By Ravaka Ralandisoa,
July is almost over, yet the memories of my South African adventure a month ago still resonate within me. This year has been full of first-time experiences for me.
The more I learn, the more there is to discover.
Traveling alone has always been a peaceful and self-developing experience, much like my adventure in the UK in March: enriching, exciting, sometimes a bit daunting, but always joyful. This time, I had the pleasure of sharing the experience with my colleague Sanda Rakotomalala who works on a different project in the Mitsilo lab with Dr. Sarobidy Rakotonarivo. Being accompanied offered me a new perspective, making the experience even more enjoyable. Plus, I was all set for an epic safari, ready to spot the famous Big five!
When we landed at the airport, Cape Town welcomed us with its radiant yellow lights as we made our way to Stellenbosch late at night. Although we were exhausted after the flight, we were eagerly looking forward to attending the workshop we had been anticipating for so long. We felt incredibly honored and privileged to be invited by Dr. Andrew Bell to join his workshop (“Building dynamic human-environment games”), supported by Prof. Cang Hui at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS).
The attendees were a mix of people with diverse expertise (mathematics, artificial intelligence, agriculture, socio-economics, environment, biology, etc.) which highlighted how many different perspectives can come together in this field. We had the chance to learn to manipulate and code in NetLogo, discovering the fun in testing various game scenarios.
I was experiencing some stagnation with the FarmCard design. The workshop was a deep dive into the fundamentals of experimental games and the principles of dilemmas which was crucial for the development of the game. It brought me back to basics and helped redefine the right direction for the design.
We benefited from close guidance to design and develop concrete plans for the next stages of our game research ideas. Thank you so much, Dr. Andrew! These interactions and learning experiences were not just enlightening but also motivating.
Despite our hectic schedule, Sanda and I managed to explore the town. Stellenbosch’s streets are lined with charming autumn trees that looked even more beautiful under the melancholic, often rainy weather. We discovered numerous corners of the town, and struck up conversations with friendly people we met along the way. I even jumped into a beer-pang game with some lively students we had randomly met at the Gochu Gang restaurant ; a fun first for me!
Although we had several warnings about safety in Cape Town, especially for newcomers like us, these unexpected and joyful encounters kept our attention on the beautiful aspects of the city which made the trip unforgettable.
Last day of our trip: I didn’t get to see the legendary Big five, but what I can say for sure is that I savored every single moment to the fullest.
After Dr. Andrew’s morning plenary talk in the Neelsie student center, our time in Stellenbosch concluded with an enchanting wine and chocolate tasting session with the team. And surprisingly, the sun was shining as if it were toasting this perfect conclusion to our workshop experience.
I feel like I’m growing alongside FarmCard, experiencing its highs and lows. Sometimes, I lose sight of it. Then, this trip reminded me that growth comes not just from what we learn, but also from the people we meet and the experiences we share along the way.
