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Marco Rubio's right-wing agenda is nothing if not disturbing. But what might be even more disturbing is how much more extreme that agenda gets every time he thinks he sees an opportunity for political gain. From playing politics with survivors of human trafficking, to hijacking the nomination of Loretta Lynch, to saying he'd block any legislation that extended immigration rights to LGBT couples, Marco Rubio has shown us time and time again that he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

 His record on choice is a disaster. And when it comes to what the people he was elected to serve actually want, he's shown his constituents will always take a back seat to his political ambitions--even saying he would still oppose a woman' s right to make her own health care decisions even if 100 percent of the people he represents disagreed with him.

 Marco Rubio's agenda is downright dangerous--for women, for families, and for the middle class. And one thing we can be sure of after today is that it will only get worse from here...

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Round the Bend: Team Building Your Last Week in South Africa

Okay, so the last few days, we were at this team-building place near a town called Swellendam in the Western Cape Province. It was really nice—cool cabins (more glamping!), good food, fun activities. We went rappelling (also known as absailing?) and white…

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Last Weekend in Cape Town

Currently, I am winding down my last full 24 hours in Kapa (we’re going to some riverside town, Swellendam, until Wednesday, and I leave Thursday). They have been toomuch fun, and I am not happy that the end is here. It’s funny, because I REALLY thought I…

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A Dictionary So You Can Understand Me When I'm Stateside

So this semester, I have actively worked to pick up the best of South African lingo. I have a few more hours of work left on my 50-page research paper on PEPFAR in the Western Cape, so obviously I am going to procrastinate by posting my new favorite words…

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Thanksgiving Abroad

So I’m super impressed with the people on my program right now. We decided that all 24 of us would have Thanksgiving together, at the frat house (the house where 12 people are currently living!). I think most of us made something, and we had a pretty…

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Too Close to the End

The last week has gone by SO quickly. I can’t believe I only have just over three weeks left in SA! There are definitely some things I won’t miss though. Like my house running out of WiFi on the 19th of the month, so I always have to pay for an internet…

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Week of Freedom Numero Uno

I can already tell I’m going to love ISP time. Even while keeping myself busy with work, I’m still finding so much time to relax and enjoy myself! I feel like I’m finally seeing the city I’ve technically been in for two months and I’m loving it (with two…

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It's A Small World/VOTE

Sooo it’s ISP time! Today, we moved into our new home and started our research (or rather, pretended to). I’m living in this awesome, artsy suburb of Cape Town in a house with 4 other people–one from the program, 3 from the area. The three seem pretty…

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Ubuntu

Okay, here’s a warning: this will be mostly a really mushy, feel-good post about love and life and whatever else is involved in Ubuntu. You see, we just had a lecture. This pretty awesome woman, Sonja Kruse, came to our class to talk to us about ubuntu…

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Glamping and First Impressions of Bo-Kaap

Earlier last week, my program went glamping at a San cultural center. Glamping, for those of you who don’t know, means glam camping…and it was pretty glam. Sure, we slept in tents…but they were surrounded by straw huts, had lights, and contained…

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Stellie: Tours, Braai, Rugby and Markets

Stellenbosch has a lot of wine, brandy, braai and markets. So much, in fact, that I did a wine tour, a brandy tour, and went to two markets this weekend. I also had braai Friday-Monday, and watched my first rugby match! The markets were incredible. I got…

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Thriller & Languages

Thriller & Languages

  Yesterday, I went to a workshop that combined the Thriller dance and cha cha. Oh my goodness, how I missed random campus events! I was able to meet some people, dance around, and learn a creepy dance. I still am always surprised when people are excited…

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First Impressions of Stellenbosch

Yho! Stellenbosch is very different from what I’m used to, both at home and in South Africa. It’s definitely a beautiful town. There are wineries everywhere, and beautiful old buildings. It’s a very cutetown. The homestay coordinator likened it to Boston.…

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Buccaneer's

I spent the last weekend at a beachside resort in the Eastern Cape. It was absolutely gorgeous. I went to the Indian Ocean for the first time! Other than that, we unwinded, hiked, and went out a bit. It was peaceful.

  Friday morning, I woke up to watch…

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In the Countryside

I had an incredible experience in Tshabo. It is beautiful, with rolling hills and grass and animals everywhere. The houses are all beautiful colors. Cows, chickens, goats, and dogs roam the hills. There were six puppies that were only a few weeks old in…

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Simon’s Town and the Cape of Good Hope

Currently, we’re situated in Simon’s Town. It’s a seaside naval town near the Cape of Good Hope. It’s really cute—kind of like a Savannah or a Newport. I expect there to be saltwater taffy for sale or something. The history makes it a little less cute, as…

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Leaving Langa

Although I am excited to visit Simon’s Town and the Eastern Cape, I’m realizing that I am not ready to leave Langa! Three weeks is not long at all. It seems like only days ago I was nervously thinking that three weeks living with a family I had just met…

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