A Semester of Learning and Exploration in Cape Town 

By Sara Larson ’27

Academic Life

Through the CIEE Arts and Sciences program, I have started my semester taking three classes at the University of Cape Town and one class with my CIEE program. UCT is a large university with nearly 30,000 students, so it has been interesting attending lectures with more than 200 students. At UCT I am taking Organizational Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and an African Dance class. Taking psychology classes in Cape Town has given me a new perspective as it challenges the Western lens of the DSM-5 and applies psychological principles to local contexts. I have especially been enjoying my African Dance class. On Tuesdays we meet in the studio and work on choreography with my professor, Maxwell Rani, an extremely talented dancer and choreographer widely recognized for his South African Contemporary work that is often showcased overseas. With Professor Rani, who we refer to as “Teach”, we are currently learning a dance inspired by traditional Zulu people (the largest ethnic group in South Africa). Learning African dance has been a great experience, allowing me to identify and understand dance movements used by street performers, singers at jazz shows in the city, and even kids at one of the schools I volunteer at. 

Thursday dance class! The cloth wrapped around our hips are Lapas which are worn by women when dancing and performing African dance.

Additionally, I am taking an Intercultural Communication and Leadership class at the CIEE Center with about 10 other students from my program. This class has been a nice change of pace from UCT because it helps us learn about and analyze South African culture, history, and politics. Just last week, my class took a co-curricular trip to Bo-Kaap, a predominantly Muslim community in Cape Town that has a unique history during Apartheid and has recently been combating gentrification. Next month, we will be attending a walking tour of the “Freedom Walk,” a long stretch of statues honoring influential figures in South African history leading up to the presidency of Nelson Mandela and the end of Apartheid.

Exploring Cape Town Music and the Outdoors

Cape Town is extremely diverse culturally, musically, and environmentally. Recently, because a few of my friends and I do not have classes on Fridays, we have been using this time to explore the mountains and beaches, including hiking Table Mountain (South Africa’s most iconic landmark)!

We have also been exploring Cape Town’s music scene. My friends and I have attended a few African jazz nights where performers sing in up to five different languages in one set. It is truly amazing and reflects just how diverse Cape Town is.

CIEE Experiences

I am also extremely grateful for the excursions planned by CIEE. There is typically one field trip every weekend, and I have found them to be very enriching and influential. Last week, we went to Langa, a township of Cape Town, and took a cooking class where we learned how to prepare and then enjoy traditional dishes like samp (corn maize), beef stew, and chakalaka (a cooked cabbage and spinach dish). This semester in Cape Town I have already learned so much about South Africa and its history, and I’m excited for everything still ahead.