Monday, February 25, 2013
Monkeys and now Snakes??
Well, as if I thought monkeys trying to steal my breakfast wasn't weird and scary enough, today while I was sitting in the education building mooching off the internet before class, all of a sudden, people were yelling and running and looking seriously concerned about something down the hall. Sure enough, it was a two foot long snake, that I heard through all the chaos, was poisonous! I was about ten feet down the hallway from it, so I was a safe distance away, but it was still different and slightly alarming! I asked one of the people next to me in the hallway if this happens a lot here at NMMU, and she laughed and said yes, almost daily. Great. Snakes in my classroom! Eventually, two guys were brave enough to wrestle the snake into a to-go box and take it to the animal control office on campus. Three things alarm me about this situation: 1) There are snakes INSIDE the buildings 2) They are poisonous 3) there is an animal control office ON CAMPUS. Like I said, every day here is a new adventure!
Sardina Bay
On Sunday, some friends and I took a short little 20 kilometer trip to Sardina Bay, which we had all heard was extremely beautiful, and one of the nicest beaches around, so we decided to check it out! When you first arrive, it just looks like a bunch of really tall sand dunes, but once you walk up and over the first, really tall, really tiring dune, you can see just an amazing view of the beach and the surrounding area! Defiantly the most beautiful beach I have ever been to!
South Africa, now Law School????!!!
For the past few days I havent been on the internet, and so I havent checked facebook, email, or anything, BUT today I got the best surprise I could ask for! I have officially been accepted to William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul! As if life right now weren't already crazy and interesting enough with each day in Africa being a new adventure, now I have this as well! I cant even explain my feelings once I found out I was accepted! I have waited so long, and worked SO hard for that acceptance letter, that I cant actually believe it happened! I think back to all the horrible, stressful, overwhelming days where I thought I couldn't handle it anymore and now, finally, I feel like it was all worth it! Its such a strange, crazy feeling!
At this point, I have two options, 1) Go right to law school when I get home from South Africa, which would mean graduating from SCSU in June when I get home, working for a month and a half, and then leaving for law school, OR 2) Deferring for a year to whatever school I decide, working, and taking an internship in Haiti with a Non-Profit. Decisions, decisions! I am very, very torn, because both options have good and bad points, but overall I'm beyond thrilled to finally be accepted somewhere!
At this point, I have two options, 1) Go right to law school when I get home from South Africa, which would mean graduating from SCSU in June when I get home, working for a month and a half, and then leaving for law school, OR 2) Deferring for a year to whatever school I decide, working, and taking an internship in Haiti with a Non-Profit. Decisions, decisions! I am very, very torn, because both options have good and bad points, but overall I'm beyond thrilled to finally be accepted somewhere!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Volunteering in Walmer Township
Once again, yesterday, I returned to one of the townships here in P.E, this time to begin my volunteer work for my Service Learning class. As I mentioned in previous posts, I will be volunteering in Walmer for two hours every week at an after school homework club, where kids from grades 6-10 come after school for help on their homework. One thing I found out yesterday that was really awful to learn, was that this homework club isn't just an after school place, where the kids go for a few hours and then go to their individual homes elsewhere in the township. They have no other home. Next to the little house we do homework in, there is another house, where the kids stay, full time. When I asked one of the mamas, who started the homework club why this was their home, instead of with their parents, she explained to me that some of them were beat, neglected, or their parents were dead.
I first helped a girl from the 5th grade with her time homework, then another boy from the 5th grade on the same assignment. Neither seemed to understand the instructions, or what they should be doing in the assignment. When I asked them what their teacher told them to do, it proved just how broken some of the education systems are here. The kids told me their teacher had no explained, only handed them the assignment and moved on to the next topic. Thankfully, I was wearing my watch, so it was much easier to explain to them how to take time, and how to count, for example, how many minutes are in an hour. I wish my watch had been slightly less flashy though, because all of the sparkly "diamond" looking things in it were distracting to the kids, and I felt bad having something so flashy, when they didn't even have shoes.
When we were done with homework, we played games for a little while, and then some of the kids showed me some of their dance moves outside, until it was time to go. Helping these kids is something I dont think I will ever forget. Despite the situation they come from, most of them seem very intent on their education especially the older ones. It is still hard to wrap my mind around all of these kids, where they come from, and the situation they are in. I have to give them so much credit because despite it all, they still keep going and they are some of the happiest kids I've ever met.
I first helped a girl from the 5th grade with her time homework, then another boy from the 5th grade on the same assignment. Neither seemed to understand the instructions, or what they should be doing in the assignment. When I asked them what their teacher told them to do, it proved just how broken some of the education systems are here. The kids told me their teacher had no explained, only handed them the assignment and moved on to the next topic. Thankfully, I was wearing my watch, so it was much easier to explain to them how to take time, and how to count, for example, how many minutes are in an hour. I wish my watch had been slightly less flashy though, because all of the sparkly "diamond" looking things in it were distracting to the kids, and I felt bad having something so flashy, when they didn't even have shoes.
When we were done with homework, we played games for a little while, and then some of the kids showed me some of their dance moves outside, until it was time to go. Helping these kids is something I dont think I will ever forget. Despite the situation they come from, most of them seem very intent on their education especially the older ones. It is still hard to wrap my mind around all of these kids, where they come from, and the situation they are in. I have to give them so much credit because despite it all, they still keep going and they are some of the happiest kids I've ever met.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Differences between S. Africa and America
There are so many differences between South Africa and The United States, that its hard to know where to begin!
First, the one that is most blatant to me are the social and political issues like racism and poverty. I cannot even count how many times I have talked to people here who show me just how raw racism is here. I guess thats somewhat expected, since the Apartheid only ended here thirty years ago, but there are so many people who still cannot seem to see past skin color. The other night, at a local bar, a friend and I were visiting with some P.E locals, who happened to be Afrikaans (meaning of white, Dutch origin), and they asked us if white and black dating or marriage in the United States was thought to be "okay." We told them that it was, and that to us, it made no difference, because skin color shouldn't dictate who you love, and who you legally marry. They however, told us that it does matter. They believe that, based on their christian religion, it is wrong for black and white to marry. They compared it to "A Rhino marrying an Elephant." I could not believe my ears. To them, it is not only socially unacceptable, but morally wrong. They went on to say that they felt none of that was racist. I nearly laughed when they said that. It was one of the most rediculious, racist comments I had ever heard! At the same bar, one of the bar-tenders told me that he had a live in maid that did his dishes, laundry and cleaned his whole house. He also mentioned his maid was colored. When I asked him if that was strange, or if he felt bad, he shrugged and said no, that it was normal and when I asked why that was normal he said that "if I knew the history of this country, I would understand that it is widely accepted." Well, unfortunately for him, I do know the history of this country, and its not supposed to be accepted. Unfortunately, that is not the only time OR the last time I will hear comments like that and although the United States has its fair share of social and racial issues, its still hard to see and hear comments like that. South Africa has moved past the Apartheid, but race is still a huge issue. I think that there will be a movement in the future, kind of like what the Civil Rights Movement was in the United States.
As for poverty, it is also blatant. On one side of the street you see wealthy houses with nice cars and on the other its completely the opposite. Poverty becomes overwhelming when you reach the townships that are on the outskirts of P.E and most larger cities in South Africa. Its a completely surreal and strange out of body experience being in the townships, and its something you would never find in America.
Second, time. Everything here is slower and less organized. Like I posted about before, everything here is a process. Things are simpler here. Internet is slower and not as common, cell phones are mostly pre-paid, in most classrooms there are still chalk boards instead of white boards or "smart boards." Simply put, technology just hasn't taken complete hold here like it has in the United States.
Third, FOOD/COFFEE. To my greatest disappointment, there is no such thing here as "iced coffee." In the U.S, Iced coffee was one of my favorite things. Here, iced coffee is basically a milkshake with coffee flavoring in it. Not the same and more calories! The other day at a cafe, I ordered an "iced coffee" and when I got my coffee hot, I asked why, and the girl said, "thats what you ordered." Um, what? She says: "You wanted an iced coffee. Thats a hot mocha and we put an ice cube in it." Alright. Fail. Food is also a struggle. Milk spoils too fast to be worth buying. Bread is extremely grainy, so I dont really buy that either. Ketchup, mustard barbecue sauce, ranch and a lot of other condiments taste different, in a bad way here too, so I have kind of stopped buying or asking for that at restaurants.
Fourth, driving. There are traffic laws here, but lets be honest, no one follows them. No one cares, because there are few policemen out on the roads and if there are, you can simply pay them off with a couple hundred Rand (thirty-forty dollars U.S $$). People here pass on hills, they go 100mph, they honk for no reason, they yell out the window, they pass on whatever side of the road they want, they blow stop signs, etc, etc. Driving here is defiantly an experience.
Fifth. Weather. It is SO WINDY HERE. We were told Port Elizabeth is the "windy city" of South Africa, but that was the understatement of the century. The wind is so strong some nights that I cant even sleep, or if I do sleep, it wakes me up multiple times in the night. Sometimes, the wind is good, because it keeps you cooler during the crazy hot days, but other times, when it tears you to pieces at the beach, or keeps you up at night its not so nice.
First, the one that is most blatant to me are the social and political issues like racism and poverty. I cannot even count how many times I have talked to people here who show me just how raw racism is here. I guess thats somewhat expected, since the Apartheid only ended here thirty years ago, but there are so many people who still cannot seem to see past skin color. The other night, at a local bar, a friend and I were visiting with some P.E locals, who happened to be Afrikaans (meaning of white, Dutch origin), and they asked us if white and black dating or marriage in the United States was thought to be "okay." We told them that it was, and that to us, it made no difference, because skin color shouldn't dictate who you love, and who you legally marry. They however, told us that it does matter. They believe that, based on their christian religion, it is wrong for black and white to marry. They compared it to "A Rhino marrying an Elephant." I could not believe my ears. To them, it is not only socially unacceptable, but morally wrong. They went on to say that they felt none of that was racist. I nearly laughed when they said that. It was one of the most rediculious, racist comments I had ever heard! At the same bar, one of the bar-tenders told me that he had a live in maid that did his dishes, laundry and cleaned his whole house. He also mentioned his maid was colored. When I asked him if that was strange, or if he felt bad, he shrugged and said no, that it was normal and when I asked why that was normal he said that "if I knew the history of this country, I would understand that it is widely accepted." Well, unfortunately for him, I do know the history of this country, and its not supposed to be accepted. Unfortunately, that is not the only time OR the last time I will hear comments like that and although the United States has its fair share of social and racial issues, its still hard to see and hear comments like that. South Africa has moved past the Apartheid, but race is still a huge issue. I think that there will be a movement in the future, kind of like what the Civil Rights Movement was in the United States.
As for poverty, it is also blatant. On one side of the street you see wealthy houses with nice cars and on the other its completely the opposite. Poverty becomes overwhelming when you reach the townships that are on the outskirts of P.E and most larger cities in South Africa. Its a completely surreal and strange out of body experience being in the townships, and its something you would never find in America.
Second, time. Everything here is slower and less organized. Like I posted about before, everything here is a process. Things are simpler here. Internet is slower and not as common, cell phones are mostly pre-paid, in most classrooms there are still chalk boards instead of white boards or "smart boards." Simply put, technology just hasn't taken complete hold here like it has in the United States.
Third, FOOD/COFFEE. To my greatest disappointment, there is no such thing here as "iced coffee." In the U.S, Iced coffee was one of my favorite things. Here, iced coffee is basically a milkshake with coffee flavoring in it. Not the same and more calories! The other day at a cafe, I ordered an "iced coffee" and when I got my coffee hot, I asked why, and the girl said, "thats what you ordered." Um, what? She says: "You wanted an iced coffee. Thats a hot mocha and we put an ice cube in it." Alright. Fail. Food is also a struggle. Milk spoils too fast to be worth buying. Bread is extremely grainy, so I dont really buy that either. Ketchup, mustard barbecue sauce, ranch and a lot of other condiments taste different, in a bad way here too, so I have kind of stopped buying or asking for that at restaurants.
Fourth, driving. There are traffic laws here, but lets be honest, no one follows them. No one cares, because there are few policemen out on the roads and if there are, you can simply pay them off with a couple hundred Rand (thirty-forty dollars U.S $$). People here pass on hills, they go 100mph, they honk for no reason, they yell out the window, they pass on whatever side of the road they want, they blow stop signs, etc, etc. Driving here is defiantly an experience.
Fifth. Weather. It is SO WINDY HERE. We were told Port Elizabeth is the "windy city" of South Africa, but that was the understatement of the century. The wind is so strong some nights that I cant even sleep, or if I do sleep, it wakes me up multiple times in the night. Sometimes, the wind is good, because it keeps you cooler during the crazy hot days, but other times, when it tears you to pieces at the beach, or keeps you up at night its not so nice.
Monday, February 18, 2013
SCSU has squirrels, NMMU has Vervet Monkeys!
Just as I sat down to work on my last post, I bought a muffin for breakfast, and sat down outside at a table on the NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) campus. I no more than get one sentence and one bite into my muffin, and a monkey jumps onto my table and is clearly interested in my food. I was terrified! We have been told and warned by signs all over campus that the monkeys are NOT tame, that they can be aggressive and that we shouldn't look them in the eye because that intimidates them and they could attack. So, although I was extremely alarmed, and wanted to look surprised and scared all I could do was look away and hope to God this monkey didn't attack me for my food. It sat right in front of me, attempting to grab for my muffin for a few minutes, and then moved off a bit to watch me from a distance, hoping I would set my muffin down. If I did, even for a second, he was ready! I held my muffin tight, while everyone at the surrounding tables is laughing, because it is clear that not only am I not from South Africa, but Im also not used to monkeys attempting to steal my breakfast. One guy at a nearby table told me "This is Africa honey, they're not tame! You better eat that muffin like its your last meal!" I have never eaten a muffin, or anything, faster in my life and I have to say, I dont know that I love the monkeys. Next time I think I will eat my breakfast, or any meal, indoors!
Jeffery's Bay
This past weekend, several friends and myself traveled to Jeffery's Bay, which is about an hour west of Port Elizabeth on the coast. It is kind of known to be a "surfer town" because there are such big waves, and so much shoreline since its a smaller town compared to Port Elizabeth. Including myself, the nine of us rented two cars and a hostel for the weekend. Driving here is crazy! As you probably could have guessed, they drive on the left side of the road here, and all of the cars are manuals. SO, driving was interesting to say the least! It is also normal here to blow through stop signs, ignore speed limits and just basically do whatever you want. This is probably extremely alarming to my parents, but ignoring the traffic laws isn't a big deal, because I haven't seen one road police officer yet. Since there arnt much for traffic laws, we made the 85km trip in about a twenty five minutes to a half hour. On the way, we visited Seaview Lions Park, which is a nature reserve that has, obviously, lions, giraffes, impala, zebra and meerkat. We were able to see everything while we were there! My favorite was obviously the giraffes! We were able to get within about ten feet of several giraffes, so that was exciting since I had always wanted to see a giraffe!
After Seaview, we arrived at Jeffery's Bay, where we met the hostel owner, who was anybody's definition of "an old surfer dude." He has long, wavy hair, tan, wrinkled skin and you could tell he has lived a large percentage of his life in the ocean, surfing. He had owned the hostel his whole life, and as he told us, his life has always been very simple. He has never used or owned a computer! He told us he loves the small town life of Jeffery's Bay, loves surfing, and dosent want anything else. It was interesting to sit and listen to him talk about his life in South Africa, and it was enjoyable to just enjoy the night life of a small surfer town. On Sunday, we visited the beach, where it was incredibly windy! Its not even surf season yet, and the waves are too big for me to even attempt to fight. They are at least two to three times my height! Unfortunately, while attempting to take a picture with some friends in the water, I stepped right on a jellyfish and it stung me! Instantly, it hurt pretty bad. Some of the beach lifeguards gave me vinegar to pour on it, but that only helped for like a minute, and then it just went back to stinging. It stung and throbbed for about eight hours and left sort of what looked like a burn mark on the side of my foot. Overall though, it was an enjoyable weekend with good company and I'm sure we will return to Jeffery's Bay again soon!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Valentines Day at the Red Location Backpacker
Yesterday is by far the most interesting Valentines Day I've ever had. As I mentioned yesterday, 200 International Students and myself spent the evening at the Red Location Backpacker I have talked about in previous posts. The mamas served us beverages while we had kind of a social hour with live, native music, and then we had a Braii (Barbecue), with chicken, pork chops, sausage, noodle salad and homemade bread. Everything was really good! We then listened to live music by a teen group that is from here in Port Elizabeth, and then we watched a native dance and singing group. Very interesting and a very cool experience!
As nervous as I was to return to the townships, I think the more Im there the better understanding I seem to have and I get a bit more comfortable with my surroundings. When all of us pulled up in the big bus to the backpacker last night, we could see the children from the township just pouring down this hill, running to come and greet us. Its odd to have so many children absolutely adore your attention, even when they know nothing about you. One little boy ran right up to me, jumped in my arms and gave me the biggest smile. When I asked him how he was, It quickly became clear he didnt speak English. Unfortunately, most of this kids dont. One of the mamas mentioned to me, "I wish I could teach them how to speak." Its difficult to see the lack of education in what seem to be such bright, interested, fun kids.
Overall, my experience in the township was very different than my first time, and Im still so curious about going back again and again. I am excited to start volunteering in the townships and make relationships with people who have such a different life and culture than my own. Its defiantly a different world, but its an absolutely fascinating one.
As nervous as I was to return to the townships, I think the more Im there the better understanding I seem to have and I get a bit more comfortable with my surroundings. When all of us pulled up in the big bus to the backpacker last night, we could see the children from the township just pouring down this hill, running to come and greet us. Its odd to have so many children absolutely adore your attention, even when they know nothing about you. One little boy ran right up to me, jumped in my arms and gave me the biggest smile. When I asked him how he was, It quickly became clear he didnt speak English. Unfortunately, most of this kids dont. One of the mamas mentioned to me, "I wish I could teach them how to speak." Its difficult to see the lack of education in what seem to be such bright, interested, fun kids.
Overall, my experience in the township was very different than my first time, and Im still so curious about going back again and again. I am excited to start volunteering in the townships and make relationships with people who have such a different life and culture than my own. Its defiantly a different world, but its an absolutely fascinating one.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Not the Average Valentines Day..
It strikes me more and more how much my life has changed since I left the U.S. Usually, I would spend my Valentines Day, going out to dinner, or in school, and for the most part, its an average day for me, but this Valentines Day will be different. Us International Students have been invited to spend Valentines Day in one of Port Elizabeth's townships, where we visited last Saturday, at the backpacker. We will have a Braii, (kind of like what we would call a barbecue in America) live entertainment (which I have a feeling will be very traditional South African Xhosa, which makes me excited) and of course, we will get to visit with the mamas who run the backpacker and the townspeople.
Honestly, after first seeing the townships, I was shocked, overwhelmed, sad, emotional and really didnt know how to recover from it. Since, I still feel the same, but I am curious about these peoples lives, and their culture and how they see the world. I am trying so very hard to overlook the poverty they live in to really get a sense of who they are, but its so, so so hard to not be overwhelmed. I am anxious to go back tonight, but at the same time, curious and hopeful that I will learn more. I think it will be very interesting, and Im sure there will be more to write about tomorrow on this topic.
Honestly, after first seeing the townships, I was shocked, overwhelmed, sad, emotional and really didnt know how to recover from it. Since, I still feel the same, but I am curious about these peoples lives, and their culture and how they see the world. I am trying so very hard to overlook the poverty they live in to really get a sense of who they are, but its so, so so hard to not be overwhelmed. I am anxious to go back tonight, but at the same time, curious and hopeful that I will learn more. I think it will be very interesting, and Im sure there will be more to write about tomorrow on this topic.
Community Service Learning
While here in South Africa, most of the international students are required to take a Community Service Learning class, where we become educated on poverty, HIV/AIDS, and different social aspects of South Africa. We are required to volunteer for a minimum of two hours per week at various locations. We have several options, but must choose one in specific to volunteer at throughout the semester. Some of the options were homework clubs, babies homes, childrens homes, pre-schools and a disabled adults assisted living home. One of the homework clubs, Sinethemba was actually created by a woman, who they would refer to as "mama" who grew up on the streets of a township here in Port Elizabeth, and wanted better for the future of the township kids. One of the other homework clubs is called Masifunde, which is actually a registered Non-Profit Company and Organization. Masifunde really centers around attempting to help the children to improve and grow in their education so they can be accepted at one of the better schools in the area, thus giving them a brighter future.
All of the options seem extremely nice and helpful to others, but I have chosen a pre-school called Sinako, which is in a township here in Port Elizabeth called Warmer. It specifically is in part of the township that is underdeveloped, meaning although the townships are already very, very, very poor and underdeveloped, this part is even more so. The kids range in age from 3-5 and we are actually required to bring or make our own activity for the kids while we are there. I chose this location and pre-school for several reasons. One, because its different from all the others. Most of the other sign-up sheets for the other places were pretty packed. Mine was empty. Secondly, its with an age group of kids that I LOVE. 3-5 years old is an extremely delicate age, where you are first beginning school, and where you first begin to love it or hate it. I think that these children, especially at this age, NEED to learn to love it right from the get-go, otherwise things will be really hard for them. I also just love that kids that age are just beginning to really get to know their personality, so they say funny things, so goofy things and are just plain happy most the time.
I am particularly excited to make my own activities and games for these kids, because I think that will really help me to develop a relationship with them, and even get to know their language better. I also am slightly anxious about going to a part of a township that is specifically "poorer" and underdeveloped. Last time I was in the townships, it was hard for me to say the least, and I saw little to NO development as far as even running water, electricity or sanitation, so this may be even more of a shock. BUT, I think that this is supposed to be a challenge, and maybe, who knows, these may be the kids who need it the most, maybe they need someone who is willing to look beyond the overwhelming, emotional turmoil it creates for them, and really help. It will take time for me at adjust to being in that type of setting and environment, but, I think in the long run it will be a good thing.
All of the options seem extremely nice and helpful to others, but I have chosen a pre-school called Sinako, which is in a township here in Port Elizabeth called Warmer. It specifically is in part of the township that is underdeveloped, meaning although the townships are already very, very, very poor and underdeveloped, this part is even more so. The kids range in age from 3-5 and we are actually required to bring or make our own activity for the kids while we are there. I chose this location and pre-school for several reasons. One, because its different from all the others. Most of the other sign-up sheets for the other places were pretty packed. Mine was empty. Secondly, its with an age group of kids that I LOVE. 3-5 years old is an extremely delicate age, where you are first beginning school, and where you first begin to love it or hate it. I think that these children, especially at this age, NEED to learn to love it right from the get-go, otherwise things will be really hard for them. I also just love that kids that age are just beginning to really get to know their personality, so they say funny things, so goofy things and are just plain happy most the time.
I am particularly excited to make my own activities and games for these kids, because I think that will really help me to develop a relationship with them, and even get to know their language better. I also am slightly anxious about going to a part of a township that is specifically "poorer" and underdeveloped. Last time I was in the townships, it was hard for me to say the least, and I saw little to NO development as far as even running water, electricity or sanitation, so this may be even more of a shock. BUT, I think that this is supposed to be a challenge, and maybe, who knows, these may be the kids who need it the most, maybe they need someone who is willing to look beyond the overwhelming, emotional turmoil it creates for them, and really help. It will take time for me at adjust to being in that type of setting and environment, but, I think in the long run it will be a good thing.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
First class at NMMU
Yesterday I finally had my first class here at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. I say "finally" because I feel like i really need a routine, I need to get to know the culture more and as much as I love the "touristy" things like seeing elephants and going to the beach, I need to do practical things as well. My first class, was a beginner Xhosa class, that will meet on Monday evenings for up to two hours, but I also have the option to go early Tuesday and Thursday if the need or want arises. (Like if we want to take a long weekend, or if I want a shorter class time broken up into two days.) I knew going into it, that Xhosa would be a challenge especially as an American, because it is a language full of clicks and different vowel pronunciations, but it was like nothing I expected.
I struggle with the clicks. Its actually really embarrassing. For example, instead of saying the "X" at the beginning of "Xhosa" the "X" is a click that you make with like the back of your mouth, and that is the only sound in the word Xhosa until you get to the "O" sound. I practiced for about thirty minutes in my flat by myself last night while cooking dinner and I still would never say Xhosa to a person who speaks it as their normal language. Its tough! Some of the other words come much easier though. For example, to greet a fellow young woman, I would say "Molo Sisi", and she would relpy, "Molo Sisi." Easy enough, right? Basically, the class consisted of how to introduce yourself, how to ask how someone is doing, and how to ask where the person you are talking to is staying or living. I loved it, learning something completely new and different, but I know that I will also struggle and have to practice a lot.
I struggle with the clicks. Its actually really embarrassing. For example, instead of saying the "X" at the beginning of "Xhosa" the "X" is a click that you make with like the back of your mouth, and that is the only sound in the word Xhosa until you get to the "O" sound. I practiced for about thirty minutes in my flat by myself last night while cooking dinner and I still would never say Xhosa to a person who speaks it as their normal language. Its tough! Some of the other words come much easier though. For example, to greet a fellow young woman, I would say "Molo Sisi", and she would relpy, "Molo Sisi." Easy enough, right? Basically, the class consisted of how to introduce yourself, how to ask how someone is doing, and how to ask where the person you are talking to is staying or living. I loved it, learning something completely new and different, but I know that I will also struggle and have to practice a lot.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Everything Is a Process
Each day I am in South Africa it becomes more apparent to me what and just how much I take for granted in the United States. There are SO MANY tiny things we take for granted in the U.S that people here struggle for and wait for on a daily basis. For example, today, simply getting my campus password to work had taken me six hours, because there is not just one main person you go see to straighten things out, and there is not just one main, simple office for everything. They send you from building to building, place to place until you work hard enough to figure it out. I waited in line today for nearly three hours just to get my student I.D card, because, compared to the U.S or St. Cloud State, there are fifteen people paid to take students pictures and hand out card in a matter of minutes. Here, there is one man, in a tiny little office, who has to help EVERYONE. Everything here is a process. Just to fax something to the U.S today, I had to go get my student card, put money on it, print it off at a campus computer, then go to the post office to fax it, and I started that process at 11am this morning, and im STILL not done. I have always taken for granted the ease of everything back home. How easy it is to sign up and register for classes, how easy it is to fax a simple document, where as here those things dont come easy. You are forced to realize that not all systems are as advanced as the United States and you are forced to learn REALLY FAST that not everything goes your way. Patients, patients, patients!
Something else that I think is often taken for granted compared to here is education. While waiting in line for my student I.D card today, I was talking to a women who was South African, and she said she was still working towards what would be equal to a high school degree in the United States. She was probably five years older than me. As we were talking, she told me about how she was from one of the townships outside Port Elizabeth, and her mother worked extremely hard her entire life, settled for living in a shack and saved every Rand she could for her entire life just to send her to school. Literally, every amount of money this womans mom made, went to pay for an education for her. At this point she got emotional, and said her mother had passed before she would see her graduate, but her life long dream came true because she had gotten the opportunity to attend school.
Its probably hard to understand from reading, but talking to people who have these stories changes your life. I think back on all of the things I have been able to do in my lifetime, and how many things I not only take fore granted but EXPECT to have. Graduating high school is no longer a big deal in America. Going to college is not thought of as a privilege, or a luxury, but something that "just everybody does." Not here. She explained to me that here, it is a HUGE deal just to go to ANY schooling, even primary school. If you have education, with your own money in South Africa, you have a luxury and you are extremely privileged. Makes you think, really long and hard about how much you really have, and how lucky you are. I think the people her will teach me more than any class ever will and I know for damn certain my education will be something I could never take for granted again.
Something else that I think is often taken for granted compared to here is education. While waiting in line for my student I.D card today, I was talking to a women who was South African, and she said she was still working towards what would be equal to a high school degree in the United States. She was probably five years older than me. As we were talking, she told me about how she was from one of the townships outside Port Elizabeth, and her mother worked extremely hard her entire life, settled for living in a shack and saved every Rand she could for her entire life just to send her to school. Literally, every amount of money this womans mom made, went to pay for an education for her. At this point she got emotional, and said her mother had passed before she would see her graduate, but her life long dream came true because she had gotten the opportunity to attend school.
Its probably hard to understand from reading, but talking to people who have these stories changes your life. I think back on all of the things I have been able to do in my lifetime, and how many things I not only take fore granted but EXPECT to have. Graduating high school is no longer a big deal in America. Going to college is not thought of as a privilege, or a luxury, but something that "just everybody does." Not here. She explained to me that here, it is a HUGE deal just to go to ANY schooling, even primary school. If you have education, with your own money in South Africa, you have a luxury and you are extremely privileged. Makes you think, really long and hard about how much you really have, and how lucky you are. I think the people her will teach me more than any class ever will and I know for damn certain my education will be something I could never take for granted again.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
FOOD
The food here has been quite an adjustment here, for me anyway. A lot of things that I eat all the time spoil here too quickly to buy, so I have to completely cut them out of my diet. Things like milk, peaches, etc that would wont finish right away just go to waste, so I haven't bothered to buy them again. Also, many things like chicken strips, barbecue sauce, pizza, mac & Cheese, bread and cottage cheese dont taste the same here or have the same texture, so that takes some getting used to as well. One thing I will say, is that the homemade bread here is to DIE for! That has been my favorite thing so far, because Im a big bread person. I also found really yummy cookies that are made in cape town, called Cape Cookies, and they are milk chocolate coconut cookies..YUM! In South Africa, they LOVE barbecues, which they call Braiis, so you can always smell people cooking outside, and here you wouldnt say, "lets have a get together, or lets hang out," you would say, "lets have a Barii." So far, I cant say I dislike the changes, they are just different..so its an adjustment like everything else.
Eye Opening
Yesterday was one of the most difficult days of my life. If what I post seems obscure and jumbled, its because my mind cannot yet seem to grasp and understand what I learned and witnessed. Yesterday, all day, all of the international students were required to attend a city tour. Not much was really said about it, and none of us obviously knew anything about the city, so it seemed just like any typical day here so far. We began with the downtown district, so, places like city hall, the public library, and historic churches. While in that part of the city, we touched on colonialism, and how many of the buildings obviously looked Dutch or English, since those are the nations that first colonized South Africa...this was no surprise to me and everything seemed regular. After lunch, we were told we were headed into more of the townships surrounding Port Elizabeth. To understand these townships, its important to understand some of the political and social history of South Africa. I wont go into huge detail, since Im sure it is much more interesting to me than you, but basically, before the current government was in power here, there was a government refereed to as the Aparthied. This government was made up of white, wealthy upperclassmen, who are called Afrikaners. They are the Dutch and English decedents of the original colonists. This government suppressed what they referred to as "Coloreds" and "Blacks", meaning TWO different groups. The way they separated the groups was three ways: 1) The color of their skin. They LITERALLY would take what we would compare to color swatches for painting our homes, and hold it up to peoples faces. 2) They would run a pencil through peoples hair. If it got stuck, meaning you had thicker, courser hair, you were black. 3) The Aparthied Government would LITERALLY use rulers to measure the widths of peoples noses, stating that if they had wider noses they were black. They classified these people into groups, and then suppressed them. They paid the same taxes as the rich Afrikaners, but lived in tin shacks, while rich whites lived in huge homes. They were denied jobs, primary education, college, and anything equal to whites. To show you the irony of the situation at the time: the first electricity plant in teh city of Port Elizabeth was literally right in the poor, black or colored townships, and were run by people who were classified as black or colored, yet literally right next door, not even feet from the electrical plant, there was absolutely no electricity. Food for thought.
What strikes me is that this isnt a government that existed long ago. This isnt some far off story that is ignored in history books. This happened in the late 1980's folks. The government officials who discriminated against, massacred and did horrible things to innocent people are still living. Some of them are still police officers.
Anyway, these townships that are scattered on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth and other South African cities were created by the Afrikaners to push the poor away. They felt that by pushing them to the edges of the city, no one would notice and no one would care. I honestly dont know how to put into words what I saw. Rows upon rows upon hills upon rolling hills of tin shacks that were literally held together with pieces of scrap metal and old wooden sticks. No electricity, no running water. Garbage EVERYWHERE. Rubble EVERYWHERE from when the Aparthied Government would burn businesses and homes to the ground. These shacks were rusty from the rain, absolutely run down and literally put together piece by piece from any scrap they could find to put a shelter over their heads. If felt like it was never ending. We drove and drove and drove, and the more we drove the more I felt absolutely stunned, shocked, overwhelmed and honestly just sad. Completely sad. I know it is hard for someone just reading this to probably understand, and so I hope its not confusing but until yesterday I probably would have felt the same way. "Poverty" and "The 3rd World" is something most of us learn about in text book and classrooms in the U.S. Until yesterday that was true for me as well, but now there is no going back. The images of what I witnessed are something I will never forget. One look literally changed my life forever.
Once we were about half way through one of the black townships, we visited a museum called the Red Location Museum. Is was built to teach and remember the massacres that happened on behalf of the Aparthied Government in the late 1980's. It was jaw dropping. There are thousands of people who were murdered because they simply wanted to attend school, or pay fair taxes. There were lists and lists of people who were murdered, and it showed the end result, as in if anyone was found guilty of their murder, or charged for any wrong doing. I can count on one hand the amount of prosecutions there were for the police and governments wrong doings. Disturbing.
We then visited a "backpacker" that had been set up and run by some of the elderly women of the township. (They are referred to as "Mammas") They served us beverages and homemade bread, (which puts ANY bread in America to shame by the way) and they told us stories of their experiences with the Aparthied Government. Again, life changing. Most people in the room were really emotional, just because it was so, so, SO sad. They spoke of getting arrested and abused in prisons multiple times, they spoke of being beaten, sexually abused and tormented simply because they wanted fresh water to drink in jail. When it reached the point in their story about finally being able to attend school, for their children to attend school, they were absolutely hysterical. They were unable to talk because they were crying so hard about the freedom to simply learn. If that cant put life into perspective then I dont know what can.
While leaving the backpacker, were were greeted by probably a hundred of the township children. They were obsessed with us, which makes me uncomfortable to say, but thats the only way I can put it. They wanted to touch our hair, look at our things, play with our phones and cameras, take pictures with us, and just talk to us. Many children asked me for food or water, and some were even begging. It was the hardest thing in the world to look them in the eye and tell them I didnt have anything for them. One of the other international students, from St. Cloud, told a girl that we had been talking to that she was beautiful and she was beyond herself with emotion. She said no one had ever told her that before.
On the way back from this city tour I was a zombie. I had all I could do to look our the bus window and not cry uncontrollably. It was the most eye opening, jaw dropping, life changing experience of my life, and I dont think I will ever be the same.
What strikes me is that this isnt a government that existed long ago. This isnt some far off story that is ignored in history books. This happened in the late 1980's folks. The government officials who discriminated against, massacred and did horrible things to innocent people are still living. Some of them are still police officers.
Anyway, these townships that are scattered on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth and other South African cities were created by the Afrikaners to push the poor away. They felt that by pushing them to the edges of the city, no one would notice and no one would care. I honestly dont know how to put into words what I saw. Rows upon rows upon hills upon rolling hills of tin shacks that were literally held together with pieces of scrap metal and old wooden sticks. No electricity, no running water. Garbage EVERYWHERE. Rubble EVERYWHERE from when the Aparthied Government would burn businesses and homes to the ground. These shacks were rusty from the rain, absolutely run down and literally put together piece by piece from any scrap they could find to put a shelter over their heads. If felt like it was never ending. We drove and drove and drove, and the more we drove the more I felt absolutely stunned, shocked, overwhelmed and honestly just sad. Completely sad. I know it is hard for someone just reading this to probably understand, and so I hope its not confusing but until yesterday I probably would have felt the same way. "Poverty" and "The 3rd World" is something most of us learn about in text book and classrooms in the U.S. Until yesterday that was true for me as well, but now there is no going back. The images of what I witnessed are something I will never forget. One look literally changed my life forever.
Once we were about half way through one of the black townships, we visited a museum called the Red Location Museum. Is was built to teach and remember the massacres that happened on behalf of the Aparthied Government in the late 1980's. It was jaw dropping. There are thousands of people who were murdered because they simply wanted to attend school, or pay fair taxes. There were lists and lists of people who were murdered, and it showed the end result, as in if anyone was found guilty of their murder, or charged for any wrong doing. I can count on one hand the amount of prosecutions there were for the police and governments wrong doings. Disturbing.
We then visited a "backpacker" that had been set up and run by some of the elderly women of the township. (They are referred to as "Mammas") They served us beverages and homemade bread, (which puts ANY bread in America to shame by the way) and they told us stories of their experiences with the Aparthied Government. Again, life changing. Most people in the room were really emotional, just because it was so, so, SO sad. They spoke of getting arrested and abused in prisons multiple times, they spoke of being beaten, sexually abused and tormented simply because they wanted fresh water to drink in jail. When it reached the point in their story about finally being able to attend school, for their children to attend school, they were absolutely hysterical. They were unable to talk because they were crying so hard about the freedom to simply learn. If that cant put life into perspective then I dont know what can.
While leaving the backpacker, were were greeted by probably a hundred of the township children. They were obsessed with us, which makes me uncomfortable to say, but thats the only way I can put it. They wanted to touch our hair, look at our things, play with our phones and cameras, take pictures with us, and just talk to us. Many children asked me for food or water, and some were even begging. It was the hardest thing in the world to look them in the eye and tell them I didnt have anything for them. One of the other international students, from St. Cloud, told a girl that we had been talking to that she was beautiful and she was beyond herself with emotion. She said no one had ever told her that before.
On the way back from this city tour I was a zombie. I had all I could do to look our the bus window and not cry uncontrollably. It was the most eye opening, jaw dropping, life changing experience of my life, and I dont think I will ever be the same.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Pictures from Addo Elephant Park
So, I realized, not everyone reading this blog may have facebook, to view my pictures, so here are the ones I found sum up Addo Elephant Park the best! These dont even scratch the surface, so if you can, friends me on facebook to see more!
Let the classes begin!
On Tuesday, the group from St. Cloud State, so, including me, got to sign up for our classes. For the most part, I am taking the same classes I would take in St. Cloud, for example, Media & Society, South African Political Economy and Contemporary South African Politics and Policy. I think it will be really cool and exciting to start classes here and just be in a new environment, but what I am most excited about is one class in particular. A few friends and I signed up for an introduction to Xhosa class, and for those of you who are unfamiliar, Xhosa is one of the national, native languages here. If your struggling to pronounce it, it is pronounced (Ko-sa). Im not sure how many of you have heard, but there are languages in Africa that have clicks in some of the words, which is what Xhosa is. I think that yes, it will be something difficult, but it is also something different, something new, that will honestly teach me something I have never done before, which is what this trip is all about. Chances are, when I interview for a job someday, they will not ask me if I know Xhosa, BUT, its all about the experience and thats what matters. I am really looking forward to doing something completely new, and to be honest, kind of a challenge! Im sure I will have lots more to say about this subject, and if you still curious about what Xhosa sounds like, youtube it! Its pretty fascinating!
Addo Elephant National Park
Yesterday, myself, my roommate Heidi, and two other friends, Andrew and Amy, went to Addo Elephant Park, just a little ways outside Port Elizabeth. We hired a tour guide to pick us up right at Annies Cove, take us to the park, and guide us around. We saw SO MANY cool things! Elephants, Kudu, Water Buffalo, birds, Zebra and Jackal! It is impossible to explain how amazing an elephant is in real life, just the mere SIZE of them is amazing! It felt like a dream just seeing them, especially so many of them. Although we saw a lot of cool wildlife, there were some things we didnt see such as lions and Black Rhinos. Those animals seem like they would be common, but they are actually really hard to spot and they dont like people, so they avoid roads and tourist spots. Overall though, it was a blast, and it was amazing to see such different, diverse wildlife! I have pictures up of everything we saw on my facebook, so check it out!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Tsitsikamma Falls/Weekend Orientation
Yesterday, the international students and myself returned from a weekend orientation at a place west of Port Elizabeth, where I am living, called Tsitsikamma. It literally was some of the most amazing scenery I have EVER seen in my life. There were mountains, waterfalls, rivers, and tons of wildlife to see. We stayed at kind of a "lodge" type thing, and shared rooms with whoever we wanted to, whenever we met them. I met so many people I didnt even know how to keep it all in order. There were people from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. I was great and fascinating to get to know so many people.
While there, we were able to go hiking, zip lining, swimming, and just hang out. I got EXTREMELY sun burnt. Fun fact: the pollution we create in the United States in Europe dosent affect us, but it affect Africa and depleats the ozone here, so literally, five minutes in the sun and your baked. Its not even appealing to be in the sun sometimes unless you cake on the sunscreen, because I have never felt the sun so hot on my skin. I will have pictures of Tsitsikamma up hopefully tomorrow, because it was something straight out of a movie. We were swimming in waterfalls, and this tropical, amazing environment that was peaceful and untouched. AMAZING is the only way I can describe it! It was an experience that honestly changed my life because it was simply so beautiful and different.
Lastly, I wanted to mention how nice it is to get to know other international students. Its hard to describe, but it feels like there is no judgement. Everyone is outgoing because they are all in the same boat as you. They are away from home, in a new, strange place, and they want to make friends. They dont care what you look like, or what your wearing, or where you come from. They just want to talk to you. We sat around in circles for HOURS just talking about our home countries, telling stories and comparing our cultures, and every one was enjoying themselves. I have learned more about the world in two days at weekend orientation than I ever have, or ever will, (I think) in a classroom, simply because I sat and talked with people who have different views, culture and backgrounds than I do. I hope everyone, at some point in their life, gets to experience that.
While there, we were able to go hiking, zip lining, swimming, and just hang out. I got EXTREMELY sun burnt. Fun fact: the pollution we create in the United States in Europe dosent affect us, but it affect Africa and depleats the ozone here, so literally, five minutes in the sun and your baked. Its not even appealing to be in the sun sometimes unless you cake on the sunscreen, because I have never felt the sun so hot on my skin. I will have pictures of Tsitsikamma up hopefully tomorrow, because it was something straight out of a movie. We were swimming in waterfalls, and this tropical, amazing environment that was peaceful and untouched. AMAZING is the only way I can describe it! It was an experience that honestly changed my life because it was simply so beautiful and different.
Lastly, I wanted to mention how nice it is to get to know other international students. Its hard to describe, but it feels like there is no judgement. Everyone is outgoing because they are all in the same boat as you. They are away from home, in a new, strange place, and they want to make friends. They dont care what you look like, or what your wearing, or where you come from. They just want to talk to you. We sat around in circles for HOURS just talking about our home countries, telling stories and comparing our cultures, and every one was enjoying themselves. I have learned more about the world in two days at weekend orientation than I ever have, or ever will, (I think) in a classroom, simply because I sat and talked with people who have different views, culture and backgrounds than I do. I hope everyone, at some point in their life, gets to experience that.
Finally here! WHERE TO EVEN BEGIN...OOFTA!!
Well, I'm here! Wifi has been spotty, so bear with me!
Honestly, I am at a loss for words. There have been so many new, interesting, beautiful, funny, unexplainable experiences that I don't even know where to begin or what to say! CRAZY.
First off, I should explain my living suituation in Annie's Cove. Its nice but different. Electricity is a luxury here, not a given. We have to physically walk like 30 minutes to a store to buy electricity and it lasts about a week. There have been so many eye opening things here, and it has really made me realize how much we do take for granted in America. Another thing is crime. Its like any other big city, where you have to be cautions but things we have all the time and treat as a "normal" thing to have, they dont have here.For example, laptops, iphones, nice cell phones are luxuries,and people will not think twice about just taking your things. You have to be very cautious.Annie's Cove is not some beach side, expensive, "touristy" place. Some stuff is run down. Some things are not perfect and it IS an adjustment in EVERY WAY, but that's what I'm here for. It really changes your life.
Next, the different cultural things. It IS AMAZING getting to know South African people. They are so different and interesting to what I'm used to. They are honestly, the nicest most giving people I have EVER met. They pass you and greet you, and smile almost always. Its also an adjustment too because everyone here runs on "South African time" so if you call a cab and he says he will be here in 30 minutes, its really more like 45...and you just begin to realize that its SO HOT and transportation is more difficult that they don't rush ALL THE TIME like we do in America. They are a much more relaxed, nice, polite culture. For example, if you go to a restaurant here, expect to be there hours. They leave you to talk and visit instead of always interrupting you and asking you questions. Its different but nice at the same time.
Another interesting thing is the taxi vans we have been taking, called Kombis. They are like 20 person vans that drive crazy fast all over the city, honking and picking people up anywhere. You meet interesting people, and you get to see what the transportation and culture is really like. My favorite thing about them is the super loud Reggeton music they play in the van. Sometimes they sing along, some dance and you see the actual culture. Its interesting to see how much you can learn from something so simple as a "taxi" ride.
Something else that astounded me is the love of their country. I thought that I was a person who was not only a Patriot, but that I came from a country that truly loved their country. Times that by 50. People here are ALWAYS celebrating their culture and country. Mostly, I have seen it through futbol, aka "soccer" in the U.S. Footbal here is like the NFL but 100 times more intense. EVERYONE loves it. It is THEEE only thing on TV here. There are people in America that dont like football or sports but here, EVERYONE is obsessed with footbal. Its how they celebrate their culture. Literally, people here are devestated for YEARS if their team loses.
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