South African Journeys: Together we will flow into the mystic...

March 1^st, 2011

Together we will flow into the mystic…

So I know that it has been a little more than a week since my last post and I apologize for the inconstancy but for the next couple weeks I will not be able to be very consistent, for reasons explained later, but after that I promise post more consistently. I am not sure if the previous is good or bad or annoying. Ha!

As I told you all before, I went to Robben Island last Saturday. I was really excited and a little nervous for the trip. I was excited to see such a big part of the history of South Africa but also nervous because I had heard our intense and heart breaking the prison was. Our tour guide on the island, as they all are, was a previous prisoner of Robben Island. Before we toured anything he told us of his story and how he made it to Robben Island. It was heart wrenching. To hear a grown man speak of being tortured and humiliated in ways I do not even want to repeat and to see him standing there speaking so somberly was an experience I will never forget. We then moved into the prison area. As I was walking up the board walk and into the prison I could not help but think of what it would have been like to walk that same walk going into prison for reason majorly based on the color of my skin. The prison was oddly just how I thought it would be. Cold and grave, this feeling was accompanied of stories told by our tour guide that made the whole trip very real. He told us one story of how his father was shot eight times based on the fact that he wanted to visit his son in prison. His dad has been in a wheelchair ever since. We were able to see and go inside Nelson Mandela’s cell. This was rushed because we were the only group allowed to go inside but still it was quite and inexperience to walk into such historical and sad place. Something that will definitely never forget. We then saw the rest of the island. Personally, I kind of didn’t even think there was a “rest of the island” but there is. There is a town where the prison workers lived; there are churches where people still to this day get married and a school. It was really weird to see such a normal life style in a abnormally dismal place. Overall I enjoyed seeing Robben Island and I feel so fortunate to have been able to go.

The rest of that day we spent at the beach relaxing and soaking in the hot African summer sun. Talk about a change of atmosphere. However, it was really good to just hang out and relax with my friends. We also had ice cream and it was exceptionally delicious that day.

This past week was fairly uneventful; mostly just the same routine of class and living in Langa. On Friday we did do a “Journey of Remembrance”. This journey took us to District 6, the previously lively and multiracial community that was resettled during apartheid. We also went to Langa, which was slightly ironic because that is where we are living, but they did share stories of the struggles in the township that were good to hear. We were also able to see parts of the township we had not traveled to, this was the area that is shacks and a more impoverished area. WE finished out journey in the township of Guguletu. We heard here of the Guguletu Seven, who were seven young boys killed in a very shady operation. We were told of all the events of that day and how everything happened but I still do not fully understand how it all tied together and the ways the government was involved. It was really sad. Again our tour guide was a man who survived the incident. Many people are not even aware there are survivors of the incident. The man to this day, the event happened in 1986, cannot fully talk about what happened because it is too hard to re-live. The tour was structured to take us to major historical sights of suffering and struggle. It was a very interesting and informative day and a reminder of what struggle this country and its people have encountered.

Sunday we had a party with our families from Langa to say thank you and good bye. I suppose I had really high hopes for the party but it was not as exceptional as I was hoping. Do not get me wrong it was an enjoyable time for us all to be together but there are a few things I would have done differently. They had a group of kids from Langa come in and play traditional African music, which was really cool and enjoyable. There was no dessert after the meal….disappointment. I am making this party out to be a total failure, but I assure you it was not, it was fun.

Which brings me to Monday morning, when I left my first homestay. I was actually really sad that morning. The family I stayed with was so wonderful and I loved feeling like I was a part of the home. I was really nervous going into the Langa homestay but, as it turned out I loved it. I am so grateful to that family for the way they welcomed the strange white American girl into their home. I loved getting to know my host sister; she is a friend I think I will have for a long time. I am really sad to leave Langa but I am really excited for all that is to come.

Now that we have left Langa, we will spend three days in Simonstown. Simonstown is a small beach suburb outside of Cape Town. We are staying in a much nicer lodge than the previous train lodge. It will be great to have some time to just relax before our next adventure. Today (Tuesday)we will probably spend some time at the famous Boulder Beach and explore Simonstown. Boulder Beach is famous for the penguins. This morning I spent some time there and was able to swim in the ocean with the penguins. It was absolutely beautiful and so much fun! Wednesday (tomorrow) we are going to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape of Good Hope is obviously known for being the most southern point of Africa. Overall it should be a nice relaxing and fun couple of days.

After the three days in Simonstown we head to the Eastern Cape for our rural homestay. I have to admit I have very mixed emotions about this homestay. This homestay is seven nights and it is with a family in Tshabo that will speak Xhosa. I am so very excited to experience village life and see all of the cultural differences. I know there will be a ton of cultural differences between that and home but also between the rural village and Cape Town. I am nervous for the language barrier. There is a chance that the family will not speak any English and if the family does speak English it will not be very much. So hopefully my Xhosa pulls through. It crazy to think that I only started learning this language a month ago and now I am going to a place where I will have to speak it constantly. I have heard immersion is the best way to learn, and now I will have a chance to test that out. I am also just nervous for what is come and not knowing what to expect. I think, or hope, that it is normal to feel a little nervous. We can expect that the family will not have plumbing in the house and there is chance that they will not have electricity either, but we will not know for sure until we arrive. I know that I am living with one other student, Julia, and that there is a five year old and a six year old in the house hold. I secretly hope that they play soccer. I also know that we will have a chance to do some beading and crafty things while there. I am hoping it will be a fun week.

So clearly , I will not have internet for until Friday, March 10^th. So know that I will not be posting a blog but I am doing just fine. Until then I hope you all have a wonderful week and that you all are doing well.

Miss you all very much!

Sala Kakuhle,

Keely

View from boulder beach