one week later...

So much for updating more often, but things seem pretty normal here, it’s been a month (already?) so I’ve kind of forgotten about documenting things that are new.

I started my volunteering stuff last week so I should probably start by describing those. Thursday, I went to Youngsfield Refugee Camp, which is at a military base only a few miles from campus. I went with a group of 7 or 8 students, and our volunteer leader (who is also a student). The car I rode in arrived a good ten minutes before my leader, so we parked next to this huge tent, which serves as the refugee camp. We sat in the car for maybe 30 seconds before being spotted; a group of five kids ran over and started running in circles around the car, yelling and laughing. One of the girls tried to open the door but it was locked so our driver rolled the window down and she begged us to come out and play. We had to wait for our leader though because we had no idea what we were doing so we just sat there and laughed with the kids until our leader arrived. The camp was really cool, there’s only about thirty people left, but there used to be a couple hundred. The people living there fled Cape Town during xenophobic attacks just three years ago. Originally, the refugees came from a variety of different African nations (DRC, Rwanda, Zimbabwe…ect) but the only families left today are Somali.

We started off our afternoon by playing some games with the kids so they would get to know us a little. Next we were matched with the child we’re going to be tutoring for the semester, and talked to them a little. Then we gave them a snack and split up again to actually start tutoring. I’m teaching a 6 year old boy, Abdi, English…and anything else that goes along with that. He seems like a great kid, a little shy at first but who wouldn’t be? He taught me how to say elephant in Somali, and I laughed and said I was glad we were going to teach other for the next few months and he seemed to like that. It’s definitely going to be tough though, the organization I’m volunteering through (a few UCT students) are the only people that educate these kids…and we only visit the camp 3 days a week, so I don’t know how much progress we’ll make. Ideally, we’re trying to get these kids to the level where they can enter into the public school system, and attend actual classes, but schools are overcrowded so it’s going to be rough. Teaching English to a child is really difficult (not that I though it wouldn’t be) but still I’m really determined to try and teach Abdi something so he can go to school.

My other volunteering project is with CHOSA, which I think I described a little in my previous post. I’m basically working with high school students at an orphanage but I’m not really teaching them anything it’s more of a cross-cultural exchange. The organization I’m working with usually only works with younger kids, and there was no one left to help with high school, since I’m only going once a week I volunteered to work with them. The kids in my group don’t really need help with school (although I’m definitely there to act as a tutor or help with homework if necessary) so instead of teaching, we just hangout for an hour and talk. I’m going to try and do some leadership/team-building activities with them, but we spent last Monday listening to hip hop and talking about song lyrics. It sounds pretty lame, but I was shocked at the artists these kids listened too, maybe I shouldn’t have assumed American hip-hop didn’t reach the townships, still I was surprised. They really like Nas, so my partner and I had them listen to “I know I can…” and compared it to a popular hip-hop song today and we discussed the inspiration meaning behind the song and whatnot, it was pretty cool. So I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing with these kids but they’re pretty excited about hanging out with some American college kids every week ☺

This weekend, I went to my first rugby match! It was really fun although I still don’t understand anything about the game…but I don’t think I ever will. After the game my friends and I went to this bar, Gandolffs. We heard it was a goth bar but weren’t sure what that meant…well let me tell you, we walked in and everyone was in black, had piercings and wore dark make-up, it was crazy! Drinks were really cheap though and the music was really entertaining (everyone was head-banging) so we stayed for a while, it was really fun. Next time we go there we need to wear darker clothes though so we blend in a little…

Oh and I have to write about the bar I went to Friday. So Friday, one of the RA’s from CIEE (the organization I’m studying abroad through) had a birthday party at a karaoke bar. So a bunch of us all went to that and then afterwards a small group of us (4 girls) walked to a bar across the street that looked really fun. We walked through the entrance and were stopped by two huge guys, confused I pulled out my ID to show I was of age but they just shook their heads…they actually needed to scan me for weapons. Confused, we walked up the stairs to the bar, which was packed! While my friend ordered drinks, a guy walked up to me and showed me a message on his phone reading, ‘please be careful, watch your bags and your cell phone and just be careful!’ I nodded and said thanks and he walked away. Meanwhile people were walking by us, grabbing our backs and whatnot, I’d spin around and give a dirty look and the usual response was, ‘whoa…I’m just trying to say hi!” Basically all of these occurrences should have been enough to tell us to leave. Instead we walk out to a balcony with our drinks determined to have fun at this crazy place. My friend and I sit at a table and were immediately swarmed by people talking to us…meanwhile my other two friends are talking to this huge guy dressed in all black. Turns out this guy was the security guard of the bar, and he was explaining that he was going to follow us around for the night for protection…and before we knew it a fight also broke out between one of the guys I was talking to and some random people. We got scared and ran back inside and decided to dance. Well, dancing was quite funny. The security guard followed us and ensured nobody came remotely close to us. We finished our drinks and told him we were ready to leave. The manager of the bar walked us downstairs, wished us a great night and then explained the security guard was going to walk us to our next bar to ensure we weren’t being followed. He explained he would much rather have us be safe and have a good time, regardless of security measures, than have something get stolen, or someone get hurt…and told us we were welcome to come back whenever we want.

I know by this point you’re probably rolling your eyes and thinking, okay what the heck was a doing at a sketchy bar, I really should know better, especially in South Africa. But, even with the danger, it was still really fun. The stereotypes here really suck. Basically because I was with three white girls, we drew attention to ourselves as soon as we entered the bar. Everyone saw us as either Afrikaans (no explanation needed…) or wealthy tourists. The people that actually approached us realized we were Americans and wanted to talk to us and hear about our lives and why we came to Cape Town, but there will always be those who don’t bother to get to know you…and instead are interested in what’s in your wallet. Still, I’m really glad we stumbled into the place. If I wasn’t studying abroad in such a touristy city these types of incidences would be typical for a night. I’m sure we won’t actually go back to this place because I know it was not safe but nothing happened and we were lucky. Plus, it’s experiences like this that one can learn from, and although, we’re constantly thinking about the inequality issues in South Africa, when my friends and I are out having fun on a Friday night we don’t really pay attention to the poverty and crime, and maybe it was good something like this happened to serve as a reminder.

I promise I’m being safe though, please don’t worry…it’s all a learning experience and I’m loving every minute.

Cheers!

Oh and it was 93 degrees here on Saturday, jealous? I thought so hahaha

And I introduced my roommate to Lady Gaga, success.