Day 117

Yesterday marked the beginning of the end.

From here on out, every day in Cape Town is my last of that day.

On Friday night, a few of the housemates wanted to go out to dinner. I wasn't at all hungry, but I thought I'd enjoy the company so I decided to join them. We went out to this delicious hole in the wall joint in Observatory, here known as Obz, just one neighborhood over. The conversation at my end of the table focused on travel and outdoor adventures, sharing stories from our trips to Montana, Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming, etc. Definitely made me miss our family trips to Alaska, yet really reminded me how thankful I am for having experienced these adventures.

Once we got home majority of the house was just hanging out in the living room, chatting and listening to music late into the night. It was one of those nights that made me realize though I find myself very different from the rest of my housemates, we are all extremely different from each other and can learn from our differences.

Saturday morning was my last trip to Old Biscuit Mill. Even though every time I go it's a similar experience, it somehow never gets old. Moving from vendor to vendor eating nearly three whole meals in just a morning is a guilty pleasure I couldn't overcome. After OBM I retreated home to hit the books in preparation for my last two final exams.

Today, Sunday, is more of the same. Reluctantly studying away. I hope to climb Lion's Head, a great hike in Cape Town tonight, but we'll have to see if that's in the cards given the priority of school work.

From here on out it's just tying up the loose ends. Once I finish school on Wednesday I'm going to try to squeeze in a few more activities and try to get my life in order before I set off on my trip. Things are just about booked, all 8 hostels, necessary shuttles, flights, et cetera. What a huge weight off my shoulders to have that figured out! Trip planning: not easy.

I feel like I took my time in Cape Town for granted, but looking back, I really took up every opportunity that came my way if I thought it was appropriate. The one unfortunate thing though is that I don't feel like I made a difference or an impact here. Maybe it's because I wasn't involved in any extra curriclars, actually, that's exactly what it is. I just wish there was more I could have done to leave feeling I did something great, and not for myself. I don't think I ever wasted a day here, or did anything I regret, time just flew by so quickly. I'm starting to get sentimental about my life here. Even though there was a lot I have to complain about, I was able to live in another country for four months and call it home. Not many people get that opportunity nor the resources to be able to enjoy it to the fullest. I think now more than anything it's the change that scares me. This was my life for a long time, and in a matter of just three weeks, I'll be back in the glamourous California in the privileged SCU bubble.

Life takes you on crazy journeys. It's just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other and taking the jump (or at least that's what I did walking off a cliff in Zambia), adapting to changes, and not forgetting who you are I'm still trying, but I think I'm getting better at it.