are not able, or willing, to take on independently. As they shouldn’t, there are many non-profits and NGOs that already have the skills and connections necessary to make that process more seamless. Transparency in this field, therefore, is key to making these ideas an actual reality.

Now do you see what I mean when I say the idea or “inclusive business” is a black hole? I am sure as you read through this you can come up with holes in this model (partially because I am trying to keep this to the point), but I also hope that you still walk away from your computer screen thinking – “Shit. That actually makes sense”.

Because that my friends is what I think every day I leave my office.

Lucky for me South Africa is a hot spot for inclusive business, social enterprise, sustainable business, triple bottom line models-call it what you will- innovation. It is amazing to go into the townships and see first hand the faces that make up this BoP market I talk about, and then go back to my office and work on the big picture. It’s all for them, and I hope that I find my place in this big picture and figure out how I can contribute in my time here.

“The present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future”-Siddhartha

On Saturday, September 29, people all over India woke up and went about their morning routine and then went to work. After all, it is a 6-day workweek here. However, this particular Saturday many people took the day off.

For the past week, Ganesha Chaturthi, the first Vaak and Remover of Obstacles, did something that my mother is fond of doing; he took a weeklong birthday. All throughout the week, there have been decorations and lights set up, and nightly celebrations held to honor Ganesha’s birthday. The celebrations consist of loud music and people of all ages dancing. At the end of the week, the idols (all varying in size) of Ganesha that have been in prominence for the week will be escorted to the shores of Lake Pichola where the Remover of Obstacles will be pitched. They throw him into the lake because it symbolizes the concept of Moksha, liberation. It is based around a law of the universe stating “that which takes form has to become formless again”.

The day is significant to myself as well, though no one threw me into the lake. This Saturday marked my first full month/4 weeks in Udaipur. Time can be difficult to manage when you are trying to accomplish so many things at once. Being present and mindful are prominent Eastern ideas that could improve the quality of life for a lot of Westerners. We are obsessed with being busy and splitting our minds in 15 different directions, rarely giving our undivided attention to someone/something besides work. Appreciation for living is lost. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who won a Nobel Peace Prize, explains this act of mindfulness through a concept he calls, “doing the dishes for the sake of doing the dishes”.

I’ve found a lot of Indian culture is centered around the idea of being present and conscious. One particular example is eating. Generally, people eat with their right hand here, and by eating with their right hands I mean, most meals are served with chapatti, circular pieces of unleavened bread that you can grab your main dish with. Papa Ji (the father of the man who owns Chandra Niwas) explained to me that they choose to eat with their hands because you appreciate your food more when you physically touch it as opposed to with utensils. It’s absolutely true. I’ve become more conscious of eating and have been eating better proportions because I’m more aware of what I’m eating. I’ve also learned that it is basically impossible to not get your computer dirty while eating with a chapatti, so multi-tasking without some collateral damage is unavoidable.

One more insight into Rajasthani Indian life. Washers are uncommon and dryers don’t exist. The machines require two things that are in high demand and limited supply, water and electricity. This means all clothes washing is done by hand and all drying takes place either on a line or with clothes hanging all over your room on whatever you can find, which is what I do. I’m not a fan of laundry with machines, and I expected to loathe doing it by hand in a bucket. However, I’ve found it’s not too bad. Once again, it becomes an appreciation for your clothes by having to manually wash all of them even if it does take a very long time and you end up soaking wet.

Namaste! 

In Ghana, everything is different. The places, the people, the culture, the food...everything. I’ve never felt such a rollercoaster of emotions in my entire life. The flight was almost an entire day long. Lots of sleeping and lots of airplane food. I met up with a group of some of the other volunteers in my program on my last flight from London to Accra. It was comforting not feeling entirely alone. When we arrived in Accra, fear struck in when we got to baggage claim and my second bag never came. All of my clothes and many other necessities were in it, and it was nowhere to be found. I made a report at Lost and found and was told to leave my temporary address and number with them, and I should hear from them when they have. At that time, they couldn’t even locate it.

All of the volunteers and myself walked outside to be surrounded by every black person around staring at us. It isn’t hard to spot the foriegners here. We were waiting for our Ghanian program director, Henry, but he was nowhere to be found and he wasn’t picking up his phone. A little while later we found Isaac, one of the Ghanian program members. He took us all to a large bus, and we were instantly surrounded with Ghanian men asking to assist us with our bags. They kept asking for tips and magazines afterwards, and we didn’t understand why. We were later told that Ghanians are extremely friendly people...but they want tips from people (especially white people) for everything.

When we arrived at Henry’s house, the rest of the volunteers were there waiting. There are 20 of us total. Five are from the UK, 13 from Canada and only 2 Americans including myself. There were a few different bedrooms on the downstairs level where we were allowed to sleep. After a short welcoming meeting from Henry, we all made it off to bed quickly.

The first week was orientation and consisted mainly of informational meetings with Henry at his house, going to different markets with Isaac, and taking a few different course instructional lessons from a man named Elvis.

I feel dirty. All of the time. No matter if I’ve just showered or been out all day. I’m dirty and sweaty and sticky. It’s just going to be a part of my life for a little while. Internet is hard to find. You have to go to an internet cafe to use it, and wifi is impossible to find and get to work. I’ve been eating a lot of spicy rice, bread, pasta, and I’ve tried a few new things so far, including something called plaintains (not entirely sure what it is, but regardless it’s not bad). Everywhere I go, I hear people shouting ‘Obruni Obruni,’ meaning ‘white person.’ I’ve already received a handful of marriage proposals, and when we all went to our first African club one night, we were instantly surrounded with four men trying to dance with us at the same time.

Their main transportation is using taxis. There are dropping taxis, which are meant to get you alone to a specific location, and then there are shared taxis where you and whoever else is going the same general direction shares the taxi with you. My favorite form of transporation is using the Tro Tro (meaning ‘penny, penny’). They’re essentially large buses that people are constantly hopping in and out of and they’re extremely cheap. Maybe 1 cedi to drive an hours drive, and 1 cedi is equivalent to maybe a little more than $.50.

I got to Golden Gate Secondary School, my specific placement on Sunday, September 23rd. My volunteer partner Chrissy and I met our host and director of the school, Mr. Dadson. He is an extremely kind, gentle, but very disciplined man. He’s gone out of his way many times to make sure we are always comfortable and taken care of. At Golden Gate, the ages of students typcially range from 16-19. There are students who come to school from home everyday, and there are others who are boarders at the school. Our room has a bunk bed, some shelves, a little tv, a shower, sink, and toilet. A generator comes on from 5-10 every evening, so we can use the lights, watch movies, have a fan, and charge our things. I’m also very thankful that we have a working shower and flush toilet. Many of the volunteers have to bathe with a bucket everyday!

All of students are in love with us. They always want to ask questions, play with our (very different) hair, touch our skin, perform for us, etc. It is very hard to understand some of them, even the other teachers too. They think our English is way too fast, and we think their English is mumbled. Their voices here are mesmerizing. When I can’t understand what they’re saying it’s still just fascinating to sit there and listen and watch them speak. So elegant, but so so mumbled.  They’re always laughing at everything we say, and they always want us to come sit next to them in class. Since this is our first week at the school, we were told to observe all of the classes and then decide what we would like to teach. Chrissy and I are already pretty certain that she will teach Sciences and I will teach English. We’ve already gotten a good taste of what it’s going to be like every morning. We’re woken up by the sound of the boarders at approximately 5am everyday. Someone starts by ringing the bell, saying “Get up, Get up, Get up!” It’s meant for the boarders to wake up to start cleaning around the school. Since we’re living on the school’s campus, I suppose it’s meant for us too. I’m definitely going to need my earplugs for a while. Either that, or I’ll eventually have to drown the screaming noises and laughter out. Worship and prayer starts in front of the school around 7:40am...never on time though. All of the students are in rows based on their gender and their grade. Their eyes are closed, and all you can hear and see are a large mass of young African women and men praising God in English and their local language. It’s truly a beautiful thing to watch. It’s supposed to end at 7:50am but it usually doesn’t end until 8:15 or so. I’ve learned quicly that things are never on time here. The first day at the school, the director, Mr. Dadson introduced Chrissy and I to the school, and then the children were dismissed for classes. I’ve gotten many opportunities to interact with the students. They mostly just want to circle around us, playing with our hair, poking us and asking consecutive questions. It really never ends. I figured since we are at a school with 16-19 year olds, it wouldn’t be as chaotic, but it most certainly is. They’re always so curious here, and insanely friendly. The students are all extremely respectful to the teachers, the director, the headmaster, and any adult they encounter. At the same time, there is absolutely no order to the school. Kids are always walking in and out of classrooms during class time. They talk nonstop during class, and a lot of the time teachers aren’t even there to stop them. Teachers show up late to classes, don’t show up at all, or will show up to put some notes on the board and leave for the rest of class time. I’m just interested to see how I’m going to fill up all of my time if I’m only expected to teach 1 or 2 classes throughout the week, for an hour each! Always wanting to be pro-active, I’ve found it often frustrating that there have been times when Chrissy and I have absolutely nothing to do. We’re thinking about starting up their drama club again or some type of club to stay busy and interact with the kids more.

There are two female boarder students who serve Chrissy and I lunch and dinner every night. Their names are Erica and Francis. They also clean our room for us, take out the trash, and wash our laundry. I wasn’t expecting that luxury at all, but they’re extremely sweet and it’s a joy to see their faces everyday. The food so far has been interesting. It’s been very repetitive. We’re eating a lot of white rice, plaintains (a vegetable), beans and sauce. I’m hoping to try more of their local foods soon.

I’ve learned a lot about their culture already. In Ghana, they work everyday except Sunday. On Sunday, 90% of Ghanians go to church. Some churches last almost all day. Birthdays aren’t a very big deal here. They might go to church and pray but other than that, they will go to work and do their daily routines. they do not receive any birthday gifts. I found this interesting because in Ghana, many men and women are nicknamed depending on the day of the week they were born on. So naturally, I assumed birthdays were a big deal. Their biggest holidays throughout the year are Christmas, Easter, their Independence Day on July 1st, and Farmer’s day, which is essentially a day to celebrate the farmers. It doesn’t happen everywhere, but it is possible to buy cats to cook here. Obviously the bigger the cat is, the more it costs. People even eat dog, and they will chew the bone of the meat they’ve ate so that they can get to the bone marrow. They don’t understand why we think that’s so odd. There are about 49 different languages  in Ghana, depending on what tribe they are born into. Their accents are absolutely mesmerizing. Even if I can’t understand them, I could probably sit there and watch their mouths move and listen to their voices for hours. Some of the students have already attempted to teach us some of their language. It’s definitely a work in progress. The two most common languages in the area we are living in are Fante and Twi.

Even though it’s only the first week at the school, I can already get a very good sense of just how strict Mr. Dadson and the headmaster are. It’s sad to say I’ve already seen sticks being brought out to punish children. The students are forced on their knees, with their arms raised in the air. It’s terrible thing to even think of and really shocking when Chrissy and I saw it for the first time. Some of the things they seem to get punished for don’t even seem justifiable to me. I don’t think I’ll ever understand that part of their culture.

One of the things that reminds me I am in Africa the most is walking down the street or through the market, seeing women with baskets on their heads, carrying water baggies, food, and other items. By water baggies, I mean that you can actually purchase water in little bags. That’s how many people drink water here, and they’re extremely cheap and easy to get. I can’t tell you how many of them I’ve gone through, especially since we have to use them to brush our teeth. Many women carry their babies around their backs, wrapped in their African material. It’s amazing to see how easily and peacefully babies can sleep wound up so tight against their mothers’ backs. I keep imagining how hot they must be...and we’re in the wet season right now. It amazes me how much trash I am surrounded by. There is so much beauty in this country, but it is so incredibly dirty. Everywhere we go, we are followed here. It’s fun to walk around the market in Takoradi, bargaining prices and trying to stay away from the men who will follow you for blocks. They mean well but they just don’t seem to get the message. People call us brothers and sisters all the time. In Ghana, everyone is family. They all want to be our friends, and we are always being told ‘you are welcome...’ everywhere we go. If we say something that’s impressive or fascinates them, we get a long, exaggerated ‘wowwww...’ as a response. Ghanians are so happy and entertaining though. We’ve already got to see our first real African talent show, put together by the students at our school! It was just for us, and we loved the entertainment and even stood up to attempt their dances. I don’t understand how rhythm comes so naturally to them!

Chrissy and I have done well at keeping in touch with the 18 other volunteers teaching at the various school around Ghana. A big group of us even met up the other day to go to Busua Beach Resort. The beach was beautiful, and we all got a chance to swim as it was thundering and enjoy some very desired Western food. Two of our friends, Kira and Miranda, came a much farther way and stayed with us over the weekend. All of us have had our own very interesting experiences with our host families and schools. There have definitely already been some difficulties. One girl has already managed to catch Malaria. It’s quite funny though because while we make Malaria out to be this terrible, deadly disease it’s so common and treatable here. They practically make it to be the flu or a big that simply comes and goes away. Once you’ve had it, and it’s in your system, the following times you catch it it’s supposed to be much easier to manage. Still, I’m very careful to cover my arms and legs in the evenings when the mosquitos come out, and we always sleep with our mosquito net surrounding us.

Overall, it’s been a fascinating experience so far. Only two weeks in, and I can already see I’m going to enjoy this (:

Sing Buri, right from the first impressions, is incredibly different from Koh Tao. First of all, the volunteer company here s far more involved with their volunteers. So here, I’m living in a community situation, with an English roommate, and eat in a “cantina” for all the volunteers. In Koh Tao, street carts and markets became my cantina and I lived alone. Also, there are about 20 volunteers working on various projects here. From elephant conservation to teaching at English summer camps and orphanage work, all aspects of volunteering are represented at the center.

This week, I will participate in a “culture” or “orientation” week where we will tour the area and learn about the culture before beginning our projects. It helps to transition into teaching to know where the students are coming from culturally. Although I have experience in Koh Tao with the Thai culture, I think that Central Thailand is going to be distinctly different from the Koh Tao version of Thai culture. I’m really excited to visit temples, cook more Thai food, and learn more Thai vocabulary. From island adventures to mountain adventures, here we go friends.

Right before coming to Cape Town, on the annual trip to Casper and Lake Alcova, I came across a children’s book at my Gramma Marj’s house that I picked up to read quickly before bed. I can’t recall the name, but the theme of the story was to teach a young boy what was important in life... deep stuff. I remember reading If You Give A Mouse A Cookie! But the book hit home for me in a major way. So much so that I wrote the final quote on a piece of paper and have been carrying it in my wallet ever since to help me to remember what a privilege it is to be here. The quote reads:

Remember that there is only one important time and that time is now.The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing by your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world!

Whether you are a five year old being read to sleep, a searching 22 year old, or a seasoned 85 year old these words should be lived always. It is imperative to live in the moment to fully experience and enjoy and appreciate where you are, what you are doing, and who you are with. The past couple weeks have been no exception, and I have so loved every moment I’ve enjoyed with new friends in new places. There is always something to do and someone to do it with- never a dull moment. This weekend was no exception (and I use the term weekend loosely because it actually started Wednesday)!

Wednesday: Dinner in Bo Kap at the top of the hill with a beautiful evening view of Table Mountain and Lions Head for some traditional Cape Malay food. The hill to walk up was quite the trek, but very worth it.

Thursday: Connect 123 drink night at Slug & Lettuce. Always great to get together with new people in the group and hear about everyone’s experiences. Then off to Sgt. Peppers for a folk concert. Definitely felt like I was back in Nashville with that hipster vibe (shout out to the Nash crew-miss you all! @santaspubinspirit)

Friday:Joined by my friend Ana, the German girl that I intern with, we hit the town for a long night of dancing and billiards! Some games I held my own, others you wouldn’t believe that I grew up with a pool table in my basement:/

Saturday: Clearly it has been a long and stressful week (I promise I work hard 9-5... Sleep? Not so much.), so obviously the best way to celebrate our friend, Lucy’s, final weekend in Cape Town with a bang was to go on a sunset cruise (no, unlimited champagne had nothing to do with it). An experience that basically sums up Cape Town- spontaneous, beautiful, serene, great company, smiles, unforgettable, thankful. Here are the pictures to prove it:

Sunday: Shark Cage diving is cancelled...again. It was cold and stormy so a lazy start to the day was in order. Modern Family + Cape Town Family = Spooning.

Monday (National Brai Day): We surprise Lucy with a farewell brunch and remind ourselves that there are no “goodbyes” just “see ya laters”. Then a spontaneous trips to Camps Bay to enjoy the afternoon outside, before I head off to Hout Bay to celebrate the national holiday with friends introduced to me by my friend, Brent. Such a generous family to invite me into their home on a holiday. Always great to meet new people, and I hope to do some work with Ali, who runs a pre school and teacher training program in the townships. Full of delicious food and tired from a long “weekend” I then headed back to my flat. I made friends with a cab driver my first week here who drive me to Hout Bay. But unlike my journey to there, I drove the taxi home! I don’t know what is more entertaining, driving on the right side of the car on the opposite side of the road or seeing the confusion, or should I say sheer shock, when at a red light he looked over to see a white girl driving a taxi!

Today: For the third time I randomly contacted a friend of a friend who lives here in Cape Town. So far I am 3 for 3 in meeting some of the nicest people. This time it was Anne Pope, a friend of my dad’s friend, and a Professor of Law at the University of Cape Town. A warm and welcoming women, with an infectious laugh who most clearly was an educator as she engaged me in thoughtful conversation on inclusive business/ social entrepreneurship and then challenged everything I said, making me consider all angles. I definitely enjoyed her company, and look forward to future outings with her soon.

Tomorrow: Work from 9-5 writing a case study and conducting research on how information and communications technologies (ICT) can be utilized to aid sustainable business model that include low income peoples in every element of the supply chain. Then I will go to the university to see a lecture by the man that coined the Triple Bottom Line (profit, planet, people) business model.

I had to end with some proof that I am doing more than just having fun....

...but to be honest it’s all good 🙂

“Drinking chai… punctuates our day with precious and refreshing pauses, whether it is after a satisfying meal or when taking a much-needed break in our busy schedule”-Mutsuko Tokunaga

Before I came to India, I knew I was going to be consuming a fair amount of chai, but I didn’t know what it really meant to take chai. There is no proper equivalent for it in the United States, but I highly recommend to anyone reading this to start taking chai wherever you are. From what I have experienced so far, “taking chai” is a way to develop the relationships/community you live in and to take time from your day to appreciate the people you are with and where you are. Chai time is a conscious effort to be mindful and connect. It usually comes extremely sweet and hot in small cups (about 2 to 3 oz); however, if you are going to be talking with someone for a while, it’ll be in a larger, bottomless container. On average, I take chai an average of 3 times a day, Monday-Saturday, which happens to also be my workweek.

(Note: I am back to 100% health. No hasty conclusions, but it had to be chai that made me better.)

This past Sunday I went with Sarah, the ProWorld coordinator, and Mandira, another intern, to visit two incredible sites with rich history. The first was Kumbhalgarh. Kumbhalgarh was a Mewar fortress that was active until the late 19^th century. Their major claim to fame is that the wall is the second-longest continuous wall after the Great Wall of China. The fort itself is an incredible tribute to the Mewar kingdom and the architecture of the time. All around the fort and the surrounding area are temples (Wikipedia claims 360 within the fort, but I can neither confirm or deny this)

   Kumbhalgarh from the Wall

View of the Wall and houses near the fort

Speaking of temples, the next site we went to was Ranakpur, a massive Jain temple built in the 15^th century. Ranakpur is a square-shaped temple, and inside, there are hundreds of marble pillars with intricate designs carved into each and every one of them. It was slightly overwhelming because there was something to look at in every direction. Every pillar was carved from floor to ceiling, and every ceiling and door was carved as well. Before leaving, we were blessed and wished a happy life by a couple of the monks there, who Sarah knew from previous trips there.

Pillars of Ranakpur

Ranakpur

Then on Monday, it was back to work. I’ve begun to gain a stronger sense of what my position will be like at JJVS. My primary responsibility will be to develop a proposal for the microfinance program that has experienced enormous success for the 5 years it has been running and then locate potential funding agencies to send the proposal to. Beyond that, I will spend some time in the field talking with some of the borrowers in the program, and putting in some time in at the school Jagran runs as well.

If you’re interested in learning more about the organization, their website is   ( here ). I forgot to mention the name stands for People’s Awakening and Development Society. They have got an incredible relationship with everyone in the villages they work in due to many of them are from these villages, and as a result, have had great success with their programs through this strong presence in the community. Jagran is very intentional about ensuring there is significant community buy-in for their programs and a sharing of responsibilities, which allows them to achieve a strong level of sustainability.

Now, monsoon season seems to be on it’s way out and sunny days are ahead. I assume this means there will be even more chai to be had now, which I’m okay with.

To all readers at home curious about what I have been doing the past two weeks, I bring you a spark notes version of my new life in Cape Town thus far.

Day 1-2: A looong flight literally across the world. Denver, Colorado to Cape Town, South Africa = 28 hours of travel time.
* Move into 37 Roeland St. Western Cape. The view of the harbor from my room:

x

Days 3-5: Orientation with the friendly Connect 123 staff (where I learned how to purchase electricity credits and turn on the hot water- amenities I wish I would have figured out the night before when I took a cold shower in the dark!)
* Hop on hop off tour with new friends to get a sense of the city layout and learn about all the must do’s while in the city bowl.
* Dinner at the Waterfront. Thought was to get all of the touristy stuff out of the way.

Day 6: Begin work at Reciprocity. Meet my French bosses, Nico and Pierre, and the other German intern, Ana Jasmine. So far so good!

First Weekend: Cape Town nightlife. Hike Lionshead Mountain. Paraglide! Cape Town nightlife. Sunday braai in nearby township at a butchery called Mzoli’s (details to come when I get pictures to help describe how AMAZING it was)... Enough said, great weekend!

Monday: Won quiz night at a local pub.

Tuesday: Take trip to Khayalitsha, a local township, to speak with an entrepreneur that has successfully built an Internet cafe and computer literacy facility.

Wednesday: A wonderful dinner with a friend of a friend who is from Cape Town. Great food. Great company. Great conversation.

Currently: Enjoying time with new friends and a bottle of wine. Planning many exciting trips to come. Sneak preview: Shark cage diving this Saturday!

I realize this still may fall short of your expectations when looking for an account of my travels. They will get more detailed as I get settled, and I assure you that there will be lots of interesting content to come...

To borrow from my dear friend Brent’s blog (which you should definitely check out here.) living in a new country isn’t easy. Physical orientation, social norms, cultural history, political atmosphere, traffic patterns (or lack there of) all require time, patience, and willingness to adapt all while trying to redefine-or rather- define your place in the larger picture. This is currently the phase of my travels that I am in, but honestly, it is this challenge that inspires me to be here. I am so glad to be in Cape Town, but adaptation takes time. To be uncomfortable in a new place always brings needed growth, appreciation, and modesty. My journey to Cape Town has been no different.

Much love,
Alex

“India has a lesson for you, whether you want to accept it or not is your decision”-Sarah Davitt, ProWorld coordinator

This quote was prominently in my mind while I was preparing for India. It stuck out to me while I was talking with Sarah about basic preparation for coming to Udaipur. Now, after being in India for about a week and a half, I’m beginning to realize how difficult this will be. It’s not a quiet, safe learning environment where your participation is optional, and the teacher doesn’t care if you show up or not. You are pushed beyond your comfort zone constantly, and the only way to learn from the experience is to accept and adjust. Also, avoiding this type of education isn’t an option because the car horns start going around 6:30 or 7:00 AM.

Living in a new country isn’t easy. You have all of the normal issues of moving to a new city. Physical orientation, social norms, food, acceptable traffic behavior etc.. All of these will change whether you are moving from the Midwest to the South or if you are going from Fulton, Missouri, USA to Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. However, when you add centuries-old issues, the role religion plays in Indian society, the lasting impact of the caste system, and a new language that is far from Latin-based, it starts to feel a bit overwhelming.

Western-mentality and dress may still be working to continue colonization in India, but Udaipur at least, remains a rich environment of Eastern beliefs, traditions, and practices. I’m currently in the process of learning, understanding, and remaining flexible to it all. Luckily, I’ve got a great support system here that is always giving providing advice about Udaipur’s food, Indian Standard Time, how to get better when you get sick (shout out to Sarah for rushing me meds!), and always giving chai with a smile, a tradition I’m hoping the West starts to incorporate.

Taken next to Shri Manshapurna Karni Mata (aka the Rat Temple). Approximately where the Old City and New City meet

In only a week and half, I’ve managed to see and do some incredible things already. I’ve taken a boat on Fateh Sagar (one of Udaipur’s lakes), saw traditional folk dancing in the village of Vali, visited Shri Manshapurna Karni Mata (a temple that overlooks all of Udaipur), learned some basic Hindi, and saw a Hindi movie. I’ve been chasing after any type of culture I am able to experience. This has happened while simultaneously going to my internship 6 days a week at Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti (you can call it JJVS or Jagran as you like).

JJVS has been functioning as an organization since 1985, and they are involved with a variety of projects including: traditional medicine, education, microfinance, watershed preservation, and various other empowerment programs for villagers. Everyone in the organization is truly dedicated to their work and has been very supportive of me as I try to solidify a project. Also, the massive knowledge base they have is incredible and is one of the reasons they have been able to help nearly 1.5 million people throughout the life of the organization. Currently, I have been researching potential funding resources for Jagran, but I am hoping to also include some involvement with project implementation. Fingers crossed that I’ll have more direction next post.

Ultimately, I believe one of the greatest challenges while living abroad is being able to look past the superficial differences in a country and learning to understand the culture as a whole, not allowing yourself to stare wide-eyed while thinking to yourself “How weird is that?” Through this process of adaption and assimilation, you are able to grow personally, mentally, and professionally. This is one of my optimistic outcomes I hope to achieve by the end of my 3.5 months here. For now, I’m going to continue being a sponge and absorbing as much as possible and discovering what I can along the way.

Lake Pichola

I began my journey to South Africa six days ago... I began attempting to write this blog post six days ago. Literally, I have tried to sit down countless times hoping that inspiration would immediately begin to flow through my figure tips, presenting you with a little taste of South Africa that would make you excited to continue reading (and possibly even a little envious). Clearly that was not the case, and I wonder why? I sit. I reflect. I still wonder, why?

Fast forward.

Today I was walking home from work. Focused on getting it right this time, as I got lost yesterday, while still trying to look confident and like I knew where I was going. 1 block, 2 blocks, right turn... doing good... 3 blocks, 4 blocks, 5 blocks... I love this city... 6 blocks, 7 blocks....Madam, madam, please. Lady please...Keep walking...Change lady,please. Anything please... Keep walking, but now there are two. The begging echoes, and they pull on my clothes.Please lady, we don’t want money, take us to the store, we need milk for our baby, we sleep on sidewalk, PLEASE. I break 4 blocks later. They light up, shake my hand, tell me I am beautiful and that they love the USA. I’m a bit nervous, but it is rush hour. I calm down and enjoy conversation with the man (the woman disappeared) while we wait in line for 25 minutes to buy the largest tin of baby formula he could find. It is obvious what I am doing because I am the only white person in a sea of poor black people buying their groceries...today I learned was payday. We talk of how beautiful his 8 month old daughter is.

Important Quotations:
1) “Today is payday. I sometimes have work washing cars, windows, buildings... no luck this month. But I try not to steal!” and “You have a thick voice!”
2) “We are almost through the line lady. I promise. You looked worried when we came. Where are you going? I will get you back.”
3) The woman appears as we leave the store, “Thank you. I will think of your face every time my baby eats.”

I know where I am, because this area is where I got lost the day before. We part ways. I make it back to my flat safely and undisturbed, but as my mind spins it finally hits me like a slap in the face-I am in Cape Town, South Africa! Different than anywhere I have ever been before. My needed inspiration hit me. Clearly, I am a foreigner here (refer to quote #2), so I was reminded why I am here and what I am really doing. I am here to learn from the people of South Africa.

All of them.

4 1/2 weeks left. It almost doesn’t seem real. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m leaving. This time last year I was leaving to study abroad in Queensland, Australia for four months. A little bit different of an experience. Ultimately living the same lifestyle, just with a different location and different people. But now, I’m leaving everything. Everything I’ve ever known so that I can gain experience and learn something new about myself and about the world. I’m leaving behind family, friends, and a boyfriend whom I love with all of my heart. Leaving it behind as if I have another life waiting for me. In reality, these kids I’m about to spend 19 weeks with currently have absolutely no idea who I am.

I’m weird when it comes to change. As far as locations and meeting new people go, I am always up for the adventure. Always wanting something new. New experience, new friends, new place to call home. That kind of change I am comfortable with. That kind of change is a part of me. With change comes so many hellos. And that I adore. But with change also comes so many goodbyes. And goodbyes I have never taken lightly.

In the 5 1/2 months that I am abroad, I am bound to run into endless amounts of change. New friends, new photos and new places to mark off my map. I envision my map to be covered in little red pins, so much so that you can’t hardly see where I’ve been. With each pin there is an insane amount of joy and just a tiny bit of sadness. It’s bittersweet as we call it. All I’ve ever dreamed of is traveling the world and finding my own way to make a difference. But it’s never that simple is it?

But I’m ready for it...as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m ready for Ghana. (: