Greetings friends, family, and future travelers! As many of you know, I am currently in Cape Town, South Africa studying social justice and activism and also interning with the Whole World Women’s Association. After being here for a full week, I have already learned so much about the culture, people, and different practices. With this being my first international trip, I have learned so many tips about traveling abroad. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is what it is really like to live in a hostile.
Whenever I thought about hostiles, I imagined a small, dirty place with strange people and even stranger rodents crawling around ( and it still may be this), but that was not the case staying at Zebra’s Crossing! As we waited to get our homestay placements, my group and I stayed at Zebra’s Crossing for the first week.
Walking into Zebra’s Crossing I was immediately reminded of the show Good Trouble. On this show, the main characters Callie and Marianna live in an intentional living space which is exactly the vibes that I get from Zebra’s Crossing. It is located right off of the main street with lots of attractions and nightlife. There are two inside living areas, two outside common spaces, a kitchen and more bathrooms than I can count!
The rooms are very large but can get very cramped if you have a lot of luggage. I should also note, that the rooms are very freshman year dorm style. And if you don’t know what that means, there are bunk beds (my room had no ladder)! In addition to that, there are community bathrooms/showers which should be expected. The only thing more problematic than the fact that I had to bring back out the shower shoes was the fact that the showers and bathrooms were outside! If you are here in Cape Town during the Winter, I advise taking mid-day showers.
A mini-tour of the hostel!
Aside from the hygienic amenities, Zebra’s Crossing is a very welcoming place! The common areas are nice not only because of the aesthetic quality and great wifi connection but also is a great place to mix and mingle. Our group used the inside common area to watch the newly appointed President give his inauguration speech, have game nights, listen to music overall just commune with one another.
The people at Zebra’s crossing are very friendly and lodge there for many different reasons. For some people, the Hostel is their home and have made a very comfortable life for themselves there. The natives staying in the hostel proved to be very helpful as they gave us many tips on places to go and see. Most people at the Hostel are there because of its proximity to Long Street. On our last night at the Hostel, my group merged with another group who were from London to go out explore the nightlife on Long Street.
Staying at a Hostel was not near as bad as I thought it would be. Reflecting on the experience now, it was a great way to introduce me to the city and the culture of Cape Town. More importantly, it changed my perspective on the benefits of communal living and also reminded me of the thrill of getting to know someone in a unique situation.
Signing off with love,
Hadiyah