Ashley thinks South Africa is "WOW"

What can I say about being in South Africa? The first word that comes to mind ~that actually describes my initial reaction~ is "wow." It's definitely not the best vocab word to use, but that's the one I like. 

South Africa is "wow" because I'm on another continent, in another country, in another hemisphere...to me that is crazy to think about. And it's crazy to think about how when I'm waking up in the morning my mom is sound asleep at home. I never thought that this time would come. I'm so excited that it's finally here and I've been living here for almost 2 weeks now! 

South Africa is "wow" because of the history that I still have yet to learn about. I've already briefly learned about apartheid and the effects that are STILL felt even post-apartheid...but there is so much more I have to learn about. I'm blown away by laws such as the Group Areas Act or the Land Act which can be easily related to practices carried out by the American government with Redlining. I've found that many Americans do not know the true horrors of our history and believe that it's other countries who have serious problems. While that is the case, America has problems just as serious that need to be overcome!

Cape Town is "wow" because of it's beauty. The beaches are absolutely stunning, the views of the mountain, the view from Signal Hill...it is a beautiful place to be! The people I've encountered are also beautiful...and I don't necessarily mean their physical appearance. Already, I have met incredible human beings who are so happy to be alive despite the struggles they continue to face due to apartheid. 

 

Signal Hill: Laura T, Ashley, Shona, Kaitlyn, Ravneet, Rachele, Sara,
Claire, Maddy, Karen, Katherine, Sarah, Alex, Taylor, Anna,  Erica, Laura G

This place is "wow" because of the shocking housing disparities, abrupt racism (which is clearly present back at home), sexism, racial divisions, and poverty. I've never seen so many people living on the streets. And I've never witnessed such harsh poverty. We visited townships, some such as Khayelitsha, which has people who literally live in shacks and who have businesses in shipping containers. I'm amazed by how people were literally uprooted from their homes and communities where children attended schools and where parents had good jobs. These people were moved miles away into what Americans would know as the "ghettos" (aka the townships). This is something America knows very well. I don't understand how ANYONE expects people who are forced into these situations to raise themselves out of such poor conditions. Yes, there are a few who do "make it", but the majority struggle to do so.

It's so upsetting to see the beautiful children who grow up in townships...though they are the happiest children I've ever seen it's their innocence that breaks me down. For now they are so happy, they are happy with the little things in life. They don't know any better. I want to preserve their innocence because the truth is that many of them will be thrust into the harsh evils of the world that are the result of apartheid. That's when their innocence will be taken...when their happiness turns into hurt and anger from realizing what the South African government has done to them. Their innocence will be taken once they realize that the government has divided people based on skin color and that they are living in a world that benefits white men. 

This place is "wow" because it is so beautiful yet so ugly at the same time.

Ashley's musical lesson at Guga S'Themba Cultural Center