Arcadia South Africa

Hunadi Seabela, Resident Assistant for University of Cape Town, reminiscences on the Spring 2020 semester and shares some highlights.

Excitement, anticipation, inspired, awed. These are just some of the words I can use to explain the myriad of emotions I experienced throughout my short lived journey as resident assistant in the Spring 2020 term. At times words aren’t enough but I think “fulfilling” sums it up. 

While I had hoped to have much more fun and learning with the students, I am sad that those plans had to be let go as the global pandemic that we now face hit (I still haven't hiked the Devil's Peak!). In the interest of students' health and safety, university closed indefinitely and our program had to come to an unprecedented end. 

For now, let's take a trip down some of my highlights. 

TEAM BUILDING 

In our first weekend together on the program, we went to High Africa Adventure Centre and Rafters Camp in the Cape Winelands where we participated in a variety of team building activities such as rope balancing, human foosball, wall climbing and my most exciting and worst; high ropes. Now, I am not necessarily afraid of heights, however, I am at extreme odds with the concept of falling - from whatever height! But I still jumped off, not once but twice and I was scared out of my safety helmet both times! 

We went on to have a short workshop and closed off with a cozy braai (I also learnt it's called a barbeque in the United States) where we got to know a little bit more about each other and shared our goals and hopes for the semester. 

SIGHTSEEING, BUT ON FOOT 

The city walking tour is a 10/10 recommendation. Call it leg day, totally worth it! We get to explore the city on foot passing through beautiful historic buildings and museums with our guide giving context and background stories about the city’s diverse history and heritage – amazing how much one learns walking through the inner city. 

We then go on to explore one of the most photographed and oldest residential areas in the Mother City, with its rich and multicultural history, the Bo-Kaap (also popular for its beautiful brightly painted houses with cobbled streets) where we had a delicious Cape Malay cuisine luncheon. 

KAYAKING 

Also another favourite; our kayaking day trip in Hermanus. The drive was fairly long, some parts through mist as thick as clouds, beautiful scenic mountains and view of the ocean. And this was unknowingly our last event together before our program had to end. We kayaked along sea lions, and they were sure to give us a performance. Show offs! We may have spotted a whale and some. 

Over and above all the adventure I shared in with the students on our program, the friendships, the high highs and some lows; I am grateful to have been a part of such an amazing learning and growth experience. And to the Spring 2020 cohort in Cape Town; thank you all for the inspiration and shared laughs. Love and light. Ndinithanda nonke zihlobo zam.