Let's see if this becomes a habit

February 27, 2009

It’s been very hard for me to start journaling. Possibly because we’ve been so busy and also because we have been exposed to so much so quickly it is extremely difficult and emotionally taxing to take in, let alone sit down and attempt to process.

Finally landing in Cape Town after the most exhausting traveling experience of my entire life was incredible. It was 70 degrees and the energy of all the students finally arriving made me (momentarily) forget my fatigue. I was greeted by Ronel and Vavi, whose names I thought I would never learn, and Mark, the driver I had no idea would be playing such a huge role in the next four months.

During orientation we stayed on the waterfront which is beautiful and touristy. I had no idea where UCT was in relation to the waterfront but would have been happy to stay there forever. Just like freshmen orientation, I barely remember the week because it was so jam-packed. For the most part, we were separated from the Arts and Science kids which made us a little nervous about making friends and ever getting to meet them. But our orientation was incredibly helpful and I finally felt completely clued into the CIEE program. The amazing staff is what stuck out to me the most during this time, and I felt like I would be completely supported during the semester.

We spent the next weeks trying to figure out our service placement. This required visiting the different projects in the townships. The townships are nothing like what I had imagines. I thought it would take a least a twenty minute drive and remote dirt roads to reach these areas. Instead, I found that they are literally on the side of the highway, a normal view for South Africans, rich or poor, everyday. On our drive into Cape Town from the airport, we saw many shacks right on the side of the road. Ronel or Vavi pointed out they were doing construction in front of them, attempting to cover them up from World Cup tourists. The normalization of these types of living conditions and the blatant discrepancy of wealth and access to resources between South Africans is just astonishing. You just want to take pictures and send them home because you think, if only somebody knew what it was like here, changes would rapidly occur. However after reading the Cape Times every morning, I’ve vaguely learned about the state of other African countries and can see that South Africa is just the tip of the iceberg. As our TRC (the Truth and Reconciliation Council) lecturer said, “If South Africa slips, so help the rest of Africa.” It is the strangest mix of wealth and poverty, apathy and activism, disillusionment and hope.
Back to our service; initially, I wanted to work in a health care related project. However, we learned most of the projects were education oriented- which was disappointing to me, let alone the public health majors. However, as we visited the projects, my mindset began to change. My heart broke as we learned about the conditions of these schools and saw the enthusiasm of the students as they saw us. Hendrick’s primary school in Kensington is a school of K-7 (not to mention their preschool). They have a budget to pay only six staff members, including the principal. The principal teaches a class of his own, while running the school and recruiting retired teachers and parents to volunteer.

I chose to work with Grade 1 at the Manenberg Primary School. The Grade 1 has 53 students for one teacher (!) I take about 15 each morning for two hours and can barely handle that, I have know idea how Ms. McCree does it. Manenberg is in a town notorious for dugs and gangs, which is very apparent as I drive in every morning. Some parents I’ve seen appear drunk, many teachers don’t show for classes and it appears that students are left unattended frequently as other teachers try to cover many classes at once Despite these obstacles, I’ve been inspired what I’ve observed at the school in only my first week. The children are enthusiastic and desperately want to learn; there is a warmth and energy in the school that I have not felt since Bishop; most of the teachers are completely invested in the children. Though this first week was difficult, I hope with a practice, preparation and time with the children (who are so cute and a blog entry all of their own), it will also be rewarding.

I’ve left out a lot and hopefully, if I get my act together, I will fill it in later (or next month). This weekend I am off to a birthday party at my friends’ house, the Gay Pride Parade in Cape Town and a concert in the Kirshenboch botanical gardens!

Thank you for reading, feel free to comment or add questions!