I am in Western Cape Town, South Africa, and I really enjoy this area. It’s situated on the southernmost edge of not only the country but the continent, surrounded by the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. This gives the area an oceanic atmosphere that I love. To describe it to an American, it has a Florida-like atmosphere. Another beautiful thing about Cape Town is the many places where you can watch the sunset peacefully. There are many mountains, hills, and beaches to enjoy the sunset.

Currently, I am living in a hotel for the next three weeks of the program. I have a roommate named Alex, who is also a junior but in Dietrich. I am enjoying our accommodations, but it does feel a bit out of place to be living out of a hotel, having housekeeping come into my room every day, or dealing with my key card disabling every hour. However, rooming with Alex has been great thus far.

We do not necessarily have a host university, but we have visited the University of Western Cape once and will be visiting again soon. The University of Western Cape and the University of Pittsburgh are similar in many ways. They are both top universities in their regions, emphasize both the arts and STEM, and have a large and active student body. The primary differences are the racial demographics of the student body and the abundance of green spaces at Western Cape.

This classroom experience has been great. While it’s a bit unconventional as we meet in a conference room and class times can vary frequently, the in-class discussions and content have been very fruitful. We discuss our activities during the rhythm program and align them with our readings, using these to foster discussions that motivate our weekly writing. Although I was nervous at first, these classes have been excellent for learning a different perspective and train of thought from another discipline. I am taking a South African history class and an English literature course focused on learning how to bear witness.

In this academic environment, the skills needed for success include being analytical of all the places we visit and relating them back to our readings. It’s also important to be critical of them and to demonstrate the ability to consider multiple perspectives and analyze those perspectives effectively.