the purpose of SCUBA is to "go places, do things, and meet people"! I also went
shark cage diving, which was not as much scary as a bit naseating, because I
got sea sick. We also had a bit of fun going to play with lion cubs and with
babies at De Hoop!
De Hoop is a game reserve that our internship took
us to in order to learn different types of photo shots, such as time lapses,
painting with light, and still light night shots! We also started to learn how
to shoot video and how to take photos of dew that could magnify whatever was
behind it at the time. It was beautiful.
I also went to Cape Town for the
weekend, where I met my friend from a summer camp in New York three years ago
and learned so much more about this country in one day, than in two weeks with
all Americans in the internship.
I learned that there is a stereotypical
hierarchy of blacks, colored, and whites here in South Africa, so thick that
you can see it in the malls- where only coloreds work, and in the businesses-
where generally only whites own, and in the hotels and cleaning places- where
blacks usually work. It's crazy that it's so segregated that it's strange if
you are black and wealthy at the same time. I also found out that there are no
such thing as scholarships for whites here in Africa, because it is expected
that whites have enough money to put their children through school. I also
learned that coloreds and blacks are immediately turned down from
reservations... because of their last name.
Crazy!
Besides what I
learned culturally, in the internship I learned how to take time lapse shots,
how to technically work my camera to a T so that I have no problems with
exposures, white balance, or shutter speed. I also learned how to take pictures
of children and animals, action shots, long open shutter shots, and star
trails!
I also learned that I am only able to handle rivers, lakes,
ponds, canoes, kayaks, and cruise ships- but small boats on ocean waves can
just make me keel over.
I accomplished travelling to see one of my great
friends, as well as accomplishing the final payments to this internship,
organizing all the finances that I've paid already, and actually speaking up
about the disorganization in the internship.
This was also the challenge
and difficulty that I was faced with, which I have only found that I can
overcome by continually talking to the directors about it- and not letting it
pass. For with all Americans in an internship, we immediately expect good
quality and scheduled itineraries... it's just how we work, and we have been
given neither.
I have also faced the challenge of being myself in the
internship, which is God's girl. It's difficult though, because it doesn't seem
that there's any open door for me to truly love and be His in the open, because
I fear of being shut down and rejected- I am 100% sure though that this happens
to everyone. To overcome this, I've been reading this book called Reckless
Faith, and honestly- trusting in God and jumping out to just do it, is the best
option :)
My relationship with my supervisor is great. Her name is
Natasha, and just two days ago I walked into her office, took care of all my
payments, and discussed with her all my questions about the unorganized
schedule, if she knew what other payments we may need to make were, what the
plan was for the next week, and if different events were still happening. Her
open-door policy is fantastic and things always get personal :) She and I love
to talk about how things are really going and how we can work together to make
things better. It's a very open relationship where I am able to talk about any
of my concerns and she receives them and immediately attempts to solve them. I
am very comfortable with asking both my supervisor and co-workers questions. My
co-interns (actually) are super helpful and are flexible in the way that they
are able to teach me so many things I didn't know before.
I do not
consider anyone in the organization to be a mentor. For me, a mentor is one who
spiritually, mentally, physically, and career-related can teach me, and there
is not one here that can do so. Lui, though, I will learn much from- because
both he and I are in the same place, but he has already studied food
photography in college.
My co workers interact with one another in all
sorts of ways. We interact socially after hours all the time, since we hang out
together. We also interact during hours, and try to help each other, make
conversation while things try to get boring, and share knowledge about
photography together. I have found it suprising that they interact most in the
pubs and bars after work hours, I did not realize that drinking was so much of
a social and interacting thing for people my age.
But you learn something
new everyday!
Until next week,
Cheers! ~ Sinikka