It has officially been my first week in Cape Town. My experiences thus far have been extremely touristy. We have seen everything imaginable that most Americans would see if they were to visit Cape Town. (I will have to keep this blog short as we are getting ready for our 5 day stay in the township of Gugulethu)
From pirate ships to Safaris, to seal watching boat rides; the group has seen the beauty of the Cape Town region of South Africa. "This is a 3rd world country with aspects of a 1st world country."
This has been apparent during our first week. We have dined like kings at local restaurants paying the equivalent of $20 American, at most, for every meal. We go half way across the city with 10 people paying (a total of 6 miles round trip) $20 for transportation. Aside from the amazing exchange rate of the Dollar to the Rand, I have had mixed emotions about how I should feel about this. At one of our meals for instance, we spent a total of 1,500 rand, which I was told that many families in the townships live off of less than 100 rand a week. It was here that I began to feel guilty, that the group is spending more money in a week than most people living in the Townships spend in a year. Should I be feeling guilty? or should I be fortunate for the life I live, that I have been given the opportunity to do so many things ranging from my educational experiences to my ability to take off of work for three weeks and travel to South Africa? Although I do not have the answers yet, since I have only seen the outside of the townships from the car and have only experienced the aspects of this country that some could classify as being a 1st world country, I am open to those that have experienced this before, and to those that haven't, to answer some of these questions or to pose some questions for me. This will help me better understand what I am observing and experiencing.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Arriving in Cape Town
After an 11 hour plane ride from Hewthrow, London to Cape Town International, I found myself hardly rested and clearly jet lagged from the extremely long plane ride. But, upon arrival in this unfamiliar country, I found myself rejuvenated and ready to explore this breathtaking country.
I was met in the airport by the program instructor, Christen Christopherson, and the assistant director of the CapeTown Interstudy Program, NJ. It was great to see at least one familiar face, Christen, as I had spent the past 22 hours alone traveling. (So thanks Christen for picking me up! It meant a lot to me)
I drove with NJ, and Christen drove with her husband Mark (who will be with us for about a week and is a very fascinating individual). It was 11 am in the morning, it was a comfortable 65' in Cape Town with a light cloud cover over the city. The first thing that caught my attention was when NJ made a comment about the Table Cloth (Which is the Cape of Good Hope, a mountain that the first explorers used as a land mark to identify a supply replenishment point for sailors attempting travel to the Indies). After asking what the Table Cloth was, NJ pointed out how the clouds rolled over the Mountain, making the mountain appear as if there was a table cloth upon it. The biggest take away from this interesting ride to the home I would be staying, was when we traveled past a township that was right off the side of the highway. It was here that I observed people walking barefoot through a muddy road, living in small shacks, and going about their morning as if the highway was non-existent and perhaps some of the locals in CapeTown not living in the townships go through their day without noticing the townships, as if the townships were a world apart from their own (This is an assumption). NJ turned to me and said, "Matty (We got to be friends pretty quickly), one thing you always have to remember is that Cape Town is a part of a third world country, but it has the aspects and features of a first world country." This is a quote that I will be referring to throughout my future blogs. I can not comment yet about this statement, as I have not experienced how the living in the townships differs from that of Southern Suburb CapeTown living.
After 33 hours of travel, 6 hours of sleep, and four decently good airplane movies later; I finally arrived to my home in Mowbry, CapeTown (Just 5 blocks away from CapeTown University) where myself and 9 other males and females would spend most of our nights over the course of the next three weeks.
My initial reaction of the house was that it was much nicer then what I had expected. There are 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms that have indoor plumbing, heaters next to most of the beds in the house, a kitchen with all appliances, showers that can run enough heat for 10 people every morning at 7 AM and a fireplace just in case we needed to warm up the house during the 40-50' South African nights. I will admit that I had some negative preconceived notions about what our living situation would be like. I knew, from the previous South African group from last year that we would have running water, but in no way did I think that we would have a home that could be compared to a cabin found in Northern Minnesota.
One thing that shocked me the most about our home in Mowbry was the security measures that the CapeTown University takes for its students. To put it into perspective for everyone, we live in a gated community, we have electric fencing above the white picket fence that surrounds the home, we have a lock on the white picket fence gate that allows us access to the front yard, we have a metal gate that is locked by a standard key pad lock, and we have a front door that has a dead bolt along with a handle lock. What did I get myself in to, I could not help but think to myself? Why do they need so much security? Is this trip truly safe?
It should be noted that this was my initial reaction upon arrival in Cape Town, that I felt before I received the explanation as to why the security measures are they way they are from NJ and the Interstudy Director Ouma. They said that all homes that are in the suburbs of Cape Town are protected by some form of secruity (ours just happened to be ADT Emergency Response) due to the established social norms in the culture. It is not because Whites are less safe than blacks are or vice versa, but rather that we do live in a city area, and like many areas that have a dense population; safety precautions are necessary to ensure that these citizens are safe. The level of security around and in our home was at first shocking and left me feeling more unsafe then if their was nothing. I almost would have felt safer if there was not the security measures taken. But after three days of exploration and observation, I see now that it is a social norm in Cape Town's society. So, I do feel much safer and through my excursions through the city, this has proven to be a safe location thus far.
I was met in the airport by the program instructor, Christen Christopherson, and the assistant director of the CapeTown Interstudy Program, NJ. It was great to see at least one familiar face, Christen, as I had spent the past 22 hours alone traveling. (So thanks Christen for picking me up! It meant a lot to me)
I drove with NJ, and Christen drove with her husband Mark (who will be with us for about a week and is a very fascinating individual). It was 11 am in the morning, it was a comfortable 65' in Cape Town with a light cloud cover over the city. The first thing that caught my attention was when NJ made a comment about the Table Cloth (Which is the Cape of Good Hope, a mountain that the first explorers used as a land mark to identify a supply replenishment point for sailors attempting travel to the Indies). After asking what the Table Cloth was, NJ pointed out how the clouds rolled over the Mountain, making the mountain appear as if there was a table cloth upon it. The biggest take away from this interesting ride to the home I would be staying, was when we traveled past a township that was right off the side of the highway. It was here that I observed people walking barefoot through a muddy road, living in small shacks, and going about their morning as if the highway was non-existent and perhaps some of the locals in CapeTown not living in the townships go through their day without noticing the townships, as if the townships were a world apart from their own (This is an assumption). NJ turned to me and said, "Matty (We got to be friends pretty quickly), one thing you always have to remember is that Cape Town is a part of a third world country, but it has the aspects and features of a first world country." This is a quote that I will be referring to throughout my future blogs. I can not comment yet about this statement, as I have not experienced how the living in the townships differs from that of Southern Suburb CapeTown living.
After 33 hours of travel, 6 hours of sleep, and four decently good airplane movies later; I finally arrived to my home in Mowbry, CapeTown (Just 5 blocks away from CapeTown University) where myself and 9 other males and females would spend most of our nights over the course of the next three weeks.
My initial reaction of the house was that it was much nicer then what I had expected. There are 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms that have indoor plumbing, heaters next to most of the beds in the house, a kitchen with all appliances, showers that can run enough heat for 10 people every morning at 7 AM and a fireplace just in case we needed to warm up the house during the 40-50' South African nights. I will admit that I had some negative preconceived notions about what our living situation would be like. I knew, from the previous South African group from last year that we would have running water, but in no way did I think that we would have a home that could be compared to a cabin found in Northern Minnesota.
One thing that shocked me the most about our home in Mowbry was the security measures that the CapeTown University takes for its students. To put it into perspective for everyone, we live in a gated community, we have electric fencing above the white picket fence that surrounds the home, we have a lock on the white picket fence gate that allows us access to the front yard, we have a metal gate that is locked by a standard key pad lock, and we have a front door that has a dead bolt along with a handle lock. What did I get myself in to, I could not help but think to myself? Why do they need so much security? Is this trip truly safe?
It should be noted that this was my initial reaction upon arrival in Cape Town, that I felt before I received the explanation as to why the security measures are they way they are from NJ and the Interstudy Director Ouma. They said that all homes that are in the suburbs of Cape Town are protected by some form of secruity (ours just happened to be ADT Emergency Response) due to the established social norms in the culture. It is not because Whites are less safe than blacks are or vice versa, but rather that we do live in a city area, and like many areas that have a dense population; safety precautions are necessary to ensure that these citizens are safe. The level of security around and in our home was at first shocking and left me feeling more unsafe then if their was nothing. I almost would have felt safer if there was not the security measures taken. But after three days of exploration and observation, I see now that it is a social norm in Cape Town's society. So, I do feel much safer and through my excursions through the city, this has proven to be a safe location thus far.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
My International Flight Experience
So, I am a couple of days behind with this entry, but I thought that I would fill everyone in on how my flights getting to South Africa went.
I left for Chicago O'Hare International airport at 3 PM from my grandparents house (who were amazing getting me ready for my travels and they spoiled me with great food as usual!) to catch my 6 PM flight that would take me to Hewthrow International Airport, London. I was able to hook up a cheaper flight to Cape Town, South Africa if I had a 12 hour layover in London. The flight itself was awesome, Virgin International Airlines really knows how to treat their passengers as I was never with out some sort of cocktail. The flight was a record 6 hours (expected 8), and with all the fun I was having with the Brits traveling with me, I found it next to impossible to sleep.
With a 6 hour time change from the Midwest, I landed in Hewthrow at about 10 AM. Exhausted from the flight I was caught between a rock and a hard place. Do I sleep in the airport because I am exhausted? or do I explore a European city (In which I have never been to Europe before) ? Granted it was a no-brainer, I grabbed 2 cups of coffee (extremely thick in London) and headed for immigration so I could be granted access to the UK!
After one hour of getting lost in Hewthrow, exchanging currency (which the dollar isn't holding up to strong against the pound), and getting an all day pass to take a train through London; I was on my way to Green Park where I would visit some of the local attractions.
On the train I was extremely excited. I have never visited Europe before and I especially have never been in a foreign country without my parents, or anyone for that matter, before. It was a thrill because I was about to overcome one of my fears of going to a completely unfamiliar place alone. Hopefully I would make a few friends along the way.
I do not want to bore you with the little details of my London experience, but I will tell you that I walked 8 miles (not sure what that is in meters ;), I ate lunch at a Pub that cost me 10 pounds for a burger and 1 pound for a pint (naturally I got a few more pints at that price), I got lost one hour before I was supposed to board my flight in the heart of downtown London and had to walk a mile to the nearest Tube (London's Subway), and I was called a "Bloody American" about three times!
All in all, this was the best 12 hour layover I could have ever possibly experienced. In a way, I believe that having the opportunity to visit London and having the ability to go outside of my comfort zone while in an unknown European City, will help me in reaching my goals of learning as much as possible about Apartheid, HIV/AIDS, and Poverty while in South Africa.
I left for Chicago O'Hare International airport at 3 PM from my grandparents house (who were amazing getting me ready for my travels and they spoiled me with great food as usual!) to catch my 6 PM flight that would take me to Hewthrow International Airport, London. I was able to hook up a cheaper flight to Cape Town, South Africa if I had a 12 hour layover in London. The flight itself was awesome, Virgin International Airlines really knows how to treat their passengers as I was never with out some sort of cocktail. The flight was a record 6 hours (expected 8), and with all the fun I was having with the Brits traveling with me, I found it next to impossible to sleep.
With a 6 hour time change from the Midwest, I landed in Hewthrow at about 10 AM. Exhausted from the flight I was caught between a rock and a hard place. Do I sleep in the airport because I am exhausted? or do I explore a European city (In which I have never been to Europe before) ? Granted it was a no-brainer, I grabbed 2 cups of coffee (extremely thick in London) and headed for immigration so I could be granted access to the UK!
After one hour of getting lost in Hewthrow, exchanging currency (which the dollar isn't holding up to strong against the pound), and getting an all day pass to take a train through London; I was on my way to Green Park where I would visit some of the local attractions.
On the train I was extremely excited. I have never visited Europe before and I especially have never been in a foreign country without my parents, or anyone for that matter, before. It was a thrill because I was about to overcome one of my fears of going to a completely unfamiliar place alone. Hopefully I would make a few friends along the way.
I do not want to bore you with the little details of my London experience, but I will tell you that I walked 8 miles (not sure what that is in meters ;), I ate lunch at a Pub that cost me 10 pounds for a burger and 1 pound for a pint (naturally I got a few more pints at that price), I got lost one hour before I was supposed to board my flight in the heart of downtown London and had to walk a mile to the nearest Tube (London's Subway), and I was called a "Bloody American" about three times!
All in all, this was the best 12 hour layover I could have ever possibly experienced. In a way, I believe that having the opportunity to visit London and having the ability to go outside of my comfort zone while in an unknown European City, will help me in reaching my goals of learning as much as possible about Apartheid, HIV/AIDS, and Poverty while in South Africa.
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