nths now and I feel like I been here forever, but at the same time feel as though I have just arrived. South Africa has been so good to me and has taught me so much. I am glad to be coming home but at the same time feel like I am leaving home as well. Its confusing to write about but even more so to feel, yet, I feel confident that this has certainly been a life shaping experience and one that I will certainly remember for a lifetime. I think I would need a few blogs to list the number of things I have learned from this trip, but I think I'll focus on the few broad pieces that have been interconnected and significant. Walk down the streets of Jo'burg and you'll feel judged; people can spot you out easier than an elephant in a crowd of people. Try feeling like a minority f
or a day, two, 3 months, and you'll know how bad racism really is. I consider racism to be wrong in every form; judging people based on colour - whether they are good judgments or bad. I never new what Apartheid was before coming to S.A. and you can see the old customs are still embedded in people and society. What made Apartheid so bad was that it was actually law - it was written in books, buildings, rules, signs, etc, that whites should be separate from blacks. Schools, banks, toilets, you name it were designated not by custom or culture but by actual law, to be distinguished as whites only/blacks only. The only benefit of Apartheid was that it brought out amazing people like Nelson Mandela and many others who dedicated their lives to putting a stop to such discrimination. Although it did legally end, we can still see segregation of communities, jobs which seem 'colour' orientated, and funding for schools and development being clearly favoured to one side. Racism is by no means concentrated into S.A.; it is alive and well, maybe not by law, but certainly by culture in many parts of the world. What I take from this is that I see a desperate need for change; to abandon those old views held by so many people and to stop it where I can. Although easier said than done, racism is still around and there are so many opportunities to put an end to it.
or a day, two, 3 months, and you'll know how bad racism really is. I consider racism to be wrong in every form; judging people based on colour - whether they are good judgments or bad. I never new what Apartheid was before coming to S.A. and you can see the old customs are still embedded in people and society. What made Apartheid so bad was that it was actually law - it was written in books, buildings, rules, signs, etc, that whites should be separate from blacks. Schools, banks, toilets, you name it were designated not by custom or culture but by actual law, to be distinguished as whites only/blacks only. The only benefit of Apartheid was that it brought out amazing people like Nelson Mandela and many others who dedicated their lives to putting a stop to such discrimination. Although it did legally end, we can still see segregation of communities, jobs which seem 'colour' orientated, and funding for schools and development being clearly favoured to one side. Racism is by no means concentrated into S.A.; it is alive and well, maybe not by law, but certainly by culture in many parts of the world. What I take from this is that I see a desperate need for change; to abandon those old views held by so many people and to stop it where I can. Although easier said than done, racism is still around and there are so many opportunities to put an end to it.I can compare Toronto and Jo'burg so easily its amazing. One example being there was just a municipal worker strike lasting about 3 days, deman
ding of course higher wages. The protest was a little more extreme I think, as the streets were basically trashed for those few days; then again, I don't know what happened in T.O. I really believe that cities are simply a concentration of environmental issues; things like transportation, sanitation, pollution, recylicng, crime, and population, can all be studied and solved from within a city. Pollution is a real big problem here as well as low energy and fuel efficiency. Its difficult to understand how the wealthiest parts of nations seem to be the most polluted. What I take from this is the need for education and to better understand the trend between wealth and destruction.
ding of course higher wages. The protest was a little more extreme I think, as the streets were basically trashed for those few days; then again, I don't know what happened in T.O. I really believe that cities are simply a concentration of environmental issues; things like transportation, sanitation, pollution, recylicng, crime, and population, can all be studied and solved from within a city. Pollution is a real big problem here as well as low energy and fuel efficiency. Its difficult to understand how the wealthiest parts of nations seem to be the most polluted. What I take from this is the need for education and to better understand the trend between wealth and destruction.One of the best things I've done on this internship is
participate in the outreach program, where a group of science educators go around the city to different high schools and teach a specific topic in math and science. Its amazing to gain a better grasp of how education in math and science is done in a ‘Third World’ country. To my understanding I see absolutely no difference in the abilities and minds of the students here learning in South Africa. The only difference and hence the only problem is the infrastructure or lack of infrastructure provided to these schools and the lack of willingness to do anything about it. I am so grateful to have my eyes and mind opened to this issue and feel inspired as a possible future educator. We honestly don't know how privileged we really are to have rooms with lighting, enough desks and chairs for all the students, and a decent student to teacher ratio.Travelling around South Africa and a little outside has shown me the different 'Africa's' here in Africa. When someone says that they have travelled to Africa this summer, immediately people assume safaris, living in the jungle, animals running wild
, etc, etc. But that's maybe one country or place on this continent that is actually like that. And to those who do not have the pleasure of knowing South Africa, its really not like that. I spent most of my time in the City of Jo'burg, which is very densely populated and not an animal in sight. I did get a chance to see a game reserve and travel to different provinces where the animals and land are very different from place to place. Travelling to Cape Town was simply amazing and I never thought things could be so different in such a close distance. Travelling to Swaziland made me experience a type of poverty which I still can't fully comprehend. Both Swaziland and Jo'burg are poor places, yet in Jo'burg the poverty seems to be more hidden, where as in Swaziland its more in your face. What I will take from these travels is that one cannot simply judge or assume anything based on no real experience and misconceptions. Africa is a very diverse continent with many different countries and cultures. An internship to Africa can mean anything from living in the jungle and becoming 'one with nature,' to working at an office desk in the middle of the city. Africa - yours to explore.The one thing I will never forget about S.A is the people. Never have I experienced so much hospitality, friendship, and utmost welcoming by complete strangers. I feel like we put up a number of huge walls and block people off in Western society
; constantly fearing the unknown and change to our regular, comforting, day-to-day lives. We want to know everything about a person before we welcome them into our homes, where as here its just like "sure come have dinner, spend the night, have a shower", etc. As much as Jo'burg has made me a little more cautious, aware, and prepared, the people of South Africa has made me at the same time more trusting.I really hope this is not my last time in S.A. It really is a beautiful country and has so much to offer to the world. The 2010 World Cup will be held here next year and this will not only stimulate economic development in the country, but also help people see and understand what S.A is all about. I think this World event could only have a positive outcome and if its anything like the 2009 Confederation Cup, the whole country will not only unite, but foreigners and travellers alike. Thank you S.A.
No comments:
Post a Comment