Journey Home..
The journey home was a little bit tough versus the journey to the motherland. It was tough because I had grown quite home sick. It was a wonderful experience and I loved every minute of it. But I am a home body and I missed the ones that I love. And we spent the better part of two days traveling back to USA. All in all this was a life changing experience that I will able to reflect for my entire life. I would love to actually go back some day (maybe) even next summer.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Paarl
Paarl
During our last week in the country of South Africa, we stayed in Paarl which is about an hour away from Capetown. The economy in Paarl is heavily based around the Wine industry. There are wine farms on almost every corner and crevast of the city. Saying this, there are many farms in which schools and homes are built on the farms. So the children go to school on the farms while there parents work the farms for minimal wages.
I was fortunate enough to work on with the BERGENDAL staff and they were very warm and welcoming. Every night during our last week in Paarl they brought us into their homes and we were feed home cooked meals. During the day we worked inside of the Bergendal school facilitating activities with different classrooms. Bergendal consisted of students from grades R (Kindergarten)- Grade 9. Since my focus was on secondary education I tended to spend my time focusing on the Grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. One activity that I facilitated multiple times was an activity called “Who Am I.” This activity has multiple parts and it takes students on steps to realize some of their own personal characteristics, what obstacles they face, and lastly where they want to go with their lives. I did this activity with all four grades (6,7,8,9) .
Working in the Bergendal School was a great experience. It was eye opening and it made me realize that I along with majority of the citizens of the United Sates have nothing to complain about. One of the days that I attended the schools I actually visited one of the farm communities were some of students live and that was an experience in its own. Poor would be word that does not do justice to the lack there of physical structure and proper living environments that I witnessed. When I was walking around the places were they live I couldn’t even speak. I was taken back because I had never seen anything like this before.
On the last day of my stay at Bergendal Intermediate all of the students gathered in one of the classrooms and they had a closing ceremony of us. This ceremony was very special to me because in just a weeks time. I had grown so close to the students and staff. I had grown attached to them. On the last day, I went in the kitchen made my own tea and the staff said that I was at home. AND I WAS. One of the best moments was when the school choir performed a song entitled bye-bye. The song touched my heart and I actually shed a tear or two. Okay maybe three or four..lol
During our last week in the country of South Africa, we stayed in Paarl which is about an hour away from Capetown. The economy in Paarl is heavily based around the Wine industry. There are wine farms on almost every corner and crevast of the city. Saying this, there are many farms in which schools and homes are built on the farms. So the children go to school on the farms while there parents work the farms for minimal wages.
I was fortunate enough to work on with the BERGENDAL staff and they were very warm and welcoming. Every night during our last week in Paarl they brought us into their homes and we were feed home cooked meals. During the day we worked inside of the Bergendal school facilitating activities with different classrooms. Bergendal consisted of students from grades R (Kindergarten)- Grade 9. Since my focus was on secondary education I tended to spend my time focusing on the Grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. One activity that I facilitated multiple times was an activity called “Who Am I.” This activity has multiple parts and it takes students on steps to realize some of their own personal characteristics, what obstacles they face, and lastly where they want to go with their lives. I did this activity with all four grades (6,7,8,9) .
Working in the Bergendal School was a great experience. It was eye opening and it made me realize that I along with majority of the citizens of the United Sates have nothing to complain about. One of the days that I attended the schools I actually visited one of the farm communities were some of students live and that was an experience in its own. Poor would be word that does not do justice to the lack there of physical structure and proper living environments that I witnessed. When I was walking around the places were they live I couldn’t even speak. I was taken back because I had never seen anything like this before.
On the last day of my stay at Bergendal Intermediate all of the students gathered in one of the classrooms and they had a closing ceremony of us. This ceremony was very special to me because in just a weeks time. I had grown so close to the students and staff. I had grown attached to them. On the last day, I went in the kitchen made my own tea and the staff said that I was at home. AND I WAS. One of the best moments was when the school choir performed a song entitled bye-bye. The song touched my heart and I actually shed a tear or two. Okay maybe three or four..lol
On day 9 we departed the Johannesburg area for Capetown which is one of the southern most points of the continent of Africa. Capetown is by far one of the most beautiful places in the entire world (that I have seen at the least). If I had to correlate Capetown to any city it would have to be San Francisco. Capetown is home to the famous TABLETOP Mountain which is amazing. At some points in Capetown you have a beautiful view of the ocean. On our first day in Capetown we went to the District Six museum, which is a museum that depicts the memories and stories of the forced removals. On our free day in Capetown a few of the group members decided to be daredevils and actually go CAGE DIVING with the magnificent GREAT WHITE SHARK. This was arguably one the most memorable exciting moments in my life. Coming within inches of GREAT WHITE SHARKS was exhilarating. One portion of our time in Capetown that deserves to be noted is our stay in the African Villa. This Bed n Breakfast hotel was the best stay my entire in South Africa. They prided them selves in making you feel at home.
Zoological & Voortrekker Monument
Today we visited the National Zoological gardens and the Voortrekker Monument. The first portion of the day was dedicated to the zoological Gardens. This was an experience because we got to actually see the inner and outer workings of the entire operations of the zoo. We started our day with a breakfast and a meeting the director of the zoo. After the brief meeting we went to a building that contained a doctors office and operating table, a kitchen for all of the dietary needs of each animal and holding pen for animals when they are sick. We also went to the lab on the campus were they studying all types of different aspects of the animal ranging from DNA to the feces. After we took at look at the different mechanisms we started our tour of the Zoo. The zoo was quite large and contained a multi-variety of animals ranging from the “Big Five” to the all different types of birds seals, etc. After finishing up most of the morning at the National Zoological Gardens we drove to the Vootrekker Monument. The Voortrekker Monument is situated in the northern part of South Africa in the Pretoria region in a nature reserve. It is a unique Monument which commemorates the Pioneer history of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikan. The hard thing about this one particular museum is the way that relations between Zulu and Vootreekers. One has to realize that history is told in the ones who hold the power. The Zulu were defeated in the famous “battle of blood River.” The hard fact to swallow is the way that the Zulu were portrayed, being that they were portrayed as savages and beast.
Today we visited the National Zoological gardens and the Voortrekker Monument. The first portion of the day was dedicated to the zoological Gardens. This was an experience because we got to actually see the inner and outer workings of the entire operations of the zoo. We started our day with a breakfast and a meeting the director of the zoo. After the brief meeting we went to a building that contained a doctors office and operating table, a kitchen for all of the dietary needs of each animal and holding pen for animals when they are sick. We also went to the lab on the campus were they studying all types of different aspects of the animal ranging from DNA to the feces. After we took at look at the different mechanisms we started our tour of the Zoo. The zoo was quite large and contained a multi-variety of animals ranging from the “Big Five” to the all different types of birds seals, etc. After finishing up most of the morning at the National Zoological Gardens we drove to the Vootrekker Monument. The Voortrekker Monument is situated in the northern part of South Africa in the Pretoria region in a nature reserve. It is a unique Monument which commemorates the Pioneer history of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikan. The hard thing about this one particular museum is the way that relations between Zulu and Vootreekers. One has to realize that history is told in the ones who hold the power. The Zulu were defeated in the famous “battle of blood River.” The hard fact to swallow is the way that the Zulu were portrayed, being that they were portrayed as savages and beast.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Day 6/…
Today was an emotional day. We went to the Nelson Mandela Museum and the Hector Peterson Museum. If you are not familiar with Mandela he was a key figure in the Aparthied Movement in South Africa. Apartheid—meaning separateness in Afrikaans was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994.Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times, but apartheid as an official policy was introduced following the general election of 1948. New legislation classified inhabitants into racial groups (black, white, coloured, and Indian), and residential areas were segregated by means of forced removals. From 1958, Blacks were deprived of their citizenship, legally becoming citizens of one of ten tribally based self-governing homelands or bantustans, four of which became nominally independent states. The government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of whites. Hector Peterson became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising in apartheid South Africa when a news photograph by Sam Nzima of the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student, was published around the world. He was killed at the age of 12 when the police opened fire on protesting students. For years, June 16 stood as a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government. Today, it is known as National Youth Day — a day on which South Africans honor young people and bring attention to their needs.
It was very difficult to attend both of these museums and actively engage in all that they had to offer because I felt attached to the people who were living this struggle on a day to day basis. My experiences today also reminded me that I have little to nothing to complain about back home in the states because I am fortunate beyond measure and I have been blessed with many opportunities. Signing Off….
Today was an emotional day. We went to the Nelson Mandela Museum and the Hector Peterson Museum. If you are not familiar with Mandela he was a key figure in the Aparthied Movement in South Africa. Apartheid—meaning separateness in Afrikaans was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994.Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times, but apartheid as an official policy was introduced following the general election of 1948. New legislation classified inhabitants into racial groups (black, white, coloured, and Indian), and residential areas were segregated by means of forced removals. From 1958, Blacks were deprived of their citizenship, legally becoming citizens of one of ten tribally based self-governing homelands or bantustans, four of which became nominally independent states. The government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of whites. Hector Peterson became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising in apartheid South Africa when a news photograph by Sam Nzima of the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student, was published around the world. He was killed at the age of 12 when the police opened fire on protesting students. For years, June 16 stood as a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government. Today, it is known as National Youth Day — a day on which South Africans honor young people and bring attention to their needs.
It was very difficult to attend both of these museums and actively engage in all that they had to offer because I felt attached to the people who were living this struggle on a day to day basis. My experiences today also reminded me that I have little to nothing to complain about back home in the states because I am fortunate beyond measure and I have been blessed with many opportunities. Signing Off….
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Hilton
Day 5
On this day of our trip we were supposed to attend the Apartheid museum but our plans were brought to a hault because the museum was actually closed today. But we left the Game Reserve and we checked into the Hilton hotel in Johannesburg. Yes that’s right ..the Hilton. Which brings me to an important point. And I will take some time to examine these ideas since we didn’t have any primary activities today. There are many misconceptions about the continent of Africa. The first misconception that I have heard countless times is “your going to be mad hot when you go over there.” I am actually in South Africa and this country is south of the equator so they are actually in their winter season. The other day when I was at Teboho Trust it was probably 45 degrees outside and it was raining. (Not a good combination) The next is that the entire continent is not one gigantic desert or bush area and there are not tribes of people with bones in the hair standing at every corner. Johannesburg is developed beyond imagination. When I was walking around today in Johannesburg I thought I was in NYC, ok well maybe I am exaggerating but it really is developed. Notice how I took a picture with the Benz it..yes..they were every where and BMW..7 series not 3......Signing Off
On this day of our trip we were supposed to attend the Apartheid museum but our plans were brought to a hault because the museum was actually closed today. But we left the Game Reserve and we checked into the Hilton hotel in Johannesburg. Yes that’s right ..the Hilton. Which brings me to an important point. And I will take some time to examine these ideas since we didn’t have any primary activities today. There are many misconceptions about the continent of Africa. The first misconception that I have heard countless times is “your going to be mad hot when you go over there.” I am actually in South Africa and this country is south of the equator so they are actually in their winter season. The other day when I was at Teboho Trust it was probably 45 degrees outside and it was raining. (Not a good combination) The next is that the entire continent is not one gigantic desert or bush area and there are not tribes of people with bones in the hair standing at every corner. Johannesburg is developed beyond imagination. When I was walking around today in Johannesburg I thought I was in NYC, ok well maybe I am exaggerating but it really is developed. Notice how I took a picture with the Benz it..yes..they were every where and BMW..7 series not 3......Signing Off
The game reserve..
Day 4…..
On day four of our Study tour we took a break from all of the seriousness and went to the game reserve were we had a chance to take a look at Africa’s big Five. We watched as the wildabeast graze through the fields. We were also lucky to catch a small glimpse of a female lion. The lion was laying in the grass doing a great job of blending in with the brown tall grass. We saw the tip of her ears first and her face. I actually winked at her and she smiled back…lol. We saw black and white rhino; yes there is a difference but they are not literally white and black. The difference lies within the the formation of the humps on their back. After seeing the rhinos we were lucky enough to see a small pack of African Elephant along with a few Giraffes. The safari trip lasted about three hours with lunch in the middle of the trip. After the safari we came back to the hotel and ate dinner. We then planned to go out as a group and visit Sun city a local casino and bar. Signing off
On day four of our Study tour we took a break from all of the seriousness and went to the game reserve were we had a chance to take a look at Africa’s big Five. We watched as the wildabeast graze through the fields. We were also lucky to catch a small glimpse of a female lion. The lion was laying in the grass doing a great job of blending in with the brown tall grass. We saw the tip of her ears first and her face. I actually winked at her and she smiled back…lol. We saw black and white rhino; yes there is a difference but they are not literally white and black. The difference lies within the the formation of the humps on their back. After seeing the rhinos we were lucky enough to see a small pack of African Elephant along with a few Giraffes. The safari trip lasted about three hours with lunch in the middle of the trip. After the safari we came back to the hotel and ate dinner. We then planned to go out as a group and visit Sun city a local casino and bar. Signing off
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Day 3 ...Teboho Trust
Day 3…
The third day of our trip started out very rough, the weather was bad. It was about 45 degrees outside it was raining hard all day long. We had to get up at about 6am to eat breakfast and get on the bus by 7:15am so that we could make it to the Teboho Trust Saturday school by about 9am. We made it to the school on time and we were taken back because even the orientation that we had experienced a day before didn’t do justice to the poor school conditions and the lack of resources. The classrooms had broken windows and most of the doors didn’t work. There was no running water and the bathrooms were not functioning. Despite all of these issues about one hundred and fifty out of the normal two hundred and thirty kids showed ready to learn and develop on this day. I must admit that even my spirits were low throughout the day because the weather was terrible and not conducive for any type of productive learning environment. At one point I kind of wished that we could take a half day go home early and come back the next day. But it wasn’t about me; it was about the lives of those children who really had no place else to go. A member of the SAI study asked one of the students for their home address so that he/she could mail him pictures and the boy replied “I don’t have a home address.” This was one of the many moments during the day that were filled with tears of sorrow for the children attending Teboho.
But again something special happened….at the conclusion of the day we gathered in assembly fashion to give our thanks and gratitude to the students and staff for allowing us to come and give our time. The joy that filled the room almost felt surreal and I had to actually pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. In spite of the bad weather and the bad learning conditions; the students spoke words of gratitude with tears; expressing their thanks for the involvement of the Rutgers Community. And for anyone who knows me or my fraternity, I had to leave them with a piece of my HEART, and what better way than to put a step performance for their entire student body. So I did, I stepped for the kids and this along with a few words from each group member sparked a rally in which the kids began to perform their different talents in front of everybody. Again it was a moment of fantasy that was created in a room full of love. Today, my heart was broken because leaving some of the kids at Teboho was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a long time. I fell in love a 4 year old girl and she asked me Twistian (because she couldn’t pronuce my name) are you coming back next Saturday, and yup that definatley made me shed a tear, because I don’t know when I will ever back. But I am going to do my best to keep in contact with the staff at Teboho to see the growth of the students attending the program. I am thankful for another WONDERFUL opportunity here in the MOTHERLAND!!!!!
The third day of our trip started out very rough, the weather was bad. It was about 45 degrees outside it was raining hard all day long. We had to get up at about 6am to eat breakfast and get on the bus by 7:15am so that we could make it to the Teboho Trust Saturday school by about 9am. We made it to the school on time and we were taken back because even the orientation that we had experienced a day before didn’t do justice to the poor school conditions and the lack of resources. The classrooms had broken windows and most of the doors didn’t work. There was no running water and the bathrooms were not functioning. Despite all of these issues about one hundred and fifty out of the normal two hundred and thirty kids showed ready to learn and develop on this day. I must admit that even my spirits were low throughout the day because the weather was terrible and not conducive for any type of productive learning environment. At one point I kind of wished that we could take a half day go home early and come back the next day. But it wasn’t about me; it was about the lives of those children who really had no place else to go. A member of the SAI study asked one of the students for their home address so that he/she could mail him pictures and the boy replied “I don’t have a home address.” This was one of the many moments during the day that were filled with tears of sorrow for the children attending Teboho.
But again something special happened….at the conclusion of the day we gathered in assembly fashion to give our thanks and gratitude to the students and staff for allowing us to come and give our time. The joy that filled the room almost felt surreal and I had to actually pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. In spite of the bad weather and the bad learning conditions; the students spoke words of gratitude with tears; expressing their thanks for the involvement of the Rutgers Community. And for anyone who knows me or my fraternity, I had to leave them with a piece of my HEART, and what better way than to put a step performance for their entire student body. So I did, I stepped for the kids and this along with a few words from each group member sparked a rally in which the kids began to perform their different talents in front of everybody. Again it was a moment of fantasy that was created in a room full of love. Today, my heart was broken because leaving some of the kids at Teboho was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a long time. I fell in love a 4 year old girl and she asked me Twistian (because she couldn’t pronuce my name) are you coming back next Saturday, and yup that definatley made me shed a tear, because I don’t know when I will ever back. But I am going to do my best to keep in contact with the staff at Teboho to see the growth of the students attending the program. I am thankful for another WONDERFUL opportunity here in the MOTHERLAND!!!!!
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