Sam recaps the last two weeks as her count down to departure begins

Last week was our excursion which was great! To me, the beginning of the week was a little slow but definitely very interesting and important to see. All of the museums made the events that we have learned about seem so real, especially with pictures and exhibits. I think the Hector Peterson Museum and the Sharpeville Exhibit resonated with me the most in seeing all of the pictures portray those horrific events in history. Pictures truly do speak 1000 words and being at the place and seeing and learning about what had happened there felt so real. I remember at each museum thinking "wow, people actually had to go through all of this" and feeling very emotional and sad for such innocent people. I also was so blown away at realizing again just how much bravery people had to fight for their lives. i really can't put into words how astonishing this history is. 

Internship has been going well! I've been a lot more involved in creating processes for children that relate to their anger issues, social issues, etc. I even wrote up a whole process document for an anger management group and we will be beginning the group soon! i like who i am working closely with and i know I'm going to miss christel house so much. it is definitely going to be hard leaving the kids. I have raised enough money to buy 300 blankets for the kids at christel house!!! 

 

This past weekend i helped with the admissions process for the upcoming school year which made me realize how great of an organization christel house is. parents are literally DESPERATE to get their kids in. there were over 300 applicants yet only 30 open spots for grade R, which makes me sad that so many people won't be accepted. 

It is SO crazy that we have just 12 days left here in cape town. i keep replaying january 16th in my head when we got here and i just can't grasp that this journey is actually coming to an end. I'm definitely ready to hug my parents but its just so weird that this has been home for the past few months and soon i'll be returning to my other home. 

Caitlin reflects on her excursion experiences

I found excursion to be both informative and fun. I was particularly impressed by the Hector Pieterson Museum, which gave me an insider’s perspective on the Soweto uprising, an event which I had previously known very little about. I was especially struck by the recollections of Hector’s older sister, who was with him when he was killed in the protest. Reading her memories of that day and how she felt seeing her thirteen-year-old brother killed on the street made me think of my own brother, who is also thirteen, and how traumatizing that experience must have been. I found this part of the museum to be extremely powerful and I had a hard time containing my emotion. I also was inspired by how the schoolchildren in Soweto took matters into their own hands and organized the uprising among themselves, with little to no adult input. It made me wonder if kids today would be so motivated and courageous enough to take a stand on an issue like that. I know in middle school there were plenty of kids in my class who talked about fighting the system for various reasons, but no one ever did anything substantial. It makes me wonder if “social media activism” might be taking the place of traditional methods of protest and organization. However, it is possible that if kids today were exposed to the same injustices as the Soweto schoolchildren they might be equally outraged and willing to take action. I also found it interesting how different the Hector Pieterson Museum was from the Sharpeville Exhibition Centre. I was surprised that the Sharpeville memorial seemed like it had been forgotten by the world and was only being maintained by a few devoted community members. It was strange that such a significant historical site would be so neglected by tourists and South Africans alike. However, the personal stories we heard at the Sharpeville memorial and the dedication of the people working there made the experience meaningful for us.

The time we spent at the Soweto Boys and Girls Club was a lot of fun, and gave a human face to the city of Johannesburg. Dani and I were instructed by several of the girls in some elaborate song and dance routines, and they also taught us some clapping games. We exchanged skills when they taught us to cha-cha and we taught them to waltz, which they had never done before and were really excited about. It almost made me feel like I was back doing ballroom dance in Ocean View! I’m always amazed at how trusting kids are and how quickly they’ll be your friends. I wish adults were as open and friendly as kids are- I feel like it would be a much simpler world. I also really liked the programs that the Boys and Girls club had for the kids, like the homework program that some of them participate in. It made me want to get involved with a Boys and Girls Club back home, or some kind of similar organization.

Finally, our time in Kruger National Park was amazing- I had to pinch myself because I couldn’t believe that it was really happening! Thinking back, I never would have imagined that at the age of nineteen I would be in Africa getting up close with lions and elephants. It was so cool to be surrounded by untouched natural landscape, watching the sun rise and set and seeing all the different animals living their lives in the wild. I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to be there, especially since so many people who live here in South Africa aren’t able to visit Kruger.

Caitlin (in green) and crew on Game Drive at Kruger National Park

Overall I really enjoyed excursion, although it was nice to come home and see Table Mountain again! I’m really glad I was able to see a different part of South Africa and experience more of the country while learning about its history and having a good time.

Dani loved seeing animals in their natural environment

Emily, Dani, Maria

After spending half of the week in Johannesburg, we made the long journey (an 8 hour-long bus ride) to The Kruger National Park!  This was my first time ever being on a safari and it was absolutely amazing.  I was struck with amazement at how beautiful all of the animals were in their natural environment.  They were all so calm, and at some points during our drive, when everybody in the truck was silent, you could hear how the whole park and all of the animals were so relaxed and quiet as well.

The things we saw were unbelievable- a huge herd of elephants of all sizes and ages passed us by, we saw some lionesses snuggling together in the bush, a herd of hundreds of buffalo crossed the road while two lions laid in waiting to pounce nearby, and so many other beautiful animals and moments that we were lucky enough to witness.  I really could have stayed for another month just quietly observing all of the animals and plants at The Kruger.

           

Now, we are back in Cape Town for the last few weeks of the program.  I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed by- it seems like just yesterday that I met everybody at the airport.  I am feeling very lucky to be spending a few weeks longer after the program ends with my family in Cape Town, because I definitely would not be ready to head back to the states quite yet!  For now, I am just enjoying the last few weeks of the program and trying to soak up as much African sunshine as possible.

Onna's incredible trip to Jo'burg

Our spring break excursion to Johannesburg was a true rollercoaster of emotions. We visited many powerful historic locations such as the Apartheid Museum, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Constitution Hill and the Sharpeville Exhibition Centre.

I really enjoyed all of these museums because they included many real life anecdotes from people who were directly involved in the many uprisings caused by apartheid. The day that really caught my emotions was when we visited Sharpeville, the place of the massacre on March 21, 1960 where over 69 people were shot dead because of their protest of the passbooks. The memorial was on the exact grounds of where the people who died in massacre fell. There was a podium representing each person, ranging from 12 to 60 years old. After we visited the graveyard, where those bodies peacefully rest. For the majority of my time here and the stories I have heard, apartheid always seemed to be so awful that it was unimaginable that this could have taken place and stole the lives of so many innocent people. However this trip to Sharpeville really solidified the fact that this is all so real. The grief I felt in my bones was something I have never felt before. I felt heavy with pain and sorrow for the families who will have to deal with this pain for the years to come. I returned to the bus and sat in my seat alone, at a loss for words. How can someone have the willpower to shoot one person, let alone 69 harmless people? I was left with such sorrow and it was then that I realized that this was one of the most powerful days for me in South Africa thus far.  

Onna (in red) and classmates listen in horror to story of Sharpeville

Alice recalls the events of the Sharpeville Massacre,  21 March 1960

Onna & Emily L working in garden at Boys & Girls Club

We also spent one of our days in Johannesburg at the Boys & Girls Club in Soweto; the largest township in South Africa. We were greeted by lots of smiling faces and before we could even put our bags down we were being pulled in multiple directions. The first half of the day we spent doing necessary work around the club such as picking up litter, wiping down tables & chairs, fixing up the garden. The second half of the day we were left to play with the young people. Many of the girls flocked to the other girls and asked us to sit down so they could play with our hair. I heard their ‘ooohs’ and ‘wows’ while they took my hair down from my ponytail. They spent most of my time just feeling my hair rather than creating hairstyles. I was confused at first but then realized that it was the smoothness of my hair that amazed them so much. I thought of the shampoo ads that stress on ‘silky smooth locks’ as a means of beauty. This made me curse the power of advertisements and the definition that they create of what is ‘beautiful’. What happened to celebrating yourself? After these thoughts I asked the girls if I could play with their beautiful hair, they look surprised but let out shy smiles. My time at the Boy & Girls club truly made me evaluate my own ideas of beauty and how outside forces have influenced them. I will no longer allow myself to be pressed into thinking that the airbrushed celebrities in magazines are the definition of beauty. Beauty should not be held under one definition.

Although our trip to Joburg was incredible, I was surprised of how excited I was to return to our big ol' home in Cape Town. I missed my walks through the Commons and the constant views of Table Mountain. This place is my happiness. Not looking forward to leaving my new home in less than a month. 

Taylor L discovering living history

We just returned from our weeklong excursion to Johannesburg and Kruger Park. It was absolutely amazing to see a new part of South Africa! While it was great to see another area, I still love Cape Town. I am so happy that we are fortunate enough to study and intern here. 

My favorite part about going to Johannesburg was visiting the museums. I usually don't like spending time in museums but I found the museums so fascinating. I really could have stayed there all day! A lot of the information shared at the Apartheid Museum in my non-fiction book, In A Different Time by Peter Harris. My book was about the Delmas Treason trial where some members of the MK Unit were accused of committing political assassinations and other criminal acts. It was pretty cool to walk around the museum and say, "I know that!" I also learned a lot more about the organizations talked about in the book, like the ANC and MK unit. I thought it was interesting that the MK unit wanted to change from peaceful protest to violent protest. However, the members did not want any deaths. I find it hard to believe that the members would have expected to use violence to instill power and fear, and not experience any deaths. 

I also was surprised to learn that Nelson Mandela was appointed as the head of this unit when it was first created in 1961. While he was in jail by the time the trial in my book occurred, I am curious if he would have been proud or disappointed in some of these members’ actions. While the violence from the MK units may have lead to F.W. De Klerk's negotiations to end apartheid and unban the ANC and other units, it still is disappointing that so many people's lives were negatively impacted and perhaps cut short. 

When I found out that a guy at the Hector Pieterson Museum was a Delmas Trialist, I was so excited. I thought it was ironic that the guy works in Sharpeville since I learned in my book that the Sharpeville Massacre influenced the creation of the MK unit and the use of violence. It was disappointing that he had the day off, but I was still excited to go and visit the place where everything changed. 

After visiting, I became curious as to what happened to many of these individuals after they were released from trial and jail. When we went to Robben Island I was surprised that the tour guides were former prisoners and many took those job because they struggled to find jobs elsewhere. I wonder if some of the tour guides were former Delmas trialists. I am excited to visit Robben Island when my parents come because I now know a lot more of South Africa's history. I also hope I get the chance to talk to the tour guides more about their experiences.  

Emily E considers the horrors . . . and goodness . . . of which humanity is capable

Jessica, Molly, Vernon, Bernie Emily L, Julia, Maria
Taylor L, Taylor P, Sam, Christina, John,
Emily E, Onna, Dani, Caitlin, Jill, Ashlyn, Becca

 Our excursion showed me how horrid humanity can be on this Earth, while beauty can exist within that will bring us together. I have to say, going to Johannesburg to visit museums in particular stirred a lot of mixed emotions--mostly sad ones. The Apartheid Museum was more than I expected. It gave a good overview of the history of the country and what is it possible for the future. At one part of the museum we came across a hall of nooses that were dangling from the ceiling. They weren’t the typical noose; it consisted of two loops instead of one. We were told that second loop would ensure the person suffocated if their neck did not break. This was not the only one time I struggled to hold back tears. Constitution Hill exhibited the horrors of prison life amongst men classified as Black, Colored and Indian. One of the things we were told about the prison was that the prison was not meant to rehabilitate, it was meant to punish. That statement in itself sums up the treatment they received. The Hector Peterson Museum was not a guided tour, but the videos and written testimonies about his death and the Soweto Uprising spoke for themselves. It is beyond unfortunate that these youths died for believing in a future of equality and peace. By the time we visited Sharpeville; I couldn’t help but be disgusted by what humanity is capable of. As I stood by the graves of 69 individuals who died during the massacre of 1960, I was angry about those who died during the struggle had a lasting impact on those they left behind. I’ve learned so many dark histories of many countries--they are all different but strangely similar. Humanity can be calculative and cruel; but, it is easily balanced by those who do right and learn from our past. Our internships have definitely shown that side and it’s a good reminder what’s in store for the future. 

Emily (center) listens to tour guide Alice at Sharpeville.

Emily L more fully embracing the notion of doing "small things with great love"

Since last posting, I was lucky enough to have embarked on a truly eye opening excursion with the group to Johannesburg. We spent the good portion of the week traveling the city and going through museums, and ended the time with an incredible three day adventure through Kruger National Park. When I first read through the itinerary for the week, I wasn’t too thrilled to see the number of museums we’d be going to. However, I could not be more thankful that these specific locations were made a part of our time in JoBurg.

           

The site that struck me the most during excursion was absolutely the Apartheid Museum. Right from the beginning of the tour, we were brought into the world of the past. We were given tickets prior to entering the museum that either stated “White” or “Non-White.” Depending on what your ticket said, that was the door which you used to enter the museum. This made quite an impression on me because I had never before physically experienced racial separation, even if it wasn’t completely being enforced. As I walked through the museum, everything that I have been learning about Apartheid in class and from conversations with locals came to life. One particular portion of the museum that struck a cord in me was all about the police brutality during that time. The tour guide told us about how the police would freely kill a prisoner for no reason and then state the prisoner had just committed suicide. This really broke my heart. I can’t fathom the idea of being so innocently murdered for nothing other than your skin color and the people you love being fed false information about your tragic death. The cruelty and evil of Apartheid continues to amaze me. How could humans behave so horribly to one another? Better yet, how are we CONTINUING to do it?

I struggle with ideas like these, like what is it going to take before we start to accept and love one another. Luckily, another experience in JoBurg gave me some hope. Dani’s aunt Cheryl kindly had a group of us over for a dinner party while we were in the city. Her aunt has been a very significant political figure in South Africa, and hearing the experiences she shared were nothing short of inspiring. Hearing about her time, as well as her friends’ time, during the struggle and what they’re doing now to address it made taking action seem so DOABLE. Ever since that dinner party, I’ve been brainstorming a variety of ways in which I could return home to Massachusetts and hit the ground running with service opportunities. Mother Teresa’s quote, “do small things with great love,” is becoming more and more clear to me each day in South Africa.

Dani, Emily, & Onna

Becca recognizing the power of student protest

So we are finally back from our trip from Johannesburg. It was a really great trip. And even though I am not much of a museum person, I really liked the ones that we went to in Johannesburg. I think the one I really like was the Hector Peitersen Museum in Soweto. It talked about the Soweto uprising in 1976 when students marched in protest of schools teaching classes in Africans. After the police opened fire killing students, it led to mass protest across the country. I think the most interesting part of all of this is that kids started all this. I think that in this day in age, kids and students are taught that only the adult have the power and the authority and know what is truly best for students. And while that may be the case most of the time, the fact is that students have more power than they realize. We have the power to spark real changes in our society, and this has been proved multiple times, not just in South Africa but in the United States as well. I remember before leaving the US I read that students were protesting because the school board was considering changing the history curriculum to only talk about positive aspects of American history. And when the students protested, the school board listened and didn’t change the curriculum.  When we feel like there is something wrong, whether it be related to our education or any other major social issue, we have the ability to voice our grievances. And from what the track has been showing, people really listen and even engage once kids and students are willing to organize and protest, fighting for what they believe is right.   

Outside the Hector Peitersen Memorial

Becca found excursion helped all she had learned in the classroom to click

Going to Johannesburg and experiencing a different part of Cape Town was really interesting and a great experience. I am not really a museum person but I did enjoy all of the museums that I went to while in Johannesburg. The things we have been learning in Vincent’s class like the Soweto uprising and the Sharpeville Massacre just really came to life and just finally clicked when we went to the museums in saw all the photographs. It was like something just clicked, especially with the Soweto uprisings. I mean they were just kids protesting for a better education and they were shot at by police. I think the Hector Peiterson Museum, because it really does show how much power students, people like me have. They sparked a reaction to the apartheid system across the nation, so even though I really don’t care for politics and everything like that, it was nice to know that when it does come to a being heard, I do have the power to be heard despite being young. 

I also really liked the Nelson Mandela exhibit at the Apartheid Museum. It was really cool seeing pictures of his life that I had read about in “The Long Walk to Freedom”. I also really liked how they had quotes of his about things like courage, loyalty, and other qualities and aspects of life. I thought the quotes were really inspiring and the lay out of the exhibit was really well done. 

The thing that blew my mind about the apartheid was the media coverage about the events like the uprisings and just the violence that people really experienced when it came to the living under the apartheid system. And just the people that I met how experiencing the apartheid and everything. Like Alice from the Sharpeville Memorial was just the sweetest lady ever. The struggle caused her to lose so many family members, including her husband and two of her kids. Yet I found it so strong and inspiring to see her talking about the massacre and how it helped shift the fight in their favor.

What I also liked about excursion was I really got to learn about other problems South Africa faces that I am just not exposed to here in Cape Town. When we went to the Boys and Girls Club in Soweto, I really got to learn about the short-comings in the school systems here. I was cataloguing the kid’s report cards and some of them are not doing so well in school. Some are passing with less than 50% and yet they move onto the next grade. To me that is crazy. Not only that but I met this one little girl there who was partially deaf and she wasn’t attending school. The people at the Boys and Girls Club were trying to get here into a deaf school but they couldn’t find documentation to prove that she was a South African citizen so she just doesn’t go to school or anything. That is just so sad and the whole concept would terrify me. Not being about to effectively communicate with anyone would be so frustrating, and I could tell she was getting frustrated when we were playing with her and everything. It was an eye-opening experience. 

Overall, I really enjoyed travelling to Johannesburg. Just seeing everything and being able to travel to Soweto and Sharpeville really just made everything that we have been learning in the classroom click. And even though Johannesburg was a pretty cool city, to be perfectly honest it feels so good to be back in Cape Town. 

Taylor P's enlightening week

This past week was very enlightening in the sense that all of the history and politics we have been learning in class was truly coming to life. Sharpeville was probably my favorite museum because you could really get a feel for the history through the tour guides and the town as a whole. The pictures and paragraphs of information really stimulated my thinking and I was able to relate back to class and all that we learned about protests and anti-apartheid movements. The memorials and the cemetery were heartbreaking but it was amazing to be able to witness real life history. The tour guides were truly amazing because they were all personally involved in the apartheid struggle and it was evident how strongly they felt about it. One of the guides told us that her parents, husband and two children were all killed during the struggle and that was truly upsetting. However, it just showed how strongly she feels about sharing their story and her dedication to contributing to a better future. 

Students listen to story of Sharpeville from tour guide Alice.

            I also really enjoyed the Hector Pieterson Museum  because it was just a glimpse into the riots and protests that took place across the nation. It’s inspiring to read about the people who fought so strongly and gave their lives for the cause while knowing they might not be around to see the final result. Personally, Hector’s sister really inspired me with her statement about Hector not being a hero but how she is so proud that his tragic and unfortunate death sparked such an amazing response across the nation.

The entire week was a whirlwind of amazing museums full of rich history and inspiring people. It was nice to be able to decompress in Kruger National Park with all of the amazing animals!

Ashlyn: "I Don’t Think I’m in Connecticut Anymore"

The overarching theme of my past week here was remembering where I am. Since I have a normal routine in South Africa, live in a nice suburb here, and live with 17 other Americans, I don’t always feel as if I’m halfway across the globe. A lot of us joked on a safari last week that it was the first time we really realized where we were. I also often get caught up in my own life and I become so wrapped up that I don’t take the time to reflect. So this week really reminded me that I am halfway across the globe and what I really want to do here is serve Cape Town.

           

This past week our group traveled to Johannesburg and Kruger National Park (where we did the safari) while the university was on break. On one of the days in Johannesburg the group went to the Boys and Girls Club in Soweto, a township on the outskirts of Johannesburg. I spent half the day organizing child membership binders for the organization and the other half playing with the children, who were also on break. While going through the binders I had a great difficulty organizing them alphabetically because I couldn’t understand the handwriting. So I would go through the packet looking for the parent’s names in the hopes I could figure out the child’s last name. By doing this I found a section asking for the annual family income. There were options to check off ranging from R 1,000 to 10,000 (less than $100 to $1,000 USD). I was shocked. This was a gentle reminder that I only have two weeks left in South Africa, and that I should do everything in my power to assist the communities here because a lot of work needs to be done.

Ashlyn & her mom

The citizens of South Africa are very informed on the policies and practices of the United States. My mom is here this week visiting and is staying in a hotel relatively close to where we stay, but I’ve been staying with her most nights. The television was on in the background last night while I was scrolling through Facebook. The news station was discussing Hilary Clinton traveling to Iowa in order to gain more support. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but then at dinner it dawned on me that I was in South Africa and the news was discussing the U.S. presidential election. Back in the U.S., I don’t even know if the news covers when other countries elect their leaders (let alone cover candidates early campaign trails). It’s the subtle things that happen throughout the day that remind me I’m not in the U.S. anymore.

Christina's whirlwind week

This past week has been a whirlwind of activities that have flown by just as quickly as the past three months. We recently came back from our excursion to Johannesburg and the Kruger.  After flying into Jo'burg, we settled into our nice wifi-working hotel to relax a bit after the trip in. That evening we went to an awesome Mediterranean restaurant called Pappas where we ate good food with great company. We even got a little risqué and tried some escargot… not my favorite. The next day was the real start of the Johannesburg portion. We went to many museums and historical places over the course of the week including, the Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela’s house, Constitution Hill, Sharpeville, the Hector Peterson museum in Soweto, and Freedom Square in addition to a fun day spent at the boys and girls club.

The Apartheid Museum was very interesting and eye opening. As soon as we arrived we each received an entry ticket like any other museum except on our tickets was a pre-decided fate that classified you as either “white” or “non-white.” We entered through two different doorways and walked through a room with identification cards which basically constituted your life at that point in time. And although we have learned all this information before and you can hear it time after time again, it doesn’t compare to the pictures and stories of real accounts when you are in the place where it all happened.

Another place we travelled to was Sharpeville where the burning of the passbooks took place led by Robert Sobukwe, also the leader of the PAC. This was a very monumental event in South Africa’s history because what started as a peaceful demonstration turned into a massacre with 69 known deaths, two of them being children ages as low as 12. With nothing to defend themselves but rocks, police shot and killed protestors as they were running away. Walking along those same sidewalks where blood was shed, seeing the graves where innocent souls lay to rest, it was all so bone chilling experiencing the history, picturing the events as they happened where I stood.

Out of all the places we visited while in Johannesburg I have to say that I liked going to Soweto the best. Once there we went to the Hector Peterson Museum. Hector Peterson was the first person shot and killed at the Soweto Uprising. Children refused to go to school and learn under Afrikaans and peacefully protested in the streets until the police open fired on young children. The museum included pictures, recordings, and many testimonies of what happened that day. Reading the memories and stories of those who were actually there was terrifying. Children even warned their own parents to not go to work that day because they knew what was to come. Friends and family members saw one another get shot and killed. The brutality that took place during those events are ones that should of never happened and should never be repeated. Young children standing up in what they believe in only to literally get shot down is so frustrating and saddening and a number of different emotions all at once. It’s hard to even know what to truly feel because it’s hard to fathom all of this really happening.

One of our days was spent entirely at the Boys and Girls Club, which is also in Soweto. I have a friend back at home that is very involved with her local Boys and Girls club and absolutely loves it and now I can see why. The kids are all so helpful and loving it’s hard to picture them living in such poor situations or involved with the local crime and gang violence. But that’s why the Boys and Girls club is so important. It’s a safe haven for these children where they can be just that. Kids being kids enjoying each other and playing outside with the older ones looking after the younger ones. It was a fun experience I will cherish forever.

 We also went to the  Theatre on the Square to see the play Hinderland about Cecil John Rhodes, a very important man that contributed greatly to the University of Cape Town (UCT), but was a bit of a racist at the same time. There has actually been a huge debate back on campus if the Rhodes statue should be knocked down or not because of his racial discrimination. As it turns out it was taken down and has since been removed from campus. Anyways the show was very well done and Johannesburg was quite fun but the Kruger was what made me most excited for the trip.

The last time I went to South Africa I stayed in a place called Djuma Game Reserve where one of our borders was shared with the Kruger so I have seen it, but have never been in it. This time I was lucky enough to stay deep inside and get a real sense of what the Kruger was all about. Our first game drive was almost surreal bringing back many fond memories from the previous summer. Species’ names rushed back to me along with random facts about the plants and animal’s behaviors. I was in my element. We saw elephants and immediately I reflected on a spectacular sighting I had with a herd. But the major difference between this experience and my last was I no longer felt the need or obligation to take pictures. This time around I sat back and just enjoyed the beauty around me. As dark covered the land and the spot lights were flicked on, within the first five minutes of holding a flashlight I spotted three lions laying in the grass. We veered off the road into the bush to get a better look. It never gets old being so close to a wild animal so big and majestic, capable of such power and ferocity. The next morning we woke up at 4:30 to be ready for another game drive at 5. Early and tired we set out to see what we could find. After a rather slow morning we stumbled upon a herd of at least 300 Cape Buffalo with two lions scoping out the scene. In the frenzy to see not only buffalo but lions too Jill somehow managed to drop her phone.  In a setting like that where going out of the vehicle could really be a matter of life and death it was hard to not find the comic relief in it all. Thankfully a car was passing us by and stopped to create a sort of alley between the cars to shield a man who got out to retrieve it from the lions just across the road. It was an unexpected event in an unforgettable setting. The rest of the time at Kruger was awesome, including us driving close enough to the Mozambique boarder to see the other African country. 

It brought back some nostalgic feelings of my great times in the bush last summer but I have to admit that getting out of the city life and into the bush was a nice change of pace but had me longing for home, Cape Town. 

Molly coming to better understand the history of South African

 Reflections on Johannesburg:

While in Johannesburg I really feel as though my knowledge about the history of South Africa came full circle. Going to Soweto and Sharpeville and the museums and exhibits while there really brought together what we have been learning in class about all of the uprisings and massacres that took place during apartheid. It was shocking looking at the photographs especially in the museum at Soweto looking at the young students who were killed while peacefully protesting. This protest was in response to the Afrikaans Medium Decree of 1974 where Afrikaans was made the language in which the schools would teach. This was only a natural response for students to be infuriated with the fact that the government was making learning almost impossible for them as it is and now making a language not native to the students the medium of teaching.

Abu, the young man who shared the story
of his grandfather's death  the
Sharpeville Massacre

Also speaking to the young man who helped tour us around Sharpeville and learning that his grandfather was one of the men that was killed in the massacre. When we visited the graves and I saw the grave of a twelve-year-old child lying in the dirt I was horrified with how someone could shoot this poor kid that most likely was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The woman who was touring us broke down at the cemetery being that most of her family including her children were buried in that very cemetery all due to apartheid violence. My heart went out to her and seeing this really makes you realize what it was like to live in that time. I was with Sister Castle today and she was explaining that they were never allowed to go to the nice beaches like Camps Bay and Clifton during apartheid. Although it is the beach and not a massacre this is still so appalling to me because it is something so simple that I would never think to appreciate being allowed to go to any beach I walk into.

Going to the Kruger was also an amazing experience that I feel very lucky to have had at such a young age. Most people have this trip on their bucket list and I was able to do it and see such amazing wildlife and I am so thankful for that