Inside Student Blogs Alex Paone 
Cape Town, Spring 2013
Alex's Posts
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4 Peaks, 1 Day
The city “bowl” of Cape Town is surrounded by mountains. The most famous is Table Mountain (3,558 ft), recently named a World Wonder. There is also Devil’s Peak (3,281 ft), Lion’s Head (2,195 ft) and Signal Hill (1,148 ft). During my time here I have climbed each of them except for Signal Hill, but on Saturday a few friends and I climbed all four.
4peaks1day, africa, Cape Town, devil's peak, hike, Lion's Head, mountain, signal hill, South Africa, Study Abroad, Table Mountain, Travel
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Robben Island & Maitland Garden Village
Last Saturday we had our IES trip to Robben Island. It surprised me that people actually still live on the island. Many of them were former prisoners on the island, like our guide, who works in tourism now.
africa, birthday, Cape Town, Island, Kids, maitland garden, Mandela, nelson, robben, school, Science!, South Africa, Study Abroad, Travel, village, volunteer, Volunteering, waterfront
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Archaeology in South Africa
One of the classes I am taking this semester at UCT is Archaeology of Southern African Hunters and Herders. The class has weekly practicals in which we do exercises such as telling the age of death in human remains, determining the dentition of various species and classifying stone tools.
africa, anthropology, archaeology, Beach, cape, Cape Town, gatherer, history, hunter, school, south, South Africa, Stone, stone-age, Study Abroad, tools, town, Travel
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A Busy Sunday
Taste of Cape Town is a big food festival that happened this week near the stadium in Green Point. The festival featured Cape Town’s top restaurants and wineries, and you have the chance to sample as much as you like using special vouchers. I made it my goal to expand my horizons and sample things I had never tried before.
africa, cable car, Cape Town, Festival, food, green point, Lion's Head, south, South Africa, Spring 2013, Study Abroad, sunset, Table Mountain, taste, Travel, world wonder
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African Spring Break (Part 2)
After another early wake up we made a big family breakfast consisting of eggs, beans, cheese and more toast. At nine we all jumped into our 4×4, four of us cramming into the back seat. We had about an hour long “African massage” (a really bumpy ride) from Sani Lodge to the South African border post where we received our exit stamps in our passports.
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African Spring Break (Part 1)
It was a short flight to Johannesburg where we all piled onto a coach bus heading to Soweto. Soweto may be the most famous township in South Africa, known for violent protests during Apartheid, and for its pride and vibrancy today
Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Safari, South Africa, Study Abroad, Travel
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Kushushu eKapa!
Kushushu eKapa! That’s Xhosa for “It’s hot in Cape Town!” With temperatures at nearly 100º this past week, we maximized our time at the beach.
Beach, boulders, Cape Town, colors, Festival, holi, penguins, South Africa, Spring 2013, Study Abroad, Travel
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Home Stay and Volunteer Work
This week I had my first taste of the volunteer work I’d be doing with SHAWCO for the semester. On Monday I chose to volunteer at the school in the Nyanga township tutoring grades 4 through 6 in literacy, which was actually much more difficult than I had expected.
Cape Town, Egoli, Home stay, Mzoli's, SHAWCO, South Africa, Spring 2013, Study Abroad, Travel, Volunteering
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Stellenbosch and Informal Settlements
What really amazes me about Cape Town is how in an hour’s drive we went from the city’s cosmopolitan vibe and lush suburbs, through sprawling informal settlements and then into the historic town of Stellenbosch.
Cape Town, Egoli, IES, Imizamo Yetho, Kirstenbosch, service learning, South Africa, Spring 2013, Stellenbosch, Study Abroad, Travel, Wine
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Orientation and the Garden Route
The Garden Route has been the highlight of my time here so far. We went to an ostrich farm and got to eat, then actually ride the largest birds on earth. We also went to the Cango Caves where we stood in massive show caves and contorted ourselves through the smallest passageways.
Cape Town, elephants, Garden Route, Langa, Orientation, South Africa, Spring 2013, Study Abroad, township, Travel, University of Cape Town
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Pre-Departure
What I am most anxious about is how long it will take to feel comfortable and confident in Cape Town. I have had some experience traveling, but it is always during the first week or two away from home when you feel really out of place and actually question what you are actually doing in a foreign country with nobody you know.
Cape Town, Pre-Departure, South Africa, Spring 2013, Study Abroad, Travel
