As I settle back into Columbia for a frigid second semester, memories of my incredible last two weeks in Cape Town come flooding back. Visiting Africa was never something I thought I would have the chance to experience, and I am incredibly grateful for this unbelievably amazing opportunity. Beyond the classroom lectures that deepened my understanding of the complex history beneath my feet, I was fortunate to have ample free time to explore South Africa, engage with its culture and expand my worldview.

One of my favorite memories was the time some fellow students and I spent in the Long Street area of Cape Town. We met so many interesting people who were just as eager to learn about our journey to their city as they were to share their own experiences. Everyone felt so similar to people I would meet back in the States, yet the differences in their lived experiences made each conversation unique and immensely valuable.

I also spent much of my free time at the V&A Waterfront—something of a hub for South African travel and culture. There, I tried new foods, listened to live music and engaged with international traders. Our scheduled excursions provided a similar glimpse into South African history and culture, but thanks to the careful planning of our hosts and their insider access, they offered perspectives I would never have encountered as a solo tourist.

A great example of this was the cooking class we took with a family in the historic Bo-Kaap neighborhood. We were invited into the home of the Misbach family — one of the world’s leading authorities on authentic Cape Malay cuisine. As we prepared curry, roti, samosas and daltjies, the family shared stories of their lives in Cape Town and the origins of these dishes. Paired with our morning classes, these real-world, hands-on experiences helped to ground my education in a way I could truly feel.

No amount of domestic study could have impacted me the way just two short weeks abroad did. I arrived in Cape Town expecting exciting field trips, interesting food and — admittedly — a respite from winter in Chicago. However, I returned home with a shifted global perspective, a renewed appetite for adventure and memories to last a lifetime.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Race and Politics in South Africa