Seeking North Face Sponsorship

Like an ad for North Face, several other volunteers and I hiked and climbed (literally) to the top of Lion’s Head this week in a mere 45 minutes (guide sites suggest that it should take 2-3 hours).  It was quite a workout and made us feel like important rock climbers when we had to hang onto the chains and handles drilled into the side of the mountain (not as difficult as it sounds).  The view from the top was well worth it…unlike Table Mountain where you only get a 180 degree view of the city and beach, the top of Lion’s Head affords a beautiful view in any direction.  To the North, we could see the “Waterfront” and the World Cup Stadium. To the East, most of the city including Bo Kaap, City Bowl, and the highways that lead out to the suburbs and townships.  To the South, we could see Table Mountain (which didn’t look so high from where we were) and the 12 Apostles following it right along the coastline toward Hout Bay.  And, to the West, we had a complete view of the coastline from the Sea Point neighborhood through Camps Bay (the Laguna Beach of Cape Town, if you will).  Also at this angle we could see the paragliders as they flew off the side of Lion’s Head out over the water before landing in soccer fields or on the beach.

Tomorrow, I’m headed off to an Africa Day celebration at the placement site of one of the other volunteers (a high school).  Last week, I went with her and the coordinator she works with (the school nurse, counselor, gardener, and Peace Club leader) to visit a local court.  The “auntie” (an endearing term that South Africans use to address older women…sisi would be for someone my age) we went with works with a non-profit that supports victims of domestic violence in the court system.  She wanted to show the volunteer and I the “real Cape Town” so she showed us around the court system and we got to talk to a social worker who manages the Witness Waiting Room.  Anyway, this experience turned into an invitation to attend this special day at the high school where the students will celebrate their African heritage and honor their first international volunteer by singing her…the Star Spangled Banner.  This afternoon we listened to the South African national anthem at least 20 times hoping that we could learn it before tomorrow.  So far all I can remember is “Nkosi sikelel iAfrika…” It’s a really nice national anthem that has verses in Zulu, Sutu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, and maybe even a couple others; it was a protest song during Apartheid.

Well, we’re losing 4 more volunteers this week but have 14 coming in!  It’s going to be sad to lose some people that I’ve gotten to know in the past 4 weeks but I’m really looking forward to attending the orientation sessions with the new and getting to know them, too!

The Power of Experience

Last week was the final week of Cultural & Learning Activities with CCS and also the last week for one of our group members. 

We visited the District 6 Museum and got first hand accounts from our very own driver who was born and married there.  His schoolmate was a co-founder of the museum which had some very cool features including most of the original street signs from the area before it was demolished to become a “whites only” area and all of the black and coloured residents were forcibly moved to separate townships.  There is also a bench, marked “Europeans Only” that anyone can now occupy without issue. Both of the now 68-year-old schoolboys talked about how lively and accepting the area was when they were growing up until the forced removals began in the 1960s. 

We also went to a famous restaurant in Guguleto called Mzoli’s where all of the internationally renowned chefs visit when they come to Cape Town then to a community center to see local artists perform traditional African dances.  We also had a visitor to Home Base named Themba who told a musical story about the reconciliation process.  He explained the role of the Truth and Reconciliation committee in overcoming the hurt and anger leftover from the bitter Apartheid era and how his organization finds ways to bring music and art to the healing process.

Over the weekend, the other volunteers and I spent a day walking the boardwalk on the waterfront.  We thoroughly enjoyed the free “waterpark attractions” when the waves would crash against the break wall sending a downpour of water onto the sidewalk.  We also stopped at every playground and dog park along the way to play on the seesaws and pet other people’s dogs.

These past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about how amazing the power of experience can be.   Through the experiences and encounters I’ve already had here in South Africa, I have a newly piqued interest in:

·      The impact of short term volunteering on childhood development.  I’m concerned about/interested in the lasting results of volunteers forming relationships with children then disappearing over time.  The goal is to have steady care for the children and volunteers can provide that but, in many cases, they are different people every few weeks.

·      Having learned so much about the history already, I’m really interested in the reconciliation process and the power of forgiveness.  I should have already been interested in this since it’s so connected to what I already know about Guatemala but there’s much more out there to learn and I’m excited to get started!  I’m hoping to get into courses in the School of Public Policy about Reconciliation and Peace building for my last semester the fall! I should be well prepared!

·      Africa in general—honestly, before I came, I wasn’t very interested or willing to learn more about the continent, it’s geography, history, cultures, current political and social situations, etc.  I think I was overwhelmed by the massive amounts of information there is to know and learn.

·      I’ve always been interested in the role of religious institutions/missionaries in development and have a renewed interest after some discussions with the group.

·      I was interested in immigration but never really thought about refugees.  After our meeting with Scalabrini Refugee Centre, I realized the hardships that refugees face integrating into a new society after escaping serious hardships in their countries of origin.  Immigrants in general can be a link to learning about another culture and country.

·      I’m finally developing an interest in HIV/AIDS.  Despite learning about it and being presented with many opportunities to learn about and care about it, I just never really understood the significance of the virus and disease.  Being in the country with the highest infection rate, I realize how it can so seriously affect families and communities.  I hope to take advantage of a mini-course in the fall on this topic.

There are probably many more that I can’t think of now but I certainly look forward to exploring these topics more thoroughly.