Last Sunday, we left Cape Town with many overweight
bags and so much excitement for our spring break. I loved every second of this
week (seems to be a theme, huh?). We stayed in one of the nicest hotels I've
ever stayed at and it was so wonderful spending the week so close to all my
co-educators again. With three weeks left of the program, it's only becoming
more and more real that we will all be leaving each other and this place we
have come to call home so soon.
The museums we went to exceeded my expectations and
didn't bore me at all. This trip taught me so incredibly much about the topics
we've talked about in class and throughout the entire semester. Sometimes I
forget that Cape Town is not the entirety of South Africa. Everything we
learned about seemed so much more real, as we were able to see where certain
events took place instead of just being lectured at about them. Being in the
actual place of historical events allowed us to see the impact it had on the
surrounding community and how areas are still affected today. Even just talking
with Vernon has opened my eyes to the lasting effects of history, as he told me
it was hard for him to go in a lot of these places. It resurfaces too many
negative feelings, rightfully so, and reminds him of the atrocities he lived
through. I definitely feel as though my understanding of the knowledge we've
gained thus far has expanded a lot solely from this week. Before I came here, I
wouldn't have been able to explain who Hector Pieterson was or what exactly the
Sharpeville Massacre was (even though I did have a general idea of both).
The Hector Pieterson Museum was one of my favorites.
It was designed so well, allowing everyone to go at their own pace with plenty
of room for numerous people to read one thing at any given time. Reading
first-hand accounts, quotes and seeing footage from the day was so unreal. My
heart actually ached while walking through. It made me realize how much we
don't learn in school. I know it's impossible to cover all history all over the
world, but it blows my mind that most Americans think of the Holocaust as one
of the worst occurrences to ever happen, when there are honestly so many other
historical events that easily compare to it. For lunch this day, we went to
Wandi’s; the owner was one of the first people in Soweto to own a restaurant.
During lunch, a man came over and played the guitar for us while a woman with a
beautiful voice sang. They sang some traditional African songs and also some
ones we knew: Don’t Worry Be Happy, Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, and In
The Jungle. I remember being so genuinely happy listening to them, singing
along, and watching my fellow co-educators dance with them. Sitting there in
the restaurant, I thought about how thankful I am that Vernon has made this
program happen. He truly tries to immerse us into the culture here and expose
us to what life is actually like wherever we go in South Africa; all the
connections he has, have helped us to better understand the country we are
living in and the people that make it up.
The Sharpeville Massacre Exhibition was incredible;
such an emotionally taxing and surreal day. Although it's still in progress and
didn't look like a typical museum, there were so many pictures from the
massacre which helped me to piece together a more complete picture of what
really happened. We were able to walk where the massacre actually took place,
where 69 people were shot dead after singing peaceful songs of freedom in
protest of the pass book laws. We visited the Sharpeville prison which was
where it all started and saw a memorial for all those who died and those who
were injured from the day's events. We also walked through the graveyard where
all the fallen were buried. Marita knows a man who's grandfather died that day,
when he was only 30 years old, and so he took us to see his grave. Just hearing
him talk to his grandfather was so powerful and brought to light how important
it is to not ignore our past. It remains in our present in so many ways, all
over the world and being ignored only perpetuates society's wrong-doings. Our
tour guide that day was so humbled by our presence and welcomed us from the
absolute bottom of his heart. People like him are what I will remember the most
once I leave this beautiful country because it's not as easy to find people
like that back home, at least not everywhere you go. Before going in the
exhibition he asked us to sing our National Anthem which caught us slightly off
guard and always makes us feel a little awkward; he was so so appreciative once
we sang it though. Later on in the day he mentioned how America is the epitome
of everything and anything that everyone wants in this world. I understand that
this is one of the many visions people have of America but I so wish it wasn't.
We have portrayed ourselves as such and other nations glorify us for reasons we
don't deserve.
Thursday, we went to the Boys and Girls Club in
Pimville to spend the day with all the children there. By the end of the day, I
never wanted to leave. Knowing my heart is always so full here is such a happy
feeling. We all split up into three groups to help around the club: garden
work, clean-up, and braai cookers. I helped in the garden, but we finished
within an hour and played with the children the entire rest of the day. Two
little girls were attached to my hip. If I wandered off they would find me within
five minutes, running after me yelling "Kait!! Kait!!" I wanted to
take them home with us. I was smiling all day. At one point before leaving, one
of the girls asked me when I would be back and I told her the truth: that I
probably wouldn't. Saying those words were really hard, especially since
immediately after I said that she sat on my lap and gave me the longest,
hardest hug. I almost cried after her hug because it was so powerful; I
couldn't help but wonder how often groups come in to help or play with the children.
I don't know the answer, but as much as I enjoyed the day it's hard to come to
term with the fact that people are always coming and going in their lives. The
hug made me realize how upset she really was about us leaving, where when other
times kids at home have asked me that they run off to play and appear to forget
about it immediately. It was different for this girl and that broke my heart,
but made me realize how I'll forever be grateful for that day full of laughter,
hugs, and endless love.
Friday morning we left our hotel with an 8 hour
bus ride ahead of us as we headed to Kruger National Park for the weekend! My
iPhone works internationally here, so I pretty much always have some form of
contact with the world. As we entered Kruger (still an hour away from Satara
Game Lodge, where we were staying) I lost cell service and we didn't have wifi
there. It was such a liberating feeling being disconnected from everyone, even
though it was only for two days. I was able to truly appreciate those physically
around me and where I was. A phone-free weekend was exactly what I needed to
enjoy the wildlife surrounding me, the people I was with, and the other wonders
of nature. I went on 3 game drives, each three hours long: 5:30pmon Friday, 5am
and 4:30pm on Saturday. I saw buffalo, wildebeests, kampala, kudu, baboons
and monkeys, giraffes, male lions, jackals, a crocodile, hyenas, cheetahs,
vultures, eagles, and many other beautiful birds. I am so thankful for my
camera that I got for Christmas. Karen has helped me a lot with photography
since being here and although I'm slow picking it all up, I was able to get
some really amazing pictures this weekend. So many people tell me to enjoy the
moment, take it in with my eyes, and live life without caring about pictures,
but the thing is that I do do that. It's not everyone's passion or interest and
that's okay. Sure, there are many times where I get too caught up in it and
wish I had lived more in the moment. But photography is a form of art just like
any other, a way for me to express myself and have memories that will last
literally forever. There's something so incredible and special about that. I
also love sharing my life with all those I care about and it helps me to do so
without having to explain everything. The phrase "a picture is worth a
million words" couldn't be more true. I cannot wait to continue learning
and keep making photography a priority in my life.
Both nights we had a braai
in the bush for dinner which was so delicious. I'm definitely going to miss
those. Our servers were so sweet: we sang songs with them and after they cashed
out for the night they came to talk with the few of us that stayed. One of the
waitresses, Vivian, told us all about the African tradition surrounding
marriage. There is quite the negotiation process for a male to ask for a
woman's hand in marriage and to truly be considered a part of the family. They
have to pay the woman’s family some type of dowry ("lobola")before the woman’s parents
will even sit down to talk with him. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but think
why is this a tradition in a culture where people have so little money and
material items? I’m still unsure of the answer, but it was so cool to hear
about. She also said that if a father doesn’t feed his children, the children
take the mother’s surname (last name); he isn’t their real father in that case,
only biological. I was hesitant when deciding whether to stay and talk with
them or not, only because we had to wake up at 4am for our early
morning drive, but I'm so glad I did. It's conversations like these that make
this experience even more amazing and genuine.
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