It has been over two weeks since I have returned from South Africa. In many regards, I hit the ground running when I got home and have not had the opportunity to really digest my experiences.
One of the biggest realizations has been how privileged I am. I had thought I unpacked the privileges I had, but as I walked through the townships in Johannesburg I felt the biggest sense of white guilt that I had ever felt. I didn't know what to do with it, and I didn't know who to talk to about it. In college I had read White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, and I had understood in the context of living in America. Africa provided a completely different perspective. While I was in South Africa and looking at the furrowed brow of toddlers I didn't know how to articulate it. But when people ask, before I show them pictures of lions and elephants, I tell them.
I don't know what to do with all of the privileges I have, but I am dedicated to try to use them for equality, equity, and good. There are many things that I can't change. However, I can be transparent about them...
In Solidarity,
Crys
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Big Take Aways from JoBurg
Howdy Blog Followers,
I am finally settling back into the swing of things since our trip. I can hardly believe that we left for the adventure almost a month ago. As I reflect on our time in South African I am filled with joy thinking of all of the things we experienced. My first blog entry is from my journal describing my big big takeaways from our time in Joburg:
- Think Big - As a person I would describe myself as a big thinker because many of my dreams pushed me far outside the norm of those from my community. However after touring the African Leadership Academy (http://www.africanleadershipacademy.org/), I realized how limiting my dreams had been. The Academy, composed of students representing over 30 countries in Africa was envisioned by one man. That man was committed to empowering Africans from throughout the continent to make changes in their communities. Now after years of spreading the message the founder has alumni from the program attending colleges and universities throughout the world. The thing that truly made an impact for me was the commitment that all alumni make to meet yearly to discuss their work in communities. During this gathering they recommit to the values of the program and together develop new goals/strategies to improve the entire continent of Africa. Speaking of thinking big, just imagine what would happen if we all dared to think big.....
- Community Building - Our visit to Kliptown Youth Program (http://www.kliptownyouthprogram.org.za/) expanded my understanding of community building. As our guide (Thulani) walked us along the road to the building, we stopped at the local watering whole; where he explained that the youth program had recently helped to install water basins for people to wash their clothing. He further explained that the new basins helped to alleviate the wait time for people to access fresh water as well as provide another space for people to meet and learn more about one another. The small addition supported by the youth helped to encourage community building. Which reminded me that we don't have to spend a lot of money to build community; we just have to create spaces for people to come together.
- GBA - While talking to students throughout South Africa I was struck by their love and dedication to America and all things Western. Many talked about how they felt their perspective countries were overly reliant on foreign aid but many expressed fear of not having its support. This always makes me wonder, are the things that we are doing really helping communities? Of course the obvious response is yes, but what is the cost? I saw and heard students talk about their parents fear of losing their cultures to the call from the global network. It truly makes me wonder what will South Africa look like in 20 years, will there still be 11 languages spoken?
- Mick - Now Mick was a guest at the first hostel where we stayed. He was a retired Fireman from Britain who traveled the world participating in community service projects. He told me a story about his recent travels to Tanzania where he worked with local farmers to build a chicken coop (with a machete, quite impressive, I saw the pics) for an orphan home. He spoke of the dire poverty that exist and the number of children that are denied education due to the cost. I learned that children couldn't enroll in the local schools without two uniforms. The even better schools I learned were the boarding schools which required students to live away from home, pay tuition or receive scholarship, purchase two uniforms and a mattress prior to their acceptance. This information sickened me and I was reminded of the injustice that often occurs to the most vunerable.Needless to say I was inspired by the tales of Mick and was encouraged to plan to continue to travel the world making a difference long into my old age.
LB
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
And the Gratitude keeps on coming
Its evident that traveling changes and humbles your perspective.
It's been three days, but I've seen an immediate shift in my dealings
with others. I have had an increase to talk with those around me and
learn of their lives, who they are, and what their challenges and
aspirations are. There is a lack of fear and in its place solidarity and
confidence have arisen with respect to engaging in my community. I
don't know what particular event propelled me to feel this way, but it
happened under the experience of travel, that is for sure. There is
something enigmatic that occurs after one comes back form travel- for
me, its the explication of humility and solidarity. I hold group travel
with the utmost of respect!
 |
| Museum at the Cradle of Civilization, where a 2.5 million year old skull of a predecessor of homo sapiens was found. Also the site of the first recorded use of fire. |
Monday, February 25, 2013
Home with a whole lot of hope
Although I was negligent of posting in South Africa, I am glad that I finally have time to sit in my chair at my desk, and reminisce about one of the coolest experience I've partook in- the Foster Youth Exchange in South Africa.
I want to begin with what lessons Africa brought to my attention, particularly in the case of time. Now, here in America, time is of the essence- our food is promptly served without any hindrances, mostly everyone living in urban areas is infatuated with constantly updating themselves with the current time, down to the minute. Time is more important than food, and for the majority, we all are ruled by father time.
However, this is not the case in South Africa. First of all, in regards to food service, some would consider it horrible. That's because it takes probably an additional ten minutes for every meal to be served. When the waitress or waiter is taking your order, it is not uncommon for him to become distracted by other happenings around him, and altogether even leave the order. During out in service at Sonke, their staff meeting started fifteen minutes after the hour (I might be a new professional, but I have never been in a professional organization's meeting that started that late- CYC chapter meetings excluded). When we would ask for directions while in the midst of one of many wrong turns, we would be ridiculed for our attempts to 'hurry' the conversation up, and get to the point of actually giving the direction. And of course, there was the x-convict tour guide at Robben Island who was as ignorant of time as I was to Afrikaans, one of the eleven official languages in South Africa.
In other countries, one must be malleable to cultural constructs. We cannot be ego-centric in a world abundant with variations of cultural norms; for we would truly miss the essence of diversity. South Africa tends to shift their importance on time, and replace it with family as high priority.
Mostly all of the stores, despite the ones found in tourist areas, were closed down before 7PM. Much traffic hit at rush hour, but by 7pm on our way back from the boxing session at TakeDown Gym, the roads were practically empty. It was as if all of South Africa had gone somewhere, and I would wager my bet as that somewhere being home. There was a sense that our group was treated as family, and although some might say its motivation was driven by tips because of our tourist status, I would claim most all of the people we met greeted us with a true self, void of any end result other than the desire to exchange a bond.
And whats best about traveling in a big group is that I got to experience what it was like to function as a 'family' unit. All had their parts, as Jamie mentioned in an early blog, and each part was important to the overall welfare of the group including financial, emotional, and physical strengths. Many a day was I tired, and many a day was my tiredness lessened by exercise, positive affectivity of others, and purpose of our group. To be part of something greater than yourself is humbling and invigorating and surely is something that everyone should experience while young. I've traveled to Asia and Europe prior to this trip, but nothing compares to my experience of group travel. I'm definitely home with a heck of a lot of hope.
I want to begin with what lessons Africa brought to my attention, particularly in the case of time. Now, here in America, time is of the essence- our food is promptly served without any hindrances, mostly everyone living in urban areas is infatuated with constantly updating themselves with the current time, down to the minute. Time is more important than food, and for the majority, we all are ruled by father time.
However, this is not the case in South Africa. First of all, in regards to food service, some would consider it horrible. That's because it takes probably an additional ten minutes for every meal to be served. When the waitress or waiter is taking your order, it is not uncommon for him to become distracted by other happenings around him, and altogether even leave the order. During out in service at Sonke, their staff meeting started fifteen minutes after the hour (I might be a new professional, but I have never been in a professional organization's meeting that started that late- CYC chapter meetings excluded). When we would ask for directions while in the midst of one of many wrong turns, we would be ridiculed for our attempts to 'hurry' the conversation up, and get to the point of actually giving the direction. And of course, there was the x-convict tour guide at Robben Island who was as ignorant of time as I was to Afrikaans, one of the eleven official languages in South Africa.
In other countries, one must be malleable to cultural constructs. We cannot be ego-centric in a world abundant with variations of cultural norms; for we would truly miss the essence of diversity. South Africa tends to shift their importance on time, and replace it with family as high priority.
Mostly all of the stores, despite the ones found in tourist areas, were closed down before 7PM. Much traffic hit at rush hour, but by 7pm on our way back from the boxing session at TakeDown Gym, the roads were practically empty. It was as if all of South Africa had gone somewhere, and I would wager my bet as that somewhere being home. There was a sense that our group was treated as family, and although some might say its motivation was driven by tips because of our tourist status, I would claim most all of the people we met greeted us with a true self, void of any end result other than the desire to exchange a bond.
And whats best about traveling in a big group is that I got to experience what it was like to function as a 'family' unit. All had their parts, as Jamie mentioned in an early blog, and each part was important to the overall welfare of the group including financial, emotional, and physical strengths. Many a day was I tired, and many a day was my tiredness lessened by exercise, positive affectivity of others, and purpose of our group. To be part of something greater than yourself is humbling and invigorating and surely is something that everyone should experience while young. I've traveled to Asia and Europe prior to this trip, but nothing compares to my experience of group travel. I'm definitely home with a heck of a lot of hope.
Guides through Africa
In addition to the many tour guides we hired while in South Africa, we also had many people who were open and willing to help us get where we needed to go. Watching people opening their lives to us was quite the cultural experience.
Being a point navigator for the trip, which happened by accident, I got the chance to ask people for help and watch them volunteer more help than was ever asked or extend themselves to help a group of strangers (us). Many of our helpers pointed us in the right direction or gave us a point for me to use to locate us on the scarce maps that we had, but we had a guardian watching out for us somewhere... A collective of South African people.
On our last day, the group split up. One car took the GPS and the other group took some directions and a map and headed for the Cradle of Humankind and the caves. Kate, Eli, Leslie, Kevin, and I were in the latter group. After having an inspirational day, we had an hour to get to the airport after emerging from a 60m deep cave. We had no directions, and a map that didn't extend to the airport. With Kate driving, and i navigating we managed to get to the outskirts of Johannesburg but were unsure of how to get to the airport. And then our phone died. Late and I ran into the gas station to ask a worker for directions, but a patron who lived just around the block volunteered the information. As we were pulling out, he stopped us and said that he didn't want us to get lost. He would guide us to the freeway.
Well, this man went 30 mins, an hour round trip, to make sure we got to the airport. It was so kind of him, and absolutely needed. If we hadn't have had his guidance we would have been anxious and may have missed our flight.
So as the journey ends, I want to extend the anonymous guardians we had in South Africa, especially those who opened up without even an exchange of names.
In solidarity,
Crys
Being a point navigator for the trip, which happened by accident, I got the chance to ask people for help and watch them volunteer more help than was ever asked or extend themselves to help a group of strangers (us). Many of our helpers pointed us in the right direction or gave us a point for me to use to locate us on the scarce maps that we had, but we had a guardian watching out for us somewhere... A collective of South African people.
On our last day, the group split up. One car took the GPS and the other group took some directions and a map and headed for the Cradle of Humankind and the caves. Kate, Eli, Leslie, Kevin, and I were in the latter group. After having an inspirational day, we had an hour to get to the airport after emerging from a 60m deep cave. We had no directions, and a map that didn't extend to the airport. With Kate driving, and i navigating we managed to get to the outskirts of Johannesburg but were unsure of how to get to the airport. And then our phone died. Late and I ran into the gas station to ask a worker for directions, but a patron who lived just around the block volunteered the information. As we were pulling out, he stopped us and said that he didn't want us to get lost. He would guide us to the freeway.
Well, this man went 30 mins, an hour round trip, to make sure we got to the airport. It was so kind of him, and absolutely needed. If we hadn't have had his guidance we would have been anxious and may have missed our flight.
So as the journey ends, I want to extend the anonymous guardians we had in South Africa, especially those who opened up without even an exchange of names.
In solidarity,
Crys
A taste of the wild
Whenever I need to be put at ease, or need ample head space to think, I usually find a corner of the world that I can be alone with nature. This doesn't always mean that I am completely alone, because usually I find a bird, insect, or small mammal to observe but it brings solitude. Initially, I was unsure how I would like the safari. Would it be loud and chaotic, or a form of animal exhibition? Well, I was pleasantly surprised by how respectful and knowledgable our guide Adrian was about the bush and it's inhabitants.
When we were driving and slowing down for the turtles crossing the street, the rhinos checking us out, and the elephants that were protecting their own, I felt the awe of nature. It was magical and brought me in. It was a new experience that I was unsure about but was able to embrace. While I was sitting there, I just thought of others people that I would love to share these moments with, because I knew it would touch their hearts. During those moments I felt like a small child excited by how a bunny hops. The animals and the landscape were new and unfamiliar and I wanted to soak it all in.
However, I wasn't very good at spotting animals. Jamie, Dante, and Onikah definitely get the prizes for pin-pointing them. To me, it was like playing where's Waldo when driving.... Not easy.
When I got to the airport, I bought an African Geographic. I read the entire thing cover to cover on the plane ride from Johannesburg to London. It had some great articles on how conservation an be at odds with human development. I never realized that it was such a large issue, but as I was reading I questioned why I had never thought of it before. Africa has some of the most expansive natural compounds, but is working on developing the economy and infrastructure. How do you navigate the too? I'm hoping that I can incorporate more of an ecology minded focus in the social development work that I hope to do...
Wishing that I could post my pictures,
Crys
When we were driving and slowing down for the turtles crossing the street, the rhinos checking us out, and the elephants that were protecting their own, I felt the awe of nature. It was magical and brought me in. It was a new experience that I was unsure about but was able to embrace. While I was sitting there, I just thought of others people that I would love to share these moments with, because I knew it would touch their hearts. During those moments I felt like a small child excited by how a bunny hops. The animals and the landscape were new and unfamiliar and I wanted to soak it all in.
However, I wasn't very good at spotting animals. Jamie, Dante, and Onikah definitely get the prizes for pin-pointing them. To me, it was like playing where's Waldo when driving.... Not easy.
When I got to the airport, I bought an African Geographic. I read the entire thing cover to cover on the plane ride from Johannesburg to London. It had some great articles on how conservation an be at odds with human development. I never realized that it was such a large issue, but as I was reading I questioned why I had never thought of it before. Africa has some of the most expansive natural compounds, but is working on developing the economy and infrastructure. How do you navigate the too? I'm hoping that I can incorporate more of an ecology minded focus in the social development work that I hope to do...
Wishing that I could post my pictures,
Crys
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Up in the skies, again, between Joberg and Egypt
Up in the skies, again, between Joberg and Egypt
Jamie again...
We all left tonight for far away lands. Talitha and Onikah go to Los Angeles. Eli, Crys and Kevin will go to SFO by Monday afternoon; Kate and Leslie are going to go to SFO by way of New York...and Dante and I? Well, we are headed to Cairo, Egypt, then Frankfurt Germany, then Washington DC then SFO.
Due to problems beyond our control, the business class seats that we bought were not available on two or three of our four flights and so all the miles and taxes I spent to buy a little comfort are lost. Sigh. After such a magnificent trip, it seems foolish to sweat the small stuff, so I am working on it.
Dante and I are trying to make the best of the situation. We are talking about how we are going to get to see the pyramids when we fly over Egypt, and how we will explore the airport in Germany and look for some good chocolate. And how we will just make the best of the 34 hours in flight and try not to trip.
I can hardly believe the trip is over. But I also can hardly believe the trip actually happened. There were 9 of us. Count em, NINE! We fundraised for the youth and we created an action packed trip that included giving and receiving presentations, touring a Soweto township and Youth Center, going to three museums (and for some they also went to a fourth)...experiencing two cities (Joberg and Cape Town), meeting all kinds of people, sharing amazing meals and of course, let's not forget, Kruger National Park! Where we saw so many animals that it was incredible.
I am truly relieved that everyone liked the Kruger experience because I for one really pushed for us to be able to go specifically to Kruger. It was 3-5 hours from Johannseberg, it cost a fair amount of money, and I pushed for it because they have elephants and giraffes!!! There were closer game parks to Joberg, but none that had the Big 5 of Africa: Elephants, lions, rhino, buffalo, leopard. . I wanted to see them all and short of a leopard or a cheetah, we saw it all! including some animals that i didn't even know existed, like the kudu.
Today we broke up into two groups and some went to the Cradle of Humanity Museum and learned all about the early homonids and took a cavern tour with evidence of the origins of human life, etc. Talitha, Onikah and I spent the day in an African Crafts Fair...where they wheeled and dealed some extraordinary things and I bought a few more things to bring home AND got my palm read by a very nice man named Clive. Dante met up with some family and new friends and met us later at the airport.
The strain of travel started to get to me tonight as I had to, for a series of reasons, circle through the damn airport three times before dropping off the rental car. I needed to buy another bag for my new purchases and I needed time to do that. We kept getting in the wrong elevator and our phones were not always connecting, so we were a little in the dark...ultimately, of course, it all worked out, just like Kate always says.
Most of our team has decided to abandon their malaria pills as they heard that there is not much risk of malaria in Africa. I on the other hand, will take mine as directed, as the last thing i need is to come down w a virus.
Jamie again...
We all left tonight for far away lands. Talitha and Onikah go to Los Angeles. Eli, Crys and Kevin will go to SFO by Monday afternoon; Kate and Leslie are going to go to SFO by way of New York...and Dante and I? Well, we are headed to Cairo, Egypt, then Frankfurt Germany, then Washington DC then SFO.
Due to problems beyond our control, the business class seats that we bought were not available on two or three of our four flights and so all the miles and taxes I spent to buy a little comfort are lost. Sigh. After such a magnificent trip, it seems foolish to sweat the small stuff, so I am working on it.
Dante and I are trying to make the best of the situation. We are talking about how we are going to get to see the pyramids when we fly over Egypt, and how we will explore the airport in Germany and look for some good chocolate. And how we will just make the best of the 34 hours in flight and try not to trip.
I can hardly believe the trip is over. But I also can hardly believe the trip actually happened. There were 9 of us. Count em, NINE! We fundraised for the youth and we created an action packed trip that included giving and receiving presentations, touring a Soweto township and Youth Center, going to three museums (and for some they also went to a fourth)...experiencing two cities (Joberg and Cape Town), meeting all kinds of people, sharing amazing meals and of course, let's not forget, Kruger National Park! Where we saw so many animals that it was incredible.
I am truly relieved that everyone liked the Kruger experience because I for one really pushed for us to be able to go specifically to Kruger. It was 3-5 hours from Johannseberg, it cost a fair amount of money, and I pushed for it because they have elephants and giraffes!!! There were closer game parks to Joberg, but none that had the Big 5 of Africa: Elephants, lions, rhino, buffalo, leopard. . I wanted to see them all and short of a leopard or a cheetah, we saw it all! including some animals that i didn't even know existed, like the kudu.
Today we broke up into two groups and some went to the Cradle of Humanity Museum and learned all about the early homonids and took a cavern tour with evidence of the origins of human life, etc. Talitha, Onikah and I spent the day in an African Crafts Fair...where they wheeled and dealed some extraordinary things and I bought a few more things to bring home AND got my palm read by a very nice man named Clive. Dante met up with some family and new friends and met us later at the airport.
The strain of travel started to get to me tonight as I had to, for a series of reasons, circle through the damn airport three times before dropping off the rental car. I needed to buy another bag for my new purchases and I needed time to do that. We kept getting in the wrong elevator and our phones were not always connecting, so we were a little in the dark...ultimately, of course, it all worked out, just like Kate always says.
Most of our team has decided to abandon their malaria pills as they heard that there is not much risk of malaria in Africa. I on the other hand, will take mine as directed, as the last thing i need is to come down w a virus.
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