Willow Herz
Willow Herz (she/her) - Stanford in Cape Town
Major: American Studies
Minor: Education
College year while abroad: Junior
About the photo: Cape Town is incredible from the ground, but even better when skydiving!!!
Contact
Email Willow or schedule an appointment
Q&As
Why did you choose to study in Cape Town?
I chose to study somewhere that was completely different than anything I had ever been exposed to, and Cape Town offered that chance.
What were your expectations before you went and how did they change once you were in Cape Town?
My expectations were that I would not have that many opportunities to connect with South Africans outside of the Stanford program (since we don't have homestay or classes at a foreign university), but I was deeply happy to discover that I met people from all walks of life in the Mother City!
What were some of the academic benefits from studying abroad in Cape Town?
Being held to the high expectations of South Africa's university students certainly drove me to value my academics!
What did you learn about yourself while studying abroad?
I learned how to balance maintaining my sense of self while adapting to a new culture - I didn't want abroad to change me, but rather help me grow.
What was the most challenging experience you encountered while abroad and what did you learn from it?
Not being able to explore the city on foot was an immense struggle for me, but I was able to maintain my frequent strolls by exploring the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. I learned that while you may not be able to control aspects of your new home, you can bring elements of yourself to that place to make it feel more familiar. For me, walking was that piece!
What was the biggest cultural adjustment you had to make?
I am someone who talks incessantly, and I had to get used to the fact that speaking is a dead giveaway to the fact that I am American. At home, most people exercise the same accent, but abroad I was the one who sounded out of place -- and noticably.
What was your favorite part of everyday life?
I was always underneath the beauty of Table Mountain! How lucky is that?
What was the most memorable experience you had while in Cape Town?
My most memorable experience was a seven-hour road trip (on the LEFT side of the road!!) to the border of the Western and Eastern Cape to bungee jump at one of the world's highest bungee jumping bridges. The weekend excursion with cohort friends was just as amazing as the 216m free fall!
What 5 words would you use to describe the experience?
Exciting, Adventurous, Enriching, Scenic, and Inspiring.
What was your favorite food or music?
Rooibos. ROOIBOS. ROOIBOS!!!! Did I mention Rooibos?
What was the most valuable item you took on the program?
My mini pink camera!
Please share some details about your internship experience? Who did you work with, what did you do and what did you learn from it?
I completed an Organizational Project with Basic Concepts Unlimited, an educational foundation that provides literacy intervention to students in grades R (Kindergarten) - 3. To gather their experiences using the Basic Concepts Programme, my friend Samiya & I visited and spoke to several primary school teachers. While multiple schools now use the approach, there was no data on the trends, thoughts, or results of the Programme in action. After conducting interviews, Samiya & I co-authored a report to consolidate all of our findings and give the foundation insight into classroom perspectives! As a future elementary teacher, I adored the chance to see what schooling is like in South Africa and hear directly from teachers the ways in which the creatively implement the Programme. It was truly an unforgettable volunteering experience!