We still have openings on both of our Cape Town trips: LEAD and Direct. You already know how much I love Cape Town, and why I think you should go there, so let’s hear from someone else. I had the opportunity to do a quick interview with LEAD Cape Town 2014 student and Community Leader Haley Berry, and I’ve included her responses below.
Anna: What was the most beautiful thing you saw while you were in Cape Town?
Haley: “Everything in Cape Town was beautiful. But the one thing that always made me smile, that never left, was Table Mountain as the backdrop of the city. Everywhere we went, Table Mountain followed. I miss seeing it everyday as we went about our daily activities. I could see it from our apartments, driving around the city; it is seriously one of the most breathtaking sights.”
Anna: What was your favorite adrenaline-rush experience in Cape Town?
Haley: “My favorite adrenaline-rush experience was the bungee jump. I would jump off that bridge over and over again if I could. I got such an adrenaline rush from it that I actually didn’t know what to do with myself. I was one of the first people to go in my group, so when I got back to the top of the bridge, I was on such a high that I was dancing around the whole platform. You can find me in the background of everyone’s videos dancing like a maniac and making a fool out of myself, per usual.”
Anna: Tell me about a memory that stands out to you from your Cape Town trip.
Haley: “Service week in Sir Lowry’s Pass was full of beautiful memories that stand out to me greatly — from my girl Chantal running and jumping into my arms the first day of service week and talking my ear off all week, then right before I got on the bus on our last field day, running and jumping into my arms, but this time, she was crying. I also got to know my housemother, Miss Denise, pretty well. Although she was very shy at first, she really opened up as the week progressed. She told us all week that she liked to sing, and every day we asked if she would sing for us, and she would get embarrassed. Finally, on the last day, we were all sitting around her on the couches, and she sang. She started crying, I started crying — I’m pretty sure we were all moved to tears. Service Week made me realize how quickly someone could make an impact on my life, and how quickly I could care for people who, just a few days before, were complete strangers.”
Anna: If you could go back and change one thing about your Cape Town trip, what would it be?
Haley: “If I could change one thing during my trip, I would have opened up to more people around me. I realized towards the end of the trip I had been quite reserved, and if I did it again, I would have been more open. I am not very good at being vulnerable, and I learned that it is okay to show my emotions.”
Anna: What are your three biggest takeaways from your Cape Town trip?
Haley:
- “One thing I realized while abroad is to take every opportunity I can to step outside my comfort zone, because every time I did while in Cape Town, I was so happy because of it. I did things I never thought I would do, and I realized how rewarding taking chances can be.
- Secondly, I learned not to take anything for granted and help others out whenever possible, even the smallest gestures can make someone’s day.
- “ Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.” — This quote stood out to me in a way that I now strive to live by these words in my day-to-day life.”
To learn more about our Cape Town opportunities, just check out the site or shoot us a message. And remember…I’ll be there, too! I can’t wait to meet all of you, and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to return to the most amazing city in the world. I hope you’ll join me!
-Anna and the Go Global team