Joe on friendships and inspiration

There is only a few days left in Cape Town and we are all running around trying to figure out what we still want to do. Luckily we have the last week off and we have some time to reflect upon our experience here. I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the relationships that I have built with so many different people here and I am so grateful for each and every one of them. First, me and my housemates have created a larger family feeling that I would not trade for everything. I have been using the terms “brotha” and “sista” since living in Cape Town but I truly believe that these people are my brothers and sisters. We have all grown together and we will continue to push each other when we are home. They are my support network and every time I would come home from my internship, it would be so great to have such amazing people to come home to. We all have different personalities but as a group, we are perfect for each other. We balance one another out and keep each other sane.

I have also been lucky enough to have made friends with people from Cape Town such as Bongi and Mkhululi, a student at Thandokhulu High School. They both have taught me about the sense the spirit of ubuntu. Ubuntu literally means “I am because we are” The spirit of ubuntu relies on the fact that we are all inter-connected and dependent one another. They have been open to me and shared information with me that I will carry on with me for the rest of my life. I feel comfortable asking them anything about Cape Town culture or the Xhosa culture. We have shared our home and our hearts to them and they have done the same for us. I am happy to know that I have made connections here that will stay with me for the rest of my life and that I can always count on trusting these men when I return to Cape Town. They are both so inspirational in their spirit for learning and helping others. I know that if I continue to strive to be like them every day, I can help to make the world a better place.

I am so lucky to have been exposed to all the opportunities I was granted here. I will make sure not to forget any of them and carry what I have learned home to the US.

Posted at the request of Joe & Meaghan

Joe's commitment to study and work for human rights

Our trip to Plettenberg Bay proved to be a great way for the group to unwind before we have to deal with the realities of returning home. We enjoyed surfing in the Indian Ocean which was great because none of us had ever been there before. We also got to bond by all sleeping in one big room with over 10 bunk beds. On Saturday we did the bungee jump which, to me, was so frightening. Every instinct in my body was telling me not to jump but after doing it, I realized it was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done, right behind making the decision to come to South Africa. After Plettenberg we came back for our last week of internships. I am so happy that about my placement and therefore was very sad to leave. On Monday and Tuesday I conducted my last set of interviews with new clients and had to say goodbye to some clients that I had grown to know over the past three months. I was sad to leave because I know that some of the people that I interacted with on a daily basis, I will not get to see again. Yet it’s comforting knowing that I put in 100% and I benefitted the lives of those that I was given the opportunity to help. For example, there was one refugee who had recently traveled to South Africa and spoke little English. Since he had no contacts in the city it was hard for him to network but eventually the priest from his church allowed him to stay in the church basement. Eventually the priest did not want him to stay there any longer so he came to us for help. We were able to help him network with other refugees of the same nationality and find a place for him to stay. I will really miss working for Cape Town Refugee Centre but I am so grateful for the experience that they provided me with. I was able to receive an inside look into the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. I was able to speak with them first hand, visit their homes, and even provide them with small assistance. I learned something new there every day; I also realized that human rights is something that I will continue to study and work towards for the rest of my life. 

Joe transitioning back from excursion

We’ve been back from excursion for over a week and its been really interesting to see how everyone has already settled back into our normal routine. For example, on the Saturday after we got back we went to the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. This is essentially a really large farmers market with all sorts of fresh (and usually organic) food from all over the Cape area. Vendors will come in with so many free samples and distribute their goods to the thousands of customers who come in on Saturday mornings. That afternoon we hiked in Silvermine Nature Reserve up to a cave called Elephant’s Eye Cave. This was another great way for everyone to spend time together and unwind after a busy week of excursion. The cave provided us with a gorgeous view of the city and tranquil place for us to sit and relax. On Monday everyone went back to their internships and we began our general routine. Nothing seemed to change much while I was away from Cape Town Refugee Centre. It was hard for me to transition back into such a serious role after being off for two weeks.

My main role at the refugee centre is to gather bio-data from the new clients who come into the office. I often deal with very real situations where refugees will explain to me the hardships that they endure when entering South Africa. For example, many of the clients that I speak to are single-mothers who have recently come to the country. Our policy is to only provided either one month of rent or one month of food but when I ask them what is most important, they always say that both are important. It can be mentally exhausting to speak with refugees who have so little, but it makes it more difficult when you see their reaction when you tell them that you can barely help them. They often leave the centre empty handed because most of our services take more than one day to complete. Many of the clients come in optimistic that they will receive some sort of financial support but leave disappointed. 

Joe's excursion experience

Julian & Joe having just purchased "African" shirts in Jo'burg

Our excursion provided us with a new insight into South Africa and its culture. We started by traveling north to Johannesburg where we were fortunate enough to visit various historical sites and museums. For example, one of our first sites was Sharpeville; in 1960, the Pan-African Congress led a non-violent protest in which they burned their pass books (documentation that all minorities were requiring to carry.) The pass books were another tactic used by the white minority government to de-humanize the black, coloured, and Indian populations; if any person was found without their passbook, they would be arrested. The protests took place throughout the entire country but only in Sharpeville did it turn violent;  after one of the leaders in Sharpeville stepped forward in order to surrender himself for arrest, more people moved forward behind him which resulted in the police opening fire. They killed 69 people and injured over 100 more (some of whom eventually died because of the incident.) We visited the graves of those 69 people. Seeing all of the graves lined up in a row was a profound experience. It brought to life all some of the struggles that the majority of the population dealt with during the Apartheid era. March 21 is now recognized as Human Rights Day in South Africa.

We also visited other museums such as the Apartheid Museum and the Hector Petierson Museum. The Apartheid Museum had a very extensive exhibit on Nelson Mandela. One of my favorite parts of the exhibit was towards the end when they presented us with about six quotes from Nelson Mandela, all of the quotes represented different values that Nelson demonstrated throughout his life. They asked everyone to take a color coded stick that would represent which value resonated with us the most. After finding the right colored stick, we carried them to specific bins where there were thousands of other sticks where other visitors had previously made their decision. The Hector Petierson Museum was also interesting because it provided us with information regarding the student protests that occurred on 16 June 1976. Students protested against bantu education which was education that was not in their first language and was aimed at providing the students with more labor related skills.

At the end of our excursion we were given ample time to reflect upon the different sites we visited by traveling to Krugar National Park. It was a nice place to unwind and relax before we had to head back to Cape Town. Seeing the different animals such as elephants, water buffalo, giraffes, and leopards gave us a look into Africa. I was able to witness the most amazing sunset over the African landscape as I began to think about all that I had learned during my excursion. I am really glad that we were able to take this time off during the middle of the semester, it gave us more information about South Africa’s dynamic history and gave us a look into a new part of the country. I was grateful to be able to speak with people from Johannesburg who had a different attitude from Cape Town – people in Joburg are more focused on a business-related lifestyle while people in Cape Town are more laid back. Someone compared the difference to that of the difference between New York City and Miami. Overall the excursion was a very beneficial experience. I will try to take what I have learned during that week and apply it to my life in Cape Town; this will act a microcosm of my main goal for when I return home to the United States.  

Joe learning about himself & how he wants to treat others

I really believe that after being here for six weeks, I have been embraced by the Cape Town culture. I can feel the beautiful and friendly atmosphere all around me and I cannot help but to take part in it. For example, at the human rights weekend that we attended two weeks, I found myself singing and dancing along with all of the other South Africans. I love the way that they are so willing to share their culture with everyone else and so excited when people decide to embrace it. Another smaller example I found regarding this is the language that people use. Almost all South Africans will call older women “auntie” or “mama” and I have often been referred to as “brotha.” I love how they all consider each other a very large, loving family and I was not apprehensive at all to join their family. I now find myself calling many other South Africans “brotha” and if I am feeling courageous enough, sometimes I may even call some older women “mama.” I can see myself acting in this Cape Townian fashion at my internship as well, when I see new clients at the Refugee Centre, I embrace them with the same sort of friendliness that any other Cape Town native would. I see that they feel more comfortable when I treat them on a human level, because some may arrive at the Cape Town Refugee Centre and not know what to expect. Most of them have not been treated with respect by a stranger in a long time, so there are points when I realize that just my demeanor can be calming to them. Cape Town has been able to teach me a lot about myself and the way that I treat others, I truly believe that if some Americans had the same mentality that some South Africans did, the entire world would be a better place. Now I look forward to the challenge of bringing home what I have learned and applying to everyday situations in my hometown and at UConn.  

Joe's learning all the time.

Cape Town continues to be an outstanding learning experience. No matter if I am doing something recreational or education, I find myself being more and more enriched. For example, on Saturday night some of us went to Clifton Beach for a free concert where Vicky Sampson, our professor’s wife sang. During the concert, they paused the performance in order to play a video on the screen displaying the various forms of social injustice occurring in South Africa. The different topics the movie discussed were the abuse of refugees, the elderly and the poor. I was very pleased to be able to turn a concert into an experience where I could be educated more about the country that I am continuing to love more each and every day. Furthermore, during my internship today I was able to visit a township in the southern part of the Cape Flats called Capricorn, it is one of the smaller informal settlements. I saw a complex of about ten one-room houses where refugees from all over Africa were living. The majority of the people that I saw in the complex were from Malawi; after speaking with a man there I learned more about Malawi and more about the continent of Africa.

 I also find myself learning more about the culture and history of South Africa as well. With much thanks to Vincent’s class, every week I am beginning to understand the importance of history in the larger context of modern society in South Africa. For example, after discussing the upcoming local elections with a colleague, it is easier for me to understand why certain racial groups aligned themselves with specific political parties. Black and coloured people often vote for the ANC because it was the political party that was banned during apartheid and helped to bring the end of systemized segregation in South Africa. I am so very glad to be able to have the opportunity to learn all the time.   

Joe growing in understanding

I finally believe that I understand what it means to live in South Africa, and specifically in the city of Cape Town. Though there are so many forms of injustice taking place throughout the country, there is always a sign of positivity. For example, though there are many problems with the immigration policies of South Africa, it is amazing to see the diligent work that people like my co-workers at the Cape Town Refugee Centre put in to help to benefit their situation. For years, the country has made it difficult for refugees to obtain full legal citizenship in the country, this is mostly a problem pertaining to economic power because the wealthy are trying to keep refugees in an oppressed state so they will perform manual labor for lesser rates. This is similar to the situation with immigrants in the United States, we will continue to ignore their human rights so that wealthy elitists can continue to benefit from their status.

Another part of the country that influences me to continue to persevere through hard times is Table Mountain. Climbing the mountain was somewhat symbolic to me that of the struggle that the blacks went through during apartheid. They worked extremely hard to find that equal plane but since then have not continue to look up or down, but they have plateau, like the top of the mountain. There is still so much work to be done, and it’s a long way until South Africans reach actual equality but at least they have stable ground to stand on, and that can never be overstated.  

Joe knows this is the best choice he could have made

We have been fully emerged into the South African culture. After finishing orientation and starting our internships, this city is beginning to feel like home. The two-week orientation process was perfect because it provided us with a well-rounded view of what it means to live in the city of Cape Town. This was extremely important considering my internship deals directly with the people of Cape Town and I find it very helpful to have an idea of where they are coming from.

At the Cape Town Refugee Centre we interview fifty to one hundred refugees daily. South Africa has more refugees than any other country in the world because it is considered the most stable country in southern Africa. For example, many refugees travel to South Africa from Somalia, the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. When I first interviewed the refugees, I was somewhat overwhelmed because I had the responsibility of interviewing refugees and all of their conditions were so poor. For example, I spoke with a mother of three who lives in a one-room house whose landlord is requesting her to pay rent; she is finding it very difficult to find a job, learn English, and raise the children. The refugee center offers to pay for one month’s rent or provide money for food. The refugees find it very hard to have to choose between the money for rent or the money for food but very often they choose the money for rent because they believe that it is more important to have a place to stay every night.

Working at the refugee center has already been so rewarding. I already have noticed all the things that I’ve taken for granted. When I see children with their parents who had to leave their home and forced to move to another country where they are not guaranteed food or shelter, it provides me with a much larger view of the world. I already know that coming to Africa was the best choice that I could make and I am so excited to see how the rest of the semester goes.    

Joe finds Capetonians amazing

Tom, Julian, Taylor, Joe, Brenna, Logan, Emily

So far South Africa has been everything that I expected and more. Although the house and landscape is extremely beautiful, the most amazing aspect of the trip so far is the people of the city of Cape Town have been unbelievable. They express a passion for their city that I have never seen before. For example, yesterday morning we were fortunate enough to attend a service at a church in the township of Guguletu. The service was filled with loud singing and enthusiastic dancing, though most of the service was in Xhosa, we were still able to understand the message that they were trying to convey. It was amazing how so many people were able to come together and celebrate though they lived in a very impoverished area stricken by high unemployment rates and diseases such as HIV/AIDS. The people of the church were very welcoming to us and we felt this same sort of hospitality at Vernon’s house as well. We visited Vernon’s mother’s house in another township that developed in the 1950’s after the Group Areas Act was passed. This was the government legislation that forced Africans and classified colored people out of their homes in the city and into the Cape Flats. The area that we visit was a township for “classified colored” people. I was overwhelmed by the sense of community that the people of the townships shared, and I also found it quite surprising that even after Apartheid was officially ended in 1994, many of the people who were subject to forced removal remained in their homes in the townships. I am excited to explore more of Cape Town’s beauty through my internship where I will be working more directly with people from the townships and other parts of Cape Town as well.

Joe: impatiently waiting for January

I am so excited to be a part of this amazing experience and so glad to be granted this unbelievable opportunity. I'm really excited to be spending 3 months with a brand new group of people and getting to know them more all while being immersed into a brand new culture. After the dinner that we all shared together, I know that we have a great group going to Cape Town.

I'm not only excited about spending time with new people, I am looking forward to learning more about a new culture and gaining a new perspective on our country and on the world. I think that my internship will really help me gain this insight into a new culture.  I hope to work in a human rights related field and gain hands-on experience helping others. The hardest part now is to just patiently wait for the plane ride to Cape Town.