Ashley asking important questions and a crucial answer

We only have two more weeks here in Cape Town and I’m trying to find a way to put all my emotions, experiences and lessons into one place and try to reflect on them.  It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be.  Over the past few days I’ve actually been feeling really sad with the thought of leaving a place where I have learned so much.  Not only have I learned about this beautiful country and town but it’s somehow allowed me to learn about myself.  Since the first day at my internship I’ve been trying to figure out what role or affect would I have on such an amazing organization.  These are people who have devoted their lives and are committed to a career helping children who are living and going through awful situations.  What strikes me most is that fact that these employees are struggling within their households and with their own responsibilities.  How is it that a twenty year old American girl can just step into this setting and expect to change any one’s life.  Again, this was an issue I was trying to figure out and would just sit and think to myself on a daily basis trying to find the answer.  I am so grateful that this answer has been revealed to me two weeks before my departure.  Being at Olive Leaf I’ve noticed that I have been brought here to learn.  Learn about this culture, the way people work with each other and how they handle the poverty and suffering around them.  I have learned that I cannot simply put myself in a situation where I don’t know the common language or the way the system works and expect to change it.  At first I was extremely excited to be working with the kids within the organization but as time went by I spent more days in the office and learned more from the staff than I ever would have learned on the field.  They have gone through so many amazing experiences and life lessons while living in the township, these stories have changed my life.  I am so glad that I am able and have come to accept that I didn’t come to South Africa to change or make Africa a better place but to take everything I have learned from the staff at Olive Leaf and use it back home.  I have been exposed to conversations that I have never wanted to be part of back home, now I see the importance of them.  I never would have noticed this in any other place or setting.  It’s so difficult for me to put into words how grateful I am for the people I have met here.  Their openness, honesty, courage and motivation to want to help one other is so encouraging.  They know that they are living in awful conditions and that there is so much wealth in the world that they may never be part of but that doesn’t stop them.  My strongest motivation has been seeing the young staff member’s commitment to guiding the youth in their communities.  They acknowledge that these kids need older students in their lives willing to sacrifice their time to guide them in the right direction and it’s so amazing to see that happening.  Tuesday will be my last day at the organization and it’s so hard for me to picture not seeing these people any more, but again I’m so glad that I can say that I’m ready to go home and share with everyone what I’ve learned from this organization and what I can do with this knowledge I’ve gained.

Ashely inspired and empowered to work for social justice

Ashley about to enjoy a marvelous lunch at Wandi's Place in Soweto

My most recent adventure here in South Africa was the week trip to Johannesburg.  I think it is amazing that we get the chance to experience another side of the country.  While being in Cape Town and exposed to Capetonians,  a view of Johannesburg was place in my mind.  Everyone at my internship explained it as a busy, hectic, business like city.  I perceived to it be a New York City in South Africa.  Didn’t know what to expect but thankfully I was able to make my own observation on this much talked about place.  Going into the excursion I only knew that Johannesburg is also called “the city of gold” because this is how it was founded and developed.  It also goes by the name of Jo'burg and Jozi, and it is the business capital of South Africa.  The first thing I noticed was that it wasn’t as “hectic” (south Africans use this word often to substitute “busy” or “crazy”) as I thought it would be.   There was a lot more commercial buildings, businesses, and billboards than Cape Town but not as crowded as I expected it to be.  I left with a positive image of the city and enjoyed being able to experience this famous Jozi!  One thing that really surprised me was the fact that the mini-bus taxi drivers do not yell out their destination as they pass by.  They only beep and have a sign stating where they are going.  Oddly this made me miss Cape Town.  At the beginning of the trip I would get somewhat annoyed at all these taxi drivers yelling out their windows but going to Jo'burg really helped me see how much I have grown used to Cape Town and how much I have learned to love it.

Kruger National Park was another awesome experience.  I have been waiting for this safari trip to arrive and was soooooo excited to know that there was a possibility of me seeing a giraffe! It was actually one of the first animals we saw and learned some awesome quick facts that I didn’t know about.  They only sleep in twenty minute intervals, and the way they do this is by slightly bending their extremely long legs the same way they bend them to drink water.  It was so fascinating to see them do this, an image I will never forget.  We also saw a Lion.  I was surprised to see just how calm it was and how he had no reaction to us being there gasping with our eyes wide open because we have never seen something like this so close before, another unforgettable moment.

One of the museums and visits that caught my attention most was the Hector Peterson Museum.  Hector Peterson was a thirteen year old boy who died from a stray bullet while marching in a protest against The Bantu Education Act.  This march goes by the name of the Soweto Uprisings of 1976 and for some reason I couldn’t get over the fact that this really happened.  Not only the many lost lives of school children but the way that they began a sequence of changes in their country.  The law was made so that every student would be forced to be taught in Afrikaans in their many school subjects.  The problem here was that the majority of these children only spoke their mother tongue and some English.  I couldn’t grasp the fact that school children directed by high school students, lead such a huge and impacting demonstration.  Learning something like this makes me feel empowered and gives me so much confidence to want to act for a social issue I feel passionate about.  I remember the old me, before this experience, saying that there is no way something such as a protest would make government officials react to this cause.  Three days after the uprisings the government banned the teaching of Afrikaans in the school subjects.  Something extremely motivating and what should be taken as a challenge for us as university students that have the energy, time and connections to work towards a better community.

Ashley running after a moving train

Running after a moving train; this is the way I feel when I think about all the experiences I’ve had these past few weeks.  As a matter of fact I was running after a moving train this morning while visiting one of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches, Muizenburg.  This was my first train experience in Cape Town and never would have thought that the doors would have remained open as the train sped off.  I’m constantly reminded that I am not in the city or the US and situations will not be the same.  After experiencing the fright of being left behind or getting seriously hurt for jumping in; I couldn’t help but crack up along with my housemates.  I also cannot forget to mention the fact that there were passengers sitting in between the train cars!  The things we see in Cape Town cannot compare to what we would be exposed to back home. 

So many amazing blessings have come my way this month that it frightens me to think that I may not be taking all of it in or that this experience will be over in less than three months……

Running after a moving train….this is what comes to my mind when I remember my life back home.  Always hectic, rushing, on schedule, on time, stressed!  I haven’t felt this way not once since I step foot in Africa.  When I began my internship I worried about that fact that I may not be capable of adjusting to such a relaxed work environment, when I’m so used to a busy life.  While working on an event I felt I had to hold myself back from trying to take control of the situation to speed up the process.  Three weeks later I look back and don’t understand how I lived my life this way.  Cape Town showed me that amazing things can be done but at its own time.  No need for rush

Running after a moving train…..This is what comes to my mind as I think about the children I’ve worked with from the townships.  I wish I could just go into the townships and question the parents of the children who are running around and should be in school.  When I first saw this it made me really upset.  Coming from the US we know that the majority of children entering kindergarten will have public schools to attend where they don’t have to buy uniforms or worry that they will not have a meal for the day.  I would question the people I was working with and ask them WHY?! It broke my heart to have to enter a crèche (African name for day care/pre-school) and see the terrible conditions these children are attending school in.  Windows broken, paint chipping, clothes lines held up by slanted wooden poles about to tip over, and most importantly the toilet less bathroom.  The first couple of days I wanted to come up with ideas on how I can completely transform this place.  Again, trying to take control of the situation and put my ideas which I thought would be effective simply because I have been exposed to pre-schools that are well equipped.  It wasn’t long before I learned that I was NOT going to catch this train! The organization I am working with has a program where high school students serve as educators to the rest of their school and community.  Along with this they take on a community upliftment project which in this case was the crèche.  With the donated money they received they had to begin to fix the crèche and with time continue to fix the school.  When I first heard that all we were going to do was paint and fix the yard I was a little aggravated but eventually realized that these kids ARE doing something about their community.  I can’t just come in here and assume that because I’m American I have the power to try and fix this school.  It was a huge eye opener for me.  It helped me see that I am in another country with a lot more issues with poverty than mine and I don’t know how to handle it.  I don’t blame myself for trying to take control because now I see that it was a way for me to try to make myself feel better because of the advantages I have had.  Seeing these children in such conditions made me think about how lucky I was and continue to be.  South African lesson number one: I can’t come into this country and try to fix everything.  I can’t assume that I have a big enough train to scoop all the children and take them to a wonderful school.  I have to first understand what is causing this and know that there are people within these communities who care and are committed to help change the lives of the children being born into these conditions.  My role right now is not to change the world, but contribute to the already amazing organizations that are working towards making their world a little better.        

Ashley is ready and willing to learn

Devil's Peak & Table Mountain overlook the Mother City

It is difficult for me to believe that I have been in South Africa for almost three weeks.  This has been the most amazing two weeks of my life! I miss my family and friends dearly but the experiences I’ve had have been so wonderful that I can’t help but imagine how depressing it will be to see April 30^th come around.  I love how we were able to see the tourist’s view of Cape Town along with a local Capetonian’s view.  As many people have explained the Church service in Gugulethu was absolutely amazing.  You can see how much hope and love for God every single person had.  It was also beautiful to see how comfortable the locals were to sit tightly packed in the heat, all with long sleeves, sweaters, skirts, and stockings.  It made me think about how privileged we are and how quick we are to complain when our air conditioners or fans aren’t working.  This was also my first time driving through a township.  Now this was truly a humbling experience! 

Every time I think about the townships and how the people from the communities there live their daily lives I can’t help but relate it to my easy life back at home.  One of the issues regarding the living conditions from the townships that stuck with me was when I learned that many of the shacks don’t have toilets.  The toilets that are available may be miles away or one toilet for ten families.  For some reason I couldn’t get this reality out of my mind.  Just the thought that your child doesn’t have a safe place to use the bathroom in the middle of the night is heart wrenching. 

Internships also began this weekJ I have only been in my placement for two days and already I have learned so much about the organization and the community it works for.  I was given the opportunity to sit in on a staff meeting and absolutely loved the way the organization is structured.  The manager genuinely asked every department how they felt and if they needed any one to speak to.  I found this amazing as I compared my past mangers and past jobs I have worked for.  I also couldn’t help but notice just how much more relaxed everything was compared to jobs, organizations or clubs I had been part of back home.  At first it was difficult for me to adjust because I felt that I should be kept busy or getting some sort of work done.  As the day went on I noticed that everything was getting done but at a different pace than what I was accustomed to.  Again, in the beginning I was tempted to ask or want to do something about the fact that the team I was working with wasn’t working on a fast pace but then I remembered that I am not here to change the organization but help and learn.  By the end of the next day I was able to notice another reason why so many people fall in love with this country.  Not only do the people I’m working with have great character and values but they also eventually get their work done and do it amazingly well! As a business student this was tough for me to realize because I’m used to sticking to the most efficient, profitable way to get a certain project done.  It’s only been two days and already my mind set is changing outside of the classroom.  Something I find incredibly inspiring since we have this idea that you receive most of your skills within the classroom.  This has been an exciting two days and I cannot wait to learn more about my internship and the people who are affected by the commitment and work done by my fellow co workers.   

For Ashley it just keeps getting better

Katherine & Ashley

I cannot get over the fact that every single time I walk out of my house I have the view of such a beautiful mountain.  I also cannot believe that I’m actually in South Africa right now.  I’ve been waiting for this moment for months now.  It’s been such an amazing week filled with activities, first impressions, and reactions.   The first few days were the most difficult for me because of the incredibly long trip.  While driving to the house I simply kept thinking about the fact that I had been on a plane for about 17 hours! Ahhhhhh.  Thankfully I can surely say that it was most definitely worth it.☺

This has been the longest and most exciting three days of my life! It was amazing taking a tour around the area I will be living in for the next three months.  I was placed in Malleson which is the smaller house and I absolutely love it!  At first I thought I would have preferred being around more people but it turns out that the living arrangements couldn’t have turned out any better.  On our second day we went shopping for necessities and used the ATM’s.  To be honest after all of the security briefings I was extremely nervous to use the ATM’s. After a week here I am glad to say that I feel completely comfortable using an ATM and walking outside of my house on my own; with caution of course.  One of the things I love most about Cape Town is how much it reminds me of the country my parents were born in.  I would look forward to visiting the Dominican Republic every year and now I get to live in a place that reminds me so much of it for an entire semester.  I honestly couldn’t ask for more at this point.  It has been rather difficult adjusting to the exchange rate and learning to distinguish what’s expensive or not right away.   I’m sure I’ll get used to it soon.  Another thing I have learned to love are the mini-bus taxi’s that drive past you every three minutes already filled with people, yelling for you to come in☺ It makes me laugh every time I see it.  It wasn’t as big as a surprise for me to see these vans packed with people sitting on each other laps because I had seen it in the Dominican Republic but I love the fact that I am in a completely different part of the world and the same means of transportation are being used.  I can’t wait to use these on a daily basis.  I’m sure I’ll come back home with plenty of interesting stories.   The next day was the visit to Cape Town University.  I could have never imagined this place to look any more beautiful than it already did in the pictures.  I couldn’t believe that this is going to be my school! The views, people, and sites just keep getting better and better as the days go by. 

I had expected to be a little more homesick by now, but that has definitely not been the case.  Surprisingly! Missing my family and friends was one of the things that had me worried most about taking this step.  I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I’ve been really busy or that Cape Town is just so amazing that there is no way I can feel any type of sadness while here.  Literally everywhere I look is an amazing view.  I also feared that communication with my family would be an issue.  I’ve actually spoken to them every day since I arrived.  It’s definitely not as difficult as I thought it would be. I’m looking forward to the rest of the orientation week and getting to know a little more about Cape Town and how my internship will turn out. This is just the beginning of my experience and I already love it here.  

Ashley: Thankful she took steps to get into the program

Every time I tell one of my friends or family members I’m going to South Africa I get the same reaction…. “WHATTTTTTTT!”.   At times I cannot believe it either, just the thought of being in a new continent for a whole semester is so exciting. I never actually thought it would happen this soon, and I figured that as a sophomore it would be too difficult or simply too early in my educational career to study abroad.  Thankfully I took the necessary steps and got into the program. 

At first I was extremely nervous when I found out the size of the group applying.  I thought this would affect my acceptance but when the good news came I was ecstatic.  I couldn’t believe I was actually going to be living a there for the spring semester of my sophomore year.  It’s an experience I cannot wait to have.  What worried me most in the beginning was the thought of being so far from my family and close friends but as more and more information on the activities and internship came those worries began to fade.  I cannot wait to be in a country completely new and unfamiliar to me.  Any time I traveled abroad the native language has been either my first or second language.  This is what excites me most about going to Africa; learning about a new culture and how they cope with the conditions they live in.  As Americans we tend to become so comfortable with our lives and forget about the rest of the world and in most cases forget about these people that only dream to have the luxuries we do. 

I know this experience is going to change my perspective on life in so many different ways and I cannot wait to come back and share this with everyone back home!