AH! I am sorry, friends and family for leaving you hanging for over a month while I explore the beautiful country of South Africa this semester. Life has been crazy, sad, happy, mad, and everything in between. I cant believe that I have spent 5 weeks in South Africa, so much has happened and I have learned a great deal, I am not sure how I am going to put this in one blog post….. Oh, how I regret not blogging now.
However, in all of the many things that I have learned about African culture and South African culture in general is that time is measured in moments rather than a clock or calendar. And it is for this reason that it has taken me so long to blog because I would just rather not be dictated by the obligation to blog in accordance to a calendar but rather moments I feel like blogging.
…such a great excuse for this way overdue post, right?
In all seriousness though, I have actually lost track of time. I have crossed an abundance of things off of my bucket list, including going to an International Soccer Game, entering Nelson Mandela’s jail cell on Robben Island and more! This was only in my first month, and I cant wait to see what opportunities come my way! Hoping to hug an elephant soon and pet a cheetah… stay tuned!
My first homestay in the township of Langa was my longest scheduled homestay. It was set up this way for strategic reasons in order to condition us to the life of South Africans and people of the isiXhosa culture. I stayed with two pensioners who had two granddaughters (my sisters) who stayed at varsity and boarding school during the weekdays but came home on the weekends. There were a lovely family, I am very grateful I got paired with such a great and understanding family who truly cared for me as their own child and of course, helped me with my isiXhosa homework. A lot of my conflicts that came with living in Langa only occurred when I was outside of Langa when I would get weird and apprehensive looks of how “unsafe” or “fununctional” Langa was. And of course, just like any good loyal resident, I defended Langa as much as I could; condoning locals for judging such a township they have never seen and saying how much I LOVED IT. When it was time to leave them and the township of Langa, I was very emotional. I had felt that I was just beginning to know Langa and its people and all of a sudden we had to leave. Something I am finding out that I will have to get use to while I study with SIT.
After we departed Langa, we then headed to Simon’s Town, the last stop in the Cape Town Metro Line where we were welcomed by the beautiful ocean and mountains. The Cape of Good Hope, the Most Southwestern tip of Africa is only a twenty minute drive from Simons Town and we induldged in one of the most wonderful hikes of my life. The stay was only for 2 days and was suppose to transition us between Langa and our Eastern Cape excursion. As we headed to the Eastern Cape we took the 15 hour bus ride in order to experience what so many people from the Western Cape have to go through in order to go home. Home in South Africa is not exactly where you sleep but where the traditions and cultures begin. Many for a lot of reasons make the pilgrimage between the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Usually these reasons involve capital and economics for the family in general.
As we made our way to the Eastern Cape, one of the most fascinating facts about the trip was the bus routes only departed at night from the Western Cape. The ride from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape is suppose to be beautiful and incredible view but no one is able to see it from the standard Greyhound bus ride because it is taken at night. I then learned that the bus ride is purposely at night so that the locals are not able to see the abundance of land that is available and unoccupied. I couldn’t help but feel sorrow in the fact that the South Africans were barred from seeing their own country during this bus ride.
After a humid and sweaty 15 hours, we finally arrived in King Williams Town where we had our last showers for a week. We then headed to the village where we are supposed to do our rural excursion. The village of Tshabo (pronounced Chabo) welcomed us with singing, dancing, laughter, and love. I met my new host mother and took a long walk to her open concept home with my roommate. Life is incredibly humble and simple, andI don’t mind it at all because everyone is so kind. Though I do miss showering, one week of sponge baths will not kill me, especially since the views are very nice. We head to the Steve Biko foundation sometime this week and I hope to learn about him, the Black Consciousness Movement and the Eastern Cape in general.
I promise to blog more often, so you all are not left hanging.
XO
K
However, in all of the many things that I have learned about African culture and South African culture in general is that time is measured in moments rather than a clock or calendar. And it is for this reason that it has taken me so long to blog because I would just rather not be dictated by the obligation to blog in accordance to a calendar but rather moments I feel like blogging.
…such a great excuse for this way overdue post, right?
In all seriousness though, I have actually lost track of time. I have crossed an abundance of things off of my bucket list, including going to an International Soccer Game, entering Nelson Mandela’s jail cell on Robben Island and more! This was only in my first month, and I cant wait to see what opportunities come my way! Hoping to hug an elephant soon and pet a cheetah… stay tuned!
My first homestay in the township of Langa was my longest scheduled homestay. It was set up this way for strategic reasons in order to condition us to the life of South Africans and people of the isiXhosa culture. I stayed with two pensioners who had two granddaughters (my sisters) who stayed at varsity and boarding school during the weekdays but came home on the weekends. There were a lovely family, I am very grateful I got paired with such a great and understanding family who truly cared for me as their own child and of course, helped me with my isiXhosa homework. A lot of my conflicts that came with living in Langa only occurred when I was outside of Langa when I would get weird and apprehensive looks of how “unsafe” or “fununctional” Langa was. And of course, just like any good loyal resident, I defended Langa as much as I could; condoning locals for judging such a township they have never seen and saying how much I LOVED IT. When it was time to leave them and the township of Langa, I was very emotional. I had felt that I was just beginning to know Langa and its people and all of a sudden we had to leave. Something I am finding out that I will have to get use to while I study with SIT.
After we departed Langa, we then headed to Simon’s Town, the last stop in the Cape Town Metro Line where we were welcomed by the beautiful ocean and mountains. The Cape of Good Hope, the Most Southwestern tip of Africa is only a twenty minute drive from Simons Town and we induldged in one of the most wonderful hikes of my life. The stay was only for 2 days and was suppose to transition us between Langa and our Eastern Cape excursion. As we headed to the Eastern Cape we took the 15 hour bus ride in order to experience what so many people from the Western Cape have to go through in order to go home. Home in South Africa is not exactly where you sleep but where the traditions and cultures begin. Many for a lot of reasons make the pilgrimage between the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Usually these reasons involve capital and economics for the family in general.
As we made our way to the Eastern Cape, one of the most fascinating facts about the trip was the bus routes only departed at night from the Western Cape. The ride from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape is suppose to be beautiful and incredible view but no one is able to see it from the standard Greyhound bus ride because it is taken at night. I then learned that the bus ride is purposely at night so that the locals are not able to see the abundance of land that is available and unoccupied. I couldn’t help but feel sorrow in the fact that the South Africans were barred from seeing their own country during this bus ride.
After a humid and sweaty 15 hours, we finally arrived in King Williams Town where we had our last showers for a week. We then headed to the village where we are supposed to do our rural excursion. The village of Tshabo (pronounced Chabo) welcomed us with singing, dancing, laughter, and love. I met my new host mother and took a long walk to her open concept home with my roommate. Life is incredibly humble and simple, andI don’t mind it at all because everyone is so kind. Though I do miss showering, one week of sponge baths will not kill me, especially since the views are very nice. We head to the Steve Biko foundation sometime this week and I hope to learn about him, the Black Consciousness Movement and the Eastern Cape in general.
I promise to blog more often, so you all are not left hanging.
XO
K