When I was surfing today, I was embracing everything around me and connecting the surf to my overall experience. It was a great day, and I want to share that with you in a more exciting format than an itinerary. SO -- here's a list of 8 things I was reminded of today while surfing in Muzienberg.
1. Stop writing your bucket list and start living it.
Put down the pen and pick up the surfboard.
Having been in Cape Town last year, it's easy for me to want to repeat everything I've already done. And with a program like Go Global that schedules every possible thing you could ever do in a place, it's hard for me to write a list of things I haven't done that I'd like to do. When I had the opportunity to go surfing with our students, there was no hesitation in my mind that I would go. It's something I've always wanted to do and talked about doing, and I jump at every single opportunity I have to cross something off of my bucket list. Naturally, we learn more about the world and the things that we can do in it, and that's why we are constantly adding things to our bucket lists -- but if we put the pen down for a second and focus on what we can actually cross off TODAY, RIGHT NOW as opposed to all of the things we haven't done, there will be a better balance of adding new things and crossing things off. What can you do TODAY from your bucket list?
2. It's always good to take up new hobbies and build new talents.
Disclaimer: Surfing is not yet one of my TALENTS. lol. But, I would love for it to be! I had surfed a few times before today in America, but I was young and never persistent on really learning correctly and sticking at it. I have this dream of moving to Australia for a gap year and being a surfer girl, so surfing in one of the top 20 places to surf in the world today which is also the best place to surf in all of South Africa made me feel like that dream is actually possible and that I'm working towards it. I reflect on the things I've taken up in my life as hobbies and built as talents...dancing, blogging, etc. Whether surfing becomes one of those or not, I remembered how good it feels to work on something new. Which brings me to:
3. Mix up your day instead of doing the same things all the time.
My life is by no means boring -- if I repeated everything I've done in my life I would still be living an incredible life. But it's thrilling to mix up your day with something new. This encouraged me to do other things in Cape Town I haven't already done to make the most of my 2 months here, and also to do other things in my college town and my hometown that I haven't already done. It's always good to do new things.
4. Stop and look around.
In between trying to catch the waves, I held onto my surfboard and swam around. I looked out into the bay and was just awed by the mountains, the houses on the hill, the moving train, the other surfers around me just crushing it, everything. As much as I wanted to take a picture of every single thing I was seeing while I was in the ocean, I realized that this precious landscape and the moment that I was living couldn't be captured. It was something that I had to soak in with my own eyes and simply enjoy! We forget to enjoy how beautiful this world is.
5. The beauty of walking barefoot.
In a hippie surfer neighborhood where shoes don't exist (and neither do clothes, apparently, considering the barefoot man we saw walking around the shops in a halter top thong -- not a joke), we embraced the culture and just walked everywhere barefoot. It's liberating, really. Something as simple as taking off your shoes represents an entire laid back, chill culture. The feeling of sand on my toes always brings me back to good vibes at the beach. I'm never one to complain about sand. It feels good.
6. The simplicity of a good coffee in a quaint coffee shop.
When was the last time you went out in a group for coffee? I enjoyed seeing all of the coffee shops today in Muzienberg, and we stopped in one before surfing just to warm up. I enjoyed the decor, the sandy bare feet, the really, really good coffee that they brought out to me, all of it. I sipped my drink while taking everything in and just feeling grateful for a good day. A good, hot drink need never be taken for granted.
7. There is no better shower than a post-beach shower.
No explanation needed.
8. Sometimes new friends and strangers can be the best support team.
Something I love about Go Global is the type of person that goes on one of our trips. Everyone is so incredibly real -- down to earth, encouraging, and authentic. To hear my small group (Zach and I split up -- his group went first, my group went second) cheering each other on when someone would get up on the board for the first time just warmed my heart! Creating the environment for my students where they want to support each other and be happy for each other makes me feel like I'm doing well in that aspect of my job. We even came up with a team name and motto. It was so cute. I was reminded about hiking Table Mountain as a student and becoming friends with the strangers who were encouraging me. My heart is so full to see this scenario in my students. I'm doing something right.
As I'm reminded of all of these things, I'm also reminded of a quote that I love:
"If you're not obsessed with the life you live, change it."
I am the best version of myself when I am traveling. I feel whole. This is the life for me. It is not a hobby. It is my life.
I am obsessed. And I wouldn't change a thing.
We got picked up from OBM after eating all of our favorite foods, made the drive to Muzienberg, and met our guide, William. He was your absolute stereotypical surfer dude. Hilarious. Super great guy. My group went to the coffee shop while Zach's group surfed, then we switched.
Before getting in the water we had our on-the-beach surf lesson and jogging warmup. I felt like I was on Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It was hilarious.
I was the first one to try and the first one to get up on the board. I stood on the first try! The overcast sky suddenly turned into some beautiful sunny skies, and the currents grew stronger. The change in weather was overwhelming. You never know what you're going to get here!
After that successful try, it was really difficult to get back up on the board with the strong current. I ended up just riding the board in like a boogie board a couple of times and laughing. And of course, I had a few unbelievable wipeouts that put sand in places I didn't even know I had. OUCH.
All in all, it was a great experience and a really great day. Gnarly dude. My mood is really lifted by doing something different today, embracing the culture, and taking in everything around me. Rad.
We made the drive back home, and here I am, staff-on-call. I have huge FOMO that the students and Zach are at Club 31 without me. I NEED to go while I'm here. Again, another adjustment from student-to-staff perspective. I intended on doing laundry and eating pizza tonight but I've been on the computer for so long that it looks like I'll just be going to bed. I need my rest anyways -- I'm exhausted.
Thanks for keeping up with the blog. Doing my best! My role does not allow time to blog like I did as a student. This transition is a process, but I'm learning and growing and helping others to do the same.
The tide is high, but I'm holdin' on.
The Summer Intern,
Anna