When I first came to Cape Town, I was only familiar with one mountain — Table Mountain. My familiarity with only one mountain also led me to the assumption that there was actually only one mountain. After all, when you look up “Cape Town Mountain,” it only brings up Table Mountain. Because of this misconception, I would be so confused about how, at practically any point in Cape Town, I could see this sole mountain. How can it be so grand? If this is just Table Mountain, then can you imagine what Mount Everest looks like? I was in awe of how Table Mountain was basically the looming presence following me throughout my travel here. It wasn’t until Stuart said that there were, in fact 2 other prominent mountains, Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak, that I realized. Regardless of this mix-up, Cape Town is by far the most scenic place I’ve ever been. I’m typically not the kind to take pictures of the sunset, but since being here I’ve been taking out my phone to capture everything: the clouds dramatically rolling over the mountains, the animals on the safari, the vibrancy of the Bo Kaap’s painted buildings.
I want to capture everything. I want to remember everything.
On the day I left for the airport, I was just quickly double-checking that I had everything about 15 minutes before I left for the airport. I had already checked everything a day or two prior, but I was just double-checking again to ease my paranoia that I would forget something.
Passport. Check. Cards. Check. Adapter. Check. Camera?
15 minutes before my trip, I realized that I couldn’t find the digital camera that I swore I put into my backpack. With a few minutes left on the clock, I started racing around my house trying to find it. However, with Dad yelling, “WE HAVE TO GO!” I had to leave without my camera. I was SO upset at myself in the car ride to the airport. Despite not having my Camera with me, I have gotten some great photos. (Shoutout to Kehinde, Lola, and Alya for their cameras.) And I have been taking a lot of pictures on my phone. And I am so glad; I want to remember that I went on a safari for 3 days when I was 19. I want to remember the beaches. I want to remember that I made a whole documentary. I want to remember all these experiences that I am so lucky to have because I attend an institution like Yale.
I hope to take many more pictures like the ones I am taking in CPT right now in the future, in different countries with new experiences, and hopefully on a camera that I don’t forget to bring with me on a trip.