The butterflies have officially started! In just a few minutes I will begin my 30+ hours of travel to Cape Town. I have done quite a bit of traveling in my nineteen years, but never to anywhere as far away as South Africa, and certainly not by myself! Needless to say, I am quite nervous!
Up until this point my summer has been quite ordinary. Nothing too exciting—a family trip to Hilton Head, Charleston, and Savannah, a little bit of painting, and a lot of working, with every spare second spent tutoring, hanging out with, and loving on an entertaining group of nine and ten year old girls (who I lovingly drag to church on sundays)! If you’re not getting the picture, I like to keep myself busy! Consequently, I have not allowed myself much time to contemplate the enormity of the trip I am about to embark on… Uh oh!!
Though I am going into an absolute unknown, I am very excited! I have read every blog, travel advisory, and news article (well… maybe not) on living in Cape Town. (I know way too many weird facts about South Africa now.) I also have the invaluable blessing of having a father and step-mother who have first-hand experience in South Africa! (An interesting story itself… In the same phone call that I made to ask about studying in Cape Town, they told me they were going!)
So, as I make my final preparations for the next seven weeks the anticipation is amassing. I can’t imagine what the next 25 in-flight hours will do to me! I might not be functional by the time I arrive in South Africa if these butterflies keep building!
Emily Glasscock
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<div><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">Emily Glasscock is a sophomore who is studying nursing at Auburn University. She loves to participate in a variety of activities, from backpacking, kayaking, and mountain biking to photography and designing handmade jewelry. In the time that she spends in South Africa, she hopes to soak in a lot of first-hand knowledge that will give her experience and insight into the difficulties developing nations face in the field of healthcare. She knows that her time abroad will be invaluable and thus she cannot wait to share a bit of her experiences with you!</span></div>
