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Published: January 21st 2009
Constitutional Court Sign
Constitutional Court written in South Africa's 11 official languages.Hey Team England! Hows it going over there?
Contrary to popular belief I am not dead, I just havn't been in touch with many people yet a) because my phone didn't work until I got my African Sim; Vodacom (haha) on Monday evening, and b) because the internet is always being used! They only have two computers here and it's a pretty big hostel, I'm now gonna hog this one until dinner. (And pay 30 rands for the privelidge!)
So I'll start from the beginning and get you all caught up. Goodbyes were REALLY hard at the airport - leaving Mum was so difficult and I was really scared because I had so many preconceptions about this place (more on that later), it was so bad I was just wandering aimlessly and kept randomly crying in the most stupid places - like on an escalator and going through security! I got a few funny looks - especially when I was waiting at the departure gate and on the phone to Han, then Hol, then Na!! VERY emotional. However I'm pretty proud of myself - I did the airport thing all alone! Woohoo! I thought I was gonna fall at
The View From The Ritz
The view from our hostel in Jo'Berg - The Backpacker's Ritz the first hurdle!
The plane was AWESOME. Forgive me for being uneducated on aircrafts, but every plane I've ever been on has been a budget flight. This was British Airways all the way baby! I had a little touchscreen and films and telly and albums to make a playlist from - it was so cool! I got quite carried away because I wanted to try everything, and I was trying not to think about home (I had just read two letters on the plane which had set me off again...thanks friends ;p). This obviously resulted in lack of sleep, even though we got blankets and an eye patch thing which I was equally as excited about. I fell asleep to Conor Oberst (sp?) and woke up to the biggest breakfast I've ever seen! So cool. (Easily pleased some might say).
The thing I was most scared about was arriving in Jo'Berg airport by myself. I had read so much scary stuff on the FCO websites and numerous other places, and every time I seemed to mention Jo'Berg people would look really awkward and make comments. BUT can I just say you're all wrong! Jo'Berg airport felt safer to
A Prison Cell
Where the gang leader's would sleep in prison. me than any British airport I've ever been in! I even asked someone for directions and they were so helpful, my bag hadn't been tampered with or stolen like everyone said it would, and it was just a really nice environment! Children running about the place and all sorts. I found the New Zealanders prety easily too, and then we just had t wait around for all the Brits to arrive (for about 2 and a half - 3 hours).
Our bus driver to the hostel was called Mxolisi (the x's are usually clicks I have discovered...it is pretty hard to say!) and he's been driving us around when we've needed him in the week. The Australians were already at the hostel (The Backpacker's Ritz...how awesome is that :P) so we met everyone which was nice but I was so tired! It turns out one of the Aussie's bags had gone missing so perhaps not everyone had come through unscathed...though that was delivered this afternoon so all is well again! I felt pretty bad for the Kiwi's - some of them had a 27hr flight AND they have a 13 hour time difference!
We didn't do a lot
GHANDI'S SANDALS!!
Exactly what is says on the tin! on the first day to be honest - we havn't done much the whole week to shout about 'cos it's onyl orientation, but there's just some culture stuff that's really interested me so I'll tell you guys about it.
First day was just dinner and talks - but we did meet the most amazing South African woman. She told us all about the rules and culture and stuff, there are so many things you can't do, or that you have to do to be respected! I can't remember everything she said and it would take me ten years to tell you, but here are some examples:
* When you accept something you must do so with both hands, and when you give something it must be done with the right hand as the left hand is dirty.
* If you enter a Zulu home you must immediately make yourself lower until you are offered a seat.
* It is very rude to address someone with their first name unless they have specifically told you to, until then you must either call them Mr or Mrs so-and-so, or Mma (then their son/daughter's name...i.e. 'mother of so-and-so')
The Market
The market in Soweto, selling jewellery, sculpures and numerous other things. * They have big rules about elders and children (and children are counted as anyone under 21 or anyone who still relies on their parents for anything - therefore we still count as children). Like if elders are having a conversation you must leave the room unless asked to stay, and you can't shake hands with them unless they offer their hand. The handshakes are really strange too - like gangster handshakes!
* You MUST greet a person before having a conversation with them.
* They are very offended by sarcasm!
* There's a bunch of weird stuff with pregnancy, like if a guy gets a gild (child) pregnant then he must 'pay for the damages' which means he must buy the family a goat and a cow! Apparently when the girls eats the goat it restores her purity? And then if the girl is 'spoiled' they will marry her off to an old man! The thing is, buying a goat and a cow works out cheaper than the dowry a guy would have to pay to marry a woman! With pregnancy in women it is not discussed, and they don't tell people when the birth is in case they're expected of witchcraft!!!
There are a ton more rules and things, and even more in the Zulu culture (where I'm going) so I'll keep you updated!
We wandered around Jo'Berg for a little bit too, but the thing is it just looks like any other city. Like to be honest it could have been London, just hotter. That's the thing with big touristy cities, it's frustrating because I'm just so eager to get out and see the real Africa. There were a couple of different things though - like we walked round a corner and there were some guys who looked like they were selling broken bags and shoes? And there was litter EVERYWHERE. Apparently there are street kids around but I didn't see any. It's not as scary as everybody says though! Not at all - I wouldn't go out by myself and you get quite a lot of male attention, but there aren't like rapists on every street corner or anything!
Yesterday was a much more interesting day. We started with yet more talks and handouts. I was getting quite frustrated by then because our being in Jo'Berg just seemed a bit futile - like all anyone wanted to do was get out to their placements and we'd already heard the stuff in the talks (medical, safety and security etc). In the afternoon though we went on an AWESOME tour. We were driven to Soweto, which during the apartheid was a black-only township, and wasn't allowed to be shown on maps or road signs, people just pretended it didn't exist. As we were driving through I noticed most of the houses were small and fairly poor and delapidated, and there were still slums and shantytowns about. It was heartbreaking but fascinating - it finally felt like the real Africa.
Firstly we visited Constitutional Hall - the jails were really interesting because it's where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned before being deported to Robin Island, and the same with Ghandi! There was a Ghandi exhibition too which was awesome. The court itself is odd too - like anyone can go and watch any case if they want to as long as they arrive by 9am.
Next was the Origins Museum which was poo - simply because it was about the origins of man, exactly the same as any other origins museum anywhere!!
The Hector Peiterson Museum was by far my favourite. It was right in the heart of Soweto. On June 16th 1976 there was a student march, as because of the apartheid they tried to make Afrikaans the official language of instruction in all schools (even though most of Soweto is Zulu). The march got out of hand with policemen throwing rocks at the children, which then resulted in childen throwing rocks back, and in the end ended up in horrific mass shooting. Hector Peiterson was a 13yr old boy who was killed, among many others.
The apartheid is such a huge topic here, everyone talks about it and everyone is still really affected by it it seems. I really want to find out more about it.
Another thing that surprised me was the whole HIV thing. The statistics are 1 in 4 people in South Africa are positive, and 1000 people die a day - which is awful, but they are doing a lot to raise awareness now. I've seen so many signs asking people to get checked out. Even a couple of herbals teas that claim they cure it! Apparently in Zulu culture (in extreme cases) they believe that having sex with a virgin cures HIV - and this usually results in violent rape of under 12s which is awful 😞 but they are trying hard to stop this.
We also visited the Regina Mundi church, which everyone seemed pretty impressed by but it wasn't old or interesting or anything - just really big! I wasn't that impressed! The market outside the church was much cooler (and cheap!) I have already got two bracelets!
Everything is SO cheap here - like a rand is less than 10p, maybe about 7p? It's awesome! I havn't been properly shopping yet (apart from for a proper towel haha), but I can't wait :P.
I was so tired all day yesterday and was falling asleep on the bus (the Aussies and Kiwis must be so much more hardcore, they've stayed up really late in the bar every night and they still havn't got used to the time difference!) buttt I woke up at night. We went for a meal (burger and chips boo - they keep feeding us normal food coz they don't wanna scare us too soon! I found out one of the Zulu delicacies though...pap (like hard porridge) with sour milk....yum.) and I met some of the Aussie girls I havn't really spoken to yet, then me, Sandie and Jono (Aussie), Tamsin, Sam and Andrew all just sat up for like five hours on the picnic bench chatting! We had such a good evening!
All the outdoor placements had to leave this morning though, and we're in a dorm with 17 girls so when they got up at half six so did we 😞. It was sad saying bye to Katie, Lynn and Iona (the other Brits) but we're hoping to meet up at Easter! And we can call each other really cheap with these sims. Everyone here is so nice and we've all got on so well already it's great, everyone's really bonding.
Nothing exciting happened today - it was just a teaching course and then I've been waiting around for the net! I had to teach a five minute lesson about job interviews lol, we had to take it in turns with random topics which was funny but embarrassing! It was SO sunny earlier (and I didn't have my suncream coz I assumed we'd be inside...but I'm OK surprisingly!) but then since I've been in here it's been POURING down!!! Like a proper storm with matrix rain - I loved it!
Oh yeah the hostel here is great, I imagine it's a lot nicer than other places I'm gonna be staying. We've got 17 in our dorm and they're bunk beds - which is OK but the top bunk doesn't have a ladder or side bits! So I have to clamber up and then there's a big risk of rolling off onto the hard wood floor!
I have my African address now!!!!
Linda Bloomfield
Nansindlela Primary School
P O Box 12
Ingwavuma 3968
Kwazulu-Natal
South Africa
and my African number is +27799448946, which you can text but it might cost you a bit and I can't guarantee replying!
This will be the last time I can get on the net for a while as I'm going to Natal tomorrow (about a 10hr drive) and it's so remote so I won't have a connection there. So if you don't hear from me for a while assume I'm safe - and write me letters!
I'm gonna try to email people back now but sorry if I don't have time - I only get an hour on here and it's nearly used up! If I don't then I'll write soon I promise.
Mum said that her comments aren't showing up on here yet? If you have the same trouble let me know and I'll see what's going on - though I've managed to receive a PM! No comments as of yet though.
I miss you all very much and will speak to you soon!
Linda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.S. Im sorry there aren't any pics yet but this computer doesnt have a USB for my camera!!
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Na
non-member comment
Wellity well
Most of those rules seem ok but...my left hand is dirty? Only as much as my right i'll have you know!...just dont get me started :P Its not sunny here. Im going to post you a letter tomorrow. Stay safe and have a good time. Miss you a vast not-even-quantifiable amount XXXXXXX