Someone once told me..
Someone once told me.... Astound all who you meet.
OFFICIALLY starting my three week countdown until I fly home!...... Exactly three weeks from yesterday (Wednesday), I make my way back to the United States of America. I know throughout these blog entries, I have made many, many cliches, that time flies... life is short... but it really is. I can’t believe the time has passed SO quickly, and there is still so much to do in this wonderful city. I do believe I have taken advantage of the time I have had here; I’ve met some amazing, inspirational people, hiked a mountain or two, planted a tree (or quite a few), created new designs, saw the sunrise, the list continues, and it WILL continue in these next three weeks.
In such a short amount of time, I have come to realize what an amazing place Cape Town really is. This city may experience all four seasons in one day, but being from Portland, unpredictable weather is nothing new. The sunshine definitely makes everyone feel a lot happier and upbeat, but I never try to let the rain stop me. I feel a lot of similarities between Cape Town and Portland; the weather, the different neighborhoods, the undiscovered beauties of the city (street art more specifically), the people (there are definitely a hipster population in Cape Town, and it’s awesome). The markets (although at times may be full of tourists, including myself..) are awesome; local produce, pastries, coffee and craft beer. Anyplace with amazing coffee shops and craft breweries is a place I can call home :)
People may assume my love for coffee and craft beer is the addictive caffeinated beverage and love for booze, and although I need my daily caffeine fix... this couldn’t be further from the truth. People assume because I’m a college graduate, in my early 20’s, the reason for my love of beer is the alcohol. Yes, it helps me relax at the end of a long workday, but what has attracted me about beer (from the start) is the aesthetics, the pride and passion behind not only the beer, but the people who make it. Craft beer represents SO much more than just a tasty, alcoholic beverage, it represents a movement, a revolution, a response to the typical way of consumption. Corporate beer (aka big business) brews beer for the purpose of making a profit. Craft breweries brew beer because they are sick of the pale lager the big corporations give us and want to make a delicious product, but really because they love what they do, and they want to share their passion with the community.
Craft beer embraces local action, local ingredients and local passion. It has the power to bring people together, challenge their taste buds and ultimately change their idea of what GOOD beer really is. THAT is why I believe in A Taste for Change. I believe Craft Beer (and art, of course) have the power to change the world. Individually, they have the power to alter people’s perceptions of consumption and the world around them, and together can produce something extraordinary.
Even when my time in Cape Town ends, I definitely see myself coming back to this place. There is such an amazingly inspiring and creative atmosphere, which is exactly what I need. I need a place that embraces art, design AND beer. Wherever this creative career pathway takes me, I am ready and willing to go wherever I need to go, and will embrace these opportunities as much as I can. Some people don’t always find their place, or the thing they are meant to do in this world; they stay in one spot and assume they aren’t meant for greatness, or that all they need is within the walls of an office. I would like an office....one day.... but until then, I want to go as far as I can (geographically and career-wise) and I believe the two can happen simultaneously.
I may not be ready to leave Cape Town, and even in three weeks I will probably say the same, but I am ready for the next chapter, and I am ready to let go of fear. So with these few weeks left, my adventures continue, and my fears are dwindling. Fears of whats ahead, fears of being wrong, fears of my capabilities.
Just on the way to the grocery store..
View from community center early in the morning! Our location for the Greenpop Education Workshop
How is being environmentally active GOOD for us?
Community center in the townships
I'm definitely going to miss this view.
After a FULL day of work, its time for a beer.
One of my favorite finds of Cape Town: Touchwood! An amazing new band who have a special relationship with Greenpop!
“Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.”