If you really wanna fly high, put your hands up up in the sky

-DJ Choice and DJ Cleo (Popular song in Cape Town now!!)

So I have less than 25 days until I leave Cape Town to head stateside again! I am feeling so bittersweet. Classes are over, which means that once I turn in a ten-page paper on Friday, I will have three weeks left and only three exams to fill my time with school work. I will be trying to take advantage of this time by checking some more things off my list!

Wine Cycling

High Tea at Mount Nelson

HIKING!!! (Table Mountain, Cape Point, Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head)

Swimming at the beach

Brewery Tour

A half marathon

Just to name a few!!

Last night was the CIEE final dinner, a little early, but they wanted to make sure it was out of the way before exams start and people start traveling. They rented out a beautiful country club and bussed us all there in three coach buses. There was an amazing dinner buffet and they even had black rasberry ice cream! Now this dinner was going to be black tie, and I spent not one but THREE days shopping frustratedly around Cape Town until I found the perfect dress!

I had been perusing vintage shops on Long Street in town with no real luck, and started to feel dejected. I passed an expensive-looking boutique and thought I would just go in for fun. They only had one of each item and none of it had sizes…..YIKES. I saw this dress and thought it couldn’t hurt to try it on! The theme for the dinner was Black and White Affair in Africa, once I had the dress my next goal was jewelry, and I found that too.

Have dress will travel – the buses came to get us at 6:30 and the dinner began. There were speeches to be given and awards to be handed out. My friend Rebecca and I had basically been told ahead of time that we would be receiving the Community Service Award, so I was silently preparing myself to have to walk up to the stage. My friend Mikey was granted the Study in “Study Abroad Award for his tireless dedication to his school work – future doctor ladies (and he goes to Cornell).

As the awards began being announced, Rebecca approached me and told me that she had just been told that we were not getting the award. My face got hot; we had worked so hard all semester. Who else could get the award? They announced the Unsung Hero Award and that went to Rebecca. I was so proud of her, but so hurt. I had put in so much time over the past four months. The Community Service Award came and went and I didn’t get that either. My friends that were sitting at my table started looking at me uncomfortably. I was struggling not to cry.

It was time for the last award, the Spirit of CIEE Award. This award goes to the person who immerses themselves the most fully into the culture and embodies the mission statement of engagement. They started listing off this person’s accomplishment and my heart fell, that couldn’t possibly be me. “There was no question who did this”. I mentally prepared myself to clap and smile for whoever was going to get the last award. “By unanimous vote, would Sophie Day please come forward”.

....WHAT?!?!

Y’all….I almost fainted! My friends went nuts! They were standing, they were cheering, and I walked to receive my award, a beautiful wood carving of Africa.

I was amazed. Earl and the other RA’s came to hug me and ask if they stressed me out; that had been their goal! They all hugged me and kissed me and congratulated me. People I barely knew came up to tell me how irate they had been when I hadn’t won an award immediately. I really had made an impression on this group.

CONFESSION: I did cry last night, but they were tears of joy. I came to Cape Town with hopes of seeing some cool sights and leaving with some neat stories. Never would I have dreamed about winning this award or making such an impression on such an amazing group of people.

To anyone out there who is considering studying abroad, DO IT. Jump in with both feet and never look back. Come with no one you know and allow yourself to be carried by the flow of your city. Don’t be afraid to affect change and give your whole heart and soul to wherever you are.