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On the last day of my retreat, a few people from my hostel and I went on a sunrise gorge hike. It was the perfect way to end the experience. I felt so alive and awake during the walk, and especially when we reached the gorge. We ended up sitting there for an hour, soaking it all in and chatting. At one point, I felt led to lie down on a rock and press my cheek against it. In that moment, I felt deeply connected to nature in a way I never had before. I didn’t just feel surrounded by it—I felt like I was part of it. It was a beautiful moment.

I hadn’t even spent a full week in Cape Town before experiencing my first Braai. I clearly had no idea what I was doing because I brought bacon. 🤷🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️ No clue! We ended up turning it into kebab-like skewers, and surprisingly, they turned out delicious. The owner of the hostel even said he might start adding them to his Braais. It was such a fun night. I got to know some of the other people at the hostel, and the experience felt like more than just eating and chatting. It felt like communion—something shared, meaningful, and important

Hiking Table Mountain was such a blast! I felt like a true adventurer. The morning of the hike was incredibly windy, and at one point, the girl I was hiking with and I had some doubts about whether we would be able to proceed. After pausing and reassessing, we decided that yes, we’re doing this! So we kept our heads down, stayed close to the rocks to avoid getting blown off the mountain, and powered through. No talking, just one foot in front of the other. It had just the right amount of danger to feel thrilling, but I still felt safe. Eventually, we got to the top, and we felt so accomplished! It was an unforgettable, super fun experience!

Meeting Addis was such a wonderful experience! It was very surreal getting to see her in person after only connecting online. She and I clicked immediately, and things didn't feel awkward or strange! We spent the first part of the day walking around UCT campus, and sharing life experiences. I realized that we are VERY similar. At times, it felt like I was having a conversation with myself because she would tell a story, and I would literally have the exact same story to share or vice versa. Being with Addis reminded me of how special the community we have at the FS is. We've gotten to know each other in meaningful ways in such a short period of time, and I'm really hoping we can build on these connections for future years to come.

Running in the Two-Oceans Half Marathon was one of the highlights of my time in SA! I was filled with an indescribable amount of joy while running, and I haven't felt that present in myself and with my surroundings in a long time. From dance parties, to secret handshakes, to memorizing views, I'm so thankful to have been able to run, and that I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

When I went to Costa Rica, I attended a group yoga class, and it was incredibly grounding and peaceful.

This email came at a really hard moment for me, and it gave me so much hope when I really needed it. I often think about it a lot, and I feel very honored that my presence impacted these kids. I still keep in touch with all the kids and the classroom, and when I go back home I will visit them again!

On my birthday, I had a special birthday dinner with me and the other volunteers.