Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. ~Voltaire.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, SAWIP board members, honoured guests and the SAWIP 2014 team. My name is Ishara Ramkissoon and I will be your MC for the evening. Welcome to the SAWIP 2014 Appreciation Dinner, an evening dedicated to all the loyal supporters of the SAWIP program – in particular, the 15 host families who have played an integral role in the DC part of the SAWIP journey.

15 families who have welcomed 18 young South Africans into their hearts and homes . 15 families who have made the dreams and aspirations of the 2014 a reality. 15 families that we can all call our own.

While time doesn’t allow for each team member to express their gratitude to their families, know that tonight is a small token of our appreciation. I would like to make special mention of Mary-Anne Sullivan and Larry Petro – our hosts for the evening. Thank you for welcoming us into your home tonight and celebrating of one the most important evenings we can share together.

• I now call on my team mate Lauren Hess to share her SAWIP Journey with you all.
• Thank you Lauren

From helping us navigate the Metro during the first few days of the trip to providing us with pearls of Washington wisdom over a quick breakfast; I can assure you that we are now well acquainted with DC life and no longer tourists and as I call myself, an honorary American.

Each SAWIP team member has had their challenges and vices to contend with in life – how we handle these obstacles is largely what defines us and what brought us on to the SAWIP 2014 team. Spending 5 weeks in a foreign country is a challenge in its own right – something that I found comforting after a long` day at my work placement and I’m sure my team mates can agree, is coming home to Silver Spring and just sharing my day with my host sister Sihle and mom and dad Patti and Jon. Little Sam slept blissfully as we chatted into the early hours of the morning; often regretting it the next morning.

• The team poet and as he often refers to himself – future Noble Prize Laureate , Sechaba Nkitseng, will now express his experience and gratitude.
• Thank you Sechaba

When Jaya asked for host family “requests” many of us were perplexed as to what to expect or even ask for. The general impression was that Americans love their pets and for those of us who let’s just say don’t consider them “furry friends” we were a little anxious as to what to expect. Nonetheless, each and every one of us has fitted in perfectly and has come to love every family member, pets included, in this short space of time. I cherish seeing little Luna, wagging her tail and barking as she comes to greet Sihle and I every afternoon.

• One of my team members Thato, also shares fond anecdotes of the pets at home (including one of her almost losing a beloved pet) I now call on Thato to share her DC journey with you.
• Thank you Thato

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. As young individuals who pride ourselves on being servant leaders one of the pillars of SAWIP, it is the small acts that we believe have made a difference during our trip. Whether it is our host families picking out little treats they know we will appreciate it to make us feel more at home to throwing a mini birthday party for me like Jon and Patti so graciously did. Treating us like their own children and family members – never made Sihle and I miss home; and I’m sure, other than the busy SAWIP schedule, being in homes where we felt loved and appreciated, missing home was the last thing on our minds.

Similar to Sechaba, many of the SAWIP team members have been fostering dreams of travel, inspiring change and most importantly, representing our country abroad. A great opportunity afforded by SAWIP and facilitated by each and every one of you. Having a place to call home so far away has not only made this dream a reality but added such a valuable lesson of globalization and interculturalism.

• I call on Brynne, our final speaker for the evening and a true testament to the future of female leaders in South Africa.
• Thank you Brynne

As I’m sure many of you can smell the many traditional South African delicacies we have prepared for you; we won’t keep you any longer from tucking in! We will now have 15 minute break for you to enjoy the delicious South African food we have prepared. Please return to this area after you have helped yourself so that we may continue with the program.

To conclude a great evening with the words of an even greater man, the late Nelson Mandela, “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination” With that said, a hearty thank you to each and every mom, dad, brother, sister – on behalf of SAWIP 2014 we are eternally grateful.

"Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles in the cold" - Andre Maurois

Halfway through the D.C. our SAWIP journey, I find myself missing my family more and more each day. As I mentioned in a session previously, I am really close to my family so the time difference doesn't really help! Living with the Pace family has been great in this regard as it feels just like home. During this trip, I have had some time to reflect on my own family, our dynamics and what represent in South Africa.

Being really close to my parents, I really enjoy learning and meeting Parent-Child power houses and how the idea of a shared vision or ideal is carried across two generations which can further strengthen the goal. The idea that a parent(s) can "dream vicariously" through their children and instill the necessary values in order to carry forth this dream. Meeting Congressman Clyburn and Commissioner Clyburn was especially profound as I had been reflecting so much on my own relationship with my father and how our lives journeys are so similar the older I become.

As I shared the story of my life and views at Orientation Camp( too long to post here but I'd love to share it with anyone that's interested), the session with the Congressman and Commissioner once again reminded me of how much of an influence my parents have had in my life; so much so that I can only fully appreciate it years later. The value of positive role models, particularly a parent, is often forgotten in modern society as a sport player or pop star seems far more glamorous than mum and dad. Just hearing the pearls of wisdom that the Congressman and his wife passed on to the Commissioner, which very much made her who she is today; I felt excited at the prospect of sitting on a couch with both my parents sharing our story as a family and the struggles we faced and success we celebrated in reforming religious education in South Africa.

Of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't share something medical with the team - so this is a TedTalk about a mother-daughter power team that transformed Woman's Healthcare in Somalia. Even though this video is three years old, it still bears relevance today, especially in light of the recent Hobby Lobby ruling and that many woman are still marginalized in Somalia because of religious and political beliefs.

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Immigration reform must be one of the most conscientious issues facing America currently. With opposing views from citizens and government, this a long battle waiting to happen in the near future. As a South African, one can only hope that the situation doesn't escalate to something similar to the Xenophobic attacks of 2008 throughout South Africa.

On Saturday morning, with all the construction happening on the Metro lines, I was forced to transfer to a taxi in order to get to my session. Initially displeased by this inconvenience, it turned out to be a great experience for me! The taxi driver was very pleasant when he picked me up and we engaged in light conversation.

Pleasantries were observed and we found common ground - we are both African. He is originally from Ethiopia, having immigrated here 13years ago. He now holds a green card and even owns the the taxi he drives, serving as a private contractor for the taxi company. During the drive, because we felt the African connection, communication just flowed and it felt as if we were old time friends from back home. Surprisingly, he found it odd that I am Indian and from South Africa ( not the first time I encountered that here). Everything from politics and crime in South Africa to rape and the judicial system in India - I was so impressed not that he knew about these topics, but that we could have such an intellectual conversation and a global comparison of social issues affecting developing countries. Our conversation was more than just skin deep, even touching in the psyche of man (yes, Oscar Pistorius did come up) and the fall of mankind into chaos.

At some point in the conversation, he asked about me trip to Washington DC and I mentioned to him that I am in my final year of medical school. He then said something to me that I will never forget - he was a qualified medical doctor back in Ethiopia but working as a taxi driver in America in order to provide for his family back home.

Here is a man who is willing to sacrifice many long and difficult years of studies for the sake of his family thousands of kilometers away. A man contributing to the American economy through hard work. An individual who considers himself as much of an American as he does African and therefore wants to see the success of both continents.

So I ask the question: why the need for immigration reform? Is it truly to regulate who is coming into the country and what the individual can contribute? Or is it to appease the minds of others who aren't happy with ideal of an "American America "?

Washington DC week 1: amazing! (Blog post to follow)

While we thrown into the deep end in someways, rather now than later so as to be able to enjoy the experience fully! One of the opportunities I was most looking forward to in the DC segment of the SAWIP experience was networking. As an extrovert and someone that loves meeting people, I thrive on such experiences!

Now of course I wanted to make the best of these networking opportunities for personal and professional reasons (medicine doesn't really allow for much networking as a student). I have recently started reading "Endless Referrals" by Bob Burg for more insight and advice into it.

While the book is too long to share, these are some of the steps I found to work for me in week one. As someone that likes structure and order, I was able to formulate my thoughts and direct my conversations in a particular way.

Step 1: Identify a commonality

Most people share a bond based on trust, a mutual interest and common respect. I found that asking people how they got involved with SAWIP or something similar, was a good starting point in the conversation. It allowed both parties to understand our objective while still forming a bond.

Step 2: Pique their interest

60% of people kill any conversation with a stranger after 42seconds. I like saying a fun fact about myself - an American skill I've picked up!

Step 3: Develop a signature style

Whether it be clothing or a particular talent, this is another way to get people to remember you. Fortunately for me me, being the only medical student; it is a distinguishing feature and talking point.

Step 4: Ask many questions

It may sound counterintuitive, but asking many questions can actually make one far more rememberable. Human beings strive for attention in many ways and by genuinely showing someone you're interested in them, they are psychologically more inclined to take a liking to you.

Step 5: Find a reason to follow up

If people don't remember you, it could be that you haven't given them enough opportunities too. It's difficult to remember anyone that you've only met once; particularly if you've just met once fleetingly. A catch up email works well in order to establish a relationship with the person in future, This week alone, I have found that by emailing the next day, 1-i was definitely remembered, 2-I was taken more seriously and people were more inclined to want to meet me again.

These are just things that helped me, I hope they are of some help to you too!

June 16th is National Youth Day in South Africa. While the SAWIP 2014 will be in transit to Washington DC, I've come to realize how lucky I am to be able to spend this day with a group of young individuals who are going to make a difference in South Africa one day.

June 15th also happens to be Father's Day. I would be doing myself a disservice if I did not recognize and commemorate the memory of the Father of our country today, Tata Madiba. Below is the Youth Day Speech that Tata Madiba delivered in 1995. I chose to remember his legacy as well as all those who marched in the Soweto uprising in this speech in particular because it was delivered in the town of Ladysmith which is not too far from my hometown of Newcastle. I felt this is an auspicious day for myself and made me be proud to leave South Africa on this day, carrying the dreams and hopes of so many before me, ahead.

"Master of Ceremonies;
Ministers;
Leaders of the youth;
Comrades and friends.

Today, in various parts of the country, local communities - students, parents and teachers - have come together to clean schools. They are committing themselves to make teaching and learning a fulfilling and rewarding experience.

This is one of the central messages as we mark the second South Africa Youth Day under conditions of democracy. Through these activities, we are driving home a central message:

• that education is the most important asset that our youth should acquire; and
• that for the government to succeed in improving education, it must have the support of students, teachers and parents alike.

That is what the spirit of Masakhane is all about. We can only succeed as a nation if we build one another and build our country together.

For its part, the government is taking the education system out of the crisis it has been in for years. We have abolished apartheid education departments. We have started phasing in free education. We have taken the first steps to improve conditions in technikons, training colleges and universities. Through the Public Works Programme, we aim to impart skills to our youth.

We are doing all this because we know that, without education, our efforts to provide jobs, better health facilities, water, electricity and other needs, will not be sustained. The RDP requires youth with skills.

But remember: at the end of the day, your progress will depend on how you apply yourselves to your work. The road to a better life demands hard work. It demands discipline, patience and responsibility.

This generation of youth stands at the border-line between the past of oppression and repression, and the future of prosperity, peace and harmony.

On behalf of the government, I wish to say once more, that no one receives the attention of our government more than the youth. You are our future. In your hands is the key to make South Africa a great country; to make our society a prosperous and caring nation.

Dear Comrades and Friends;

When we marked June 16 last year, there was understandable concern over the delay in declaring this day a public holiday.

Today, we can proudly say that we have given a fitting tribute to our young heroes. June 16, South Africa Youth Day, is a paid public holiday.

We celebrate June 16, 1995 after our first Freedom Year, with new and bigger challenges facing the youth. You were in the forefront of the liberation struggle. Today you must be in the forefront of reconstruction and development.

Three days ago, our parliament ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The document bearing our nation`s signature is being handed over today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This UN Convention gives us a standard to measure progress in fulfilling the rights of our children.

Children were the beneficiaries of our very first steps to improve the living conditions of our people, through the school-feeding scheme and free health care.

The government recently brought an end to the detention of young people in prisons. The Constitutional Court outlawed corporal punishment of children. These were totally unacceptable practices, with no place in our society.

But these measures have a wider meaning for the youth. And I want to address a special plea to all South Africa`s youth:

Join hands and assist government in dealing with the scourge of crime and lawlessness. The success of the Community Safety Plan depends on co-operation between the youth in particular and the police.

Resist the temptation to use drugs, and to be used by criminal syndicates in their drive to destabilise our society. Prove to the criminals and the lawless that they have no friends in our midst. This applies even more in our efforts to deal with the scourge of violence.

We meet here in Ezakheni, one of the areas that have experienced political violence in the past. The message I bring you is a message of peace. Throughout South Africa, the nation is busy improving its lot in conditions of peace. I call on the youth of KwaZulu/Natal: don`t allow yourselves to be left behind. Join your brothers and sisters in the rest of the country in bringing about peace.

Without peace, you cannot have proper education. Without peace, it will be more and more difficult to create jobs; business will invest its funds elsewhere; tourists will not come to these beautiful environs that your province has.

KwaZulu/Natal`s youth should join hands to promote free political activity; to foster political tolerance; to condemn and remove no-go areas. The future of KwaZulu/Natal is in your hands. Build it today!

I wish to assure you that I remain firm in my commitment to stop violence and save lives. Those involved in violence, irrespective of parties from which they claim to come, must know they will face the full might of the law. Killers will not have any mercy, no matter what positions they occupy. Nothing will be allowed to stand in the way of this objective; because peace and prosperity are what the people of this province want. This is what you deserve

served also if leaders ensure that they do not make statements which incite their followers to violence. At our recent cabinet meeting, Finance Minister, Chris Liebenberg appealed to all of us to ensure that we do not make remarks which have the effect of frightening away investors. The ANC and I accept this without hesitation.

And I call on ANC and IFP members in KwaZulu/Natal to rise and fight for peace. We have it in our power to stop this tragedy, which goes against the spirit of our great heroes: Shaka, Cetshwayo, Dingane and others. The killing of Zulu by Zulu must stop; the killing of South African by South African must stop. Violence must end.

The task of improving people`s lives is even more challenging in the rural areas. Here, apartheid left communities in conditions that defy description. That is why the RDP puts such emphasis on rural communities. And, above all, we want to ensure that the rural communities themselves determine their needs and priorities.

Traditional leaders have an important role to play in this effort. And we appreciate very much the statements of King Zwelithini about the need for peace, rural development and investments.

We call on all traditional leaders in KwaZulu/Natal to join with us in these efforts. We appeal to them to take active part in the rural development projects being introduced.

The government is determined to improve the conditions of traditional leaders. Though this may take some years to achieve, we want to make sure that they lead a lifestyle which respectable leaders of their stature deserve. We want to ensure that they can play their role as community leaders without political interference.

Comrades;

The youth, as the future of our country, have an important part to play in shaping our new democratic constitution. We are all impressed by the submissions you made in the public hearings of the Constitutional Assembly held recently at the World Trade Centre.

We are also following with keen interest the debate on the draft bill on the youth commission which we announced last year. And we will ensure that this process is speeded up.

This will create better conditions for the youth to be a full part of reconstruction and development. It will ensure that the youth, from whatever walk of life, background and race, embrace the growing national consensus and serve the interests of South Africa.

I am confident that South Africa`s youth is more than ready to meet the challenge of freedom. Wherever you are - in the schools, in religious institutions, at work, in the army and police services, in sporting bodies, as cultural workers... be assured that we love you all and you shall always remain in our hearts. We are firm in our conviction that you deserve a better future.

Together let us build that bright future. Masakhane!"

This is a beautiful and accurate video depicting the culture of South Africa. Filmed by an 18yr old, this video highlights some of the well-known places and people as well as a brief history of our complex past.

Tomorrow the SAWIP 2014 Team departs for DC - YAY! Finally! We've all had our own ways of counting down the days till departure, and now it has finally arrived.

Most of my day was filled with driving around to buy the last few things - somehow there's always that one thing that creeps up. Maybe more in my case!

As my last meal in South Africa, I asked a friend of mine to cook me a traditional African meal of Pap and Lamb Stew - perfect for the weather currently facing Cape Town at the moment. My evening was filled with with a hearty traditional meal, friendship, laughter and well wishes for my journey ahead. The best kind of send off someone would want.

So here's to the next leg of the journey, where braai's become barbecues, winter chills are a distant memory and afternoons filled exploring the great city that is Washington D.C. !

As someone who lives in South Africa, there are a lot of things I like about America:
• The American accent
• Walt Disney World
• Hershey's Chocolate

There are also things I don’t get, predominately because of the culture I was raised in:
• American football
• The number of commercial breaks on television
• Why the US won’t embrace soccer
• How people such as the Kardashians are on television
• How people continue to be gun crazy in 2014

Either way, these are personal tastes. The one thing I can’t understand in the USA is the negative feeling toward healthcare, or more specifically, the type of healthcare that we have over here in SA—the FREE kind.
Why are reactions to free medical treatment so bad? It almost seems illogical. Right-wing political commentators, talk about it as if it was one of the worst things that could ever happen to the great United States.
Yes, OK, so your taxes would pay for it, and if you don’t use much healthcare, you’re effectively paying for other people to be treated.
Look at it this way—your taxes pay for all kinds of things you never use anyway, so why not do some good with them and pay for others who really need medical attention? How about counting yourself lucky if you don’t have some condition that causes you to have to visit a doctor every week?
Another argument made against free healthcare revolves around the waiting times and supposed bad service you get when in the hospital.

For those who have the money and want to have tip-top service, there are private hospitals and clinics that will be glad to take your money for making you better. By the way, free healthcare service isn’t that bad.
It strikes me that the key issue here, at least for some people, is that they don’t like paying for others. The whole healthcare idea is linked in with the idea of socialism and conservatism. Conservatives don’t like a society that works together and helps each other out. They don’t like their taxes going toward those that have less. They like to gather their nuts and keep them for themselves, because they EARNED them!
“The state can’t adopt you! Fend for yourself,” they say.
What if some people can’t? I’m not saying there shouldn’t be some sort of hardline system put in that catches fraudsters and people who sponge off benefits because they’re too lazy to work. I do, however, know that some people do work, they work very hard, often two or three jobs at a time, and still don’t earn anywhere near what some fat white man in a suit sitting on the top floor of some New York building earns. When did we become a society that kills off the weak? This isn’t a jungle. Help those who are less fortunate—that’s what makes people unique.

Life simply isn’t fair, and no matter what they tell you about how we have equal opportunities, we don’t. It’s not an even playing field. Many of the people who have achieved success have done so because they were born in to it or knew the right people. That’s not to say some people didn’t get to where they are from poor backgrounds thanks to a lot of grit and hard graft. Now they run a company and make a good living, but the examples are rare and hard work still unfortunately does not guarantee success. Knowing the right people or doing some sexual favors does, unfortunately.
My philosophy is that when you are part of a society that is always going to be unfair, those that have managed to get more ought to have enough goodwill for a percentage of their earnings to be used to help out those that didn’t have as much fortune. You know there are people who work harder than you but have less, or people who don’t work as hard as you and have more.
Free healthcare is a prime example of leveling the playing field as much as you can.

South Afrca is not the only place to use free healthcare. It’s quite popular around the world, actually. Give it a shot—you might like it.

We can't wait to meet you!Welcome Sihle and Ishara! SAWIP 2014

Growing up in a home with only sisters and female cousins has always left me wondering what it would be like to have a brother. When filling in the host family and work placement request form, living in home with younger children and having a little brother was what I asked for and to my my delight, Sihle and I get to live with little Sam Pace!

While we have been communicating with Jon and Patti Pace via email, this is a little video to say hi from Sam!

I'd be lying if I said I am not thrilled being the first medical student on SAWIP, ecstatic to say the least. I'd also be lying if I said it was a walk in the park.

Attending a session on a Saturday morning, post-call, dozing off every now and then even after 2 espresso's has been anything but easy. From Kim and the TM's, Mario and Fazlin, checking in to see if I'm ok to my teammates helping where possible, I often found myself drowning. But if you ask me to do it all again, I would in a heartbeat! Being a member of this team has certainly been a learning experience for me. I am the poster of child of a medical student - Type A personality, independent and a couple months behind on sleep.

SAWIP has certainly challenged me in terms of my work ethic, time management and relying on my teammates. I must admit, the shift from being self-sufficient and independent to working more closely with other people outside my niche has been humbling to say the least. While I previously considered myself well read and knowledgeable about my country and current affairs, that soon changed after interacting with the SAWIP 2014 team! Never before have I met a group of young individuals so passionate and knowledgeable about all things. When I'm not learning how to eloquently phrase a proposal from Kessler, I am learning how to pronounce our president's correct name from Velani - a skill I have yet to master!

Within the medical profession, and pertaining to doctors particularly, our focus is healthcare and doing the best one can for one's patient as efficiently. While we try to instill some sort of team dynamic in the approach to treating a patient, it is often very difficult to incorporate so many aspects into one concept. Despite my best efforts, I too, am guilty of this. Being part of the SAWIP team made this more apparent to me and certainly gave me food for thought.

Support from my faculty, professors and colleagues has been immensely positive. But with that support comes great responsibility: representing the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University, ensuring I maintain my academics both practical and theoretical components and then coping with all these pressures. While I admit I have not been fantastic at this, it is certainly a journey that I appreciate experiencing sooner than later in life.

As stated previously, I would do it all again. I want to be the best doctor I possibly can one day and I believe that is only achievable through interactions with people who are going to change South Africa like my fellow SAWIPers; traveling abroad and gaining greater appreciation for my country and going out there and making a difference in the communities I hope to serve one day.

So to the SAWIP 2014 team, thank you for all your love and support and walking this journey with me. You have contributed to my medical training in ways I could never gain at bedside but certainly see the value therein.

“United we stand- divided fall” quite a common phrase used amongst politicians, particularly during election period. The main aim of this being to create a sense of community amongst people in hopes of creating unity.

The term community has two distinct commutative meanings

1. Community can refer to a small, social unit of any size that shares common values. The term can also refer to the national community or international community, and

2. In biology, a community is a group of interacting living organisms sharing a populated environment.

In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness. American community seems to be simple when compared to the South African concept of community. White picket fences surrounding perfectly manicured lawns and an SUV in the driveway is what one expects to see in any suburb of America. With the tumultuous history still ingrained in many people, it is often difficult to define community or better yet, identify with one for many South Africans. From the mansions of Clifton to the shacks of Langa, community is certainly more than geographical at best in South Africa. It is often a question of "fitting in" but in what constraints? As South Africans, our past has largely dictated this view be based on race and/or religion. But at what cost?

Twenty years on, and although one can argue that South Africa is still a reeling in the atrocities of the past, the shackles of Apartheid still linger within the nation. Are we truly a South African community? Yes, we may be able to rejoice at the successes of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and mourn the loss of our National father, Tata Madiba, but what about during times of adversity? Do we really know the struggles of our fellow countrymen?

The more the person makes for society, more the person gets back. For me, this is the concept of community that we as South Africans need to identify with more in order for us to move forward as a nation.

Preparation for DC has begun with less than three weeks to go! My thoughts float between, "what will my host family be like?" to "will I get enough time to see everything I want to in DC?" Googling places to eat or where to buy Grey's Anatomy scrubs is a norm between tutorials or ward rounds. Friends and family checking in and helping me count down the days till departure only makes the trip more exciting.

At the last team session with interculturalism as the topic, my train of thought took a bit of a detour and was more focused towards the purpose of the trip and the ideals of SAWIP rather than where to find some piece of medical equipment. I found myself now thinking about how will I have to be a good representative of South Africa in the US? How does SAWIP influence my actions abroad?

The session with Joe not only helped formulate and direct my thoughts but allowed for me to realise the importance of being an ambassador for my country and SAWIP. During the session, I found myself reflecting on my previous trip to the USA with the People to People leadership program and how this compares with the trip awaiting me.

These are some of the tips or concepts shared during the session or that I have learnt during my travels which I hope will be useful to future SAWIP teams:

1.Be proud of your country

Even if your country is unpopular, or your politicians are out of favour with the rest of the world, don’t run down your homeland just to try to distance yourself from the negative feelings. Instead, agree with their opinions, but try to find something to be proud of from home and focus on that instead. We as South Africans have so much to be proud of - bring that to the forefront of discussions!

2. Explore your new boundaries while respecting the hosts’ boundaries

If you have never lived with a host family previously, it is certainly an experience I believe everyone should have once in their lives. Adapting to an unfamiliar home, let alone country, is no walk in the park but it is important to keep in mind that the foreign country is not your playground, but someone’s home. By all means explore as much as you can in your new country as well as about yourself, but keep in mind that while you are pushing your boundaries there are people around you living their daily lives.

3.Get to grips with what culture shock is all about.

Understand most negative emotions about living overseas will be a result of culture shock. It is a natural occurrence that everyone experiences to some degree. There are many coping methods and many books/blogs/websites on the subject.Focus on guiding yourself and your teammates through the stages of culture shock, on exploring the things that are different about your host country, on discovering a new favourite food, and on trying new experiences. Take lots of photos and videos and think of all the fantastic stories you’ll tell your friends and family when you return home.

4.Keep Complaining to a minimum

A bit of gentle joking about the customs is good for keeping a sense of humour, but complaining about local custom and systems blocks learning and simply makes you look bad and certainly in this context, the reputation of SAWIP.

My travels in the past, both vocational and leisure, have certainly helped in the process of understanding interculturalism and being an ambassador for my country. Each trip however, brings about new challenges and experiences, look out for part 2 of this blog entry from DC with new tips that are more SAWIP specific!

The Holocaust Centre in Cape Town has to be one of my favourite museums the city has to offer as I have always likened it to Robben Island - a continuum of history within our reach.

Having visited the museum a number of times previously, I was most disappointed that I couldn't attend the outing with the rest of the SAWIP team due to academic constraints. With that said, I found myself thinking about the atrocities of World War 2, the influence that had on South Africa and of course the similarities with Apartheid.

A mentor of mine, Professor George Malek of Texas University, once said something so poignant when reflecting on the any heinous action is committed against a group, years on. "Come to me with your sorrow, not your shame" , was a phrase he frequently used when we discussed Apartheid, World War 2 and the Cold War.

Now we can all sit and chat about this, feel hurt and angry, pass blame onto the next person but then what? What comes from this? Hence my thoughts started flowing into what can I do? Not just for me to feel better about myself but to actually make a difference. Now I know I will never truly be able to understand the monstrosity that was Apartheid or World War 2, but I hope that I will be able to understand an inkling of the sorrow of all the victims.

What can I do for the world?

What can I do for the world?

We're losing all I looked up to

To selfishness and discontent

These sad displays of wealth

Won't save us from the dark

What can I do for the world?

Don't say you don't know how

The simple things are all it takes

I am not so different

The same intent

Just tell me what to do

What can I do for the world?

I came breathing fire for their 'illuminated' eyes

And man but knows what joy and love await within his life

They're broken dolls and cracked faces

What can I do for the world?

The giants of the past

They came to bring us freedom

But what is lost can still be found

If giants we become

The organization that is SAWIP, has a long-standing reputation in the Western Cape, and now Gauteng provinces, for excellence in service leadership through its participants. Over the years, being a "SAWIPer" has become somewhat of a status symbol for many students across the three universities because of the caliber of students selected as well as the emulous process of being selected.

From the interview process to selection camp, it's no walk in the park as one is soon aware of the worthiness of all applicants upon meeting them. The journey that unfolds after selection camp as we begin to interact more and get to know each other better, is what makes the group transition into a team.

During one of our more informal sessions, I felt I really got a sense of the team in who they are as individuals and not just attendees of a regular session. I sat there in awe of the fact I get spend a great part of this year getting to know and interact with individuals who are certainly going to make a difference not only in South Africa but abroad.

I started penning quotations from each team member that I felt gave more insight to me as to who he/she is, knowing that one day, perhaps I shall be quoting them.

These are some of the quotes that I wish to share from the members of SAWIP 2014 that makes me proud to be part of this influential group of South African leaders:

Dalisu - “The silent inspirers make the world of a difference”

Thato - “We've become a family”

Kabelo - “It's hard to give an assessment of yourself thus far because it is a continuing journey”

Li'Tsanelo - “Will I be enough?”

Josh - “I have a new respect for woman”

Velani - “We are yet to realize how great we all are”

Kessler - “When you challenge people, they grow”

Sechaba “ Never allow your emotions to control you”

Sihle - “Live more convictedly, go that extra mile”

Courtney - “Have each others backs”

It is when I hear statements like these, that I know; only greatness can come from this team. I am truly grateful to work with such a diverse group of individuals. That each day, we move closer to not only one another but aligining our individual and personal goals in order to make the world a better place for all.

This is an article about my selection for the SAWIP 2014 Team that appeared in my hometown, Newcastle's, local newspaper. While the details aren't completley accurate, I am humbled by the gesture and appreciate the support from so many back home in KZN.