Day 20

This Month

Well, it's September.

This month marks the half-way point for my time in Africa. I'm officially on the downhill side.

It's been interesting. I'm already settled, and I won't be leaving soon, so this month has been marked by constancy. I've met many new friends, gotten to know older ones, and have continued to grow as a human and as an African. I've learned that I don't like Stellenbosch as much as I thought I did, and I much prefer Kayamandi and Lynedoch (though I've only been to the latter once). There is too much polarization here, and Stellenbosch represents the side of the battle I'd rather not be on.

This month I:
- Tackled a mountain
- Learned about formulas to calculate poverty
- Cut my own hair
- Learned to trust myself in more ways
- Opened myself up to hurt
- Made some good friends
- Found new muscles I was unaware of
- Cried in front of people
- Let people cry in front of me
- Succumbed to Glee
- Laughed. HARD.
- Taught a kid what culture is
- Seen hope in the eyes of the presumed hopeless
- Danced
- LIVED.

I don't know what's going to happen over the remaining 11 days of this month, but I hope they're as awesome as the first 20.