Yesterday, we went to Robben Island to see the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. Mandela was convicted of conspiring to overthrow the state through his work to end Apartheid in South Africa in 1962. We learned that as an influencer and because of his status as a black man of political power he was sentenced to jail on Robben Island —18 years of virtual isolation.

To get to Robben Island we took a 20 minute ferry across the water with Table Mountain and Cape Town as our backdrop. A few of us got a little sea sick on the way but we all arrived at the island safely.  As we arrived to the island, we took a bus tour with a very informative guide who grew up during Apartheid and offered a first-hand perspective. Interesting stops on the tour included the limestone mining quarry where the prisoners worked hard labor during their years in the privation, digging out limestone while enduring hazardous conditions and a brutal working environment.

Later on the tour, our team captured amazing pictures of Table Mountain that were breathtaking. After the bus tour, we walked through the actual prison, including cells, common rooms, and bathrooms. There are still people living on the island who are ex-prisoners and guards. One of the most riveting aspects of the tour was the fact that our tour guide was an ex-prisoner who was there for over five years for political rebellion. The first-hand experiences he had told us was very interesting and it was an impactful experience.

After that sobering experience, the next stop of the day was a bit of adventure at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg. We had a tasty lunch of fish and chips at Live Bait right in the town before suiting up in our wetsuits to take on a team surfing lesson. Our surf coach Jason gave us a dry land stretch and taught us safety and proper form for surfing. For many of us this experience was one of the best days of our lives. There was nothing could compare to standing up on the surf board and seeing all the mountains surrounding us. The scenery was truly breath taking. After a quick change at the hotel, we headed into the wharf and had dinner in our own small groups. The day ended and everyone was exhausted but amazed at the wonderful views and history we experienced.

- Fairfield Women's Lacrosse Junior Class