John learning beyond history books

After a weeklong emotional roller coaster, I’m glad to be home! This past week we had the pleasure of going to numerous museums and locations that critical to South Africa’s history. Many of the students who study abroad in Cape Town don’t really get the whole historical aspect of South Africa, that’s why I consider myself very fortunate to have had the chance to go to Johannesburg and be a part of this program. There were several moments during this week that I will take with me for the rest of my life. One of them was at the Sharpeville Memorial where we met Alice whom was our tour guide for the day. It was absolutely amazing getting to hear her story during the troubling times South Africa was undergoing. We had learned about the Sharpeville massacre in class but there is something special about hearing it straight from the source. Every word she said you could tell it came from the heart. She welcomed us into her community with open arms and graced us with all of her knowledge. I always saw the massacre as something horrific from the past, something that happened many years ago buried along with years of history. Listening to her made me understand so much more of what was actually going on. So many details you wont find in a history book. We got the privileged to hear first hand information that people in years to come wont have access to. 

John (far left) looks on as Alice recalls the horror of the Sharpeville Massacre

Another moment that struck me during this trip was at the Boys and Girls Club in Soweto. We often focus on the negative aspects of our everyday lives. We get stressed out over all we have to accomplish in a day and forget to take a minute to just live in the moment, and that’s exactly what I did there. I was amazing at how loving and welcoming everyone was at that center, always willing to help and constantly trying to place a smile on your face. While being there I forgot where I was or any commitments I had to take care of. I was totally engrossed by all the joy around me. Not only did I learn to take time to live in the now, but also how little it takes to be happy. I think as a society we always have some sort goal or endpoint in mind and it isn’t until we reach those goals that we think we will be in complete bliss. This week I found out that that is all false. By looking at the kids’ faces I learned that it’s all the little things that bring us the most joy. Making other people happy in turn makes me happy. I think I’m finally beginning to understand the sense of Ubuntu and I’m excited to carry on with my life with that kind of mentality.