It's not "goodbye," it's "see you soon"

Things here are wrapping up slowly, but surely. My last day of work at Sonke Gender Justice Network was yesterday. I almost can't believe it's real. It feels like I just got here, and that I have been here forever at the same time. I'm sure the next few weeks will feel the same - we are about to take off on a whirlwind tour of Southern Africa. Tomorrow, Johanesburg. Saturday, Kruger National Park. Sunday, to Zambia to see Victoria Falls. From there, could be anywhere! Botswana, Nambia, Zimbabwe... So many amazing things, so little time.

So, although I will be back in Cape Town for a day or two before heading back to Canada, I am starting to brace myself for the final farewell. The best way to do this? An epic list of course.. :)

Things I am excited for:
-No smoking in public places. Seriously, I forgot how awful smokey bars and restaurants are.
-My car (aka the Tib) - oh the freedom!!
-No more rain. I feel like everything I own has been damp since the day I arrived.
-My sweaters. I can't wait to be WARM. Who would have thought you could be cold 70% of the time while in Africa?
-My friends and family (I guess.. ;) jk guys, can't wait to see you all!!! Love you, and thank you for your emails and support!)
-Being able to carry my purse without a vice grip.
-No longer needing to maintain constant vigiliance - although, I think it will likely take time for me to accomplish that. I think I have been re-wired.
-A real wardrobe. A washing machine. A couch. A DISHWASHER.
-An epic bubble bath - it's probably for the best that that's not possible here, because in our freezing, damp, drafty apartment, we probably would have had to battle for bathtub access.
-Not noticing race anymore. It's not something I've ever really had to think about in my day to day life (likely the product of being a white person raised in Saskatchewan - why would race be an issue for me?), but here, it's always important and quite blatantly discussed.
-Paying for things with real numbers. I still have to consciously divide things.
-INTERNET. Good old reliable Saskatchewan internet. I don't know that anything is more frustrating than trying to complete three research based projects with the world's slowest internet connection, if I'm lucky enough to get online at all. What did people do before the internet??
-My Chi. I have some hazy memories of days when my hair didn't look terrible all the time.
-Being able to walk around without having 40 year old men hassle me. Even at 8:30AM, when I'm wearing a rain coat, sneakers, no make up, and my hair is basically in a pile, still wet from the shower. Do I look like I want to talk to you? :)
-No more bartering!!! Prices are prices, and that's how it goes.


Things I will miss:
-Butternut squash and avocado EVERYTHING. Mmmm.
-Waking up to the sun rising over the city and the view of Table Mountain in the morning.
-Not knowing where the day will take me.
-Mini-buses - I know I hated them initally (probably based on the car accident on my first attempt) but they are such an experience. Most ridiculous: 22 people in a 16 person van on the way to Hout Bay, complete with a solo traveling little boy asleep on my shoulder.
-Yoga Zone - whether I went for the yoga or just because I wanted to hang out in a 40 degree room, we'll never know. However, one thing I do know is that when the yoga instructor can tell based on your practice whether you are in a good mood or not, you may have spent too much time at the yoga studio....
-Not having to spend hours a day tunneled into casebooks. My neck has almost recovered.
-The slower pace of life.
-The Eastern Food Bazaar. $3 for amazing curry. Can't beat it.
-Cocoa Cha Chi, Crush, Bread, Milk & Honey and all of the cafes with R10 (less than $1.50) lattes - the downfall of my plan to break my coffee addiction this summer.
-South African wine - $5 for a great bottle. Dangerous.
-The feeling of community here. Hugs in the office. Conversations with strangers everywhere. You never have to be alone in Cape Town unless you want to be.
-My colleagues - they have taught me so much! One memorable moment: Sitting at a small bar, watching a soccer game (of course) with a bunch of coworkers, listening to how one of the men in finance came from herding sheep as a boy in a village in Zimbabwe to working at a Cape Town carwash for R30 a day (or about $4) to where he is now.





-Making the circle bigger.
-All of the amazing people I've met - and especially those I have been lucky enough to live with. The Lofties and the Dolls.. :)



-Rooibus tea/lattes.
-The diversity. What do I want to do today? Township braai? Lay on the beach? Go to the wine region? Climb a mountain? Hang out at a tapas bar?



-Living somewhere that the president is affectionately referred to as "JZ"
-Not having to hike up a ridiculously steep hill on the way home everyday. I will have to consciously choose to work on my legs after this. Terrible.
-South African slang.
-All the Congolese/Burundian people I know who hassle me constantly about my inability to speak French. I need them around to make me feel bad so I am more motivated to learn it. :)
-Saturday mornings at the Old Biscuit Mill - where will I get my pesto now??
-The brightness of Bo-Kaap



-Team Intern



I'm sure this list doesn't even begin to cover it, on either end. Suffice to say that going home will be a very bittersweet experience. BUT, no time to worry about that now. Adventure awaits. Cape Town, it's been amazing.