Coming Back Home

As this was my first time ever leaving the United States you can guess that I had many reservations about leaving home. I had so many assumptions about South Africa and the cultural differences I would face there. Now, as my professor at Cape Town University lightheartedly shared with us “assumptions make an ass out of u and me (ass-u-me).” I connected with one of my classmates Robyn, a South African student that graciously decided to take a class with a bunch of Americans. In so many of my conversations with her I would forget that we were from different countries. Now do not get me wrong there are some differences between American culture and South African culture. However, I learned that people are people no matter where they live or what they come from. Robyn and I realized we have gone through many of the same journeys in our lives and came to some very similar realizations. So, one major thing I have taken from this trip is to stop, think, and listen to people before make assumptions. You could lose out on a long lasting relationship as the cost.