6 hours ahead and 8100 miles away

Tuesday morning, we were asked to write down our preconceptions of South

Africa in our workbook. I thought about this and realized that before coming here, I

honestly didn’t have much of an idea of what Cape Town and South Africa were going to

be like at all. I could have gotten off the plane to just about anything and I wouldn’t have

been surprised. I thought more about this and asked myself, what on earth am I doing in

this place I know absolutely nothing about? I’m in AFRICA. This is crazy. For a girl

who’s never been anywhere outside of North America, this is a pretty huge step.

I’ve always known I would study abroad and had my heart set on going to either

Australia or Greece. My visions of relaxing on the beaches of Greece are what brought

me to my first Global L.E.A.D. info session. I thought for sure that I would end up going

on the program’s Greece trip. However, when I saw the video they had put together for

Cape Town, I was sold. Done. Take me to Africa.

My mom (who has always worked in the marketing department for Coca-Cola)

was quick to remind me that it’s someone’s job to put together videos such as these to

make things look appealing… obviously things in the area of marketing aren’t always

exactly as they seem. However, she got over her skepticism after talking with the Global

LEAD staff and researching the program more. Well mom, after only 3 days here, from

what I can tell it’s everything the video cracked it up to be. Not only am I in Africa (still

hasn’t hit me), but I am here with some incredible people, the city is absolutely breath

taking, and I am going to have some of the most amazing opportunities I can possibly

imagine.

So far the highlights have been meeting everyone, touring the city, doing beach

yoga with Leasa, getting my luggage (the airline lost it, so I was ecstatic when it finally

came in), and learning about the culture and politics of South Africa. This is all only

the very beginning and I can’t wait to experience everything Cape Town has to offer.

So while this time last year I never would have guessed I was going to end up in South

Africa (really though… I’m actually in Africa?), I can’t imagine myself anywhere else

right now and am so thankful I ended up coming on this program.

--Erin Meyers