Hey Guys! Sorry I have not blogged in awhile! Things have been so crazy. I will make sure to fill you all in ASAP! Love you and miss you all
xoxo Ashlei
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
I miss the familiar!
This past weekend, I spent 3 days in Clan William. We were all in the high desert of South Africa. It was absolutely gorgeous. Acres and Acres of land, rivers, water falls, creeks, mountains, and caves covered in ancient rock art. It was absolutely wonderful to be able to experience Clan William. We stayed on an Afrikanner farm and lived in old slave quarters. It was a surreal experience. There was thousand and thousands of years of history in Clan William. We cooked over a fire, I napped next to a stream, climbed mountains, and scaled rocks. It was so relaxing to be apart of nature. In a sense, I really felt alive. I really have a desire to be more adventurous when i get back to the states.
For the past 8 days I have been in Africa, I have been studying the history of the country. We have been focusing on Religion, Violence and Conflict. We have been learning about the Apartheid system, the history of the Dutch Reformed church, and the injustice and the violence against the Africans in South Africa. By learning their history, I can begin to get a taste of their culture. On top of that, I can begin to see where South Africa has been and where the new South Africa intends to go.
Yesterday I was dropped in Langa, the oldest black township in Capetown. I am staying with a family in the township. My mama's name is Vuyiswa (or Pat in English, but she just tells me to call her mama). My mama has 3 children. A set of twins Thando (Thando means Love, particularly Jesus's love) and Thandile (We like him; we liked Jesus). She also has the cutest baby girl named Bathandwa (which means Congregation) They are an amazing family. They are so loving and warm and I am so excited to live with them. I am staying with 3 different families while I am here in Capetown. In my next blog, I will do my best to fill you guys in on the family and my stay in Langa.
Today, I am wet and cold and exhausted. It is winter here in Capetown and I am sooo cold! I took a train to the city today and got caught in a thunder storm! My shoes, clothes and everything got soaked. I kinda wanted to cry, but I didn't :)
Last night, I did not really sleep much. I tossed and I turned. I had a lot to pray about actually! In addition to that, my bedroom sits right across the street from a train station. The trains run 24 hours and I am a super light sleeper. To be honest, I am beginning to miss the familiar a bit. I I guess I am a little home sick and I feel awful admitting it. I definitely do not want to come home though, I am just having trouble getting used to things here. I do miss the schedules, I miss the idea that I know what each day brings. Back in the states, Monday I do this, Tuesday I do that, Thursday is FCA. What I used to loath, I desire. Here in South Africa, I have to really go with the flow. The weather dictates a lot and I do not have a set schedule. I feel a bit out of control.
The idea that I am missing the familiar makes me very angry. I figured that I would adjust quicker. I miss showers( I have been washing in a bucket of water. Since they do not have hot water, you have to boil water in order to bathe.), flat irons, mirrors, down comforters, heaters, Trader Joes, mexican food and personal space. I am beginning to see that I am very privileged and I feel guilty for that. I am so spoiled in the US. I often joke that I am a "poor college student," but to family I am staying with I am literally a millionaire. I was ashamed and embarrassed by the amount of luggage and personal possessions I have; my suitcases filled up their living room and I only brought one hiking backpack and a duffle bag.
In addition to that, I am upset with how narcissistic I am or have become. In the house I am living in, they do not have mirrors or a sink in the bath room( at least I have indoor plumbing, unlike my next house I will be staying in). I felt lost with out a mirror, that says a lot about my priorities. It seems to me that I allow my beauty to define me. Why does my inability to use a flat iron or mascara make me feel lost or not like myself. I never thought that my stuff or my possessions defined me, but I am beginning to see how much I take for granted. My warm showers in the morning, my jetta, my queen size bed, my heated condo. Wow, the Lord is really humbling me today. I have so much to learn about myself. Thank God for this experience.
Well, I better go.. I gotta catch a train back home and its getting late. Its not to safe to head back after dark. Miss you guys!
Ashlei
For the past 8 days I have been in Africa, I have been studying the history of the country. We have been focusing on Religion, Violence and Conflict. We have been learning about the Apartheid system, the history of the Dutch Reformed church, and the injustice and the violence against the Africans in South Africa. By learning their history, I can begin to get a taste of their culture. On top of that, I can begin to see where South Africa has been and where the new South Africa intends to go.
Yesterday I was dropped in Langa, the oldest black township in Capetown. I am staying with a family in the township. My mama's name is Vuyiswa (or Pat in English, but she just tells me to call her mama). My mama has 3 children. A set of twins Thando (Thando means Love, particularly Jesus's love) and Thandile (We like him; we liked Jesus). She also has the cutest baby girl named Bathandwa (which means Congregation) They are an amazing family. They are so loving and warm and I am so excited to live with them. I am staying with 3 different families while I am here in Capetown. In my next blog, I will do my best to fill you guys in on the family and my stay in Langa.
Today, I am wet and cold and exhausted. It is winter here in Capetown and I am sooo cold! I took a train to the city today and got caught in a thunder storm! My shoes, clothes and everything got soaked. I kinda wanted to cry, but I didn't :)
Last night, I did not really sleep much. I tossed and I turned. I had a lot to pray about actually! In addition to that, my bedroom sits right across the street from a train station. The trains run 24 hours and I am a super light sleeper. To be honest, I am beginning to miss the familiar a bit. I I guess I am a little home sick and I feel awful admitting it. I definitely do not want to come home though, I am just having trouble getting used to things here. I do miss the schedules, I miss the idea that I know what each day brings. Back in the states, Monday I do this, Tuesday I do that, Thursday is FCA. What I used to loath, I desire. Here in South Africa, I have to really go with the flow. The weather dictates a lot and I do not have a set schedule. I feel a bit out of control.
The idea that I am missing the familiar makes me very angry. I figured that I would adjust quicker. I miss showers( I have been washing in a bucket of water. Since they do not have hot water, you have to boil water in order to bathe.), flat irons, mirrors, down comforters, heaters, Trader Joes, mexican food and personal space. I am beginning to see that I am very privileged and I feel guilty for that. I am so spoiled in the US. I often joke that I am a "poor college student," but to family I am staying with I am literally a millionaire. I was ashamed and embarrassed by the amount of luggage and personal possessions I have; my suitcases filled up their living room and I only brought one hiking backpack and a duffle bag.
In addition to that, I am upset with how narcissistic I am or have become. In the house I am living in, they do not have mirrors or a sink in the bath room( at least I have indoor plumbing, unlike my next house I will be staying in). I felt lost with out a mirror, that says a lot about my priorities. It seems to me that I allow my beauty to define me. Why does my inability to use a flat iron or mascara make me feel lost or not like myself. I never thought that my stuff or my possessions defined me, but I am beginning to see how much I take for granted. My warm showers in the morning, my jetta, my queen size bed, my heated condo. Wow, the Lord is really humbling me today. I have so much to learn about myself. Thank God for this experience.
Well, I better go.. I gotta catch a train back home and its getting late. Its not to safe to head back after dark. Miss you guys!
Ashlei
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Khayelitsha
Hey Everyone!! Sorry it is taking me so long to update my blog. I am very busy here and I do not have access to internet, unless I walk to an internet cafe. Wish I could keep you all updated more, but its impossible!
So far South Africa is amazing! At the moment, I am staying at a bed in breakfast in Capetown. For the past couple of days, I have just been getting used to the country. Starting this Thurs. I am going to be heading to an organic farm and then to a township.
My first assignment in South Africa was to take "the plunge" our program directors dropped me and 2 other students off in the middle of Capetown. They gave us R100 ( $15) and just told us to make it back to the bed and breakfast by 5:30pm. We had no GPS, no map, just a set of instructions . Our first instruction was to head to Khayelitsha (Ky-lisha) a black township in Capetown. We were told to take a Kombi to the township So we headed to the Grand Parade, which is the main public transportation hub in Capetown. We asked people to help us get to Khayelitsha. People were 100% shocked that we were going to a black township. Don't go there they responded! Why would you wanna go there? Do you know where you are going they laughed? It is not safe!
At that point, I was mortified! I had no idea where I was going or what I was getting into! I was so overwhelmed! After a quick prayer which consisted of "Jesus Help!" I got into the Kombi and headed toward the township. A kombi is a microbus, which can seat 12 plus passengers. Myself and two other students squished into the kombi. The kombi was old and had no air conditioning; as you can imagine the bus smelled fabulous! The kombi has a sign posted that said "Stop the spread of TB by opening the windows." With that being said, every window in the bus was open. Once the kombi began to move, people started to pass up their fare money to the front. I acted like I knew what I was doing and passed up my fare too. Whichever person sat up front was in charge of the money and making change for the rest of the passengers.
On my way to the township, I met Peli. Peli is a 23 yr old girl that lives in Khayelitsha and she speaks Xhosa (Cosa) and English. She asked me where I was going, it was pretty clear that we were out of place! When I said Khayelitsha, she said that I should not go there by myself! I replied, "why not?" She said, " You can not go. You need at least one black person with you." I laughed and said, " Well, what about me?" She giggled and responded, " You do not count!" At that point, I realized that the blacks in South Africa do not consider me black. Based on my skin tone and hair textured I would be considered coloured (Even though I hate that term, coloured is an appropriate term they use here to describe bi-racial people. However, coloured people are a lot lighter than I am). I was shocked by that response, even though I was expecting it.
After that, Peli offered to show us around her township. Before she took us around, we stopped by here shack. Before we entered her house, she apologized and said that she was sorry that she lived in a shack. She wanted to warn me. I was so sad that she felt she had to apologize to me for living in a shack. Her house was made of found objects. Wood, metal, pieces of wood, trash, dirt, etc. She introduced us to her family. 9 people lived in one tiny house. They all shared two beds. She introduced me to her baby boy Phelo, which means "the first and the last" The first and the last child that she would ever have before she got married. She hurried home to bring him a Bafana Bafana baby jersey that she just brought for him. She wanted to get him ready for the world cup. She also introduced me to her adopted son. After her cousin died she decided to take him so he would not become an orphan.
The shacks in the township do not have running water. Throughout the townships, they have water faucets. So the families will fill up jugs for the house. That water will be used for bathing, drinking, and washing dishes. The house also do not have indoor plumbing. In each section of Khayelitsha they have tin porta potties or outhouses. The bathrooms do not have toilet paper, which I found out the hard way and the toilets are well a lot different than ours. They do not have seats on them. It is really hard to explain. They do not shower, you just wash in a large tub outside or in your house.
After we left Peli's house, we walked around the township. My friends and I stuck out like a sore thumb for many many reasons. I clearly was not a Xhosa and the two other students were white. 95% of white South African have never visited a black township, even though the black townships are 20 minutes from the city. Blacks are completely segregated from the cities. ( I will explain later) So to see me and other white students was a surprise. Everyone stopped and stared. Even though they stared, people were very friendly. Some shouted, "Money, money everywhere!" Apparently the Xhosa people knew that we were Americans. We talk like, act like, and walk like Americans. So they assumed that we had money.
As I walked around the township, I was awestruck. I could not imagine the amount of poverty we saw. The most beautiful babies did not have shoes. Shacks were built out of rubbish, and many of them were doing their laundry by hand. Despite their situation, no one was bitter. Everyone was very happy and welcoming. they were dancing to Justin Timberlake, Rhianna, and other local artists. Mammas were braiding hair, people were butchering, plucking, and grilling chickens outside. Children were playing soccer outside barefoot with a ball made out of garbage.
Despite the poverty, there was so much peace and beauty. I felt at home with the Xhosa people and I am so glad that I will have a chance to live with them next week. To be honest, I wanted to take home every single baby! They have the biggest brown eyes, and the prettiest smiles. It breaks my heart to know that some of the babies walking around do not have parents; it breaks my heart.
Before we left the township, Peli bought us her favorite meal Smiley. Smiley is sheep's head. I walked into a corner shack and a man uncovered a table that had sheep and pigs head just laying there on the table. I thought to myself, "this can not be sanitary!" On the other hand, I knew I had to eat it. I did not want to be rude. Peli spent R17 on sheeps head. R17 that she could of spent on her baby. So we walked into the house, and the man plopped the sheep's head on a plate and gave the 4 of us 2 sharp, very large, knives and said enjoy. Before I even tried it I thought I was going to barf! This is FEAR FACTOR STUFF! Peli grabbed the knife and cut me off the ear of the sheep and sprinkled some seasoning salt on it and gave it to me. The ear was slimy, chewy, and fatty! It was awful, but I lied and said that it was good. I know, I know I lied. What else was I suppose to do say it was the worst thing ever?
After Smiley, I headed back to town. Many people thanked us for coming and not being afraid of them. Many white South Africans never go to the townships. They depict blacks as being violent, unsafe, filthy, and dirty. Imagine if I would not have went, I would of thought that too. They thanked us for treating them like humans. It is hard to explain, but whites and blacks do not mix here. Sometimes they do not even make eye contact. Most of the blacks and the colored people live in the townships while the whites live in the cities. It used to be legal for blacks to even enter the cities. Even though the law has changed, the segregation still continues. It is very hard for me to see. Needless to say it has been a very hard couple of days for me here!
Well that was a glimpse of my first Saturday in Capetown! It has definitely been a rough couple of days for me here! It is so hard for me to see so many people in poverty and to experience the racism & segregation. I love it here though. People are so loving and the country is beautiful.
I have so much more to tell you about. But I am exhausted it is 11:34pm here( I am 9 hours ahead). I will keep you updated. I am climbing table mountain tomorrow(google image it; its gorgeous!) and I will be moving into the townships to volunteer on Thursday. After my 7 weeks stay here, I will head to Durban and partner with Focus on the Family and work at an orphanage. I will work with the babies and teach vacation bible study. I am so excited! I miss you all and I will see you soon. Feel free to post. I would love to chat.
Ashlei
So far South Africa is amazing! At the moment, I am staying at a bed in breakfast in Capetown. For the past couple of days, I have just been getting used to the country. Starting this Thurs. I am going to be heading to an organic farm and then to a township.
My first assignment in South Africa was to take "the plunge" our program directors dropped me and 2 other students off in the middle of Capetown. They gave us R100 ( $15) and just told us to make it back to the bed and breakfast by 5:30pm. We had no GPS, no map, just a set of instructions . Our first instruction was to head to Khayelitsha (Ky-lisha) a black township in Capetown. We were told to take a Kombi to the township So we headed to the Grand Parade, which is the main public transportation hub in Capetown. We asked people to help us get to Khayelitsha. People were 100% shocked that we were going to a black township. Don't go there they responded! Why would you wanna go there? Do you know where you are going they laughed? It is not safe!
At that point, I was mortified! I had no idea where I was going or what I was getting into! I was so overwhelmed! After a quick prayer which consisted of "Jesus Help!" I got into the Kombi and headed toward the township. A kombi is a microbus, which can seat 12 plus passengers. Myself and two other students squished into the kombi. The kombi was old and had no air conditioning; as you can imagine the bus smelled fabulous! The kombi has a sign posted that said "Stop the spread of TB by opening the windows." With that being said, every window in the bus was open. Once the kombi began to move, people started to pass up their fare money to the front. I acted like I knew what I was doing and passed up my fare too. Whichever person sat up front was in charge of the money and making change for the rest of the passengers.
On my way to the township, I met Peli. Peli is a 23 yr old girl that lives in Khayelitsha and she speaks Xhosa (Cosa) and English. She asked me where I was going, it was pretty clear that we were out of place! When I said Khayelitsha, she said that I should not go there by myself! I replied, "why not?" She said, " You can not go. You need at least one black person with you." I laughed and said, " Well, what about me?" She giggled and responded, " You do not count!" At that point, I realized that the blacks in South Africa do not consider me black. Based on my skin tone and hair textured I would be considered coloured (Even though I hate that term, coloured is an appropriate term they use here to describe bi-racial people. However, coloured people are a lot lighter than I am). I was shocked by that response, even though I was expecting it.
After that, Peli offered to show us around her township. Before she took us around, we stopped by here shack. Before we entered her house, she apologized and said that she was sorry that she lived in a shack. She wanted to warn me. I was so sad that she felt she had to apologize to me for living in a shack. Her house was made of found objects. Wood, metal, pieces of wood, trash, dirt, etc. She introduced us to her family. 9 people lived in one tiny house. They all shared two beds. She introduced me to her baby boy Phelo, which means "the first and the last" The first and the last child that she would ever have before she got married. She hurried home to bring him a Bafana Bafana baby jersey that she just brought for him. She wanted to get him ready for the world cup. She also introduced me to her adopted son. After her cousin died she decided to take him so he would not become an orphan.
The shacks in the township do not have running water. Throughout the townships, they have water faucets. So the families will fill up jugs for the house. That water will be used for bathing, drinking, and washing dishes. The house also do not have indoor plumbing. In each section of Khayelitsha they have tin porta potties or outhouses. The bathrooms do not have toilet paper, which I found out the hard way and the toilets are well a lot different than ours. They do not have seats on them. It is really hard to explain. They do not shower, you just wash in a large tub outside or in your house.
After we left Peli's house, we walked around the township. My friends and I stuck out like a sore thumb for many many reasons. I clearly was not a Xhosa and the two other students were white. 95% of white South African have never visited a black township, even though the black townships are 20 minutes from the city. Blacks are completely segregated from the cities. ( I will explain later) So to see me and other white students was a surprise. Everyone stopped and stared. Even though they stared, people were very friendly. Some shouted, "Money, money everywhere!" Apparently the Xhosa people knew that we were Americans. We talk like, act like, and walk like Americans. So they assumed that we had money.
As I walked around the township, I was awestruck. I could not imagine the amount of poverty we saw. The most beautiful babies did not have shoes. Shacks were built out of rubbish, and many of them were doing their laundry by hand. Despite their situation, no one was bitter. Everyone was very happy and welcoming. they were dancing to Justin Timberlake, Rhianna, and other local artists. Mammas were braiding hair, people were butchering, plucking, and grilling chickens outside. Children were playing soccer outside barefoot with a ball made out of garbage.
Despite the poverty, there was so much peace and beauty. I felt at home with the Xhosa people and I am so glad that I will have a chance to live with them next week. To be honest, I wanted to take home every single baby! They have the biggest brown eyes, and the prettiest smiles. It breaks my heart to know that some of the babies walking around do not have parents; it breaks my heart.
Before we left the township, Peli bought us her favorite meal Smiley. Smiley is sheep's head. I walked into a corner shack and a man uncovered a table that had sheep and pigs head just laying there on the table. I thought to myself, "this can not be sanitary!" On the other hand, I knew I had to eat it. I did not want to be rude. Peli spent R17 on sheeps head. R17 that she could of spent on her baby. So we walked into the house, and the man plopped the sheep's head on a plate and gave the 4 of us 2 sharp, very large, knives and said enjoy. Before I even tried it I thought I was going to barf! This is FEAR FACTOR STUFF! Peli grabbed the knife and cut me off the ear of the sheep and sprinkled some seasoning salt on it and gave it to me. The ear was slimy, chewy, and fatty! It was awful, but I lied and said that it was good. I know, I know I lied. What else was I suppose to do say it was the worst thing ever?
After Smiley, I headed back to town. Many people thanked us for coming and not being afraid of them. Many white South Africans never go to the townships. They depict blacks as being violent, unsafe, filthy, and dirty. Imagine if I would not have went, I would of thought that too. They thanked us for treating them like humans. It is hard to explain, but whites and blacks do not mix here. Sometimes they do not even make eye contact. Most of the blacks and the colored people live in the townships while the whites live in the cities. It used to be legal for blacks to even enter the cities. Even though the law has changed, the segregation still continues. It is very hard for me to see. Needless to say it has been a very hard couple of days for me here!
Well that was a glimpse of my first Saturday in Capetown! It has definitely been a rough couple of days for me here! It is so hard for me to see so many people in poverty and to experience the racism & segregation. I love it here though. People are so loving and the country is beautiful.
I have so much more to tell you about. But I am exhausted it is 11:34pm here( I am 9 hours ahead). I will keep you updated. I am climbing table mountain tomorrow(google image it; its gorgeous!) and I will be moving into the townships to volunteer on Thursday. After my 7 weeks stay here, I will head to Durban and partner with Focus on the Family and work at an orphanage. I will work with the babies and teach vacation bible study. I am so excited! I miss you all and I will see you soon. Feel free to post. I would love to chat.
Ashlei
Friday, June 4, 2010
I am here!
I am here!! It is 8:03pm here and I am headed to bed. I got in earlier this afternoon around 1 and I have been going ever since! I am exhausted and I can not seem to function right now! I have not slept in like ever! I will update the blog this weekend! I will be able to escape to an internet cafe once or twice a week! So much happened today and I will share with you soon! I am literally falling asleep as we speak!
Cape Town is Gorgeous!! I love it!
Just wanted to let you know I got in safely!
Ashlei
Cape Town is Gorgeous!! I love it!
Just wanted to let you know I got in safely!
Ashlei
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