I live near the University of Cape Town (UCT) in an apartment with three other Dartmouth students—two physics majors and one math major. I set up my room and went to bed pretty late, around 3AM. The next morning I had program orientation, and then went on a tour of UCT. The campus is beautiful, and quite large! This wide campus is understandable, as UCT educates 50,000 students each year. After the campus tour, I went on an intimate walking tour of Cape Town. My tour guide gave an insightful perspective on Cape Town's controversial history, as it is filled with apartheid and Dutch/British colonialism. Apartheid is the strict racial segregation imposed by the South African governments during the mid and late-twentieth century. I find it to be inspiring that South Africans are aware of the mistakes of the past and are trying to improve the present every day.
I have a feeling I will be very happy in Cape Town. From its dark skies to its relevant history, this is a city that I am looking forward to learning more about!
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