Hello South Africa!

July 9^th- July 13^th

Upon arrival into Cape Town: exhausted, excited, anxious, intrigued, and wide eyed are most of the feelings that flooded my body. Driving through the city on the way to our hostel, I noticed that the town was nothing like I expected, and a pleasant surprise it was. It was beautiful, the night lights glowing, mountains in the background, the ocean a little further in my sight, I couldn’t help but think “man my friends would not believe this!” because they all thought I was going to some under developed country with sub standard living, in a village or something. However, even though there was the gorgeous city when we first entered, as we continued to drive, we rode past and got a glimpse of a township. All I saw was a large area cluttered with little houses made of wood and metal, they were barely standing, and looked like they would fall over if a rough breeze came through. Then I heard our tour guide, Godfrey, say, “that is where we will be doing some of our work later this week” and then I knew this trip would be one to remember.

 

It was so great to get out and see the city. We got to see all of the diverse people which was a big shocker! I think I saw more white people and other races at first than I did black people. We went to the Water Front mall which was great!! They had Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Levis, a Mac make- up store, and so many more well known stores, which was not what I expected. Also, on the way to the store, I saw a Mazarati store, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and all the nice cars that people want in the United States.

 

Also, on the same day, which was the 10^th of July, we climbed Lion’s Head Mountain. Even though it was the smallest of all the mountains, it was still quite the challenge! It was the first mountain I actually ever hiked so I was very pleased to make it up to the top! We got to watch the sunset on the ocean and it was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen!

 

The next day, we started on our very first project at the Nomonde Kindergarten in the township of Langa. There, our projects were to build a vegetable garden and to create a book shelf for the children.  Beginning the vegetable garden had a very rocky start. That was due to a combination of faulty planning, people not really knowing how to build anything at all or even how to plant vegetables or what season the vegetables grown in, no one really knew each other so the atmosphere was kind of awkward, and we kind of felt rushed. After a lot of hard work and a few extra runs to the hardware store, and a little frustration, we were finally on the roll and had an idea of what we were doing. I was pleased that my group was the first group to actually get our box constructed and all put together, but that is because our group was consisted of a lot of stronger people who had more of an idea of how to take charge and get things done. Especially me, I love building and putting together anything so this project was right up my alley. And I like the way it brought us all a little closer together and we learned how to work with one another.

 

The next day at the Nomande School, we finished up the garden and it moved so much more smoothly. The other groups went back and finished their boxes and my group and I went to nursery to get the vegetables. We got lettuce, cabbage, greens, carrots, peas, celery, and even a peach tree! When we returned, we put the mulch and soil into the boxes and began planting! It was so much team work going on that I loved it. Even Mama Lumka, the head of the preschool, was getting involved and she had never been involved in anything we were doing before that day! We got all the seedlings and the tree planted and there was such a feeling of accomplishment and joy radiating over everyone! The teachers at the school were happy and laughing and clapping taking pictures and it was one of the best feelings in my life to watch them react that way to what we had done for them.

That same day when we finished the garden we actually got to walk around and tour the township, which one of the best parts of the trip. We got to see one of the booming businesses of a lady who sells “smiley” which is smoked sheep head. Some people even tasted it and bought one.  We got to go into one of the “shacks” which was actually a local pub where the lady made the beer right there, we went to a community hostel and in a very small room there were three beds and we were told that three families lived in that one room, and sixteen families shared one kitchen and one bathroom. It was very hard to sit and watch without getting emotional. The most hurtful thing for me to watch had to be was how unsanitary the outside was. Its trash everywhere, people use the restroom wherever they feel, and some of the children walked around with no shoes on. I just wish I could help everyone. That level of poverty is just unlivable and the government just doesn’t do much at all to help those people and their living conditions. But even with that being said, you would never think that those people just radiate happiness, especially the children, they may not be in the best situation but it’s obvious that that do not let that stop them from continuing on and surviving through the hard times.

This week we also did our service for Mandela Day! We went to a primary school and repainted there walls. It was a small service but it was fun and everyone was involved and was glad to be there to do what we could to celebrate a great day.