Alyssa inspiring others with a smile and a hello

108 Hellos

One of the many important things I learned while at Cape Town was how a simple hello could change the world. The kindness of people in Cape Town was like no other. Why could it not be the same in the states? I mean, some people are kind but not all. The same goes for Cape Town but the majority of people there, were. It starts with you. In order to make the world a better place; you have to start with yourself. One person that truly left an impact on my life since returning from Cape Town was Nelson Mandela. Under all circumstances, Mandela still made a suggestion that all people make peace and did something to help others. His birthday, July 18th, is international day of celebration, “Nelson Mandela Day” where people are invited to devote 67 minutes to helping others as Mandela had for 67 years when in 2008 he said "It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now." A few days before the approach of Mandela Day* I scrambled, wondering what I could do. After having a mini breakdown and getting some tips, I realized what I should do was evident and simple, just be me! 

Whenever I see someone, I make it my duty to say hello or smile. Until recently I noticed from myself that my hellos only come on certain occasions and for many years I have walked by someone looked down and have said nothing. Not today, not anymore. 

108 was the number of my old residence where I lived and had adventures as a young child. 108 was a number that meant something special to me and would be the number people I’d say hello to that day. It started off kind of awkward and I would notice some people giggle aware that I had just said hello to someone else so they knew it was coming. I didn’t mind that however, because I’d rather make some random person giggle than not make them smile at all that day. By the 56^th person, I decided to try something different. I called my sister and told her to bring our guitars to the park nearby our home. I don’t know why but I would get a rush out of making people smile. Mandela day was a beautiful day so being outside was perfect because everyone was out. My sister and I are beginners at the guitar but not beginners to entertain. We walked around the park and said hello to 52 more people but this time in a “Hello” song saying hello in many different ways. It was funny and people looked cheered up. Although this may not seem to be a typical way of helping people, I feel like it made a huge difference in a lot of people we saw that day. A hello does help. You never know who could have been inspired to do something or go out and make new friends. This was one of the most encouraging days for me and now every day for me will have the same motive, to make someone smile.

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* The idea of Mandela Day was inspired by Nelson Mandela at his 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park in 2008 when he said: "It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now."

The United Nations officially declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day in November 2009, recognising Mandela’s "values and his dedication to the service of humanity" and acknowledging his contribution "to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world." 

The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.”

Individuals and organisations are free to participate in Mandela Day as they wish. We do however urge everyone to adhere to the ethical framework of “service to one’s fellow human”.

Zuleika on coming home

While being in Cape Town I was able to notice the difference between there and the U.S but coming home just made it very real. I have realized that home is a very lonely place compared to South Africa. I loved the fact that everyone was so welcoming and you were able to have conversations with people you never even knew. In the U.S it is not as easy to do so, especially if you never saw the person. I had a conversation with the women sitting next to me on the airplane and I was able to think this more through. She was from Cape Town and travels back and forth from the U.S. When I had asked her about her experience in the U.S she agreed that it was not a welcoming place. She explained that it was hard for her to adjust because no one would talk to her unlike people in South Africa. My experience in South Africa has shown me that that is a major difference; the way people treat each other between the two countries is very different. When I came back home I realized that I am more shy but think that has to do with the fact that it’s harder to start conversations with people here. In the U.S almost everyone is worried about themselves and doing their own thing but in South Africa people actually care to see how your day is going. South Africa did feel like home!

Cynthia on learning more than she ever could have imagined

1. Learn a popular language spoken in South Africa.
2. Figure out my specific passion in life.
3. Touch the lives of at least one person I come in contact with there.
4. Learn how to make at least one popular South African dish.
5. Become immersed in the South African culture while I am there

Sitting in a room of other study abroad students I quickly wrote down these 5 goal and promised myself the make do my best to make sure I accomplish them during my 4 weeks in Cape Town. I was feeling a mix of emotions but I was mostly excited and nervous at the same time. Excited to travel abroad to a place I’ve never been before but kind of nervous because I did not know any of the people I will traveling with. Little did I know that I would become great friends with some of these strangers and I would learn so much about myself in such a short period of time. Even though I accomplished most of the things on this list, I also learned many valuables lessons that I could  have never foreseen sitting in a room at UCONN the week before finals. Four weeks in a different environment may not seem like a long time but it was just enough time for me to mature into a completely different person.

Besides learning about the apartheid years and South African culture, during that time I learned to accept people and now I am more open minded about certain things. Now, I look at the world from different points of view. I have also learned how to properly react in situations that I would not have done nothing about before this trip. My professor, Marita McComiskey, taught me about consensus decision making and with that everyone’s voice is heard. One thing I am grateful for is rediscovering my passion for the field of pharmacy. Now I am more determined than ever before to become a clinical pharmacist. I can go on for days talking about how grateful I am for this study abroad experience but unless you experienced it for yourself, you may not fully understand most of the things I am saying right now.

In conclusion, the things I’ve learned are things that are not taught in a normal classroom. They usually take many years for most people to realize them but I am glad that in those 4 weeks I learned them because they are valuable life lessons that have matured me into a better person. This entire experience is indeed a once in a lifetime experience and I would not have traded in my summer for anything else.

Maeve on doing your best and what that means to her.

We’re always talking about doing the best we can but what happens when the best we can just isn’t good enough. Maybe you’re in a race, and you go a best time but you still come in last; what does that mean? Is saying you did the best you can always a good thing? There are many times in our lives where doing the best that you can simply won’t cut it. There’s a higher standard to reach, there’s more you can be doing or you can be doing better. Doing the best that you can for some people when it comes to school might be doing all the work and skating along not really delving into any subject; they do what they can to get the grade they want. But they can do more. They can do the work for class, read all the chapters in the book, find outside materials to bring into discussion for comparisons and actually learn the material instead of memorizing it for an exam.

People in South Africa are doing the best they can to make something good out of a bad situation. Coming out of apartheid, there were a lot of issues the government and general public needed to address. The people we saw and met in the townships are, for the most part, doing the best they can to make themselves a better life and to create a better life for their children. The drum teachers at the community center in Langa are improving the lives of the children they work with and the women who learn pottery are bettering themselves by learning a life skill which they can then sell to make money.

But what about the people who use the best they can as an excuse? Is it “oh well that was the best I could do so shame that it didn’t work out”? No one should be using the best they can as an excuse. Saying you did the best you can is only valid when you are truly putting in 110% effort and you are trying your best. Don’t hold back or make excuses, put all of your effort into what you’re doing and don’t stop until you’re satisfied with what you’ve achieved. It might be tough but the more you work at it, the closer you’ll get to your goal. Sometimes it just won’t go your way, stuff happens, but the choice to put effort into your task is what’s important.

At the Tafelsig Clinic, there are plenty of patients who come in and are mystified that there blood sugar levels or cholesterol or blood pressure haven’t subsided and they claim they’re doing the best they can. Well did you take your medication this morning? No. Did you change your diet and exercise? Well no because you know I’m working and I take the bus to work…Could you walk to the bus? Could you walk to work? Well I’m getting old…who cares if you’re getting old? That’s why you’re getting sick. If you change your diet and exercise that’s exactly how you get better. And if anything in your life deserves your full diligence and attention it’s your health. If you don’ change anything you could have a heart attack, stroke or other incident that’s potentially fatal. Yet, there are patients who listen diligently to the presentations on diet and exercise, they ask questions about what we discussed and their condition. They actually went home and added exercise into their weekly schedule by walking to the store instead of getting a ride. They bought more fruits and vegetables and healthy oils and fats. Sadly, this person who’s doing everything right, sometimes doesn’t get any better. That’s when the doctor starts prescribing tablets and suggests the patient come for check-ups more frequently. It’s possible that there is an underlying condition with their symptoms and perhaps they need to have more tests run or see a specialist. This person is doing the best that they can; and why wouldn’t you when it comes to their health, their life?

While people with health problems have an obligation to try their best to better their health, I believe that anyone who is lucky enough to travel abroad and see how differently people live has an obligation to pass on this awareness and share what they’ve learned with others. Going to South Africa is just the first link in the chain of what I should be doing to make the most of my time in Cape Town. Awareness opens your eyes so you know what needs to be fixed but then you have to wonder how can I work towards fixing this. While it would be incredible to spend more time in South Africa and get heavily involved in the betterment of the community, there are plenty of places within the northeast which need just as much help.

Hurricane Sandy devastated the northern east coast, especially New Jersey. There are thousands of people who are still misplaced because their home and community were completely destroyed. After Hurricane Katrina, money was poured into the rebuilding of New Orleans from the state and federal governments, and relief efforts. However, when it came to giving money to rebuild New Jersey and other devastated areas, the process was and is painstakingly slow. According to the 2014 budget for foreign aid, the US government is requesting $47.8 billion to give to places abroad. What about the people right under your noses who are suffering just as much? The people affected by the storm are desperate for help to get their lives back. Yet the federal government has shifted their focus to issues which they believe are more important. Governor Christie is spearheading the rebuilding of NJ with his stronger than the storm ads on television and radio. It’s true, we are stronger than the storm, but when he says the Jersey Shore is open, I take issue with that. The Jersey Shore doesn’t just include the tourist areas like Seaside Heights. All of the small towns in between are the backbone of this coast and they matter just as much as the 100^th anniversary of Seaside. To get to my grandparents’ house in Lavallette, I drive through Point Pleasant, Brick, Mantoloking, Ortley Beach, Ocean Beach and more. Some of these towns had minimal damage or have been mostly rebuilt, but there are still vast areas with either no houses or houses that are nowhere near being open. These places look no different from when I first visited in November: they’re still condemned, there’s trash everywhere, and some are fenced off so you can’t even get near the house, they’re missing roofs, and they’re missing foundations. It’s a work in progress but the progress could be much faster if the federal government provided more aid. While there are parts of the shore which will make money and are open, far too many still haven’t even begun to recover. The people in these towns deserved to have a place to live again and to have the chance to rebuild their community.

 

Pictures of the Jersey Shore

This situation is similar to the people who were removed from District Six to live in the newly established townships in the Cape Flats. There was a surplus of hundreds of thousands of people who had no home, no job, and nowhere to go. They had no income because transportation back into Cape Town was the same as their wages and because of the turnover in the community, few businesses were established. In Khayelitsha, among other places, people still lack homes, clean water, fresh food, basic amenities, and access to education. Without can education they have no chance to get out of their circumstance. The government may have fixed some problems caused by the apartheid, but the issue of land and thus power is one that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. They claim they’re going to start moving people back or compensating them for their loss but again, progress is slow. Africa and the US may seem worlds apart, but our problems aren’t all that different. They deal with similar issues in a place with a much lower quality of life and they’re doing the best they can to make it better. The people need help and they need someone in charge who will listen to the people and start doing instead of just saying.

Do the best you can. We hear it all the time, but have you ever really stopped to think about what this means? Do you feel as though you embody it appropriately? Or have you betrayed the sentiment with lack of effort? Find what you love to do and put everything into it. There’s no reason to do something you don’t have a passion for. Because let’s face it, if you don’t love it, you’re not going to give it your all.