AWAKEN YOUR INNER POWER

Excitement and nervousness filled my heart as I embarked on my journey to Cape Town for studies, the city was renowned for its prestigious educational institutions, and I had chosen it as the destination for my studies.

However, as I arrived, a wave of disappointment washed over me. The person I had given money to get a house had failed me before my arrival, and to make matters worse, his newly married wife was not keen on accommodating me.

Feeling disheartened and uncertain of what to do next, I decided to practice a moment of silence and found solace and clarity amidst the chaos.

I went to Mr Chris, the campus resident coordinator for school accommodation, and he checked but no vacancy. I admire its beauty and imagine what it would be like to have a room in the building.

Days turned into weeks, and I tirelessly scoured the city for any available accommodation. Refusing to let adversity define my experience, I embarked on a mission to explore alternative options. I reached out to my fellow foreigner (a Cameroonian) Harriet by name, who then advised me to be calm and not to worry too much. I met other locals and people from my country, shared my story and sought their guidance. Their warmth and kindness enveloped me, and they rallied together to help me find a suitable place to reside. The spirit of Ubuntu, the African philosophy of interconnectedness, became evident as strangers turned into allies, determined to assist me in my quest.

Then, just when I began to feel a glimmer of doubt, my mind twisted to awaken my inner power, and from that moment, practicing the power in silence became stronger. I visualized myself living on the third floor of the fifth-story building and also imagined waking up to the breathtaking views and embracing the vibrant atmosphere of Cape Town.

Little did I know that the universe had a surprise for me. I walked to Mr Chris’s office again with positive energy, he saw me and called me by my name and said something was wrong somewhere because you were supposed to have accommodation in school as an international student, his landline rang –a call from the campus, he answered, the person was speaking Afrikaans with him which made it difficult for my hearing but overheard him mention 313 which I quickly claimed to be my room number, after the call, he said: “am sorry no more vacancy.” When I was about to speak, he picked up a paper and asked me to spell my surname. He gave me a note to deposit a 600 Rand refundable fee after my stay.

Overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief, I ran to the second floor to meet a lady called Margate from my country before going to the bursary department to pay for the refundable fee as stated on the note, secondly called some of those phenomenal fellows that were helping me to secure apartment and some of them came immediately to see me in the admin block.

Finally, the universe had conspired to grant me an extraordinary stroke of luck. With a heart overflowing with gratitude, I went to Mr Chris, who took me to the matron for necessary documentation and collection of my room key.

As I stepped into the room with the matron, I was astounded by its beauty and elegance. It was number 313 heard earlier, everything I had envisioned and more of a sanctuary amidst the bustling city.

As time passed, I reflected on the invaluable lessons from my Cape Town adventure that taught me the importance of embracing the silence within, for it is in those moments that the universe often reveals its profound recreation of human needs.