South African Journey

South Africa is a democratic country where everyone is free to vote only when they have an ID. The great place to go is Robben Island (Prison) where our first black president was kept for 27 years.

What is great about South Africa?

The rainbow nation. The place to go South Africa’s Cape Town. South Africa’s resources are mostly gold and platinum.

Gold is found in the Gauteng Johannesburg. And platinum is found in North West. Our President is Jacob Zuma.

The diversities of S.A. are Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kruger National Park, The Cradle of Human Kind.

There are 11 different languages in South Africa, isiXhosa, isiZulu, sêTswana, Sotho, English, Spedi, Swati, Ndebele, Venda, Tsonga and Afrikaans.

The best event is to happen on June 2010. It will be the most memorable event.

I am Proudly South African.

-Kaiabo 

What American people should know about South Africa

We don’t ride around on elephants. We don’t live in bushes. We don’t have lions as pets. We have one of the best constitutions in the world. Most of us are not polygamists. Although we have them but we stick to our cultures. We have great democracy. Theft and crime is a problem but it’s not at evry corner and we are working towards fixing it. We have great tourist attractions and Mandela is not our only tourist attraction. We all accept that we are different and are individuals. We are a rainbow nation. We try our best in sport and everything we do. That is a summary of South Africa.

My interpretation of American teenagers.

They try to much to be “all that” in other words to be popular. They into things teenagers are not supposed to be into like alcohol, drugs, parties, and  sex. Sex to them is a big deal. They back chat; they worry to much their weight; they worry to much about their looks, etc. High school and college seems to be the time they decide to control themselves and not listen to anyone. The popular pick on the less popular. They want a lot of attention from the opposite sex, they even forget about school and studies. And they want cars at very young ages, but then again every country is miss understood when it comes to certain things.

-Gaopalelwe

Lace Up Saves Lives

It’s time to stop wishing for a medical answer to Africa’s medical crisis. Because one already exists. And while it’s only part of a larger solution, it can help millions already dying from AIDS to live dramatically longer and fuller lives.

You can contribute to this just by lacing up a pair of shoelaces in your favourite shoes. Which means that just by going about your own life, you can help save someone else’s. Get involved.

How it works

1. You purchase (NIKE)RED laces.

2. Nike is contributing 100% of its profits from the sale to the Global Fund and to soccer-based programs that help fight AIDS in Africa.

3. Funds are received by programs like Grassroots Soccer, which uses football as a framework to teach youths how to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS.

4. Funds are also contributed to The Global Fund to fund HIV/AIDS programs that support the purchase of lifesaving Antiretroviral (ARV) medication, training of medical staff, HIV testing and treatment to help prevent the transmission of the virus from pregnant mothers to their babies.

5. Life-saving knowledge is received by the next generation in Africa.

Since its inception, (RED)™ partners and events have generated over $135 million to the Global Fund and the number keeps growing.

For More information follow the following link:

http://www.nike.com/nikefootball/red/home?locale=en_US

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So, why purchase laces when you could donate that amout of money directly to a cause to help fight HIV/AIDS? Either is great. But with the purchase of the laces you not only help out a great cause but you have a visible reminder, and a great conversation starter!

3/26/2010

In this article I hope to give you an idea of what my walks through Alex include and lessons I have learned along the way.

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The area I live in is called Kew, a residential neighborhood about 3 blocks away from where the Alexandra [Alex] Township begins. I spend most my days in Alex where I am either at the church on 3rd Avenue or an orphanage on the far side of Alex, in an area called Marlboro.

At the beginning of my time here I didn’t do much walking through Alex. Whenever I went somewhere folks were generous enough to arrange transportation for me to and from the orphanage or church. It would have been easy for me to have continued to accept rides from people but there was something missing. I soon began walking through Alex with a friend from the church. He would walk to where I stay in Kew then across Alex to Marlboro and then he’d do the return trip with me in the afternoon. I felt bad for him because he was doing an extra 40+ minutes of walking just to meet with me.

A few weeks later I couldn’t get a hold of my friend. So what to I? Sit around the house or walk alone to the orphanage? I decided I would walk and what an experience it has been thus far.

It would be fair to say that I was a little nervous about walking alone for the first time. Not because I was afraid of getting lost, I knew exactly where I was going. It was the nervous excitement about finally walking the streets alone. I knew the risks and I knew the view people would have of me being a lone white person walking amongst them. This is both what excited me as much as made me a bit nervous. So I packed my backpack with only the essentials:  a notebook, pen, and my Epi pens; and headed off.

Part of the agreement of me coming to South Africa was a commitment to live and walk with those in the community I was in. I don’t think I could completely do this by putting a car door between myself and the people of Alex. Riding in a car and walking the streets has given me a new view of the community. I feel better walking than in a car because it takes that barrier away. By using my feet for transport it also shows the people of Alex that I am not afraid.

Yes, my walk takes 45 minutes and people look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them I walk through Alex. But if I continue to ride in cars or use other means of transportation I am just confirming the stereotype of white people in South Africa. I was told that you will never find a white South African walking in Alex. I asked why? Because they know better. Now I do know that there are some white South Africans that are exceptions to this norm, but it’s not a high number. I think it’s the same for many of us in the States. We all know of THAT part of town that is a no go area. I never wanted to cut through South Center Street growing up, but on a few occasions I cut through to safe a few minutes (but not before locking my doors and rolling up the windows. After my experience here would I walk though that part of my hometown daily? I’m not sure, but I will look closer as to why I avoid those parts of town.

In my walks through Alex I have been greeted with warm smiles. I have been asked questions such as:  Where are you going? Why are you here? Where’s your car? Can I have some money? Can I come with you? Will you marry me? Will you please pray for me and my family? These are just a few. In the afternoon I walk through football (soccer) games of little kids in the street and see card games amongst friends; food stands selling fresh chickens (as in alive). These are just a few of the sites and sounds around Alex.

Upon my return from being out of town a few weeks ago people were curious as to where I had been. This really made me smile because folks are looking for me now. Greeting the Gogo (grandmother) as she sweeps off the sidewalk and seeing her smile; knowing that I could not have walked here 16 years ago. I have been invited to share a cold-drink (soda) with some folks about my age; but haven’t taken them up on this invitation yet. I am getting to see that the fear most people have of Alex isn’t entirely accurate. But I can understand where their fear and concerns come from.

What I have learned and what I hope you take away from this is to educate yourself and get to know people before judging people or communities. I’m not suggesting going and sitting on the corner in the roughest part of town, but do a little digging and see what makes people avoid of certain places.

In just a daily 45 minute walk I am beginning to better understand the daily life of the people of Alex, but I understand that I will never completely understand their life. But through these experiences I have learned that I can’t believe everything I hear from friends, family or on the news. Sometimes you need to take a walk and get information for yourself.

The warnings started back in April along the banks of Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It was then, at the YAGM interview weekend, that I first was warned, or made aware, of the stages you go through when away from home for extended periods of time. During the build up to my departure for South Africa I was asked numerous times how I could leave home for a whole year. My response was, “It’s just for one year, it’ll go by fast.” As I said my good-byes in August and arrived in Chicago I was once again reminded of the phases of being away from home. I have found that most of these phases are true for me. Yet, I still haven’t found one of them. The following are these 3 phases, followed by my experiences.

Stage 1:  The Honeymoon

During this stage everything is exciting. You’re in a new place, always meeting new people, who are excited to meet you and show you around. During this phase there’s not much thought of missing home cause everything is just AWESOME ‘here’. I was told this stage can last about one month.

Stage 2:  Reality

As the honeymoon stage starts to wear off reality sets in. As things begin to become more normal and routines begin to get set it becomes more ‘real’. Not to say that it’s not real during Stage 1, but it starts to sink in that ‘Yes, I am here’ and this is my life for the next year. During this stage relationships begin to get deeper as there becomes a steady group of people you see on a regular basis. This stage also is said to last around one month.

Stage 3:  Homesick/UFE

During this stage you might need a few Kleenex’s. Reality really sets in and even though you may be fully enjoying every aspect of your volunteer work and life, you start to think about home. During the YAGM year this stage happens to fall at the start of the Holiday season, thus making one more homesick.  UFE’s are also said to fall into this stage. We were first informed as to what UFE’s are while in Chicago for orientation. UFE à  Unexplainable Fits of Emotion. This stage lasts for about a month and a half, with UFE’s jumping in at unexpected times for the duration of the year.

My View’s after 5 Months away from Home

I think the honeymoon stage lasted much longer than the 1 month average. As I had the opportunity to visit numerous places in the greater Jozi (cool street name for Johannesburg) area. Having many people that want to show me their home, their church, their family makes things go by fast, as I didn’t have time to really stop and think about what was going on. I am glad to have been moving around a good bit my first few months here to help me get acquainted to the life and culture of South Africa quickly. I think this also helped to blur the gap between Stages 1 and 2. Though I am glad to have settled into one home now. I would guess sometime in the middle of November I began to realize that this is REALLY what my life will entail for the remaining 8 months, and that I’ll never be 100% certain of anything. I enjoy surprises, which is a good thing because they are a plenty; nothing like sheep head (scop) for breakfast!

I have been asked many times, “Elliott, don’t you miss that side?.” I’m not sure what to say cause I do miss ‘that side’ (the US) but not much. I explain myself by saying that I miss parts or things from that side; people, events, sports, birthdays. I also make a point to point out that I’ve made peace with the fact that I’ll miss things on that side that I would love to be a part of and I’m okay with it. But there are so many things that I keep experiencing that keep me on my toes and keep me excited to know what will happen next. With all that said, yes I miss aspects of home, but not enough to want to go back, at least not just yet. There’s still more that I haven’t experienced and Christ is revealing things as he best see’s fit.

Why do I not feel homesick? I have the strong believe that it has everything to do with the people God has surrounded me with here in South Africa. Everyone from those here in Alexandra, my two coordinators, my fellow South Africa (YAGM) Muddlings, and prayers and support from folks back home. As nice as it is to receive mail from family and friends in the States I don’t know how far it would go to helping me through this year if there wasn’t an amazing group surrounding me here in South Africa. I grew up living in and hearing about and what Southern Hospitality is in the states, well I think true Southern Hospitality is here in South Africa. The folks here make it a point to welcome you and make sure you feel at home, not because it’s polite, but you can really sense how sincere they are. It is these reasons that I can’t say I have truly experienced Stage 3. I did have a little UFE on Christmas Eve when, for the first time in 22 years, I didn’t make it to a Christmas Eve service. But the time I shared with a local family is a memory I won’t soon forget.

Christ has his own way of working things out. Maybe his plan is to bring the emotions on very slowly this year for me. I’m not sure, but I do know that if and when they do come He has already placed people around me that will help me through that time.