Walking around...

Walking through Cape Town is simply awesome although, like any other big city, the Mother City suffers sorts of issues like poverty, violence, and so on. So don’t get surprised if you see homeless people begging money at streets (if you want to help, don’t give them your money).

View to Cape Town, from Lion's Head Mountain. By Stefan Willeke

Besides it, Cape Town is a really clean, organized and beautiful city; Capetonians are a lovely, warm and happy people (especially if you are Brazilian, hehe). However, the city just fails when you look down at the transportation system, which is awful. It is really necessary to take a mini-bus to go anywhere, though it is funny and safe (during the day-light).

Speaking about that, travelling by the famous mini-buses is a single experience. In the whole country there are millions of them in everywhere, and you can just climb into some of it by the streets, wherever you are. It is the cheapest way to go anywhere in Mother City, however it isn't what I call 100% safe... but certainly is funny!

Its ticket costs about R6, which depends on the time you take it or even on the driver's humor...hehe. The most interesting in this whole thing is: your sucess dropping of in the right place is correlated with your ability to emulate the capetonian's accent; otherwise the driver may not understand you (hehe... it's really funny, at all).

Furthermore, because of the 2010 World Cup, the mini-bus service has been improved a lot in the entire country; so it is much more modern than it used to be in 2008.

My tip in here is: avoid taking the mini-bus during the night, because it's not the safiest way, definately! Just for an example: an italian friend of mine decided to take a mini-bus around 20:00 from Green Point to Sea Point, and the driver almost kidnapped her... if she couldn't jump out at the traffic lights (and she got in the school telling us this occurrance and laughing as a crazy one!). Despite of it, I personaly took the mini-bus, couple of times, during the night and nothing has happened to me (thanks God).

Do you want an advice? Don’t be afraid of anything but enjoy your time in Cape Town. I’m pretty sure that Mother City is going to turn to you, making you feel like at home.

Nevertheless, Cape Town has loads of amusement options . The city disposes you beautiful mountains (we are speaking about that later), public parks, libraries, museum, art galleries, squares and whatever... mostly  of it are public places, open until 17:00. 

From left to right: Italian, German, ME and Swiss

In case of you prefer more convenience and safety, or either you have no time enough, LAL Language School offers a weekly tour schedule, which includes a pleasant city tour… you just have to speak with Hugo (my bruu!). However, if you are just like me, who want to do everything by your own and enjoy the city, it’s simple: gather some friends and together go for explore. It is very cheap taking a taxi in Cape Town, so if you have a couple of friends it will be even cheapest. In that way you can enjoy your afternoons in a good company, having some fun with good friends and taking lots of photos. And, what is better… doing all of it, in english.

So guys... i'm stoping here today, though I already have a nice and helpful topic for tomorrow. I'l write about some good places to go for visiting in town!!

See you later!!!

Let's study, right?!

As an exchange program, of course you are supposed to "study", so don't you think you are in Cape Town just for fun. Although Cape Town has lots of entertainment options (we are talking about that later) from Monday to Friday you must be focused within your studies.

As I've started in our last topic, today I choose to write about my student experience, over LAL Language School, during 8 weeks! Which I don't regret, and I think you won't, as well!

Since my first contact with a LAL’s staff members (Jacy, my dear), I've been very well supported and all my questions were quickly clarified, by e-mail and phone calls. The teachers and all the others staff members (special mention to Ms Lamese and Sonia) put their efforts in making your experience as better as possible.

LAL's pool and internet area!

LAL South Africa has an excellent structure and provides a very  nice environment to the students, making all of us feeling confortable. I stayed at LAL’s school residence and they carefully arranged me in to a shared bedroom with three others different nationalities, which was an unmissable opportunity for practicing my english. I can assure you that learning english in LAL really worth it, indeed.

Back to my "first-day-class"… I did my level test and they placed me among the Upper-Intermediate class, which has been running by the unique teacher, John Meiring. John is, with no doubts, the most charismatic and wisest person I've ever met so far! His lectures were always very interesting as well as captivating and I thank him for taught me so much about life. 

The Upper-Intermediate class, at that time, was formed by nearly 10 students between Arabics, Germans, Italians, Brazilians and others. It didn’t take a long time until I got involved and practicing my English, in class. The class takes the mornings, from 09:00 to 12:30 and the afternoons from 13:30 to 15:00 (conversation class with Rivaag, my bro).

Every Monday evening, at LAL, they have a barbecue time (braai, in Afrikaans) which is a great opportunity to meet the others students and make some new friends. My first braai’s time was awesome with Iranian dancing workshop, new friends and plans for the day next, of course.

Having an awesome time with brazilians and iranian friends!

In my humble opinion, the most interesting thing in doing an exchange program is just the opportunity of meeting new people and learn something new from their cultures. If you are an open-minded person and have an adventurous spirit, you would easily get involved by all of that diversity. After a while, you will also realize that, deep inside, everyone is similar to each other however we are all different. 

German, Arabic, Belgium and ME!

Fortunately, in Cape Town I had a chance to met adorable friends from everywhere, like: Germans (lovely kindly friends), Swiss (my bruu!), Russian (traveler friend), Italians (wow, my Italians), Arabics (funny and loyal friends), South Koreans (timidly loving people), Belgium, Spanish and so many others. Together we had so much fun. Sharing experiences, helping each other, laughing every second… we really became close and good friends.

There is an another very curious aspect... having foreigners friends, gives you a possibility of keep in touch with different sorts of languages (French, Spanish, German, etc) and it might brings you a desire of start learning a new idiom. In addition to it, my tip is: don't keep yourself exclusive among the student’s environment… try to do as I did and go throughout the streets, meeting another kind of people. Try to make some new native friends, which can give you a depth linguistic experience.

If you study hard and avoid speaking your mother tongue, your English would improve a lot (surely)... and that was just what I used to do, all the time. During the grammar classes, at morning, I was trying to interact with my classmates as much as possible; and, during the afternoon classes we were always debating and discussing different points of view. All the lectures were really interested, however sometimes you really get bored, but this is normal (once in a while). Furthermore, after classes I used to join my friends in exploring the city....but this an idea for another topic!!

So, think I gave you a nice idea about my student routine and how it is being a LAL's student. If you want to do an exchange program and you didn't decide about the school yet, my tip is doing it very carefully. Take your time searching for everything is possible and make questions!

See you later... with a new and interesting topic.

Get ready for the adventure of your life!

Once upon a time... in the land of my dreams.

Hi everyone, I’m Saul and, on this web-blog, I’m writing about my three months experience living over Cape Town, South Africa. After so many such extreme experiences, I can easily tell you that I have lived the best moments in my life; in that captivating city which I dare to call as my “second home”.

In Cape Town, during over 12 weeks, I had been exposed to lots of new challenges and new opportunities; I've also met people from all over the world… it was plenty of new experiences and possibilities. I guess after you read it all, you may ask yourself: what about doing the same? Why not?

Well... telling the truth it wasn’t my first time in Mother City, as it is known as well. I have been in Cape Town, for the first time, in July's 2008… it was also my first international trip, and I've got right at the point. For the first time, I’ve spent only 23 days over there, unfortunately though I’m pretty sure I have learned a lot. Surely what Cape Town has taught me in 20 days, I would take years to learn… or perhaps never, ever. I fall in love for the city and so decided to go back there, someday.

I reached South Africa on 06 of July 2012, and suddenly I got impressed by the changes that had been made at Johannesburg International Airport. The entire place is incredibly well displayed and safe… even though, it is good to pay attention at your stuffs (of course!). They did a very good job for the 2010 World Cup!

After 2 more hours flight from JBurg, my reception in Cape Town couldn’t be better: coldly warm (it was a rainy and cold Friday night). Nevertheless, I was really well prepared to face the cold weather. 

Speaking about that, you should be ready, because Cape Town’s weather is one of the craziest I’ve ever saw… people say that in Cape Town you might have the 4 seasons in one day, only. So, if you are planning to go there on winter time (from July to August) be ready... because, mostly, you will have rainy and cold days (as much rain, as much cold). You better pack some winter clothing (#tip) because you don't want screw up your trip, right?

Furthermore, if you want enjoying the city in a quite warm and confortable weather (like been in Rio de Janeiro) you should go on summer time (from December to February)... however the city gets really overcrowded, at that time!

After over 12 hours traveling, I took two days recovering from the journey and putting myself into the new time zone. So, on monday morning I was ready and self-motivated (and really excited, as well) for my "first-day-class" at LAL Language School. But this a subject for our next topic!!!

So my dear reader, for the beginning, I think it's enough stoping here! If you already have chosen Cape Town as your next destination, either for tourism or an exchange program...well done... you won't regret, surely. In the other hand, if you are not sure about that, or just curious, I can help in your final decision.

Cape Town is an amazing and life-changing place... certainly is one of the best places in the world for learning (not only english, indeed)! Do you want my tip? Go there, and put yourself in risk... what I wanted to say is: most people you may know whom have been abroad for an exchange program, probably went USA, Canada or England... so, you have a chance to do it in a different way (think about it)!

I do hope you enjoy it, make your comments and follow my updates from now. In next topics, I'm talking about my routine as a english student as well as the school's experience and whatsoever!! I do need you guys making question... as much questions you make as much information I may write in here!! Remember: your question could be someone's else question, as well. 

See you guys later!!!

P.s.: as a beginner writer, I shall apologize myself for some gramatical mistakes you may find. Promise I'm getting better in next topics.