My name is Calin Hurley and I am studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa this semester. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, with its majestic Table Mountain and stunning sunsets. There are numerous artistic, adventurous, and cultural activities to enjoy, providing unending excitement. The CIEE Cape Town program has been fantastic because it organized a variety of essential Cape Town experiences, such as community service and outreach, cooking and dance classes, and informative tours. While I am told about the dire safety concerns in the city, I also experience the constant generosity and hospitality of the South African people. All conversations and interactions begin with a “Hello, how are you doing today?” This simple phrase brings out a little more humanity in our everyday lives.
My first impressions of Cape Town were surprising to me because the reality is that of a small, cosmopolitan downtown area, called the City Bowl, situated in the middle of sprawling suburbs surrounding Table Mountain. As I explored the exterior of the City Bowl further, I noticed a significant disparity in wealth based on the quality and location of real estate. On the coastline with beautiful beaches, you can find the “Malibu” mansions of Cape Town, bright and energetic restaurants, and a sense of luxury in every conceivable aspect of our society. The impoverished and underdeveloped townships lie inland and are a maximum 20-minute drive from the wealthy areas on the other side of Table Mountain. Our CIEE program allowed us to visit Langa, the oldest township in the Western Cape, and Guguletu in chaperone groups. In Langa, we visited the community and arts center, took a cooking class, and provided service to an elderly home. In Guguletu, we visited local families for a meal and to gain an intimate understanding of the differences in community and society from the rest of Cape Town. The family I ate with showcased traditional South African foods and a genuine interest in our lives, as well as opening their lives up to us.
While there are many adventures to be explored in Cape Town, everyday life quickly became consistent. The classes at the University of Cape Town (UCT) are writing-intensive, but also eye-opening. My morning consists of a quick breakfast in my residence hall and then a short hike up the mountain to the stunning UCT campus. Each lecture is short, and our tutorials engage students in conversation. On days with fewer classes, I will go out into nature on a bike ride or hike, go to the beach, visit a museum, or finish my coursework in one of Cape Town’s many vibrant cafés. Evenings and nights consist of dinners at restaurants with friends or cooking in my room.
I am excited to see where the second half of my semester in Cape Town brings me. There are many fascinating social dynamics and activities I experience in everyday life, both at UCT and out in the city. My perspectives on South Africa and the African continent have shifted my initial expectations to more informed conceptualizations of life.
Calin Hurley
Fall 2025 – CIEE - Arts & Sciences in Cape Town
Spring 2025 – GW Global Bachelor's Program - Asia-Pacific Semester
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major
The Global Bachelor’s Program