One Year, Many Thoughts

Here we are again, everyone. I continue to say that I am done posting on this blog. As a preface, I can ensure that this post will in fact be the last one.

Almost exactly a year ago I boarded a plane bound for South Africa. Since then, much has happened. I have met many people, enjoyed many memorable experiences, and have seen another side of this world. What can a year teach us?

A year has taught me that we can grow. We don't necessarily become bigger physically, but we become bigger people. What do I mean by that? We can meet new people, see new places, and have life experiences--just what I did in South Africa. However, we don't need to leave home to do so.

In one year, I changed. I left home as a seventeen year old high schools senior who was curious about the world. I came home as an 18 year old, who was still curious about the world in which we live. However, I came back as someone with a better sense of understanding. I met people from literally every walk of life. These people very from my hosts, friends, domestics, and even the odd taxi driver. I became a conversationalist. Stories became interesting to me. I wanted to get to know people for who they are, and not necessarily for what they have. Now, I think nothing of striking a conversation with a stranger. A year ago that was not the case. My personal changes span beyond being extroverted. As much as people may be surprised, I became tolerant. People in this world are not all the same. In fact, we are all different. My exchange taught me to not only tolerate differences, but to celebrate them. As I prepared for my exchange I learned the following phrase: It's not better or worse, it's just different! This phrase doesn't just stand for the differences between American, Canadian, or South African ways of life. It stands for our beliefs, views, and how we value ourselves as individuals in society. I believe that I have found myself as an individual in our global society via understanding and celebrating our differences that make people unique.

A year has taught me that family means everything. Family, however, can take many forms. Family can be your natural family, a host family, or anyone who plays a significant role in your life. Some of the people I have met here at the University of British Columbia have become my family. I never thought that I could become as close as I am to some of the amazing people who I have met. Since I have spent more days away from home than at home this year, I now value the role my parents have in my life far more. I now understand their contributions that encompass so many facets. They support me emotionally, financially, and in ways that need not to be listed. The bottom line is that I would not be who I am today without my three families--my South African, American, and UBC families.

Most importantly, this last year has taught me the importance of one word: yes. Always say yes. So many of my experiences this year are due in part to the word, yes. I answered yes to UBC's offer of admission. I accepted the amazing friends who I have made. I say yes whenever someone asks if I am up to a task I used to think was unthinkable. This may be a bit broad, but the instances in which I have said yes are innumerable.

My word of advice to anyone who is considering exchange is that it certainly is worth it. February 2012 until February 2013 has been a year of ups and downs, but it has also been a year of personal gratification. An exchange, regardless of form, provides this unparalleled sense of personal gratification.

I am forever grateful for my family who enabled me to embark on this years' series of opportunities. I am also so lucky to have you, the reader. I may not know who you are, but you have a sense of who I am. This anonymous relationship serves a unique role: those who are curious about exchange, life abroad, or even life in general have a place where they can take a peek into the happenings of the life of an individual. The reflections may be difficult to follow at times, but to me they are certainly profound.

For those of you who are interested in keeping up with my international experiences, I am in the process of creating a new blog! It is titled "Encounters Abroad" and will document my travels and experiences in Canada, and where else life may take me. I hope you will check it out once it is up and running.

Thank you, readers. If you have any insights, comments, or questions, I hope that you will get in touch with me. My email is danny.schur@gmail.com

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

A New Life in a New World

Hello, readers!

In my last post I said that this blog would no longer be relevant. I decided that it is in fact still relevant. While I no longer have insights to share about living in Cape Town, I have a few words to say about my life now.

It has now been three and a half months since I returned from Africa. Now, I am living in Vancouver. The two cities could not be any more different, yet at the same time they're very similar. Mountains and ocean punctuate the scenery here just as they do in Cape Town. There is a very laid-back and relaxed vibe as well. Canadians are some of the most cordial people I've met so far. South Africans are as well, but in fairness a true South African will give you a piece of advice or directions with his or her two cents as well. I may be making a sweeping generalization. I view it was a cultural difference.

When I returned to North America I experienced my fair amount of reverse culture shock. Vancouver is an expensive city. When I say expensive, I mean it. Eating out, entertainment, and other living expenses are astronomical compared to those of Cape Town. However, I noticed that you get what you pay for in Canada. The quality of life here is very high. Crime rates are low and it is safe for someone to walk outside at night. It took me a bit of time to adjust to this way of life. In Cape Town, there was a huge emphasis on safety and security. In Canada, some people don't even lock their doors. Such a change, but certainly a welcomed one.

As the weather becomes progressively colder I begin to miss Africa. I miss sunsets that are unlike any I have ever seen in my life. I miss the frenetic activity of the city centre, where taxis come and go and people are selling trinkets on the side of the street. Vancouver is a bit tame in comparison. I miss the friendliness of the people as well. I've begun to make peace with the fact that Cape Town and Vancouver are different.

Instead of comparing the two places I need to appreciate who I have around me in my life. I am so fortunate to have my family support me through not only my exchange, but through all my other endeavors. I am thankful for my friends in both places as well. Thank you, Chicago friends, for waiting for me when I got home and understanding the purpose of the journey. Thank you to my South African friends for becoming as important as you all are in my life. Without you all I could not be the person I am today.

The exchange is over, but the intercultural learning continues--It always will. I will return to South Africa. Maybe not tomorrow, but I certainly will. It is home. Africa will always be within me.

Thanks again, everyone! Dankie vir die lees!

-Danny

P.S. Please feel free to email me at danny.schur@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions about the blog or South Africa in general.

A world apart, yet a world closer.

It is hard to believe that my exchange in South Africa ended only a mere 2 and a half weeks ago. On August 13 at 5:45 in the morning, I landed at New York's Kennedy airport. That is when my exchange ended.

Now, I am sitting in my dorm room at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. My life here could not be any more different than what I had in South Africa. In many ways, it feels as if my life there was simply just a dream, and every now and then I relive it. In short, I miss South Africa dearly.

The journey home was a long, but pleasant one. Neshama, the other American, and I had a departure camp in Johannesburg. We were both sad about our imminent departure, yet excited to finally reunite with our natural families. We both enjoyed reflecting on our experiences and looking at them from a different perspective.

 At the end of my six month exchange, I missed my family more than I ever had in my life. In a lot of ways, those six months were an endurance challenge for me. I learned that I am capable of living independently and making conscious decisions for myself on a daily basis. This will only prepare me well for life in college.

I do miss the beauty of Cape Town, the friendly people that have become some of my closest friends and of course, my host family. Meilech family, you were amazing. It wasn't always easy living together, but I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me.

Life in Canada is very different than life in South Africa. I have more relative safety, public transport and social infrastructure. However, it is insanely expensive to live here. I miss how relatively cheap South Africa is. Canada is a bit less exotic. While it is a "foreign" country, it is very similar to the US. The people sound the same, the food is similar and the culture isn't distant at all. Canada has many subtle differences, while South Africa has few.

I feel that I have grown tremendously since February. If it weren't for South Africa, I wouldn't be the more open-minded individual who I am today. I have a more global view of the world and think beyond the borders of my country. I have become more tolerant of people who may not be like me, and learn to appreciate their differences. The list of ways that I have changed is endless. I would not trade those six months for anything, ever.

This is the end of my blog, but only the beginning of the rest of my life. I know many of you have emailed me with questions, but you'll have to bare with me. I take a long time to reply as I've been very busy in the last two weeks. Only now I have been able to sit down and write about the end of my experience and catch up on old experiences. It feels odd to say goodbye, but this is the end. This is it. The blog no longer has a relevant purpose, so I will end it now.

Thank you for reading this blog, as well as following my journey through South Africa. Dit was 'n groot plesier!

Totsiens, Tsamaya hantle, Sala kukuhle and Goodbye!

-Danny

Six

As I sit here in my host family's kitchen, I now realize that I have six days left in Cape Town. I'm sitting here, thinking about where the time has gone over the last five months. What have I done? Where have I been? Who have I met? Was it worth it? What mistakes did I make? How did I succeed?

There are many answers to those questions.

People frequently ask me "would you do it again?" and "would you come back?" The answers: yes and yes. This exchange has impacted me tremendously. While perhaps I am not too keen to repeat the roller coaster of an experience that was my first month, I would undoubtably do it again. I also recommend that anyone who is at all considering to go on an exchange during high school to do it if possible. In many ways, I can't imagine spending my second semester of my senior year any other way.

Yes, it is me. I'm different. Not too many high school seniors take the risk of leaving everything they have for six months to try something different in a foreign country. Living with people who are at first complete strangers in a place where you have never been can be daunting. It didn't deter me one bit. I've seemed to always craved being different and trying new things. In many ways, I feel as if I am writing the book for an American high school senior who risks it all by going to Cape Town for six months. My journey has come to an end, but the stories and experiences are countless.

Second semester of senior year is a predictable time. These five months have been anything but predictable. Was this time spent away from my life in America worth it? Absolutely. Why? I created a new existence where no one knew who I was. I tried new things. I met new people. I went to new places. My friend's dad once said, "what you're doing here is merely a microcosm of life." He couldn't be more accurate. The ups, the downs, the successes, the struggles, and everything in between have shaped not only my exchange but also who I am as a person.


Cape Town and my host family's home feel like home to me now. Chicago feels like a world away and I'm almost a bit nervous to go home. I can't exactly articulate why I'm nervous. It's almost the same feeling I had before I came here--a combination of excitement and nervousness.I'm so accustomed to the routine and way of life with my host family that I could not imagine doing anything other than it. In one month, I'll be living a vastly different life. I will be in college, living in a dorm, in yet another country. Needless to say, August is going to be a whirlwind of a month. In fact, it already has been. I'm shocked by how quickly this week has gone by. I feel as if August is the month of contrasts and extremes.

In the words of an ex-Rhodesian I met last month, "Africa will always be in my veins." While I did not live in colonial Africa, I do feel that South Africa will always be part of my identity. So much of what I've done here hasn't only shaped who I am, but has also prepared me for my future.

All rambling aside, I do feel that even though these five months haven't always been easy, this experience was absolutely worth it. Now, I'm going to savor the last six days here in Cape Town.

Cheers,
Danny

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

The quote in the title of this post comes from the late 80's move, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I don't think there is a better sentence to describe how I feel at the moment than that quote. As of today, I have three weeks left in Cape Town. One may think, "hey, that's a long time!" while others may think, "you're practically leaving tomorrow! Bye!". Lately my mind has been playing with me. I'm very excited to go home. I can't wait to drive a car again, eat my favorite foods and of course, see my friends! Five months is a very long time to be away from home and it has begun to take its toll on me. However, I feel that the five months have just zoomed past and the time that remains is merely chump change. Bottom line, I'm confused about how to feel right now.

I just returned from an awesome week and a half week trip to northern South Africa. I went to (in sequential order) Johannesburg, Phalaborwa, Kruger National Park, Hoedspruit, Mpumlanga, and then back to Phalaborwa again. I got to spend time with other AFS students, which was great. Going abroad is a tremendously rewarding experience but there are certainly many lonely moments. The friends you have in your host community may be very close but the people who tend to understand the exchange student experience best are in fact other exchange students. Undoubtably, the highlight of the trip was the Kruger National Park. I didn't see the "Big 5" but I saw some of them--if you have a clue what I'm talking about.

I could write pages about the trip, so I'll just post some pictures to give you an idea of what I saw and did.

World's largest Baobab tree

Blyde River Canyon--The third largest in the world!

Petting a cheetah at Moholoholo animal rehab centre

Elephant at the Kruger National Park

AFSers in the bush!

Waterfall near the Blyde River Canyon

After climbing the Koppie

Impala--commonly found throughout the Kruger

Life in Africa is passing quickly. I'll probably post again once or twice before I go home. Living abroad isn't always easy but I am beginning to understand the rewards it can reap.

Cheers!

Danny

The Beginning of the End

Hello everyone!

I know it has been an eternity since I have written in this blog. Rather, it feels as such for me. I received communications from readers in both America and South Africa asking me to post. My reasons for not keeping to my formerly regimented schedule of blogging are the same as those of any other AFSer who blogs. Simply put, there just isn't enough time to sit down weekly and organize my thoughts into an informative yet readable blogpost. As my English teachers at North Shore taught me, it is important to write with the audience in mind. When I started my blog, I considered my audience to be family, friends and perhaps a few curious teachers of mine. I had no idea that the scope of the audience now would be so broad. However, so be it. I feel so rewarded that people from literally every corner of the world read this blog. I hope that I have inspired other students to make the leap to go abroad and to give those who cannot travel a window into my life abroad.

Since June 9th, which was the last time I posted, a lot has taken place. I feel like I say that frequently, but it's true!

Now I am not only officially a high school graduate, but I have finally finished my senior year of high school abroad! It felt so strange going to school in mid-June, but that's what you do in South Africa. School here runs from January to December. Currently we have a two and a half week vacation period. Therefore, I am officially on my second "winter break" of this academic year. Confusing? I sometimes think so. They days in Cape Town are much shorter than they are in Chicago now. The sun rises at about 7:45 a.m. and sets promptly at six. It is a far cry from seeing the sun bright at six and shine until eight. Perhaps that is what I miss the most about home--the seemingly endless days of summer.

Last week Thursday, my high school here had our Matric Dance. For those of you non-South Africans, a Matric Dance is the equivalent of senior prom. Just like at home, we met at someone's house for pictures before the affair, went to an event hall for the dance, and then had an after party. It was a really nice affair and all of my classmates ensured it was a special night for all. They even made a special mention of the fact that I won't be going back to school for third term, and that they will miss me. Thanks again, SRC for doing that!

Other than my end-of-school related matters, life here has been relatively monotonous. Since I'm on my school vacation now I have had the opportunity to relax for the last few days. The remainder of the holidays will be spent doing some community work, sightseeing with other AFSers, chilling with my school friends, and then going to Phalaborwa to visit my AFS friends from Switzerland. Once in Phalaborwa I will have the opportunity to go to the Kruger National Park. For those of you who do not know what the Kruger Park is, you must look it up. It is one of the most iconic places to visit in all of South Africa.

As June is coming to an end, I only have one full month left here in Africa. As much as I have moments during which I'd like to be at home, it will be hard to say goodbye. I will miss everyone here in South Africa and will never forget them. It's certainly not over yet, but I am well aware that the time is going to "fly" from now. 

Cheers!

Danny

Summer in South Africa

Long time no write, everyone! I apologize for not keeping to my weekly habit of posting to this blog but it has been yet another hectic week and a half here in Cape Town.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the North Shore Country Day School class of 2012. Our graduation ceremony was yesterday and although I wasn't in attendance I spend the whole day thinking about it. I thought to myself, "why am I missing this?"After a few hours of thinking and several emails, facebook messages and wallposts, I finally realized that I made the right choice for myself to come to South Africa on my AFS exchange. Sure, I would have liked to be in attendance at the ceremony but luckily with this day and age of technology I was able to hear my name called via a video my mom recorded. Thanks, mom!

Now, back to the southern hemisphere. Since I last posted I explained that I will be spending the balance of my time here doing community work. I spent the last week and a half volunteering for Equal Education in Cape Town organizing and preparing books to be put in school libraries in townships. Last Friday I had the opportunity to visit the township of Khayelitsha to deliver the books. Although my time in the township was limited to a few hours, the short time I spent reaffirmed why I came to South Africa. I had an experience within an experience to see how the "other half" lives and to make a tangible difference to the community. The principles of the schools we visited were very gracious to have us and were extremely welcoming. I found the teachers and the administration of Sosebenza, Manyano, and the other school of which I forgot the name to be some of the warmest and nicest people I have met in South Africa. To say the least it was a very worthwhile experience.

I remember starting this blog about two months before I left and I remember writing about how I had no idea what would be in store. When I wrote that blogpost I was sitting in the senior homeroom on a bleak monday morning in December during A block when I should have been doing my Pre-Calc homework. Now, about two months remain of my time in South Africa and I am more than aware of the fact that the time will fly. Therefore, I must enjoy it.

The timeline of events until August 10, my last day in Cape Town, is as follows:

This week: Continue to do community work here in Cape Town

Next week: Go back to school for Matric day (sort of like seniors' day) and a field trip with my tourism class, and then the Matric dance!

Following week: Holidays start until the 16 of July. During that time I'll be hanging around Cape Town with friends and various visiting exchange students. I'm going to Phalaborwa, Limpopo one of those weeks to visit a fellow exchange student.

The remaining three or so weeks before I leave have still yet to be determined. Most likely I will do a mix of sightseeing and community work until I leave. Even though two months seems like a long time from now it really isn't as I have a lot planned.

Here are some pictures of my trip to the township of Khayelitsha:

Cheers!

-Danny