Coming Back Down To Earth
This weekend, eight of my friends and I chose to do a home stay in the township Ocean View. This is a community of people who were removed from their homes during Apartheid and placed in this area. Some are the sons and daughters of the people who were forced to leave, others experienced it themselves. The area is not a place you would dream of staying, and has its problems with drugs and poverty. However, I have fallen in love with Ocean View. It has its struggles, but it is a community full of love and personality. There are hard times but so many good people that welcomed us with open arms into their lives and made us feel like we had been there all along.
On Thursday we left class and took the train to Ocean View. From there we were picked up in a taxi and went to Chantal’s home, the women who runs the home stay program through her organization Volunteer Mzansi SouthAfrica. We met her and found out where we would be staying for the weekend. I found out I would be with Auntie Netta, who was the best cook. Brandi laughed at me because everyone knows I love to eat and she would be perfect for me. We learned a little bit about the community, and that abuse was still prevalent in the area in families. But like I said, there was so much more to the community than these facts, and things like this exist everywhere, not in Ocean View or South Africa alone. We went down the road where some of the children in the community put on a dance show for us. Like most of the dancing experiences I have had in South Africa, they put my dance moves to shame. They were so excited and nervous to perform for us when I wish they knew how excited and nervous we were to be there. The preacher who helped run their program gave an amazing speech. He spoke of how hard it was to find true art in today’s world, because so much of it was surrounded by dishonesty. He spoke of Ocean View that way. He asked us to seek the truth in our weekend, behind a foundation of dishonesty and hardships. So like any person that likes to search the world for new discoveries, I looked all weekend. But, I’ll get back to that. He also told us how happy they felt that we came so far to learn about their community. He said it was an honor to have us. At that point, I became very anxious. I felt like I wanted to rip my skin off so no one really saw a difference between us. I hated that they felt so honored that I was there because I am no better than them. If anything, they are the kind of people I strive to be. I do not mean they welcomes us because we were white, I just mean they knew we were not from their world. I wish they knew that my heart was filled by their presence and their hard work they put into their dance routines. I wanted them to see that I felt privileged to be there. But, aside from this feeling, the night was amazing. They were adorable and we danced with them after even though we looked like fools next to them. We had dinner at Bernadette’s home, another women involved in the program. We ate chicken, Mac and cheese, salad, mushroom sauce, bread, and roasted vegetables. Chantal had told us that although the families did not have much, they would give us everything they had and she was right. We had a delicious dessert (we all know I always have room for dessert) that had caramel and chocolate and cream and mint on top. After we fit as much as we could into our stomachs, it was time for us to meet the family we would be staying with. Auntie Netta was already there because Bernadette is her daughter, so we got a ride home with her son-in-law and I saw where I would be staying.
I was supposed to share the room with my friend Sam, but she got the measles (I know, who gets that anymore?) So, I was all alone. And, I cannot lie, I was really, really scared. I hate sleeping alone in my own dorm room, I love having a roommate. So, to be alone in an unfamiliar part of Africa did not sound appealing to me. When we arrived I saw it was an apartment. In South Africa, they call apartments flats. So it was many buildings of flats. There were a bunch of people outside and loud music was playing and people were talking and I couldn’t have felt more out of place. However, once I was inside and talking to Auntie Netta, my fear melted away. When we drive through the townships it is hard to imagine what the people are like inside. All we see are homes that are very different than our own, and I constantly try to picture what it is like behind their walls, but finally was able to be a part of the family. Auntie Netta talked to me until she saw my eyes began to droop and I was yawned and I went to brush my teeth. The funny thing was, there was no sink. Instead, the bathroom consisted of a big bathtub, a toilet, and a washing machine. Although it makes perfect sense to me now that all I had to do was turn on the water in the tub and brush my teeth, it seemed a lot harder to me then. I pondered how I could possibly brush my teeth without a sink. Then it hit me, turn on the water you idiot! I did not know where the cold water was so turned on the hot water and brushed my teeth. It took me another two minutes to figure out I needed to turn the water on stronger to rinse out the tooth paste. It ended up taking me fifteen minutes to brush my teeth. This had nothing to do with the conditions of the bathroom; it had to do with the way I was raised. There was always a bathtub and a sink. Who could have ever thought that a tub could have more than one purpose? I like to think that I am aware of the extra privileges I have in my life, but that Thursday night I had been clueless. Oh, and this was all before it took me five minutes to find the light. I laughed at my stupidity and climbed into bed and tried to write down everything Auntie Netta had said to me that night. She is one heck of a woman. Every time she speaks, words of wisdom flow from her mouth. I wish I could sit and record her words verbatim, because she is one of the wisest women I have met. But, I will get to her wise words in a little bit. Once I wrote in my book, I turned off the light and was pleased to find the light from outside gave me some light in my own room. There was music outside, and even though I was by myself, I did not feel alone.
The next day my friends Maria, Rebecca, and I volunteered for the day at a preschool as a part of the home stay program. We went to Aquila Cresh, which is an adorable preschool only about ten minutes away from where I was staying. On our walk there, it seemed like everyone was outside. Almost everyone always seems to be outside. People either waved or ignored our existence. I preferred the latter, because I felt like I did not stick out. The fence had numbers and letters on it and when we walked in there were little preschoolers singing and dancing and smiling. I knew it was going to be a good day. I helped teacher Nicole all day (weird) and the kids were great. After working with autistic children, it was very different to work with kids who did not have a disability. They came up to me write away and did not mind the new person in their classroom at all. I read them a story and helped them with their drawing and went out to watch them on the playground. Two kids peed their pants, but that comes with the job. Just like at Vera School, there was never a dull moment. I am pretty sure that every thirty seconds someone was crying, but thirty seconds later they were laughing and everything was good again. I got to take care of them and make them happy and they made me equally as happy. Before we left we got a chance to talk to one of the teachers. She said many of the children did not get enough attention at home, and she could not always take care of them. However, she said every moment they were at the school she had a chance to protect them and care for them and it was so obvious how much she wanted to make life as good as possible for the children. I really hope all teachers feel this way. So I had such a spectacular day with the children and went back to Auntie Netta’s for lunch and had ham, cheese, cucumber, lettuce and tomato on a sandwich on a roll. Anyone who really knows me knows I HATE HAM, but I did not want to offend Auntie Netta who provided me with so much food. So, I sucked it up and ate it. Yes Me-ma, I ate ham. I still hate it, but that is saying something. I really, really wanted to be appreciative. Auntie Netta filled me with more words of wisdom and then I went to a youth center in the community for children who families who were in very tough situations.
We played really funny games outside, like any typical games you would play at camp. After, we introduced ourselves and the children were very shy. Chantal wanted them to free style and do whatever their talent was, but no one stepped up to the plate. So, I used my go-to move, and did a back handspring in the center. Everyone cheered and that got things rolling. It is amazing how I have been able to connect to so many people through gymnastics. Anyways, they eventually warmed up and sang and there was something very powerful about watching them sings as the sun was setting with the mountain behind them. I fell in love with Ocean View. I did have some trouble when there was a small fight in the street. The children were laughing and saying it happened all the time. It pained me that that was a part of their everyday and I wanted them to know life did not have to be full of violence. It made me want to go back even more. We hung out with some of the girls and shared stories and they showed us some handshakes and dance moves and taught us different words for things. We all really connected. I went home smiling from ear to ear knowing I had to come back. I had my nightly talk with Loretta and went to sleep.
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| Nicole-- 5th from left |
The next morning we went to Fish Hoek beach which is beautiful but that did not surprise me. We met up with Maria and Rebecca and their family and walked along the beach on a path and took a million pictures. We take so many in an attempt to capture how beautiful it actually is, but never quite succeed. I went back to Bernadette’s with Maria and Rebecca and she made us a Gatsby. Now Gatsby’s are every college student’s dream to order at three in the morning when they are craving something delicious. It is a big loaf of bread with salad, chicken (it can be any meat) and French fries (that they call chips) all inside of it. We had it with barbecue sauce, which is slightly spicier hear and I was in food heaven. We spent the night hanging out with family and watching TV for the first time in a month and a half. They always had visitors, which included adorable little babies. There is a chemical we all have in our brain that is released when we see babies. It is there so we feel warm and fuzzy and want to take care of them. I think I have double the amount of your average person, because I get this big goofy small on my face and cannot get rid of it when there are babies around. I had fun playing with them but then it was time to leave and I had another wonderful talk with Auntie Netta before I went to sleep.
Today I was very sad that it was my last day, but I was excited to go to Church. We went to a Baptist church that was about a ten-minute walk away. I was looking forward to it because my other experience with a Baptist Church was filled with singing and very passionate people. This was the same way. In the beginning of the service, I almost cried. Not because I was sad or scared, I was filled with joy. The singers at the front of the stage sang with such power. They had so much faith and so much praise. I saw where they came from and understood them on a new level, and was able to feel how grateful they were for life. I got to see two children blessed, and Auntie Netta’s son delivered a sermon. I loved what he said, and it could be applied outside of a religious context. He said that, “God will move you, but don’t be moved.” He explained that God is going to take us to different places in our life, but don’t let it make you lose your focus. I took this to heart because I know I am learning so much here and do not want to forget it when I go home. When I heard that, I felt inspired to not let my change in scenery change the way I feel or my plans for the future. I do not want to forget the amazing people I met or all I am learning about life. There I was, standing in a small warehouse with cement floors and cement blocks for walls. There were no big windows that were beautifully painted and I was sitting in a fold-up chair. However, I felt more in present and in touch with what they were saying than any other church I have been to. I am not extremely religious, but felt very moved today being there.
After Church we had lunch at Bernadette’s and it was time to say goodbye. I was genuinely sad and did not want to leave. I found comfort in Ocean View. I was surrounded my family and it made me realize how much I missed my own family and friends. I also felt as though I was in the presence of truly rich people. I am surrounded by my amazing friends here and inspiring professors like Marita and Vernon, but these people had no reason to take me in. They welcomed us with open arms and showed us such an amazing amount of love. It did not matter what size their home was. It felt comfortable to walk the streets and see people outside and wave and be a part of a community. As I mentioned before, the preachers at the show from the first night told us to seek the truth. I found it this weekend, especially in Netta’s wise words. Her presence makes you comfortable and inspired all at the same time. She is peaceful, but is also an extremely strong woman. She reminds me a lot of my grandmothers (and I miss them so much!) Auntie Netta shared many stories and thoughts, and these are the ones I found most important. First, we both decided, a day you help someone else is always a good day. She also taught me to be grateful for everything you have, even when it isn’t much. She told me that many people in South Africa receive a very little amount of money in welfare per child. It is only a little more a month than what I spend on groceries a week. She also told me that out of the 2000 people around her area, around 50 had jobs. She saw my mouth dropped and I asked how people managed. She told me when you want something you work hard with what you have. When you stay grateful, things come in time. No matter what, stay grateful. I also shared with her that sometimes I feel guilty for having more than many people I have met in South Africa. She told me the size of your house or car does not matter. You should not feel guilty for your blessings, but never make these things your God. When you do, you run into trouble. I loved this because it helped me make sense of why people have so much and others so little. When it comes down to it, these things do not measure our character or faith or anything that shapes who we are and the way we see the world. And through all of this, I found how important family was to Auntie Netta. She was proud of her family and would do anything for them. When I am here, it is easy to get caught up in thoughts and adrenaline rushes and sometimes your feet do not always stay on the ground. This weekend grounded me again. I was incredibly touched by the families that were so happy to have us, and I hope they all knew how grateful we all were to be there. I hope I said this all right. I was in tune with the important things, and it was as sweet as the strawberry jam Auntie Netta laid out for me every morning.
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