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.
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