This weekend was the best weekend of my South African tour so far!
I started my adventure by hopping on a greyhound bus to Mthatha. After a four hour trip, I joined Clemens at the Centre for Rural Development. Fastforward to the next day, we left Mthatha at 7am to embark on a 12 hour road trip to White River, Mpumalanga for his former boss and mentor’s 60th birthday.
On this adventure, we drove through 3 provinces – Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga. The highway took us up and down mountainous regions. To attempt to describe the landscape would be a dishonour to its natural beauty.
Clemens is a funny man. His sarcasm left me in stitches. At one point, he had cut off three slow drivers. I applauded him by saying that his move was “gangster”. To my surprise he took this compliment as an insult. When I described that being called a “gangster” was good, he said, “In South Africa, a gangster is one who robs people and deals drugs. But in Canada, if someone was to go to my mother and say, ‘Your son is a gangster, she will be proud?”
The party represented the rainbow nation of South Africa. It was attended by Xhosa’s, Swazi’s, Zulu’s, Afrikaaners, Indians. Also, I was able to connect with volunteers from Germany and other folks my age who were part of development projects in Mpumalanga as well. Dancing and singing the night away with them was pure fun. The next night, I joined the same crew for a "Cuban themed party on a farm". Translation = Cigars and Salsa music!
But it was Volker’s (birthday boy) wife, Rani’s cooking which was the icing on the cake. She made the best Chicken Biriyani I have ever tasted.
All in all, the trip to Mpumalanga was much too short. I will have to return there sometime. As the South Africans say, “We’ll make a plan”.
On Sunday I went to the beach for the 2nd time in my life (first being in Rome this past August. Shout out to Matteo Mencarelli!).
It was fantastic.I dropped my bag, threw out my beach towel and ran straight into the water.
(Fyi. I don’t know how to swim)
I jumped under the waves. I jumped over them. It was amazing.
Coming back to the sandy beach, I joined Sarah and Lise for tanning 101. This excursion is what I needed.
While I have lived away from home before, this is the first time that I am on my own. Being in South Africa I realized how social my life was. I was constantly around family and friends - if not in person, at least on the phone.
And having to be home before night falls is a new adjustment. The iron bars (a safety measure in most South African homes), which enclose my door, have left an unwavering image.
On the hindsight, this “alone” time is given me an opportunity to read, focus on the self and improve my cooking. Two days ago I made Chicken Tikka. Found the recipe online and put the pieces together.
This weekend I will join Clemens on a 12 hour road trip to Nelsbridge for his former boss birthday party. The following week I will be giving a study skills workshop to the Walter Sisulu University students. At the end of the week, I rejoin Clemens and Kate for their wedding in Malawi. Clemens has made me his best man.
Exciting things indeed.
After two weeks in Mthatha with three different conferences (Student Session, Capacity Building, and Rural Development) we have finally arrived back in East London.
Mthatha was quite busy, but great at the same time. Clemens and his wife Kate adopted me as their own. They refused to let me go back to my “shoebox” after work. Instead I would join them for dinner, followed by a movie or watching Clemens’ favourite show, “Faulty Towers” (any fans out there?).
The conference on Capacity Building is what stood out most for me. Here I received an opportunity to connect with the rural people of the Eastern Cape. In a matter of seven days, these individuals received training on African History, How to become an entrepreneur, Basic Business Skills, Transformative skills, HIV/Aids and Gender - all free of charge. At the end of the day, the rural students are given tests and group assignments, which are then reviewed the following day. During the next 18 months, a number of courses on Business Development will be offered on a bi-weekly basis.
A co-operative is an association of individuals who work together to create a communal business while generating economic and community development. For example, a group of four individuals can come together and sell chickens, instead of each one competing against one another. It allows for income generation for a larger amount of people and job opportunities in the community.
Capacity Building for Co-operatives is a strategy for income development in the rural communities. Walter Sisulu University and the Centre for Rural Development is providing the education these communities need in order run a successful business – and to feed their families.
One lady I spoke with shared with me her desires to raise enough money to build a primary school. In her community, children are without education and have nothing to do. Some of them have been victim to rape. Even those as little as three years old. Moreover, the women travel long distances to get water from the river. But the water is often contaminated. The children drink from this water and get sick. There are no doctors near by.
I am told this is the reality.
Makes you wonder if poverty will ever end. Moreover, why would a country with so much resources allow for this happen?
And I am not just talking about South Africa.
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The Co-operatives of the Eastern Cape and the community facilitators have given me a clan name, Tsawe (Pronounced Chow way). It translates in Xhosa as “Chief”. While I am no Chief, the name has a lot sentiment coming from my new friends. Plus a name like Jason is becoming too boring in this land.
Some more videos!
"History Lesson"