June 19, 2011

Today is Sunday and we have had a full WEEK! Every morning we AWOKE at 6am, met at the TOP of the hill at 7am, we were in MENZI Secondary School by 8am and observed or taught a classroom till 1230pm. SIT lectures where then from 2pm to 430pm…WHOOO…I have never been on such a tight schedule that actually WORKED.

This past Thursday was JUNE 16 which is the anniversary of the MARCH in SOWETO which consisted of students protesting against the educational system which decided to CHANGE the official language from MOTHER TONGUE to AFRICAAN which originates from the Dutch. The students, UNARMED, were confronted with police officers who OPENED FIRE and killed several students. One students name was Hecter Peterson and he was only 13 YEARS OLD. A museum was built in the Soweto Township in HONOR of him and we were given a tour on one of the FIRST days of our arrival. But on the anniversary we visited the FIFA Stadium and were given time to reflect on the sacrifices that were made for education 35 YEARS AGO. 

This weekend we took a mini-vacation to the Wild Coast Sun beaches on the SOUTH COAST of Durban.  We went hiking across the beach and up into the mountains along this coast.  I ALMOST DIDN’T MAKE…It had to be the tallest mountain in the world (by the way I’ve never hiked before so I could be exaggerating) but I felt like I was walking for DAYS!! Once we arrived to our destination we were driven to a village where the house mother served us lunch. We ate in a dome shaped house that seemed to be ONLY used as the kitchen for the whole village.

We soon left and traveled on to an exotic bed and breakfast on the coast named KU-BOBOYI where we relaxed from the day’s events. We DANCED and LAUGHED till we were completely wiped out. The ride home was quiet and refreshing.

Papers are coming up and readings are being assigned. Internet is not readily available but please stay tuned…something AWESOME is bound to happen…ttyl

June 12, 2011(Sunday)

SAWBONA!!...I moved in with my home stay family this weekend in an area called Bonella in a township called Cato Manor. I live with a wholesome African family. The Mother is a SCHOOL TEACHER, the Father is a 3^RD SHIFT WORKER and the daughter is in her FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE. I have my own room and I am surrounded by family and friends of my host family all the time.

This weekend the WOLFPAKERS (everyone included) and I went to Florida Road which is the night spot for all American Students. We met at Cappellos and started with a warm up round of drinks. We decided that we would split and do our own thing and meet back at Cappellos at 11pm. While spending time on the most AMERICAN soil in South Africa I ran in my AFRICAN PRINCE OF ZAMUNDA!! He is over 6 feet TALL, BALD and BEAUTIFUL. We introduced ourselves and hung out at COCO’s till midnight then like CINDERELLA I had to get home and left my LIP GLOSS behind…lol…don’t worry, I don’t think he went all over town testing it out on the other girls…I hope…lol.

Today (Sunday) my family chilled at home and watched WWE SMACKDOWN…really, my people? Afterwards my SISI and I hung out till suppertime and now we are in for the night. This weekend is the only free weekend for a while. I will be traveling for the next two weekends and the internet will not be available but I will definitely catch you up when I see you. Until then SALA KAHLE (goodbye)!

June 9, 2011

So today it has been 7 years since I lost my grandmother, Lorraine Spinks, to natural causes. Even though she passed in the PHYSICAL she has been with me SPIRITUALLY all the way. I wonder what she would say if she knew that I traveled all the way to South Africa, VOLUNTARILY (daydreaming a little)...


We woke up early today and are now in the SIT office where we have daily lessons and lectures everyday from 7am-4pm. Today we talked about the health of South Africa and had our second lesson on ZULU. Sad Fact: South Africa is .6% of the WORLD population but is home to 17% of the worlds HIV/AIDS cases. Being informed and taking care of our sexual health is pertinent to a healthy and long life. People aren't dying of AIDS as much as they use to because of the advancement in medicine but it would be nice to SAVE all that heartache and just say WRAP IT UP!!


(Ok...Being Serious Now) In my group there are 4 girls who identify with the African American race and 14 boys/girls who identify with the Caucasian race. I must say that in only 5 days I have been offended more than once in this group by the remarks that have been made in observation of the South African culture. Even though I have not yet found my ancestral tribe I still identify with locals. I actually had a local man come up to me and speak Zulu for at least a full minute before I informed him I was american. I already knew I would possibly be offended on this trip and it is has forced me to think before I SPEAK when it comes to other cultures. I see parts of me that I need to change by observing them. By the end of this trip I WILL be a better person, I guarantee it! 

June 8, 2011

OMG, you guys!!! I have been without the INTERNET since Saturday June 4^th…I have truly MISSED you but don’t worry I’m going to catch you up real quick.

So I came into the airport on Saturday and got some lunch a Cappello where the servers dressed a little like MICHAEL JACKSON from Smooth Criminal, you know, the hat cocked to the side and the suspenders…it was cute, trust me. I paid R113.00 (that’s only $16.94) for a CHICKEN SANDWICH, FRIES AND A GREEK SALAD, what a deal! Then I was able to get on the internet, check facebook, and noticed that two of my group members were in the airport waiting downstairs. I searched all over looking for someone who looked a little lost and found my two FUTURE BESTIES in a coffee shop typing away on their laptops.

I recognized Jordan right away from facebook and called her name and then was introduced to Alyssa R who was sitting beside her. I was so RELIEVED to be with a portion of my group and my fears IMMEDIATLEY left me. We chatted normally until Kathy D showed up from a delayed flight and completed what would be known in the future as the “WOLF PACK”!! We clicked so well and laughed so hard at all the same things. I blamed it on the oxygen deprivation, being that Johannesburg was reportedly the highest point in South Africa, which made us laugh even HARDER. We eventually met the whole group at 6pm and were introduced to our residing professors and SIT associates. Everyone is a BEAUTIFUL MIXTURE OF CULTURE. We have Jamaican heritage, Dutch, Puerto Rican, Biracial backgrounds and these wonderful people are a great representation of AMERICA.

So our days are PACKED!!! We have been staying in various BED AND BREAKFAST (TRAVELERS LODGES) until we reach our home stays on June 10^th. We start at 7am with breakfast and then a lecture or group trip till 12pm, lunch is served then we have a group activity till 6pm. Our dinner is at 6pm then we are free for the evening.  I have been THE LIFE OF PARTY since we began and it has just come natural for me to embrace everyone. We have 4 boys and 14 girls, I am the oldest (of course) and the associates are very laid back. I’m just trying to keep in mind that school work is coming SOON (7-10 page papers!!!) so I’m trying to not get too relax.

Right now I am in Durban, SA sitting on my twin sized bed beside a ceiling high window that looks down into an exotic garden of trees and flowers. The air here is so light (remember oxygen deprivation…lol) and I am on my journey of self-evaluation and reconstruction. I miss you all but I’ve missed JOANNA the most and can’t wait to find her…here in the African Sun.

June 4, 2011

Its 3:25am and I have YET to fall asleep. I arrived in Johannesburg at 5:33pm (my time) 11:33am (your time)...Im doing WELL just can't sleep. 


I will talk more tomorrow!

June 3, 2011

SAWUBONA (Welcome)…I haven’t yet reached my destination but I have such a strong feeling of WELCOME in my spirit. As I was waiting to board in the Dulles Airport there was a NATIVE from Senegal who was in a frustrating situation concerning her ticket. I noticed that she had requested the HELP of a man sitting next to her as far as how to work the pay phone. For the next two hours this man helped her call ALL her relatives in Senegal, buy a calling card and eventually spoke on her behalf at the help desk.

I had a sense of PRIDE as I watched them because he didn’t have to help her AT ALL! He could have said NO and moved to another seat. LATER on, on my flight from DC to Dakar, Senegal I was seated with another NATIVE from Senegal. The initial conversation was the NORMAL hellos and where are you from and where are you going, but soon the plane started to take off and I QUICKLY informed him that this was my FIRST TIME flying ever!! He smiled and said “Really?” As the plane took off human nature took over and I started saying “ Ohhh Lawd…Ohhh Lawd…Help Me now ” and I really don’t KNOW what he was doing but I bet he was hoping I didn’t break out in TONUGES!...lol

 

It’s funny how a 7 hour flight, 4 feet of space, two over head lights and one TV will bring two strangers to a very comfortable level. He’s English wasn’t very well but we managed and while I was taking my 100^TH nap he bought me a duty free gift, along with one for his wife. I was shocked and grateful but declined the gift as soon as I realized he was giving it to me and the DISAPPOINTMENT on his face was sooo EVIDENT I quickly accepted the gift and said THANK YOU.  I was immediately reminded that refusal of such gestures in other nations is taken as an insult but Americans,  especially African Americans,  are so accustom to never accepting gifts or hand outs from anyone,  it was just automatic.

I have an hour layover in Dakar, Senegal where I PLAN on getting the feeling back in my arms and legs and probably grab a sandwich. The AIRPLANE food is decent considering it was prepared IN THE SKY and the entertainment is scarce but I’m managing. It feels good not to be SOO connected to you guys…no phone, barely accessing the internet…makes me feel HUMAN again.