Assignment #2 - Set the Scene

This is definitely a much easier assignment than the first. Ive been keeping a journal which I have never done before and thought I would hate doing. But turns out it not only helps with these assignments, but also to make the most of your experience by not forgetting the little details, like finding refuge in McDonalds (explain later).

So I've been in the big bad city of Jo'burg for about 2 weeks now and its just awesome. Awesome at the sense of the similarities to Toronto but also, the very very evident differences. This city is crazy!! First shock, people drive on the other side of the road, and the drivers side is on the left. Totally embarrassing first time I got into a car, as they gave me a strange look like I was about to steal it. Fine. Adjusted to that pretty quickly until I was a pedestrian. In the city of Johannesburg, cars come first, then buses, then people. Pedestrian safety is pretty minimal, especially when they drive on the 'wrong' side of the road. A car or bus turning left on green (Canadian equivalent of right on green) will basically approach a line of crossing pedestrians and basically rev the engine until they move. Ya, pretty crazy. That took a while to get used. Also the very noticeable differences are the consistent barbed wire and high fencing on all buildings in and around the city. Listening to talk radio shows and taxi drivers which I think are the best inside information sources, the four main problems in the city are Unemployment, Crime, Homelessness, and Poverty. These are all clearly evident from driving and walking through the city where people break underground water pipes to get water, and have street trash can fires for cooking/heat. This was definitely all a huge shock for me.

They say you must be crazy to walk in the city at night, which is completely true. But we figured it was Sunday night, the Soccer game is on which is a huge thing, and not to many people are out. We figured we would save some Rand by walking a bit. Sun started setting preety quickly (it was like 530 pm), and never felt more dangerous. We were so happy to find those golden arches of McDonalds and ran in to call a cab. I thought it was absolutely hilarious the fact that in a big city, McDonalds was out sanctuary

I'm probably the least pickiest guy when it comes to food, Ill try anything twice, and once more just to make sure. So Ive been around the city tasting the foods of South Africa, nothing of which I didn't like. Food here is excellent but I had to suffer a few nights before I got used to it. Anyone who comes to South Africa must try Biltong, which is kinda like a jerky but just unbelievably good. Definitely no problems with food.

Housing became an serious issue once my pre-departure housing arrangements fell through. We spent about two weeks looking for a place to live while we stayed at the supervisors house which I couldn't complain about. I think the first part of culture shock was here, never having to look for a place to live and living in only two houses my entire life. Ive moved housing 3 times in 2 weeks and it was almost unbarring. I never craved my warm queen sized bed so badly. But now that we have found a place things are much better and feel right at home. Residential area makes all the difference and being in a safe neighbourhood in Johannesburg is a rare thing. Very grateful.

There is one thing that I almost forgot to add and its the people. This is one of the more positive differences between Toronto and Johannesburg. People that you may have just met or know through friends of friends will invite you to their house, have dinner, and share their lives with you and you with them. People are so friendly, a characteritic I would find weird back home. I will stress that it is not buildings or cars or even economics that make a city what it is. It is people and in that fact I would call this one of the richest cities in the world

My Rant about Urban Sustainability.

So Ive made a point to recognize the environmental issues associated with the city of Johannesburg. From pursuing my third year as a major of Chemistry and a minor of Environmental Studies, I am naturally drawn towards the many issues of sustainability within the city. I am all for green energy, green cars, and public transportation. I am also for reduced emissions, public transportation, recycling, and environmental education. In fact one of the projects I am working on has to do with just that sort of education, which is an amazing opportunity.But here's the thing: In Toronto, we have the resources, education, and opportunity to choose between public water and bottled water, garbage or recycling, switching lights on or off. What I've noticed here is that people cant afford bottled water, there are no accessible means of recycling, and leaving the lights is done as a security measure. Also how can you promote environmental education when only 40% of the university students are literate (un-cited source from local)? I am never one to put education second to anything because I feel its absence is the cause of most if not all issues. But it seems as though before the global environment can be addressed on a serious level, people need to sustain their own local environment - I guess think globally act locally. I find a lot of difficulty throwing plastic bottles in garbage or leaving the light on when I leave the house, but it seems as though those values need to be put on hold as security seems to come first. Change is difficult, but definitely necessary. The what and the why is easy, but the how is the hard part.

Anyways that's my rant.

This was an awesome assignment.