Poetry Session

As a part of our internal seminar and in an attempt to get to know each other better we all spent five minutes writing short poems/ haikus about each other

Turquoise
A come of silence
Fire burning in her dark eyes
Through the night gliding- from Dan

Your cute hats, cute skirts
Your pillow, crinkle crinkle
Yay! Suitcase was found- Love Jaclyn

Kathlyn
Eager embracer of culture
She yells her Zulu
Wears only jewels

Max
Loves the shoes,
The Ray Bans too,
What a laugh
He is classy and kind too

Sarcastic, witty, long, refreshing
The head is more than the body
You make me laugh
hahaha

Curly hair sarcasm
Living cool shades of the south
Your shopping will get better- love Whitney

Annie
Like a child, she is joyful in the moment
Rolling in the water
Like an old woman she reflects
Asking all the wise questions
Some how she manages to be both

If I were a seed
At last I’d be free
Smile with glee
Grow up big- from max

Lauren (me)
Nature girl at heart
Speaks strongly and with banks
Buys shiny art- love Stephanie

She comes undone now
Spill red laced with silver gems
Shola, I need help!- love Rachael

Elias
An encourager
Always making me smile
An awesome twirler – Turquoise

Jaclyn
Always so perky
Please show that sexy face
Eats her weight in size- love Turquoise

Luxurious hair
Likes to make fun of her mom
Zulu class all-star- <3 Jillian

Daniel
He’s got the beats
Takes care of the crew
I have so much love for you- Josh

Stephanie
Drawing all the time
She sees the beauty in all
She’s a free spirit- love Jaclyn

Josh
Been rockin’ a hat
Likes to have crazy voice time
Often in the morn- From Caroline

Hits head on ceiling
Huggable like a teddy bear
“oh is it my turn”- Lauren (me)

a shattered illusion

When I decided to travel to South Africa for my first semester of junior year, I believed I would be entering a newly enlightened country. I thought that it had thrown the past aside and was only moving forward. Once I arrived, I realized my idealist perspective was just that, ideal, and that South Africans were just beginning to change apartheid ways. Since studying at SIT and living in Cato Manor, I have encountered multiple situations where I was unsure whether apartheid really had ended. These situations have been in both white and black context and each has seized to shock and amaze me.A few of these events have left a lasting impression on my optimistic mind. One of thee events took place on our group trip to the south coast. We stayed at an amazing little hostel situated right by the ocean. The atmosphere was incredibly calming from both a mix of the smell of the sea to the silence of the night. A man named Eric ran the Hostel. Although he was a French migrant to South Africa, he had lived in the country during the apartheid era. All the staff besides Eric where black South Africans. The main staff members name was Musa. He worked with his head down towards the ground and spoke so softly it was nearly impossible to hear him. Eric would summon Musa with a wave of his finger and expect Musa be at his side in seconds. Eric acted as if Musa was his servant.

On our last morning, I was sitting alone inside on the couches. I was peacefully reading my book “Coconut” trying to get some space from the group. While I was reading Eric stormed into the living room walked over to the kitchen door and summoned Musa with his usual hand wave. Startled by the loud footsteps, I looked up from my book. Musa, being busy, did not see Eric. Eric, once again, waved his finger and yelled Musas name. “Is a wave not enough Musa? Must I now also you to me as well,” yelled Eric in a demeaning tone. “ Are you a child Musa? Must I work with imbeciles who embarrass me and upset my guests?” Being his only guest and far from upset I had no clue why Eric was so angry. However, I was to afraid and shocked to come to Musas aid and his behind my book until the scolding was finished and I could scamper outside unnoticed. I could not get the conversation out of my mind for the rest of the day.

This final event showed me how attached South Africa is to its apartheid ways. I believe Eric considers himself superior to his staff both because he owns the hostel and is white. Being shocked out of my naivety and into reality has left me to feel scared thatchange will never come to this nation. I know I have come to South Africa to witness the change first hand but I currently feel no hope for the older generation of this country. I also fear for the younger generation such as Musa. He could not have been older than 25. Meaning Musa only spent 9 years of his life under true apartheid rule. If he is treated by whites as nothing but the trash that sweeps the mess of the floor than he will be destined to a black inferiority complex. This complex is detrimental to black South Africans and is passed from one generation to the next. After such an emotionally startling event, I have misgivings about the ability for South Africa to leave its past behind.

After experiencing an event such as this, I am stuck wondering what I could have done differently. Should I have stopped Eric? How would Musa have felt if I told him, I was not angry? Where was my place in this interaction and should I have takena more critical role in it. After analyzing my feelings and having time to reconsider the situation, I believe I did the right thing. It is not my place to try to change South Africa. I am here to understand the conflict and hypothesize about the bright future of South Africa. I have come to the country to learn about the social and political development of the country so I can go on to help assist countries in the future with their own development. Maybe one day I will come back to South Africa and tackle the apartheid racism from a structured social context. However for now, I am hear to be an observer and understand as much as I can about the good and bad South Africa has to offer.

Transportation

Address

Lauren Sakin
School for International Training
Postnet Suite 151
Private Bag X04
Dalbridge 4014
SOUTH AFRICA

Teaching Abilities in a Developing Nation

-Image of the world cup stadium in Durban

Finally having met my home stay family, I am pleased to say they are as normal as expected and quite. I spent most of the weekend either home alone, eating or watching the bible channel. The house is nice with a living room kitchen/dinning room and I have my own bathroom. There is full electricity and running water. No shower but there is a tub (pictures coming soon). I have a little sister names Lipuma, a mama Alice, and Baba Albert.

The neighborhood is safe in the day but is not the best at night. Basically, we have to be escorted places or stay inside. My family is a bit paranoid it seems in comparison to other families. They don’t want me to have my windows opening. Uhh huh sure… not when it is fucking hot and there are bars on the window. Needless to say, at night it usually smells like someone has lit a joint in my room because everyone in Bonela (our township) and South African townships smoke weed. They don’t call it the cape of good dope for nothing!

Days have been so busy I have had very little time to journal think let alone get online. I try to sneak in a facebook peak in between our 2 HOUR LONG lecture and zulu classes. Zulu, well it is going… but that is about all I think I can say about it without ranting!

A NOTE ON AFRICAN TEACHERS

I have noticed there is a clear distinction between the capabilities of American teachers vs. those here in South Africa. I know education in the country is poor and there are constant struggles and strikes around the education system. Many of our readings we receive are written poorly with many typos. They also are poorly organized and that translates into the lectures in class. I know you may be thinking, “what is a dyslexic girl thinking when she is evaluating peoples writing abilities.” All I have to say to that is, if I notice than it is definitely a problem. It also presents a problem when I am attempting to learn something in class and we jump around from topic to another and then back to the old. I do not mean this in a tangent kind of way but in a clearly disorganized writing ability. I believe this shows the level in expectation between the US and other nations. Going to a very good liberal arts school I know my teachers hold a very high expectation of me and even higher of themselves. After seeing the difference, it is not surprising to me that the government in this country is struggling. If the most educated people are still having trouble teaching about their chosen profession then how good is their own working ability. This must be a problem many westerners encounter in South Africa as well as in other developing countries. Long story short, the struggle with education in this country is apparent and shines through when looking at the abilities of teachers and their expectations of themselves as well as their students.

Enter, the Post Apartheid Zone...

After traveling for 3 weeks with the family my program officially started about a week ago. We have moved to Durban and will move in with our host families on Friday. Durban is a beautiful city. Yesterday we had our first day to explore the city. We rode to the top of the soccer stadium where we could have a view of the city. The Indian ocean is magnificent. (besides the sharks that is!) The city is wonderful looking and is much more African than say Cape town. We are still all adjusting but its going so well. I am so pleased to be in an eclectic group of kids. Not everyone would choose this program and I am really beginning to see that.

We also started are Zulu language program which is full of clicking. We have learned three clicks. They are quite fun but also distracting and challenging. My tongue has to learn to move and build up new muscles. Yes is yebo and how are you in unjani. That’s all for now maybe Ill post more Zulu language skills so we can all converse together!

Finally, please everyone send me addresses so I can send postcards. I will not be sending mass emails but rather having frequent posts. Feel free to respond but I am just to busy here to individually reply to everyone all the time. Please don’t take it personally I have created this blog so I can keep the love ones in my life aware of how I am doing both emotionally and physically.

Note on the hoop:

I have had a lot of time to practice with the hoop and almost have leg hoping down. I thankfully have had a fellow spinner in the group. Elias is a poi and staff spinner and is wonderful. He has been teaching me poi, which I will hopefully translate into my hooping and meanwhile I have been showing him the joy of the hoop! I hope that this weekend I will be able to get out into Cato Manor township and practice and show my sisi’s and bhuti’s how to hoop.