The past few days have been so jam packed...I truly have not had time to blog!
We started with the city tour and orientation. I was exhausted on this day. I spent the day feeling really lethargic and really missing my friends from my student experience. This is something that I journaled about so much. I honestly haven't journaled much about the really awesome things that I have done and felt because I've been trying to focus my journal more on the student-to-intern transition, and it isn't until now that I'm starting to feel much more positive about it. SO -- I'm happy to report that my journaling is about to be a lot more positive.
After the city tour we had our welcome dinner. This was a chance for me to dive in and commit to connect (see what I did there, fellow Go Global team members). It was my chance to start getting to know some of the students. I sat with Abby and Ellie and really enjoyed getting to know them. This was the same welcome dinner we had as a student. The traditional African food was really good and they painted our faces! Lots of fun, but I was exhausted from my first day of feeling like a full-swing staff member. Before the day was over, I was really happy to be back in Camps Bay -- my favorite place in Cape Town! This view of the Twelve Apostles is like none other... And the beach just gives me LIFE. Gorgeous. Mood lifter.
We started with the city tour and orientation. I was exhausted on this day. I spent the day feeling really lethargic and really missing my friends from my student experience. This is something that I journaled about so much. I honestly haven't journaled much about the really awesome things that I have done and felt because I've been trying to focus my journal more on the student-to-intern transition, and it isn't until now that I'm starting to feel much more positive about it. SO -- I'm happy to report that my journaling is about to be a lot more positive.
After the city tour we had our welcome dinner. This was a chance for me to dive in and commit to connect (see what I did there, fellow Go Global team members). It was my chance to start getting to know some of the students. I sat with Abby and Ellie and really enjoyed getting to know them. This was the same welcome dinner we had as a student. The traditional African food was really good and they painted our faces! Lots of fun, but I was exhausted from my first day of feeling like a full-swing staff member. Before the day was over, I was really happy to be back in Camps Bay -- my favorite place in Cape Town! This view of the Twelve Apostles is like none other... And the beach just gives me LIFE. Gorgeous. Mood lifter.
Yesterday I kind of had a similar feel all day. I was tired and grumpy because I didn't get a lot of sleep and I broke my Michael Kors sunglasses. Anyone who knows me knows that those are my signature so I was very sad...haha. BUT -- no time for negativity, it's not a part of my job description, so I spent the day trying to change this mood. Again, I journaled about everything going on in my head about that.
It was fun to go back to Boulders Beach and Cape Point/the Cape of Good Hope. Luckily for me Jake gave me his sunglasses because he is the best friend ever...haha. The penguins were so cute at Boulders Beach and when I go back for the LEAD trip I need to bring my GoPro and selfie stick to get cute pictures of them.
It was fun to go back to Boulders Beach and Cape Point/the Cape of Good Hope. Luckily for me Jake gave me his sunglasses because he is the best friend ever...haha. The penguins were so cute at Boulders Beach and when I go back for the LEAD trip I need to bring my GoPro and selfie stick to get cute pictures of them.
Jake can't hike with his knee injury, so we took the cable car up to Cape Point to see the tip of Africa. Super cool!!! That's something I had never done. I will post those pictures soon.
The best part of yesterday was going out to dinner with the students. I made a reservation at one of my favorite restaurants and invited the first couple of students to respond to come with me. I got the salad that I have been craving for an entire year now. It was sooooo amazing and just as good as I remembered. We then went out to karaoke with the students. I sang some Britney Spears, of course. It was very different to feel like a chaperone to them as opposed to a peer. Nonetheless, I still had fun. I love, love, love Camps Bay. I felt like I really got to know and connect with my students on this trip.
This morning we had class where we discussed Strengths Finder (which I'm obsessed with) and had an Amy Biehl presentation. I blogged about the Amy Biehl presentation from last year, so if you want to read that, just look at my student study abroad blog. Such a touching story that really opened my eyes to the power of "ubuntu."
Tonight I'm the staff on call, so I have to stay in, but I invited any students who want to stay in with me to watch the sunset on our beach and come to my room for a cheese party! BYOC...bring your own cheese. I'm excited to continue to get to know these students better. Getting to know them and spending quality time with them is exactly what is changing my perspective on the student-to-intern transition and making it easier for me. I was reminded of why I'm here and what kind of impact I can have on these students by serving as a mentor to them.
Today I'll be staying back and doing some staff work. Another little good things: I got my final grades from school today and they are all really good!! This has me in a great mood. I'm ready to have a productive day surrounded by uplifting people with positive energy!
Ubuntu everyone!! Will blog again soon -- hopefully even tonight. While the actual contents of my journal will be private, I plan on making more insightful blog posts about the things I've written about in my journal. Y'all deserve to be reading something more than my itinerary. Haha. Not very inspiring, although informative.
The Summer Intern,
Anna
The best part of yesterday was going out to dinner with the students. I made a reservation at one of my favorite restaurants and invited the first couple of students to respond to come with me. I got the salad that I have been craving for an entire year now. It was sooooo amazing and just as good as I remembered. We then went out to karaoke with the students. I sang some Britney Spears, of course. It was very different to feel like a chaperone to them as opposed to a peer. Nonetheless, I still had fun. I love, love, love Camps Bay. I felt like I really got to know and connect with my students on this trip.
This morning we had class where we discussed Strengths Finder (which I'm obsessed with) and had an Amy Biehl presentation. I blogged about the Amy Biehl presentation from last year, so if you want to read that, just look at my student study abroad blog. Such a touching story that really opened my eyes to the power of "ubuntu."
Tonight I'm the staff on call, so I have to stay in, but I invited any students who want to stay in with me to watch the sunset on our beach and come to my room for a cheese party! BYOC...bring your own cheese. I'm excited to continue to get to know these students better. Getting to know them and spending quality time with them is exactly what is changing my perspective on the student-to-intern transition and making it easier for me. I was reminded of why I'm here and what kind of impact I can have on these students by serving as a mentor to them.
Today I'll be staying back and doing some staff work. Another little good things: I got my final grades from school today and they are all really good!! This has me in a great mood. I'm ready to have a productive day surrounded by uplifting people with positive energy!
Ubuntu everyone!! Will blog again soon -- hopefully even tonight. While the actual contents of my journal will be private, I plan on making more insightful blog posts about the things I've written about in my journal. Y'all deserve to be reading something more than my itinerary. Haha. Not very inspiring, although informative.
The Summer Intern,
Anna