Yep, Cape Town is as stunning as everyone says it is. However, it would be such a shame if that was all you gathered after traveling there. I found that the most beautiful and striking part about the city was the resilience of its people. Before we started our work in Cape Town, we went on a guided tour of Langa, the township where we would be spending most of our time. Our tour guide, Tosa, was from the community and gave us some important historical background on how Langa came to be. He talked about how colonialism, apartheid, and deep-rooted economic injustice had shaped it into a primarily Black community marked by both hardship and strength. He also told us about how it was their custom to always stop and say hi when you walk by someone, which only added to the sense of togetherness and fellowship that I felt there. As we walked through the neighborhood, a few residents came up to us and said, “thank you.” Being foreigners, I wasn’t expecting that reaction to our presence. So, I asked Tosa why they were saying that. He told our group that they were thankful to have us there as visitors, not tourists. That distinction really made me stop and think.
Tosa explained that tourists consume, while visitors connect. Tourists often come to Cape Town, take in the beaches and the mountains, and then leave. They never really interact with the communities that have lived through South Africa’s difficult history. Visitors, on the other hand, spend time in local neighborhoods, listen to the stories, and actually learn something about the people who live there. Tosa’s insight changed how I think about presence and service, not just in Cape Town, but in general. I realized that showing up meaningfully means being willing to slow down, pay attention, and reflect on things you might not fully understand.
I’ve always seen myself as someone who’s pretty compassionate, but what Tosa said made me want to dig deeper. What more could I learn about colonization and how it still impacts people today? Who else could I talk to about their experiences with racism in South Africa today? How have the kids we work with been positively impacted by our community partners, and how can I continue to support them when I’m back home? I really dove into talking more with the people around me to learn as much as I could. From conversations with our hotel staff, to community partners, to the kids we worked with, I made myself into a sponge and really absorbed all I could from the stories of the people around me. When visiting places with painful histories or visible need, it is important to keep asking those questions. I’ve learned that real community engagement is about showing up with respect, humility, and a listening ear.
So, reader, I challenge you, and myself, to be a visitor. Not just when traveling, but in our everyday lives. Being a visitor means being present, curious, and willing to invest real time and attention into other people. It’s not about being a hero. It’s about being someone who cares enough to listen. That’s something I want to carry with me wherever I go. Yes, I can say Cape Town is beautiful. But I can also say it is full of resilient communities of people whom I had the honor of getting to know and supporting while I was there. I am so grateful for the dimension that service and conversation added to my experience in Cape Town. It showed me that what truly makes the experience is not what you see, but what you’re willing to lear