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A Summer in South Africa
Photo Credit: Steven Buri
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Written by Bepasha Munshi, Staff Writer
Hunger consumed him as he worked up a sweat in the hot, South African sun. His feet blistered by the hard sand and soil as he spent the days building cabins for the less fortunate. When he wasn’t boiling in the sun, he was on a adventurous safari in the tranquil Krugar National Park. Senior Spencer Butler spent two weeks this summer in a far away country expecting something completely different from America, but what he found was a home away from home. However, there were some differences in this new country, half way around the world.
As Spencer tried to understand the ways of the native South African people, he found that communication was a barrier between him and many of the adults. While Spencer tried to understand the adults and younger children, he discovered education left a gap in foreign communication.
“The teenagers spoke good English, but the adults and young children didn’t know how to communicate as well,” Spencer said, “There was a communication barrier, but the teenagers could translate.”
While these differences remained at the back of his mind, Spencer looked forward to the things he felt comfortable with. He easily found ways to relate himself to the teenagers in his new surroundings.
” Teenage life seemed to be pretty much the same.” Spencer said. “We all just wanted to be ourselves and we have all been in similar situations.”
Coming from a place where anything is available at the press of a button, there was a few things Spencer needed to get used to. The food in South Africa allowed Spencer to see how food can be changed all around the world to reflect their culture.
” They served us a traditional South African dish, and it was very odd,” Spencer said, “Even though it was chicken and rice, it wasn’t American chicken and rice. I couldn’t eat very much.”
Looking back on his trip, Spencer realizes this trip affected him personally and changed his opinion on the world around him.
” Now I can see how small the world is,” Spencer said.” I was thinking South Africa was going to be very different, but I realized how alike teenagers can be, and how relationships between kids and parents can be alike no matter where you are amazed me the most.”
Going on this mission trip with his church has impacted Spencer in ways that will stay with him for a lifetime. He has learned many life lessons and has even changed his opinions on things he once thought were fact.
“These experiences will be with me forever,” Spencer said.” I do want to go back, just not soon. It was a lot to deal with, but when I’m mentally prepared, I’d love to do it again. It put a lot on my heart, and it was stressful, but in a good way. To go back again I would need to be open-minded again. In the end it really affected me because I started to feel their pain.”
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