Anna experienced first-hand the love and generosity that exists in Ocean View

This past weekend we went on our homestay in Ocean View.  I really enjoyed the time I spent with the children in the community and with my host family.  The first night we had ballroom dancing lessons, which I was nervous about since I haven’t taken a dance class since I was very little.  However, it ended up being a super fun night, and I now know the waltz and several cha-cha variations.  The children there were so talented; dancing is such a great way for children to get exercise, meet other kids, and have an outlet to express themselves.  On Friday, Karen and I went to a preschool in the morning and spent time with the wee little kids.  They were so cute!  They reminded me of the children I worked with when I was a camp counselor.  Every child across the world is full of energy and likes sitting on laps.

Going to church Sunday morning with my host family was an interesting experience.  I was surprised by a comment made by the pastor’s wife.  She said that the pastor and her had received a gift of 500 rand from the congregation at the end of last year.  She then said that this was pathetic; their community should have given them more than 500 rand.  I was astounded by this comment.  The pastor and his wife had spent hours preaching about giving, but they complained about a gift they received from their own congregation.  After the service, our host mom Bernie said that people at the service didn’t even have food on Christmas day.  500 rand is better than nothing.  Bernie also brought up the point that there are over 200 churches in Ocean View, yet there are still problems, especially with abuse, violence, and overall poverty.  Does going to church actually help anything, or should people use their time to directly help the community?

My assumptions about families in townships were challenged this weekend.  Entering my host family’s house, I was surprised by how nice it was.  The kitchen was huge, and they had a nice TV in their living room.  I was applying a stereotype of township citizens, but staying in Ocean View showed me that there are a range of different people who live in townships.  Not all people in townships are part of gangs, uneducated, and violent.  My host mother is a cook at a soccer academy that her son attends.  On Saturday, we went to his soccer game and then we went to Canal Walk – the 3rd largest mall in Africa.  I felt safe the entire weekend, and I’m excited to visit my host family again.

I experienced first-hand the love and generosity that exists in every home in Ocean View.  Karen asked Bernie what she would do if she won lottery, and Bernie responded that she would buy a larger home, but then give away her current home and use the rest of the money to help others.  I was really touched by this response, since I was thinking about all the electronic gadgets and clothes I would buy if I won the lottery.  The families in Ocean View may have less wealth than others, but they always share what they have.

“You can make someone laugh, and you can make someone cry.  That’s how powerful we are as individuals” – Chantel, homestay program director