Cape Town Aground: My International Internship Experience Amidst COVID-19
Week Three
MONDAY
Monday marked the first day of my internship. I had a video call with my supervisors, where they discussed how things would proceed remotely for the duration of my time with them. Laura, one of my roommates, had flown back to Germany over the weekend. And lockdown was officially announced.
This week, I settled into my tasks. My primary assignment for the next three months was the company handbook. I’d have to interview the heads of each department, type up and compile information, then organize it.
I’ve written 20+ papers for school before. Sometimes more than one within the same quarter. A book is a bigger beast, but I was up for the challenge.
I began my job by interviewing one of my supervisors for the Project Management section, and tentatively scheduling interviews with the other Project Management heads.
Meanwhile, I continued stockpiling for the oncoming lockdown. I’d go to the grocery very day and buy long-term goods for my shelves. I paid a visit to a Korean grocery and got some key ingredients- sesame oil, sesame seeds, soy sauce, dried seaweed, kimchi and instant noodles- to prep for the days I’d miss Asian food for the months ahead.
The only people left in the VACorps program were in my apartment. The office closed on Wednesday, the day I had to start getting used to working frjom my bedroom. On on Thursday, lockdown began. On Friday, we got a new roommate, Jan (pronounced YaHN). Jan was a German exchange student, who’d planned for a semester in Western Cape University.
This week marked the beginning of my tasks at work. I began my interviews with one of my supervisors, Shaun, and began scheduling interviews with the other two project managers. I initially began working out of the VACorps office conference room, since it had reliable internet and all the equipment and tools I might need as a worker. However, the lockdown schedule got in that plan. From there, I started trying to figure a way to work productively from my apartment.
The last day before lockdown was due to set in, I did another round of grocery shopping. I’d been going almost every day since I arrived in the country over the weekend, filling my share of the fridge and stocking up a long-term larder in my cabinet. I found a Korean grocery store near me, and bought a few key Asian cooking staples for the days I’d feel a bit homesick for the taste- sesame oil, sesame seeds, soy sauce, nori, and a few packs of Chapaghetti Ramen noodles.
This week, we got a new roommate. Jan was a German college student who wanted to become a social worker. For our final evening before the long lockdown would begin, I, Andrew, and Jan tried to find a place to order our last (and my first) takeout meal. We wouldn’t be able to order food until quarantine restriction lifted. Apparently, everyone else in town had the same idea. The phone lines were too busy. The three eventually braved the light rain in a valiant attempt to find a place that still offered food. We eventually found an Ethiopian restaurant in a quiet side street off the main road, that only had a couple of dishes on offer. We decided to go for it.
The food- an authentic veggie dish- was good, but I wish I’d been able to get a stew or something. Still, the atmosphere was nice. Cozy. The place looked like a 1940’s speakeasy, or smokers lounge. One last night with a couple of new friends, eating new food, with a hot cup of authentic Ethiopian spiced chai was a great way to spend my last day of freedom.
THURSDAY
The first official day of lockdown. I think I did okay, but the lack of direct sunlight in my room is beginning to get to me.
