From Dramatic Arts to Drama

Today started out pretty good. I was refreshed from a good night's sleep and ready for work. Even though it was early, I was so excited to get back to CMES the time was irrelevant. With coffee in hand we caught the first taxi to Bridgetown and we were on our way. We made it to work on time and even a bit early as the teacher's meeting had not yet started. For the morning I worked with the dramatic arts teacher. I had said that I was interested in the arts education that the school provides so this was a great chance for me to get involved and learn about the curriculum and procedures in the classroom.  The first class was a grade 10 class and the students were instructed to write dialogues with partners. In the second class of the day they would perform their scripts to the class. I noticed that the classroom was loud and the students did not do the assigned work. The teacher was not too concerned. At the end of class she reminded  the class that in another hour their assignment would be due and they would be performing. The second class was grade 11. We discussed realism in theater and how theater in the past was used to demonstrate the Apartheid. The class had a discussion about how theater in South Africa could be used since Apartheid was over and everyone had freedom. In a class of all black or coloured people this was an interesting conversation. There was a great deal of dissent among the students. Some argued that there were still many racial divides and inequalities. They seemed upset by the opposing viewpoint of the teacher. I wondered if the teacher really felt that way or if she was unable to share her opinion openly with the students because this was an academic setting. The discussion got off the topic of theater but, one student was adamant that there was still no freedom and said that  for the most part theater could be used to teach about the past or address new current events. Almost all the students agreed with him and the teacher was thankful that she could move on from an uncomfortable topic. During this time I just observed. I was shocked by the stubbornness of the students' opinions but also wishing that I could emphasize. I realized that no matter what I said in that moment it would be the wrong thing. Their anger inspired me to choose to change their impression of white  people in their lives. I also learned a lot from listening to the passion the students have for this relevant and new history of their country. The class was engaged and aside from a few distractions this was a successful hour. The students shared in the responsibility of reading and asking questions and were active participants. I really liked working with these students and I was impressed by their behavior and eagerness in the classroom.

After a fifteen minute break (which the students call interval) we returned to the grade 10 class to see what they had prepared. The students were supposed to memorize their lines that they had written but the exercise encouraged improvisation too so that if they forgot the prepared script they could complete the exercise to practice their posture and projection as well. Many of the groups were unprepared but for those that were ready they presented some heavy topics such as: arguments with parents concerning money or drugs, homosexuality, death, getting kicked out of stores, breakups and also teen pregnancy. Although these were intense themes that they came up with, the students were not mature enough to present these topics appropriately. They laughed and mocked each other in the classroom.  Later the teacher commented on how nervous they were but I don’t blame them because the atmosphere did not make it easy for even me to be completely comfortable. One thing that really interested me was the contrast between the topics that the grade 10 students in ZA picked as compared to what students in the US might discuss. This was a completely open ended assignment and even so nobody picked something that was lighthearted. I would expect students in grade 10 in America to talk about sports or friends in a similar assignment. The teacher pulled me aside afterward and said "see how damaged these kids are?" and I couldn’t tell if it came from compassion or from disappointment. Only because after spending the day I noticed I have no idea how the teachers feel about the students. They say that they can relate and maybe that's why they are hard on them or just dealing with the students each day gets exhausting, which I can relate to. I know that they care about them because otherwise they wouldn’t work there but in the midst of chaos I am finding it hard to see their passion. At the end of the class, the teacher said "I don’t want to say well done because that would be lying so I'll say nice try" and she smiled.

In the afternoon I was in the combined grade 6 and 7 class. Although the students all morning were studying dramatic arts, this classroom was an entirely different combination of drama. After the practically easy morning I had I was not prepared for the afternoon that I would have. The class was, for lack of a better word, insane. For the two hours I spent in the classroom, no teaching got done. One main issue is that the students do not have textbooks. They receive copies of the pages and are instructed to cut and paste them into notebooks after the assignment is completed. This takes so much time and is a huge distraction. The students often cannot read the hand outs they are given so additional time is spent reading aloud and underlining important parts, even in the upper grades. In this class the issue was definitely behavior. I would say that half the class are students from the group home, former street kids, and the others are too advanced to be studying with them, in my opinion. The students were disrespectful and that made it so difficult to teach even a short lesson. I noticed students were unable to say in their seats and they did not have classroom etiquette. Raising hands was accompanied by screaming "excuse me miss" so in fact it was pointless to raise their hands in the first place. In fact, when they did not get the desired attention quickly enough, they would get up our of their  seats and wave the worksheet in your face saying "excuse me miss" over and over. The kids could not sit still. I know they can learn but the environment was not appropriate because of so many distractions and behavioral issues. The teacher also had the challenge of teaching two grades at once. What this meant was that for every subject, she had to hand out two worksheets and write two sets of instructions. The students had trouble following along and because the group was split there was no real time to speak about the topics. Most of the work was individual, what in the U.S. we’d classify as busy work. The teacher was certainly frustrated by the behavior of the students. She often playfully slapped their hands or their heads to encourage them to get back to work. When she was really frustrated she spoke in Africans. If the students are upset they curse in Xhosa. When a student called me fat in class, I gave him a stern look and explained how that was inappropriate. She responded, "go ahead, slap him for saying that. He knows better". Of course I did not follow her advice and I knew that she was intending this comment in again a playful way but I was shocked by the scene.

Through out the entire afternoon I befriended the only girl in the class, Katelyn. I noticed her right away because I caught her admiring my piercings. She latched on to me and started asking so many questions. She wanted so know so much and I could tell she was smart. She offered to play a game with me to teach me Africans, I would say a word in English and she would teach me the word and I would say it back. This was fun for her so I played along, although admittedly I do not remember much at all. In exchange I shared with her small facts and tips for doing her school work and we talked about celebrities and history too. I asked her how she dealt with all the boys and she said it was awful. They stole her pencils and papers from her bag or her desk and in a way I advocated for her. I took back the pens and rulers and gave them to her and told her to keep them in her bag and watch her stuff. She smiled because I think in a class where many of the students need extra attention she gets left behind and because she is well behaved and stronger in her academics she gets less specialized attention. I am hopeful that our relationship will grow and she'll be able to trust me and appreciate me as much as I appreciated our brief interactions today.

I spent the rest of my afternoon disciplining the class with the teacher. When we established they were finished "learning" for the day, we tried to get the class to be quiet. It was the end of the day but we decided that the students needed to show they could behave before they could leave. Even when their friends or siblings came to get them, we set a standard and everyone was held to the same expectation so everyone stayed. Trying to keep the kids quiet was a bit like a show; it went something like this: everyone would be quiet except one person so then a student would get up and yell at him for talking. They would play fight and slap each other around a bit then one of us would tell them to sit down.  A boy would say "but miss, I must just say one thing" and I'd purposely ignore him. That would make him mad so he'd get out of his seat to address me. I would walk him over to his desk and encourage him to sit. Once he would sit I would say nearby to make sure he behaved. Then someone else would start talking. This cycle repeated itself for over twenty five minutes while children's siblings complained about having to wait and the children wined about wanting to be dismissed to go home. I couldn't help but want to laugh because it seemed obvious  that if they were just still and quiet for even just ten seconds they could leave but it was so hard for them. I am going to look forward to watching these students grow and improve because I can tell they are so amazing they just need to believe in themselves a bit too.

Although this was a new environment I felt in my element. Sometime in those two crazy hours a fire was ignited under me and I just snapped into a familiar role that I had been missing. I don’t know why but I felt content. I was stressed but at the same time excited at what had occurred in those hours. Marita brought up a good point today that once you have a meaningful experience, everything you do is somewhat governed by that live changing opportunity. I can't help but think that City Year has been the experience that consciously or unconsciously has governed my decisions, actions and passions over the last few years. I know now that I will be changing a lot over the next few months but I also know that City Year changed me so much and when I look at kids and see their lives those challenging classes and the "end of the line" kids are the ones that encourage me most. I feel motivated and I know I have the skills, although I can always learn more, to really serve as a teacher and mentor for these students.  In conclusion to what I lovingly call "From Dramatic Arts to Drama", I just want to stress how lucky and appreciative I am to be here and have the opportunity to explore and grow and challenge myself. It's amazing and I still can't believe this is all real!

UPDATE: I Survived the First Day!

After getting home at 2:00 AM from an amazing performance by Swedish House Mafia and waking up before 7:00 AM, it was finally time for my first day at City Mission Educational Services. I was so tired but I guess adrenaline kept me going because I felt energized when I definitely should not have. After quickly getting ready to have as much sleep as possible at 7:20 AM we left for our day. I was traveling with Aimee to work and planning to meet the other students there. The drive is only fifteen minutes so we figured that would be enough time. I guess with that lead in I don't have to say that it was not enough time. We went to the end of the street to wait for a taxi, not a minibus taxi which we learned later is redundant, but a taxi and we waited and waited and waited. We needed to be at work at 8:00 AM. That did not happen today. At around 7:45 AM we started getting worried because we still had not seen the taxi we needed to take. Many drivers asked us where we were going and usually those drivers would just offer us a ride to earn more money but this morning they just drove away. Nobody wanted to go to Bridgetown today. We called Vernon and he was also concerned. Even so, he told us to just wait a bit longer and one should come. He called us about five minutes later and we were still waiting. Then Vernon went into what I respectively call "dad mode" and raced from the house to the street we were on to help us. We were going to be late; it was 7:52 AM.  As he was running across the street to assist us,  we were boarding a taxi. We did it ourselves! Practically. Vernon parked his car on the side of the road and ran over to speak to the driver. A brief conversation in Africans and a "have a good day" from Vernon got us on our way. Since Vernon is so amazing he called us about every five minutes to make sure that we were safe and ok until we reached our final destination and arrived safely at CMES. We were running late but at least we arrived and who says the first day is supposed to be perfect?

 

When we arrived, we met Nathan who is the principal of the school. We spoke to him about our interests and he answered any immediate questions. Then it was off to work! Nathan explained to us that in addition to the school in Bridgetown, CMES has many partnerships throughout Cape Town and the Cape Flats  including schools and group homes. Since he wanted us to work where we are most interested, he said that this week we would do a bit of everything then decide what we like the best. We spent a short while in the classrooms and of course as a visitor I was a huge distraction. I thought it was interesting how the teachers interacted quite casually with the students. The atmosphere was strict but not unpleasant. The teachers were honest with their students about their experiences and I found that because they were so relatable they were well respected. After a distracted economics class, I was left alone in the classroom with eight students.  There was one girl and the rest were boys. I started to ask them about their schedule and routine but they were more interested in getting their questions answered. We had a conversation about American schooling and when they got bored they wanted to know about me. One student asked me to describe myself in one word. This was the first thing he had said to me; I didn't even know his name. I played this off like it was a joke but he was persistent. I picked the word eager hoping to incite a conversation but to my surprise they knew what eager meant and so that was short lived. When I asked the student the same question he responded that he was talkative, but then he elaborated that he likes his quiet sometimes. After that we were "collected" to go out on our trip. They students were disappointed. I thought they would not care but they were saying  "you're leaving already?" and "When will you be back?" and that left me feeling excited to be able to say "I'll see you tomorrow!". So after a quick hour in the classrooms we headed off to Khayelitsha to The Homestead Hilary House. Homestead provides services for street children who are looking for more structure in their lives and security.  The home we visited provided care to almost 40 boys from the age of 10 to 18 and CMES partners with them to provide home schooling to the youngest boys who have fallen behind in their academics.  We were definitely not prepared for the day ahead of us but it was also better that way.

When we entered the home and we went to what seemed like a makeshift classroom in one of the cottages. On our way to the room the children were busy playing outside and getting dressed. Although there were only a few kids out and about it felt like many because they have a lot of energy. The class was rambunctious and everyone was different ages. The teacher tried to calm the kids down and get them ready to learn. She sent some kids away because they did not have their school uniform on or because in the days before they were disruptive. Our class started finally with about nine students. We began with a brief prayer and song. I felt a bit out of place at this point because I did not know the prayer and everyone else did and so I stood quietly waiting for them to finish. After praying and singing we started with some reading. I noticed that many of the students cannot read even basic words. They have missed a very important time in their lives to learn and perfect this skill. Warren, a 16 year old boy, had difficulty recognizing even elementary sight words. He seemed to know the book that we were reading well because he had a good understanding of the plot but he wasn’t actually reading any of the words. When I asked him to read the word "A" he kept saying "da" like "the" but pronounced incorrectly. Unfortunately his comprehension skills were also lacking so the pictures and repetitiveness of the story were not helpful to him either. Letter recognition was something that many of the young boys struggled with. They were able to pronounce basic words but if asked to identify a single letter or match sounds they simply could not answer most of the time.  What  The home schooling program is supposed to help kids catch up to their grade level and prepare them to act and perform well in the mainstream schools.  For this reason, the class did not necessarily run like a standard or typical classroom. The children had difficulty with attention, social skills, and cooperation. This was evident when a fight broke our in the classroom during the first lesson. I saw the situation intensify and before I knew it there was yelling and people were on the floor. It took some time for adults to step in but my first instinct was to intervene because that's what I always would have done but I stopped myself because I had no idea how to respond to these boys. I didn't even know them but I wanted to help. I was not surprised by this outburst in the classroom and it was handled swiftly by the teachers and staff. The two boys were removed and then the teacher addressed the class to remind them they needed to be in the right mindset to learn. She collected the class and  resumed shortly after the excitement. That's when I noticed that many of the children spoke both Africans and Xhosa and when they got excited they  seemed to forget their English so mostly I had no idea what they were saying. It didn't matter though because language is not always the most important thing in communication. When we moved to "Maths" as it is referred to here, I noticed that language was just a convenience. The students played a game that was interactive. To help them stay focused, the curriculum is engaging and based on games. Afterward they were given a worksheet on consecutive numbers that was too easy for all of them. It took them approximately three minutes to finish. I started working with another boy named Alex and I gave him some math problems to work through. He completed them quickly and asked for more. I began to present him with increasingly more challenging problems and showed him how to group numbers when adding and multiplying. I was excited to see how much the students liked math; they were good at it too! We spend about a half hour giving the students problems to solve and they loved the "tricky" ones. The best part of my experience was when I began working on sentences with Alex. He had completed many math problems so we moved on to something else. I wrote out a few sentences and asked him to complete the last word. Things like "I want to…", "I like…" I see…" and "This is…". I could almost predict what he was going to write because of everything that was going on in the classroom but the last sentence surprised me. Alex wrote "this is me." and looked up and smiled. That moment was really important to me and it felt right and really special. I knew that in the short time we had spent together I gained his trust. I was comfortable in this  setting and I was so happy that I had this opportunity. We took a working lunch while we supervised the students with their sports. After a long time of concentrating and learning they earned a break. The boys played cricket and ran around. Then we tried to round them up for one more English lesson. That was really hard because they were so excited from being outside playing. Once we got everyone settled we encouraged them to focus and work hard so they could get to their lunch break. We did a matching coloring exercise with basic sight words. They were able to match words easily but even so they could not read the words. The kids did well for the most part until it came to writing the words. They were not able to copy the words from the worksheet to the paper. I realized that they had not practiced their writing for a while and the emphasis was always on reading. This was the other reason why letter recognition was difficult for them because they never practiced writing or spelling. During the afternoon session the boys were rowdy. After the first fight I think they boys were instigated so they were play hitting and getting angry easily. This also could have been because they were exhausted from the day.  The day concluded with another brief prayer and then we went back to CMES.

We were visibly tired and everyone greeted us and was glad to see we had survived, as they put it, the first day. I was happy to be back and it was nice to relax a bit. We had a quick meeting with all the teachers then talked a bit about our interests for teaching and the grades we wanted to work with. I am excited to spend tomorrow in the classroom for the entire day and as much as I keep saying it won't happen, I believe, that after just one week here I am going to want to be a teacher. I will look forward to many more quotable moments and stories as these months pass by. To respect the students, however, I will never use full names in this blog or share personal information. If you are interested in learning more about anyone I refer to please contact me individually. Today was amazing and I am feeling ready, inspired, and confident that things will just continue to get even better!

I Heard It Through the Grapevine!

Although we've been so busy, we have also had time to appreciate South African culture in a variety of ways. Last weekend we took a trip to Altydgedacht Vineyard. We learned all about the history of the wine industry and spoke with the owner of the vineyard. The wine industry is uniquely South African and I've made it a point to purchase wine made in South Africa and experience all the flavors that I can! We went on a tour and we were shown all about how wine is made and how much effort is takes to make great wine. We learned about proper placements of each type of grape in the vineyard to make sure the airflow and temperature are proper for the grapes to ripen and grow just right, not too sweet not too sour. It was interesting to hear about this business and learn that often time ownership of the vineyard is passed on by family lineage. We also found out that vineyards provide job opportunities for many people so not only is it profitable but it helps to make more jobs available to those who might not otherwise have work. The business is interesting and I was shocked to hear how much it depends on accuracy. I did not understand that the wine industry was such a delicate and exacting process. 

I gained my appreciation for wine then when we had a private wine tasting. We learned how to properly taste the wine by examining its color and smell before actually tasting it. We practiced swirling the wine in the glass to enhance the smell and then we carefully tasted each sample. This was nice and I felt pretty sophisticated. I definitely did not like all the types we tried but the owner of the vineyard took his time to explain how each wine was made and go over all the components. It was nice to see his compassion and knowledge especially because I had never known anything about South African wine culture before then! Overall it was a great experience to learn and taste new things. We of course had a great deal of fun too!

After we were all flushed from our wine we went to Stellenbosch, which is another famous vineyard and tourist destination and had lunch at a place called Moyo's which serves buffet style food from the Cape to Cairo. The food was amazing but mostly we had fun listening to performers and getting our faces painted with traditional designs. We spent a good amount of time exploring the gardens and the gift shop on the outskirts of the vineyard. Just being outside and appreciating nature was refreshing after many long trips on our tour bus. We all boarded the bus with bottles of wine to take home to our families and a new respect for farming culture and vineyard life.

It's Braai Time!

After a long week of learning and adventures, we went too our professor Vernon's home for a traditional South African Braii.  A braai can be compared to an American barbeque. It is a social gathering where food is cooked by the men on a grill and the women typically entertain the company. Many meats are served such as chicken, sausage, and lamb. The food is usually seasoned with a special mix of spices or marinade that make this occasion special and out of the ordinary.   He so graciously opened his home to us and welcomed us with great food and drink. This was definitely the best welcome we could have had to our new home for the semester.

When we arrived at Vernon and Esme's home we were so excited for the braai to finally be here. Two weeks ago this essential event seemed so far away but after tourism tales, travel adventures, and great fun our orientation was over and we were ready to experience "the braai".  We snacked on chips and crackers while we talked with the guests and some people helped prepare the salads. Vernon was hard at work cooking the meat and the delicious smells made us hungry, that's for sure! Everyone was enjoying the weather and the company and after a short while the food was ready!

Unlike any barbecue that I've ever attended, we did not just "dig in"  to the food. Before we began to enjoy the immense meal that had been prepared, we all gathered in a circle holding hands for a memorable moment. Vernon then explained to us the concept of Ubuntu. It means, I am who I am because of you. This is a widely held belief in South Africa and it is exemplified every day by everyone's actions and words. Vernon shared with us how happy he was that we were guests in his home and at that point he welcomed us into his family.  He told us that we were welcome at any time to visit and come in and that we should be comfortable in this home too. It was touching and really beautiful. After such an amazing week this small gesture bundled up in an overwhelming concept, Ubuntu, definitely made Cape Town special. As a community we showed appreciation for the food and the celebration through prayer and then it was time to eat!

Vernon the braai master cooking chicken and sausage!

The table was set with more food than we could have expected. There was chicken, sausage, lamb, fish, salad, pasta, pizza, and more! We were practically in heaven. Although I did not taste many of these foods, here's what I gathered: everything was outstanding but the lamb was exceptionally good! My favorite part was the Snook. The Snook was cooked in the traditional South African way in the oven and baked with tomatoes, peppers, and lemon. It was delicious and flavorful! We ate almost all the food and savored every single bite until we were stuffed to the brim. We sat for a long time and I was thinking that this was the most full I could ever be. We got tired from being so full but once dessert was served the excitement kept going. We played games and had great conversations. For dessert ate a South African milk tart and pudding. A milk tart is a classic dessert served in South Africa. It is a sweet pastry crust containing a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar and eggs. Esme's homemade milk tart was excellent! Everyone loved the taste and we were all wondering if it would be excessive to take seconds and even thirds! Although we were guests in someone's home we were also family now so we all served ourselves and helped to clean up the kitchen when the meal was over. I was happy to see us all working together and we had a great time too!

After chatting with friends and meeting new people our night was complete with hugs and "thank yous". I was so happy to be invited to Vernon's home and meet his friends and family. This was a wonderful South African experience and I am so appreciative for everything I've seen and done these last two weeks. On Monday we start our internships and before that we will be attending Vernon's church to hear him preach. I am feeling motivated, inspired and ready because of the incredible welcome I've received. It's time to get to work and I know I can't wait another minute!

Muizenberg Beach!

On our surprise day off we all took a trip to one of the best surfing beaches in Cape Town. We expected to be participating in another day of orientation but an early morning change of plans left us adventurous and free for the day. We got up early and packed our bags with the necessary beach stuff and headed off on our day. We had no expectations other than to relax and enjoy the day. Our neighbor Rele showed us to the train station and taught us about buying tickets and where to catch the train. We were thankful to have her with us to show us the way! When we got to the beach, we could not believe the sight. It made it even better because we had no idea what we were going to see. We were complete tourists at this point. Once again we were gawking at the sights and kept saying how beautiful the beach was! Muizenburg is surrounded by mountains and water as far as we could see. The mountains were so wonderful and they seemed to surround the entire beach. It was a really special reminder that this was not a beach like the ones at home. I felt content at this point and also so joyful. 

It was a powerful contrast to our township experiences from the last few days. We've seen so many beautiful parts of Cape Town and what I've learned is that each location is beautiful in its own way! Even if on the outside it seems desolate there is a glimmer of hope and happiness that can keep away everything bad just for a while. We had an amazing time and all ended up super sun burnt, although I don't think anyone regretted it. In Cape Town, our "snow days" are beach days!

Imagine This...

After an amazing day on the beach it's time to go home. You walk to the train station and look around for the place to buy your ticket. You know from the morning trip that they do not check tickets but you buy one anyways because you believe in the honor system and feel like you should. Then you wait on the platform with twelve other girls wondering if you are even on the right side. It's obvious you are new to this and because of that people are looking at you and so you just politely smile back. Once the train arrives you notice it's packed but "so what" you say, "it will be an experience".  You all board the train looking around and within just the first few minutes you are separated into two smaller groups gripping on to three poles and in for the ride. Some of your friends make comments, everyone looks uncomfortable. At each stop, it seems, more people get on and by the third stop the doors to the train are wide open and people are hanging out the doors and windows to make more space. Young boys have occupied the spaces between the cars and found their spot on the cables. Wherever there is space, people have occupied it and then some. As people prepare for their stop you are pushed around back and forth and it's congested so breathing is difficult moving is impossible. The sight is a sea of people and hands holding on to big metal poles. Some people are sitting but many are squished together. Your trying to remember your stop and when the daunting task of exiting the train arrives you realize that in this whole experience you've been pushed as far away from the door as possible. At least you can breathe and you have found a cool space against the back door to rest on but you must get off the train at the right time. Your friends go first, they get off two stops before you and then you are alone…

What I just depicted was my first experience on the trains in Cape Town during rush hour. After a great day off at Muizenberg  Beach we could have never expected that our ride home would be the most memorable part of the day. After the chaos of the ride many of my peers got off the train in Rondebosch(two stops before Mowbray) and I was left alone, I got separated from the other people I was with because of the crowd. I was nervous at first until a woman started talking to me. She seemed concerned that I had not gotten off with everyone else. She told me that it's a dangerous place to be alone and I needed to be more careful. When I looked around me, everyone was concerned. The hustle and bustle of the train ride subsided as I experienced my first instance of the South African kindness we've all been told about. This willingness to act with kind regards for someone else is grounded in community values which shined through the hot, sticky, smelly train. Everyone thought I missed my stop and they showed compassion for me. When I explained that I did not miss my stop and I live further up, one man began looking for the stop with his head out the window to make sure I didn't miss it. Another woman showed me how I should hold my bag when I got off so that nobody had the opportunity to steal anything. She was insistent and continued to remind me not to be too comfortable and to watch out. When the train stopped at my stop the women around me were telling me I needed to push my way through. Almost everyone towered over me and I felt really small. One man just grabbed me and told everyone to move and they all helped me to get off this jam packed train. I waited on the platform for my three other friends. The same generosity was given to them as strangers pushed and pulled them through the crowd to the open air. I grabbed their hands from outside and helped them get off in time. We laughed when we got off and one man approached us and said "So, you're Americans?" it could not have been more obvious if we tried. We laughed this comment off and were glad to be safe at home.

This must sound like an adventure movie or a wild made up dream. I know it felt like one to me but this is Cape Town. Today I experienced the real Cape Town travel experience but more than that I felt the support of everyone around me. Strangers showed that they cared and a crazy sense of happiness came over me. I was thrilled and also appreciative. I felt like I was a child and that everyone around me knew me and was there to care for me. It's a special, unique way to life to be so focused on others. Not enough people show the compassion that I was given in this hectic situation. If not for all these people showing me the way, I would have never gotten off that train that’s for sure. The adventure is over until next time. Sunburnt and sleepy I'd say it was a pretty amazing and memorable day!

Spotlight: Education Internships

We've spend the majority of the last few days traveling around Cape Town visiting everyone's  internship placements. It's been exhausting but also really exciting to put a face to a name and to hear from directors and educators about their organizations and work. The warm welcomes we received at each place made us all feel at home right away and even more ready to get started. Each place we left, nobody could stop talking about how amazing each organization was. I would say "that's so awesome I wish I was working there"! It was probably just because I had not seen my own placement yet. I was thoroughly impressed by each placement but most pleased and inspired by my own placement at City Mission Educational Services (CMES). CMES is an independent Christian school for at risk and disadvantaged youth. The school combines mainstream education with therapeutic interventions to provide students with the resources they need to be successful. CMES is located in a township called Bridgetown reaches out to approximately 85 students from surrounding townships who have been expelled from public school, suffered from drugs and alcohol abuse, been left homeless or abandoned, or suffered from mental illness and poverty. When we arrived we were so excited to see the kids!  You couldn't even tell that some of these kids have had so many difficulties. On the surface, they were talkative, funny and enthusiastic. I cannot wait to create strong relationships and learn about their lives because I believe that building trust is really important if you want to make a real difference. The school is small but it has a nice sense of community and the welcoming mindset that we've heard exists everywhere in South Africa. CMES felt comfortable right away and I knew that this was the right placement for me. I am excited to be a part of a team that offers opportunity to kids that have been shut out by many schools. It is a blessing that a school like CMES exists because education is so important and no matter how difficult it may be no child deserves to miss out on their shot at success. I  would like to focus this post on the four different education related placements that we have visited and my initial thoughts. I am so excited to compare experiences and learn from my peers who will be teaching in other areas of Cape Town. We visited the  following schools this past week: Christel House, City Mission Educational Services, Thondakulu High School, and Eros School. 

Christel House is a beautiful facility that caters to the poorest students in Cape Town.  The school provides them with the resources to be leaders and learners with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and helping kids to realize their hopes and dreams to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. As we toured this beautiful school, we realized that these students have an amazing opportunity to learn and grow in their school. Students are served healthy meals and snacks to ensure that they have the right mindset for learning each and every day. The school offers music, arts, and sports program for the students to get involved in and also counseling and mental health resources for those who require additional accommodations. It was exciting to see the learners so enthusiastic but when we learned only 60 students a year get accepted I was disappointed.  I wanted  to see all the students from nearby townships having that same experience. I knew that I would not want to be the person making the admissions decisions for this school. It would be so difficult to choose who gets this beautiful education and who has to stay back in their public schools. I cant think of a solution to this issue because it is larger than myself. On the one hand I think that all the children should have the opportunity to go to a state of the art school but then I would wonder if that would make the school something that wasn't so special anymore. It's an interesting situation because we are all searching for the best education and opportunity to learn and in that regard I just can’t say I would ever be able to choose who deserves the better teachers, computers, uniforms, meals, etc. Christel House is an amazing resource in this community and it provides opportunities to Cape Town's youth that might not have otherwise been possible. It really is remarkable.

Our first exposure to educational programs in Cape Town was in Mowbray. We visited Thandokulu High School which is similar to a charter school in the United States. This quartile four (out of five) school is a public school that charges  R 600 for school fees each year. The school has comparable resources to a quartile one school but because of its location in a suburb. Schools classified as quartile four or higher must charge school fees even if it is a public institution. Thandokulu is a school that appeals to over 1000 students from townships and focuses on math and sciences.  It is such a popular school that the class sizes range from thirty  to forty three learners in one class. There is very little support for teachers as most run their classrooms on their own.  I learned that teachers in Cape Town are required to attend eighty hours of workshops given by the state each year but unfortunately for many teachers this is not the case. Economic restrictions keep them from being able to pay the cost of these programs. That is one way that even teachers suffer from the education inequalities that our entire world, it seems, is facing. Students who attend this high school must be very diligent as some students have to travel hours on pubic transportation and pay a variety of fees to access their desired education each day. The school expects high marks and good attendance from their students and prides themselves on it.  At the end of the last school year, twenty seven percent of the graduating (Matric) class was eligible to apply for university.  In order to graduate, a student must pass the Matric exam in their grade 12 year.With that being said, only six percent of the graduates from Thandokulu actually attend university.  This is a huge reflection on available resources, specifically money but also familial structure. For many students attending  university will never be an expectation and often times nobody in their family has ever gone to college. I was surprised to discover the lack of support from the government that Thandokulu receives. The school is not equip for handicap students and does not have funding for resource teachers for students with special needs or psychologists. Students requiring these services have to attend different schools to have their needs met.  For as little as this school has, great things are happening. We saw high school students who possess the drive and motivation to earn a better education have the means to do their best.

The final school we saw was Eros school which is in the same township as CMES, Bridgetown.  Eros school was originally built to accommodate students Cerebral Palsy. Today, it reaches out to almost 700 children living with a variety of struggles such as ADHD, depression and mental illness, physical limitations, etc. The school was beautiful but not so much as in appearance more so with regards to its spirit. The children have their needs covered and because of that they can focus on their schooling instead of their challenges.  When we spoke to the teachers their passion was immense. They were so excited to share their knowledge and even their dreams. They wanted to introduce technology in their classrooms and utilize skype to show their students other kids around the world. It was a beautiful compromise and when the kids were at the school you couldn't even tell they were sick because they were smiling and their teachers were just showing love and compassion as much as they could.  I think that more schools like this should exist to provide necessary services to students in the area. Education is so important and having the best opportunity for your academic and personal needs is one of the most important parts of life.

As an outsider it would seem like each of these schools has a different focus but, after learning and hearing from many educators I have discovered that the common goal is providing a solid education and a venue for students to be leaders as well as learners and that's what really matters. :)

Moved by the Music!

When we saw on our itinerary that we would be attending a faith based experience, many of us were excited but also quite curious. As we got closer, we were told we would be visiting  Sivuyile National Baptist Church in Gugulethu during their Sunday morning church service. We all woke up early to prepare for the day. We put on our best outfits we could find. When we arrived we were greeted by the Reverend and shown to our seats. At first this room was empty but with time it filled to even more than its capacity and everyone there shared the same passion when they sang out the hymns, psalms and chants. This experience was nothing like we could have ever expected.

Many of us would describe this beautiful, sacred service as a musical. It was surreal. One person would sing out in praise and as if on cue, this perfect, unbelievable harmony would fill the entire room. Everybody sang in their own way and the sound was overwhelming. They made it look effortless.  I noticed that prayer books were rarely used. This type of praying came directly from the heart. Looking around the church, everyone had a role. From young to old each person was engaged in song and prayer. There were instruments and dance moves that accompanied the most beautiful expression of faith that I have ever seen.

Gugulethu is a township that is extremely poor. Even so, the people who came to church to worship did not come empty handed. They all brought donations to help a nearby community who has even less than they do. It was inspiring and reaffirmed that we were going to be working alongside men and women who's souls are beautiful and although they are not wealthy they live  with an immense spirit of giving.

We were welcomed into the church not as spectators but as guests and I certainly felt that way. The service was conducted in the xhosa language but that did not even matter because although I could not understand the language, I still felt immersed in this joy and hope. It was amazing to be a part of something so powerful. The reverent spoke with an unmatched level of passion when he gave his sermon is was a one man show. It was as if he was acting out a scene. The entire sermon was so dramatic and heartfelt that while he was professing his dreams and wisdom nobody spoke except to fervently agree. The respect in the entire room was something that should be noted because everyone was treated as an equal and although I did notice that men and women sat separately, they engaged and included each other in every aspect.  The role of leader was shared among everyone who wished to participate which was a great demonstration of community. What touched me most was when Vernon addressed the congregation and taught everyone a song called "Let the Church Say Amen". He was amazing, energetic, and so passionate. I am lucky to have him as a role model and a resource. He commanded instant respect and shared his love for God in the most radiant way possible. It was something we had not yet had a chance to see and I think everyone at that point was so happy and impressed they could have cried from joy and appreciation. 

Kirstenbosch Gardens a World Heritage Site

I left feeling elated and wishing that this could go on forever! I had never been a part of such emotional, expressive prayer and it was unique to see this amount of joy and beauty in a place that I would have regarded as destitute before I knew better.

Jimmy Dludlu

The music just kept on coming when we arrived at Kirstenbosch Gardens to see Jimmy Dludlu, a famous Jazz guitarist, perform at the Summer Sunset Concert Series. We all enjoyed a picnic dinner and some wine as we listened to the music and appreciated the scenery. The night was fun and we could all relax and enjoy each other's company after many days of constant programming and events. We were blown away by the sound and rhythms and after just a few minutes all of us were up dancing  and having a fun time! In one day I was touched very differently by music and something that is so amazing about Cape Town is that the variety of music is great and there is so much talent from street groups to musicals, performers and more that there can really never be a dull moment. I found myself thinking that there could not possibly be anything else in the world better than what we are experiencing here in Cape Town.  Perfect music, picnic dinner and a breathtaking sunset reminded me how lucky I am. The best part is, we're only getting started!

Let's Talk About Townships

Today we visited the townships and I was actually blown away. This whole time we've been discussing the untold side of Cape Town and finally we were able to see what everyone's been so anxious to share with us. Within this beauty, there is a separate story to be told. This story is one of optimism and pride, but also of immense struggle and segregation.

The townships were created under Apartheid to separate people by race. Blacks and Coloureds were forcibly moved out of their homes between Table Mountain and the sea (District Six) to the Cape Flats where they resided in overcrowded and under-resourced communities called townships. Even today the townships are plagued by poverty, drug and alcohol abuse issues, gang violence, and HIV/AIDS. Considering that government enforced separation has been abolished, what the people of District Six lived through will leave them at an economic disadvantage for their whole lives. Many people will remain in the townships, their homes, instead of moving back to District Six. Although this lifestyle is less then desirable, we were privileged to see both sides of this spectrum and visit community members who shared their happiness and dreams with us during our visit.  

After driving through various townships, I was caught between two sides. I found myself wanting to know more and also wanting to get as far away as possible. Not from fear but from being uncomfortable. It was different from how I felt before as a minority. I felt almost celebrity like because of my race. As we drove by on our huge tour bus children waved and women approached our large group when we were walking around on the streets. When we were in Khayelitsha children followed us until we took photos of them.  It was awkward to have that much attention and I couldn't help thinking that this was entirely because of my race. 

Khayelitsha Township

We learned that even in the townships, there is a divide by race and class. Townships were classified and categorized for people of different races: coloured and African were the two predominant oppressed groups.  There was a calculated divide to separate people by land but then in the township itself the types of homes divided people into classes. Although the Apartheid ended in 1994, it is still clear that the psychological effects of this separation are still quite prevalent.  Separation is now over but still people remain separated in many aspects of life. It was sad to see but also uplifting. I left motivated because I knew that I was here to do a job and I could not wait to get involved! We discussed that even though things look bad there is so much to be done to improve the lifestyle here in the townships. I think though that it's easier to say that when we are not living in their world.  It was remarkable to drive by (or near) our internship sites and know our work was definitely needed and also exciting.

Pottery made by women in Langa township 

Vernon explained to us that roadways served as dividers for land. On one side of a major highway we witnessed  informal settlements and homes that resembled the worst living conditions we could imagine and then on the other side was a huge mall and shopping area, that's what challenged me the most. It was difficult to imagine that many people in these townships across the street would never be able to shop in this mall. Seeing this reminded me of the unmatched privilege that I have as an American and I felt awkward to come into these communities as a spectator.  Since I never will have to endure this lifestyle I was hurt by my ability to walk in see the poverty and the people then get on my bus and walk away. I wished I could have heard the stories and interacted more with all the people. Stories help us learn and understand so I will make a definite point of asking the tough questions and not leaving "too soon" next time.

While we were in the townships, three experiences stuck out in my mind that helped me to keep a positive perspective. We visited two great places where women were empowered to create artwork,such as pottery or jewelry  as a way to earn an income. This skill allowed for self expression and exploration. We had a chance to meet with the artists and women to understand their lives and journeys. This opportunity to learn to create works of art allowed women who would not find other work to earn money and provide for their families.  I was happy to buy jewelry from the artists because now I can remember the feeling of happiness and sadness that I felt when we visited the townships. In Langa, we had a fun time learning to play African drums. We were told that these drums were used as part of an after school program to keep kids involved and engaged when school ends. We had a blast banging on the drums and working together to create beats. I definitely would love to go back and learn more music and play along with the kids. It's really hard not to fall in love with everywhere we go when everyone is so welcoming.We also visited one of the most beautiful places I've seen thus far. It was called Elon Wobeni. This was a shelter which provided services to children and families infected or impacted by HIV/AIDS. We had a chance to meet with Mama Francis (the social worker)and hear about her job at the center. We also had the privilege to meet the students and afterward we got to play outside with them. In the face of vulnerability  and tragedy the children smiled and played with us. They showed us their childish side which I have a feeling they don't always get to let out. We all felt so happy that Vernon practically had to drag us away from the kids to get to our next stop.  I left smiling and promised myself I'd be back to visit the kids because they deserve it.

On our drive, we also saw  Mitchell's Plain and Tafelsig which is home to over 1 million people and is the poorest part of the townships. All of this diverse poverty and overwhelming overcrowding that is present in the townships was certainly difficult to see and comprehend  and I think that will be a great challenge going forward. From tourism to townships, this week has been a roller coaster of absolute emotional extremes and I can only hope that these feeling stay strong and vibrant so that our adventure can only get better and better as we explore the history, people, struggles, and stories of this nation. 

My Thoughts: District Six Museum, Slave Lodge, and Robben Island

The past few days have been filled with so much fun but also a lot of learning. We have had the opportunity to meet with the most amazing and passionate tour guides who helped really shape our experience and impression of Cape Town's dynamic history. The people we've met so far are amazing! They are so enthusiastic and most of all loving. Here, no question is too personal because this history is dying to be shared. It's wonderful because we get to learn so much and also I'm becoming so excited to learn more. Which is always a great thing!

District Six Museum 

Our first educational tour was at the District Six Museum. We had the privileged of listening to Joe share his experiences being relocated from District Six during the Apartheid. It was remarkable and captivating to hear his story and to learn the history in such a visual and interactive way. Ben (our RA) later explained that we can relate well to people our age in Cape Town because their parents grew up in segregation as did ours and while we are living in the new world and race is still a big issue. Often people in our country (especially the North) brush it off and instead do not speak of it at all. Ben is from the South and his perspective is that race is a hot issue and people do speak about it similar to here. People discuss race often because this history encourages people to identify as a certain way and with that comes invisible privilege, struggle, hurt, and hope. I was excited to read the stories and personal accounts of people displaced from the diversity of District Six to the Cape Flats. It was beautiful to see how this dispersed community came together to rebuild and reconnect after so many years through this old church which is now a museum. I still have a lot to learn but this introduction really got me thinking and it shed a lot of light on why Cape Town is still pretty segregated. Later this week, we'll be going on a township tour and I hope to meet many people and hear their stories too.

Then, we went back even further in Cape Town's history to learn about the slave history of this area. We met Lucy who is a great story teller and researcher. She is most likely the most knowledgeable person in Cape Town regarding the history of slavery. She explained that slaves were transported from central and eastern Africa as well as India, Indonesia, and other locations to serve the Dutch settlers because law prohibited them from enslaving the native people. Lucy spoke to us about the impact of slavery even today and the changes that Cape Town went through during Dutch rule but also after. Something interesting is that the building used to house the slaves, the slave lodge, was also a library and court house on other occasions. Lucy explained that sometimes the history of Cape Town is buried and that many native "Cape Tonians" when asked about slaves in Cape Town would admit they have no idea what happened. We took a chance to look at the present day layout of the city and compare it to the layout during slave time. Part of the reason nobody is aware of this history is because everything has been changed, it's as if people are trying to rewrite history in a way. It was difficult to hear about this but again we were able to compare it to American history and that was a bit scary. These parallels got me thinking and I realize now how history  most definitely does repeat itself just not always in the same place.

Nelson Mandela's Cell at Robben Island

And, as if our brains were not full enough of information that made us wonder, today we traveled to Robben Island where political prisoners and criminals were held. We had an in depth tour which helped us to understand how the facility functioned and also the changes that were made to make this imprisonment equal for people from all backgrounds. What was interesting was that there was only one white prisoner the entire time the island was running. White prisoners were separate and inside the prison walls all people were separated by the assigned color of their skin. This included separate uniforms, reduced diets and other inequalities. After we toured the grounds, we heard from a guide who had been a prisoner from 1986-1991. He showed us the maximum security prison and also shared about his experiences. It was emotional to hear from his and listen to his story. What was even harder was seeing the cells of prisoners and hearing about their lifestyles. We were all shocked when we saw the cell that Nelson Mandela had lived in. The accommodations were as bare as could be and it felt almost rude to be photographing this scene because it is such a sensitive topic. The area was run down and the information shared with us was shocking. Our guide felt embarrassed about his past and defeated because he could not entirely regain his freedom ever since he was so badly hurt and compromised during his 5 year sentence. The entire experience was eye opening.

As I learn more and more about Cape Town I find it hard not to relate this history to my own. I know each experience is individual and each circumstance is unique but somehow this feels quite similar and familiar. I can't wait to learn more and experience Cape Town. I hope to talk to people and hear their stories. Where there is opportunity for change, conversations can be the spark!

Penguin Fun and Beach Beauty!

Today was spectacular.  We started off mostly refreshed and although the shower was cold and the coffee was weak we were so ready! And it's funny because we could never have know what we were getting ourselves into. We started the day at such an amazing beautiful sight. From the nature to the architecture I could not stop saying "Oh my God" like we had never seen water or houses before because something brilliant replaced any concept of a home or a beach that I had ever had!

We stopped at Maiden's Cove at Camps Bay and took amazing pictures. It is unbelievable how outstanding these sights are. These pictures do not do it justice at all. Here, seeing it is believing because there is no better way to get this message across.  A place so rich in history and beauty is often underrated to me it seems but it shouldn't be because it is something I never expected. It's so gorgeous here and refreshing. The colors are vibrant and bright as are the people and these experiences.  We were so  photo happy but how could you not be when there is a mix of green and blue water, huge rocks and mountains surrounding you? It is unbelievable that we are here and still not even real. I wonder when things will feel like a routine. Since this feels like a joke, my imagination. Then I remind myself that I could not ever imagine something is great so it must be real!

We made our way to Cape Point but not without stopping just once more to gawk at the sights and scenery. We took photos and even so I believe that you would truly need to be here to believe this because it is wonderful and words cannot do this place justice one single bit. We spent the hour bus ride taking more pictures. Blue waters, cute homes, and never ending scenery kept our hunger subsided and made the ride feel short. It was nice because we got to get  a feel for the geography of Cape Town and understand how and where people live. We saw townships that were created historically for "coloured"  people during the Apartheid and it was an amazing contrast to the expensive homes and fancy lifestyles we saw just minutes before. The drive was informative and helpful but mostly beautiful!

When we got to Two Oceans restaurant and Cape Point we were ready to eat. It was very touristy but the food was amazing. Fresh juicy sushi and vegetables finally! I was happy with the food and so full. When we made our way to the lighthouse the walk was difficult but so worth the view. We were all reminded that we are quite out of shape and we need to get back in shape to accomplish all the hikes and trails we want to travel. We were exhausted after our hike and there was still more to do. The most exciting part of our day was just beginning.

When we arrived at Boulder's Beach I was not sure what to expect.  There were actual penguins and they were wonderful! We acted like such tourists taking pictures and videos and documenting their lives like we actually knew what they were up to.  Pictures and funny voices of course accompanied this experience. Then we got to swim with the penguins on the beach. We all rolled up our pants and climbed in to get photos up close and personal with the penguins who were totally used to our company.  They just stood there and posed like it was their job. I loved seeing them because they were just so cute and who knew that we could get so close to them! I was shocked and happy because in one day we saw the 12 apostles, a natural wonder of the world (Table Mountain) and penguins!!  We left promising to come back and spend an entire day swimming and playing around.  On the bus ride home we all just passed out. Many of us had sunburns and were exhausted and although there were so many pretty things to see, all we could do was sleep.

Soon we will get settled at UCT and also go to Signal Hill and get to view the entire layout of Cape Town which I expect to be just as breathtaking as all the other sights we've seen so far! 

First Impressions

After a really long day of traveling we finally reached South Africa. We were exhausted and tired but it didn’t matter because right when we began our descent into Cape Town international airport it all made sense. I looked out our window and saw Table Mountain and all the worries that kept me thinking til late at night turned to questions and excitement as I wanted to know desperately where things were and what was what.

When I stepped outside it became real for me because we were here finally and the sights were just amazing. The clean fresh air and being greeted by familiar faces was refreshing. When we arriving, Marita gave me a birthday present. It was a traditional beaded South African 21st birthday key. In many families females are given this key as a symbol of their adulthood and to show they are ready to go out and find themselves. For me that was such a beautiful , remarkable and thoughtful gift because as we are just about to embark on this experience of finding ourselves and exploration I was presented with the symbolic means to do just that.

The scene was beautiful and I never thought how real or close this mountain would be. It was stunning to drive from the airport to the house and drive straight toward the mountain and into our new home. We stopped at Loche road first and the house was amazing. Big and beautiful and we were all jealous for about 20 minutes until we arrived at our home on Malleson road. Our home is cozy, comfortable and just right. I'm glad because it is really great to have this home to come back to and I love the quite relaxed atmosphere that we created. We joined together at Loche road for a pizza dinner and that was fun and although we were tired we enjoyed each other's company and the food was good too! I am so privileged to be on this program and to have the accommodations and leaders that we do.

Cape Town could not be more beautiful and I cant say yet if it feels real. I know I cant wait for what is next!

Check out our group blog for more info on what we are up to!

http://cptadventures2013.blogspot.com/?psinvite=ALRopfVQumPtfFJe1TwafqTWVQe8lbkI2Ii7tp_PfB_pWizf67umbDNMb19F5QP7DcvSrb5SLkSHAiYcsBdAwGClD1c9QtrCRw