Interview of VACorps team member,  Anna K. Anderson

 Favourite Cape Town beach? ​ ​

Boulders Beach on a weekday when no one else is there and you can swim with the penguins by yourself 🙂

 

Your favourite place to get a drink in Cape Town?

At our brewery, Drifter, in Woodstock or else Door 221 on Bree Street makes amazing cocktails.
​Where do you like to go for a weekend getaway?
That is too hard to answer. I’ve got a soft spot for a variety of weekend getaways near Cape Town – Langebaan, Montagu, Franschoek, Gordon’s Bay, etc. More recently, Nick and I spent a weekend driving down the peninsula and stayed the night at Smitswinkel Bay, one of Table Mountain National Park’s permanent camps.  There are still so many places to explore that I haven’t been to yet so the list continues!

 

Bungee jump or Skydive? and where in ZA?

I’ve been skydiving in Oregon and bungee jumped here at Bloukrans Bridge. Two totally different experiences. I’m ready for the next thing – paragliding?

 

If you could be a ​one of the Big 5, what would you be​ ​& why?​

I wouldn’t be one of the Big 5. I’d be a giraffe because I’m tall!

 

What are your favourite VACtravel memories?
I’ve only been on one VAC Travel trip and it was to Mozambique this past July. We had a really special group which is one of the main reasons why these trips are so much fun. My favorite day was when we went on an island tour of Pig Island, off of Tofo. We sailed in a traditional dhow to a sandbank where we snorkelled and then spent the afternoon touring a tiny island that is completely off the grid. It was one of those days when you are not thinking about anything else except the moment you are in which is

 

 Why did you choose to study in South Africa?
For a long while I had been contemplating studying in India, but for multiple reasons the program there wasn’t the best fit for me. After that, I pointed my finger on a map and Cape Town, South Africa came up. I’d also heard amazing things about this city and country.

Island vibes in Mozambique 2015

 Anna leading the group in her colorful cape at Friday VACtivity Cape Point, 2015.

 

 Anna at Afrikaburn, a week-long festival in the klein karoo of Western Cape.

 Anna has travelled extensively throughout SouthEast Asia, on land and in the water.

 

Anna first came to Cape Town in 2012 and has been exploring ever since. She is the first friendly face you will meet at the VACorps offices.  At orientation, be sure to ask her more about the current hot spots & sights to experience in Observatory and beyond.  When she’s not in the VACorps office, you can find her on the deck of Drifter Brewery in Woodstock with epic views of the Table Mountain Reserve.

Anna says, “I love about my job because I watch all these interns get off the plane and not have a clue about where they are, how to buy airtime or what a ‘braai’ means. By the end of their time here they know more about Cape Town than we do. They are telling us the cool spots to go and how to get there, and they’re doing this all while chatting like a local saying, “is it?” and “lekker!” It’s a fun role to have to watch someone progress with confidence and see them become more open to new experiences and new walks of life, as well as explore the career path they want to pursue. I’m looking forward meeting more new wonderful participants on our program!”