Interview
What words would you use to describe your identity/identities?
I am a Black young man, who was originally born in Mozambique, but because of life, has lived in different places, so I guess that makes me an international student. I've lived in the U.S., South Africa, and Greece. My first language was actually Greek.
What motivated you to choose to study abroad?
At Rochester, for the International Relations major, it is a requirement to study abroad. I tried to study abroad in the spring of 2017, but it didn't work out because my visa came late. So I started thinking about alternative options and figured that I've been going to Cape Town since I was about 15 and really liked it. Cape Town is cool. Its a very chill city. There is just this great vibe. Before I applied to school in the U.S., I had the University of Cape Town, and the University of Pretoria, (another university in South Africa), in mind to go to school. So I thought: "This young boy once dreamt of going to UCT, now I can go and study there for several months. Dreams do come true! It's happening."
What experiences or skills gained from studying abroad continue to influence your life now?
I've traveled a lot; one thing that traveling has taught me is to go with a beginner's mindset and to think, "they're not weird; they are different."
What are the benefits of study abroad vs. just visiting a location for vacation?
I think of it like this: when you're traveling on vacation, it's like you're simply saying "Hi" to that place; studying abroad is like going beyond the small talk and getting to know someone. Studying abroad can help you foster connections and relationships. For example, one of my professors in Cape Town wrote a recommendation for a summer internship for me.
Would you encourage a student who identifies similarly to you to study abroad in Cape Town?
I definitely would advise a student of color to come to Cape Town, not only because I want to see the student having the best time, but because I know that we all belong in this space. Not enough of us come to Cape Town; not enough of us study abroad.
What were some of your favorite things to do in Cape Town?
Though I've been coming to Cape Town for years, I discovered a lot of new things, and for that, I'm quite thankful. For example, we went to a rugby match, which I've never been interested in, but I really loved it. It was amazing. I never would've gone on my own. I also really enjoyed our cooking class in Bo-Kaap. One thing I admired about my experience with IES Abroad in Cape Town, was that the staff was able to put together experiences within the program that exposed us to different facets of the city that were very bond-making and that catered to all tastes. When I come back, I'll definitely do more of what I learned from this experience.
When you studied abroad, did your experience influence your identity(ies) in significant and/or surprising ways? If so, how?
Even though I've been to Cape Town before, I' never had the opportunity to talk to people my age, so this opportunity at the University in Cape Town, where I was surrounded by Cape Town students my own age, made me check my privilege. I made friends in class and would ask them how their weekends had gone and they would tell me that they were tired. They would spend their weekends working like three shifts, and to me, that was shocking. These students had almost a full-time job, while studying, and I was just there to have fun. It made me realize that while I am not the most well-endowed person in the world, I should be grateful for what I have. My friends worked because they wanted to support their studies; they wanted to support their famillies. Sometimes, they wouldn't be able to go out late because their younger siblings would come home from school and someone had to be there to take care of them. More than ever, I understand Cape Townians better, which is great because my best friend is from Cape Town, so I feel like I understand her better.
What were race relations like in Cape Town? How did you deal with them?
They were challenging, but were still an opportunity for growth. I remember one time, I was chatting with someone and heard them make a bad comment. I told them that their comment was wrong, and they said, "I apologize, but you don't have to judge me." And I was like, "I'm not here to judge you. I'm here to make you aware so that you don't repeat it with someone else."
Sometimes, dealing with everything was tiring. As a person of color, you will sometimes be sitting in a room where you are the only black person at the table, and I think we should be fine with that. I think that someone needs to start sitting at the table, instead of serving it. I know talking to people about their comments can be problematic, but I don't back off and I don't walk away. I go there and talk with people, and I encourage and chat with them because it's important.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
To people who are preparing to study abroad, or even just to travel, I'd encourage you to challenge your preconceptions. Challenge your mental models. You'll hear a lot. You'll see a lot. But what do you think; what's your opinion? Sometimes, we tend to take part in things when we don't even know what they are. I think that one thing that I've thoroughly had to remind myself is that we are not perfect, we are human beings and human beings like routine. However, people should remember that they shouldn't be going abroad to do more of what they are already doing at home. Challenege yourself! Challenges are incredibly uncomfortable, but growth is not comfortable. Challenge your beliefs. Challenege the way you've been socialized; the way you think—it'll make you a better person. I, for one, understand my friends, other things, even race relations better. This is why studying abroad is definitely worth doing.
I think differently of Cape Town now. Cape Town is now home—as much as Johannesburg, Athens, Rochester, and Slovakia, and I can't wait to go back.
