Author Archives: Linley Benson

By Avery Steadman We were back in the United States today. Just kidding – we visited the United States consulate in Johannesburg. Technically, the consulate stands on American soil. Entering the consulate was similar to entering governmental buildings in the United States. We were directed to leave all electronics on the bus and enter with… Continue reading →

By Ally Nylen We have traveled to our last destination in South Africa and the program is coming to a close. Johannesburg has been an enriching and educational experience, where we had the opportunity to visit multiple museums, landscapes, markets, and see performances. As I reflect back on the past few days here, I have… Continue reading →

By Avery Steadman What does an 18th century mosque and an “Urban Hub” have in common? They can be found across from one another on the gentrified streets of Bo-Kaap, Cape Town in South Africa. The cold, tall, glass windows of the Urban Hub juxtapose the elegant stone walls of the mosque. Bo-Kaap village is… Continue reading →

By Rachel Krauss  Some of the experiences I have enjoyed the most were in the markets- specifically the one in the town square near our hotel in Cape Town. I loved walking through the tents and seeing what kinds of products the vendors had to offer. Each stand had similar products (such as elephant pants,… Continue reading →

By Devon Rogers Upon first driving into Johannesburg, I quickly recognized the economical differences between Johannesburg and Cape Town. We zoomed by billboards inviting consumers to study business, to spend time at award winning and luxury spas, and to even purchase a car at the nearest Mercedes Benz dealership. These billboards suggest the city is… Continue reading →

By Devon Rogers Upon first driving into Johannesburg, I quickly recognized the economical differences between Johannesburg and Cape Town. We zoomed by billboards inviting consumers to study business, to spend time at award winning and luxury spas, and to even purchase a car at the nearest Mercedes Benz dealership. These billboards suggest the city is… Continue reading →

By Bryan Cross Today, our group visited the Cradle of Humankind, which is a historical site and museum highlighting the origins of humanity. It was a fascinating experience to learn more about both the evolutionary development of humans and the relationship between human population and consumption throughout history. Another interesting point of focus was how… Continue reading →

By Linley Benson When visiting The Apartheid Museum, I was struck by the relationship between South Africa’s mining industry and the foundations of Apartheid and racial segregation. When gold was first found in what was to become Johannesburg in 1886, The English had literally struck an economic gold mine. This discovery was the trigger of… Continue reading →

By Ally Nylen Thus far, we have been exposed to the waterfront, city, and surrounding townships of Cape Town. By traveling to different parts of Cape Town, the economic disparities of South Africa have become clearer to me. Much of the Venda Council research involved the banking system and distrust of banking as well as… Continue reading →

By Devon Rogers A few days into our wonderful stay at Cape Town, our class discussed South Africa’s economic future, and paid special attention to the details laid out in the article “What economic future, South Africa?” Through the reading, we found that a large portion of South Africa’s economy relies on the service sector… Continue reading →