Kimmi learning from contrasts

Prior to leaving Cape Town reach co-educator wrote a paper in response to the following questions: How do you expect the experiences and knowledge gained this semester to influence your future career and life choices?; What have your learned about race and gender that you believe is important for you to know as you strive to become a more well informed global citizen?; What have you learned about yourself that you believe is important for you to know?  

Kimmi has agreed to post her answers as her final entry on this blog.

Over three and a half months I learned a lot through my internship, classes and experiences that I’ve had in South Africa. I expect the experiences and knowledge I gained this semester to influence my future career in many ways. I plan on becoming an elementary school teacher when I grow up. I think that through my internship I was able to learn more about the education system in South Africa and education in general. Here they tend to concentrate on more things such as stretching and doing exercises with the kids to increase their fine and gross motor skills that they do not concentrate on in the states. I have found that my teachers are a lot more open to their students about their private body parts and other topics such as drugs and alcohol. This may be different because of the type of school that Christel House is or may be part of the culture I’m not sure. It has been interesting to compare and contrast how they do things differently in the US versus South Africa though. It seems to me that both schools want to offer the best education to their students and work hard to do that. They just do that in different ways.

In the US they have taken out naptime and instead during that time the students are working hard in the classroom. In the states the teachers tend to push their students harder. I have learned from just observing the class certain techniques that my teacher uses in the classroom. For example, Miss Loren tends to use the students themselves when she is explaining a concept to them. One time she got Joshua (tallest boy in our class) and Sanele (smallest boy in our class) to stand in front of the class. She then asked the class who was taller and who was smaller. She told the class that Joshua was the tallest boy in the class and Sanele was the smallest boy in the class. She was teaching them the concept of small and large. I thought this was a creative and good way to teach it. It got the whole class engaged and the students liked being part of the exercise. Teaching techniques like this I will bring home to me and will use in the future when I am a teacher.

           

Miss Loren also taught me that you can discipline kids in different ways. In most of the classrooms that I have observed in the US the teachers use rewards methods to discipline the children such as the color chart and what not. In South Africa the teachers are stricter with the children and make them sit out or yell at them if they are misbehaving. This is a different approach to discipline and I have learned that both tend to work. At the beginning of the year like most teachers do Miss Loren and other teachers I have seen in the past have to lay down the rules in order for the students to respect them. You also have to be very patient and repetition is key. These are two constant things that I have seen in South Africa and the states that I will bring to my classroom in the future.

I have learned that you have to have a good balance between being too strict and showing your students how much you care and love them. Miss Loren at times will joke around with her kids and play with them. But the kids still know that she is the teacher and respect her as teacher. Whereas with me they seem to be a little bit confused at times see me more as a friend. This has been one of the challenges that I have had to face at Christel House to try to get the kids to respect me and see that I am equivalent to Miss Loren and Miss Alfreeda. I know that this will help me in the future when I become a teacher to learn how to control my class and get respect from my students.

As for life choices I have learned not to judge people just by looking at them. I have learned by living with sixteen other students naturally I formed first impressions and was not a fan of everyone at first. But throughout the three months I have started to get to know them more and more and have learned so much about and from each and every person. I know now that those first impressions I had on some people were not correct therefore I should not judge people just from one encounter with them. I need to take into account that you do not know what is going on within each person. You do not know what anyone is going through so with that knowledge I know that people have off days and significant things happen to people everyday that may shape the way they are acting that day. You cannot judge someone for not doing this or that because that person may just need time for themselves to reflect or may just need to rest because of something that has happened. I have also learned that even though some people may have done bad things like stolen your purse or laptop does not mean that they necessarily are a bad person. You do not know what type of situation they are in. You never know whether they are growing up on the streets and are hungry and have no money. Most of the time people in South Africa will steal because they are hungry and want food so they steal to sell your valuables. Most of the robbers have no intent to hurt you. It has also made me second guess about prisoners as well before I am ashamed at the way I looked at them like they were animals. Now I finally see that they are humans as well some may have something wrong with them but others may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. You need to be more open towards people and be careful not to forget their backgrounds and where they are coming from. I have learned that you need to assume good intent and should not judge right away.

I have also learned that when I grow up I do not want to raise my kids by buying them gender specific toys or telling them not to run like a girl to try to encourage or motivate them to do better. I am going to try to not get the media to affect them and discourage them from trying to look like the people they see on TV or in the movies. I want the best for my kids and I want them to be open to people and different races. I want them to talk to me about race and become knowledgeable about the world and what is going on around us. I was ignorant about many things including race before I came on this trip. I do not want my kids to be ignorant but be aware and then hopefully they will spread the knowledge.

Through class I learned a lot about race and gender that I did not know in the past and other things that I knew already were reinforced. Some things I believe that are important are that racism still exists today! Many people tend to be oblivious to this because many people in the states do not like to talk about racism. I now see that it is important to talk to people about racism. I have learned from Brittany that it is better to recognize race, to see it, acknowledge it, and embrace it. She said that she wanted us to recognize that she was black and see how beautiful it is. She is right we shouldn't be shying away and we shouldn’t be ignoring that the fact that she is black because she is what she is and we should embrace it. Many people when describing others tend to feel awkward when they say she is black or Hispanic but what I have learned is that you shouldn’t because it is equivalent to saying he has brown hair or she has blue eyes. You should feel comfortable enough to recognize it and embrace it. This is important to know as I strive to become a well-informed global citizen because we should all be aware that we are different and celebrate our differences. It is important to know that we come from different backgrounds and each and every one of us is not going to be exactly the same. Many of us may find that we have certain things in common but we need to realize that we also have many differences. As a global citizen we need to make others aware that it is okay to be different. Our culture tends to think we need to be all alike and assimilate but our world would be a whole lot more boring if we were all the same. So why are we all striving to be the same? It beats me. But I know now that we need to learn to be open to talking to people about race and other differences and should embrace it and celebrate it instead of put others down for being or acting differently.

I have also learned that knowledge is key. Many do not know their basic human rights and do not realize that their human rights are being violated. All over the world we have this problem. I think it is important as a global citizen to make more and more people aware of their rights and encourage them to spread the knowledge. It is also important to recognize when others or your own rights are being violated and to do something about it. At times many people tend to just let it slip on by when they are being violated. In this sense we need to give others the knowledge so they will not be afraid to stand up for their rights. I know that I was guilty of letting things slip on by but now that I have the knowledge and know what my rights I will not let them slip again. I think by making others knowledgeable and giving them that confidence they need and this will help to get more and more people to stand up and work together to prevent others from violating human rights. I see now that every little bit counts and doing little things like that will make an impact. You need to start somewhere so this is where we can start by speaking up and saying something.

To be honest talking about myself and what I have learned on this trip is one of the hardest questions to answer. From being in South Africa I have learned that in the US the society and also my family has tended to put a lot of pressure on me to succeed and do well in school. I have always been put under pressure to get good grades and to make money since I was little. I got a job as soon as I was legal to work even a year younger (shh don’t tell). Society makes you think in a way that the only way you can be happy is if you have money and are able to buy and do nice things. What I have learned here is that is not where happiness comes from. I have learned that I have found joy by hiking, getting to know and hanging out with other people. I have learned about myself that I am very passionate about kids and love them to death. Kids are really what make me most happy. I will do anything for my Grade R kids and Ocean View kids. I have realized that this is why I want to become a teacher. I also really want to make an impact and want the kids to look back and remember me and hopefully what I have done has given them motivation to want to succeed and continue to study. After our last trip and tutoring session at Ocean View I have realized that I have made an impact on these kids. All the kids at Ocean View after were given the opportunity to write on the back of our certificates. The little boy I tutored and was close to, A-Jay, ended up writing that he loved me a lot and that he hoped that I loved him to. He said not to forget about him. This really hit me because I was worried this whole time that he would be the one forgetting about me. But in the end he was the one worrying that I would forget about him. He has improved so much and I have realized that I have impacted his life even if it is in a little way. I have motivated him to do well in school and now he is getting 90% in maths! I am so proud of him and cannot wait to keep in touch with him. I have realized that the same things in life that I may have not paid much attention to or thought did anything really do make a difference. Just by taking a few hours a week out of my time to go to Ocean View everyday Friday has helped these kids and has given them the confidence to succeed and do well. I am proud of each and every one of them. I have learned that I do have the power within me to help and tutor these kids. I am nurturing and caring and clearly it has showed through this tutoring but also at Christel House.

In the past I have had a hard time with confronting people and saying no. But now that I am in South Africa I have come a long way and actually have been confronting people about certain things that have been bothering me. I have learned to stand up for myself more and not let others take advantage of me. I have learned that at times I have been too nice and have grown to overcome confrontation and actually speak up. I have learned that now I have the knowledge to say something about race or when people’s rights are being violated.

I have learned that in the past I did tend to judge people and not like people because of the way that they acted towards me at first or how they looked. Now I realized how stupid that was because I was judging them before I even knew the. I have also learned that I tended to judge people I knew because they were mean to me or did not do this or that. Now I have realized that was stupid as well because I do not always know what people are going through. I cannot judge people because of one day they were in a bad mood.

I have also learned that I can empathize and sympathize with people. This was reinforced when I was tutoring the kids in Ocean View, my Grade R class and also conversations and instances I’ve had with people in the house. This is one quality that I know I have and always have had and I continue to keep it. I think it is a very important quality to have because it is easier to relate with others when I know what they are going through or can talk to them. I always try to be as approachable as possible and like it when people talk to me and vent to me. I like to be as helpful as possible. I have realized that at times I want to do everything and tend to overcommit. So here I have realized that I cannot and should prioritize things first. I cannot do everything or else I tend to get overwhelmed. So in the future I plan to do the things that are most important to me. I know that if I try to do everything I get too stressed out and tend to break down. This has shown me that I do need to set apart time for myself so that I can reflect and relax and gather my thoughts. I tend to be go go go all the time but I need to make time for myself and put myself first sometimes. 

Kimmi reflecting on her time in Cape Town

It’s been about a week since I have been back home and I can’t describe the mix of emotions and feelings I am going through right now. I came home to a bright sign and flowers from my family! It was great to see them, catch up, and show them my bungee jumping video and other crazy adventures I did while in Cape Town. Over the past few days I’ve been asked how was Africa? This question is very hard to respond to. How can I possibly describe the best 3 and half months of my life in just a few sentences? What do I tell them? Should I go on and on about how wonderful each and every one of my Grade R kids are? Tell them about the more adventurous side? I have done so much in these past few months it’s hard to sum it up. I have found that it is easiest to start with AMAZING! From there I usually start to talk about what a typical week would be describing my internship, classes and activist project. From there I usually throw in that I went bungee jumping, hiking, paragliding and more adventurous things. Some would ask more questions and others would just let it be at that.

           

I know that from this experience I have changed and grown as a person. I know this but I just don’t know how. I can’t exactly pinpoint what has changed about me but I know something has. I know that thanks to my professors and co-educators that they have helped me through this process. I didn’t realize how much I really needed them and how much I would miss them until I came home. It’s been a week and I find myself missing everyone and everything about Cape Town. Right now it feels like I’m dreaming like this is unreal. Sure it’s great seeing all of my old friends and family but I didn’t think it would be this hard. My co-educators each played a role when I was in Cape Town and they are all my family. It’s really hard being away from them and I find that I’m missing them like crazy. And Ben and Greta were two of the best RAs and definitely helped me get through this trip as well. They were always there to give me advice and when in a dilemma they came to my rescue.

I’ve been missing little things about Cape Town that you don’t get in Wilton. I miss the hustle and bustle of the city itself. The honking and yelling of the minibus taxi drivers. Driving through Wilton today I realized how quiet it was. You don’t see people walking around much, everyone just in their cars. The city parts of Cape Town are what I thought I would never miss but I actually do. There is always something to do and new things to see. Here in Wilton I feel like I have already seen everything there is to see. Cape Town was rich with life and so much history. Walking down the road or conversing with people in the shops was a learning experience. Everyone in Cape Town is so open to talking to you and really getting to know each other. They are a lot more opened to talking to strangers.

           

One of the biggest differences that I’ve seen in South Africa and particularly townships like Ocean View and Nyanga is a sense of community. I feel like most places around the US have lost that sense of community. Just walking through these townships everyone knew each other and even if they didn’t they would still say hi. All the houses were close together and right next to each other. You really got to know your neighbors. Here I feel like that is pretty uncommon to know and be very good friends with your neighbors. Especially these days you see people building bigger and bigger houses. How are you supposed to find each other in a house that big? In Cape Town I feel like people live more simply. It was nice walking around with these guys from Nyanga and feeling safe and not even worrying about crimes. In Wilton there is a sense of community don’t get me wrong. I have grown up in this little town and here I can’t go into Stop and Shop without seeing someone I know. People are friendly and there are good people in Wilton. I just feel like at times in the suburbs and all over the US people tend to be more involved in their own lives and material things. It’s hard because the pace is so much faster here than Cape Town. Everyone is on a set schedule going from here to there. The life here is just go go go. I find it most challenging getting back into that mindset of having to go nonstop. I find it most challenging of having the pressure to having to do something all the time and feeling guilty for relaxing. I feel pressure to have to go straight back to work and feel the need to always work. It’s hard to find time for yourself and do things for yourself when you always have to worry about pleasing everyone else and working all the time.

           

In Cape Town, one of the things I’m going to miss the most is being genuinely happy about life and what I was doing over there. While in South Africa I found my passion again, I found my fire. In Cape Town I was doing what I loved which was getting to know and spending time with kids. Kids make me happy and make me want to wake up early in the morning and take a bus ride to see them everyday. My Grade R class did not fail once to put a smile on my face. When I was feeling sick or tired or whatever as soon as I walked into that Grade R classroom and all of my kids greeted me with genuine smiles how could I be miserable anymore? These kids from the very beginning gave me unconditional love and care I needed to get by. They made me realize how much I want to go into teaching. They gave me the joy and love I needed to get through rough days. I knew that they could always pick me up. My experience would have never been the same without them. I learned so much through them by just observing and talking to them. It was everything I imagined and so much more. Sure I saw that these kids who live in poverty and have nothing still so happy. What I didn’t expect from them was how happy they would make me and how much love and care they would give to me.

Kimmi with teachers at Christel House School

This applies to everyone in Cape Town though. My teachers, Loren and Alfreeda were so opened and welcoming to me since the moment I met them. They shared personal stories with me and we both opened up to each other. They were a true pleasure to get to know. I learned so much about teaching but also about South African culture from both of them. They are both very wise and intelligent and I feel honored to have worked with them. My host family in Ocean View was also so kind to Kelsey and me. They truly gave us everything and were so welcoming. After the weekend I felt like I was part of a family again. It made me feel right at home and was a nice change from living with sixteen students. Of course Chantel and the kids from Ocean View were incredible as well. Chantel is such an inspiration for her to work so hard and give back to her community is truly amazing on her own. You can see how much the kids really did appreciate us tutoring and even just talking and getting to know them. It was fun to build relationships with kids who were a little bit older and who I could relate and have conversations with. Lets not forget Amanda and Bongi who did a similar thing to Chantel with the Firefighter boys tutoring club and the girls’ book club. Amanda working with us to create a big/little program. It was a great experience to be able to have a “little sister” and to communicate with her and get to know her on a personal level. I enjoyed it when we hit the mark where she came up to me and wanted to talk to me about personal things. I can’t describe how much that means to me for her to want to tell me and trust me about certain things she was going through. I think about Tania often and miss her but I know that she will succeed and do well in life. She is a hard worker and knows what she wants.

Kimmi & Kelsey with their family in Ocean View

I will always remember and always love each and every one of my kids and just everyone that I met in Cape Town. I know for a fact that I will never forget my experience and my new life that I had over there. While there I was able to truly be myself. I did not hold back with anyone. Everyone that I went on the trip with and was living with by the end of it they brought out the best in me, the me that I feel like I’ve never shown anyone before. They made me feel comfortable enough to act crazy, scream and dance. I could do whatever and they would be fine with it. We laughed, fought and cried but in the end we all became close like a family and loved each other. It was sad saying goodbye to everyone in Cape Town but also to the life I had over there. I also learned to listen to myself and to take time for myself. I was able to know when I needed to relax and hang back. There I had no stress and did not have to worry about money and all of those little things I have to worry about here. I am missing just living my life to the fullest and doing what I want. I miss feeling a different type of freedom and independence that I can’t get here. It is amazing what just 3 and a half short months can do to you. I have learned and seen so much about others and myself there. I have learned a little bit more of who I am. I have definitely filled in a little piece to this big puzzle we call life. I look forward to continuing to fill in those pieces. I know for sure that some day I will have to come back to Cape Town because that’s what it does to you. It is like a drug it keeps you coming back for more.

Kimmi on her final day

For two days now we have been trying to go to one of the black townships called Nyanga. We have waited for buses to come time and time again but nothing. Every time the bus never came and we weren’t able to go I felt relieved. I wanted to go visit and walk around a black township before I left with the informal settings because I knew it would be different then the coloured township we stayed in at the homestay, Ocean View. I was so comfortable in Ocean View and love it there but something about Nyanga really scared me. Maybe it was because I didn’t know the guys who were giving us a tour or all of the crime that occurred in townships. I’m not really sure but it was making me very anxious even thinking about walking around. I knew that if I did this it would be conquering one of my biggest fears.

           

When we waited for the bus for an hour today and it never came again that’s when I thought okay guess we aren’t going anymore. We headed back home and went to Mzoli’s, which is a restaurant/butchery type place in a black township called Guguletu. We got there at 10 in the morning in order to get a table since Sundays are known to be one of the busiest days of the week. We got a big table and ordered lamb, T-bone steaks, sausage and bread. The guys that were supposed to take us around Nyanga came and we got to meet them and talk. The food was amazing but also the atmosphere and sense of community I felt while being there. There were multiple tables set up in the back that was very opened and people were socializing and dancing. I met up with my teacher, Loren and I was able to spend time with her and talk to her for a bit before I go home tomorrow! Brandi and I were dancing in the middle of the circle and cheered on and clapped by people that we just met. I loved it there.

           

We ended up going to Nyanga right after Mzoli’s. I think this was better and I was a lot more comfortable because I met the guys and talked to them for a bit before we met. We walked from Mzoli’s to Nyanga. At Nyanga we walked through informal settings, passed schools and got to know the guys. When I was walking through Nyanga I felt extremely safe and forgot about my fear of getting robbed or something bad happening. We went to each of their houses and every family was so opened and welcoming. Here that is one of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how much you have people keep on giving. These people in the townships have nothing but they are still willing to welcome us into their homes to see it and are so friendly. That’s one thing I love here that everyone does!

           

In Nyanga we were able to play soccer and Australian football with the kids. We played on the playground with some of the local kids as well. On the way we drank some traditional African Beer and ate smiley. The African Beer was held in a tin can and then we all passed it around. While drinking it you have to bend down so that you are lower than it to raise it to the ancestors. Smiley is another tradition that they sell on the streets. Smiley is a sheep’s head that people eat. So we got half of one and I ate the jaw and eye. It wasn’t very good and I felt like we were on fear factor. It all added to the experience. We were walking around and got to know these guys and the whole time I felt so safe.

We got back for our last dinner where we all chipped in to make some breakfast food for dinner. We all reflected about what we got out of this trip. This day was the perfect ending to a great trip! I’m really going to miss everyone and this country. I’m glad that it ended on a good note and I know for sure that one day I have to come back. I am taking so much from this trip and am so happy that I did this today and conquered my fear. I have come to see that townships really are not as scary as I thought they were. I thought today I was going to be very uncomfortable and out of place. I ended up noticing that everyone was looking at us a bit strange seeing a white person in a black township. But instead of attacking us or being mean about it they ended us welcoming us in with open arms and kind words. I have realized that there is nothing to be afraid of. Today the guy I was talking to Mzu told me not to worry about it robbing or thieves until it happened. He told me to take every moment and basically live in the present. That I mustn’t worry about things that could happen. If they do happen then deal with them at that moment but don’t worry about things that could happen. I like this and am going to try my best to think like this for everything in my life. I have conquered some of my fears while here and have learned a lot about South Africa and the U.S.  Each and everyone that I have met while here who were from South Africa and U.S has influenced me and helped me grow as a person. I am so fortunate and lucky to have such a great experience here. There have been ups and downs but I’m so happy that I have had the opportunity. Now I will be saving up to come back because there is no way I am leaving everyone here and seeing everything and not coming back! Cape Town definitely changes you and helps you grow in a way that I can’t describe.

Kimmi's Plettenberg Bay Weekend

Thursday April 12, 2012-Sunday April 15, 2012

Started off the weekend with a long bus ride to Plettenberg Bay. We arrived at the hostel at around 2am in the morning. This weekend I experienced a lot of firsts. The first one was the hostel. I have traveled a lot but I have never had the opportunity to stay in a hostel. I had a great experience and loved it. I shared a room with five other girls we slept in bunk beds, which reminded me of camp. We chit chatted into the late hours of the night.  It was like being able to have a sleepover with your best friends every night. This weekend was a great bonding experience and I have realized how close and comfortable I am around all the other UConn students on this trip.

On Friday twelve of us went kloofing. If you do not know what that is basically we were all geared up in wet suits, life jackets and sneakers. We hiked to get to the river, swam and stopped at cliffs to jump off of them. We jumped off a total of three cliffs. The highest one was 11.5m, which is a little bit over 30 feet high. That was the scariest one because you had to crawl up a hill in the woods and you had to dodge a rock on the way down. As soon as I got to the top some were waiting around but I knew that I couldn’t wait and I just had to go and do it. This was a good bonding experience because we were all encouraging each other and cheering each other on. Some got very afraid at the top and were afraid of heights so these cliffs were a big challenge. It was just so satisfying not only for those girls but also for me when they jumped off the cliff. I was so proud of them and excited that they conquered their fear. We were able to explore the Main Street and shop and look for a place to eat. We found a restaurant with a nice variety that seemed suitable for everyone. All us went out to dinner in celebration of Theresa’s birthday!

Saturday was another unforgettable day. We all started off with bungee jumping! It was 216m jump! The bridge is the highestbridge in South Africa and the highest commercial bungee jump in the world! We all walked over together and the whole time there was music pumping and we were all dancing and cheering others on. This was another great accomplishment for those who were afraid of heights. There was this one lady who you could tell was very afraid but we cheered for her and encouraged her and she did it. She said that in the end our encouragement really helped her. I was nervous when I got to the edge and my toes were dangling off the side. It was an indescribable feeling when you go from pump up music to complete silence and peacefulness. There I felt the most relaxed and at peace. For those quick 30 seconds or so it was just me free falling in the sky. It’s scary thinking that I only had a rope attached to my feet but when you jump it is the most peaceful and beautiful thing. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Later on that day we went over to an elephant sanctuary where we all were able to pet the elephants and feed them. They were all so gentle and nice and their skin was so rough. It was awesome being able to get that close and touch them. These elephants were orphans and there is no beating or physical violence done to the elephants when they train them. To finish off a perfect day we all watched a movie, Mean Girls together and sat around the campfire and talked. It was nice because everyone was so relaxed and comfortable there. I really enjoyed this weekend with all of the adventurous events and bonding. I missed the people who had to stay back in Cape Town and wish everyone could have come. I wish we would have had the chance to experience this earlier but in a way it was a nice way to spend one of our last weekends in South Africa.

Kimmi will miss Cape Town

Cold rain + Tea + Movies = Made Me Realize How Much I Will Miss Cape Town

Ryan, Rebecca, Kelsey & Kimmi

It was a Thursday night and we were all back from class making dinner. We were not in any way shape or form ready for this rain and cold. We have been in Cape Town now for almost three months. We came in their summer so we are used to the warm weather and sunshine. Now the seasons are starting to change and it officially autumn. This was one of our first rainy days. We all decided to make some tea, grab some blankets and stay in and watch Pirates of the Caribbean. This is one of the best nights that I’ve had in Cape Town. It was nice everyone from the pool house was in and we were all cuddling together to stay warm. We have gone from being complete strangers to acquaintances to wanting to kill each other and now finally to good friends. I have come to love not only everyone in the pool house but everyone on this trip. Sometimes people have annoyed me with dishes piling up in the sink and screaming and singing but in the end everyone here is truly an amazing person. I am happy to say that I truly love and care about every single person on this trip and can't wait to share more experiences this last month that I am here. Just staying in and watching this movie has made me realize how lucky I am to find such amazing people and be here with them. I am really going to miss living with sixteen other people. Sure it can be a pain at first running out of toilet paper, maggots crawling all over our floor, trying to cram food into a small refrigerator for eight, sixteen people trying to cook dinner before our 6pm class and many more challenges. But I’m going to miss nights like these where we are all together watching a movie with some tea and chocolate. I’m going to miss dancing to songs like Call Me Maybe and just acting goofy. Those times when went back to middle school and tried on high heels and dresses and walked around the house like we were models. Times like these I will never forget how much fun and entertaining it is to live in a house with sixteen people! You never get bored.

I have not only shared fun and exciting memories like this with these people but they have been with me and experienced the poverty and robbery that occurs here. Being in South Africa and working in Cape Town and with the people we work with we all get our own experiences and we all react differently. But being able to talk to our experiences and them knowing what we’ve been through is really helpful. I know that I have changed a lot.  I was never into current events and did not know a lot about my basic human rights.  But being here I have become more aware of issues that many different countries are facing around the world. I have learned more about the U.S and its history that no textbook or class has ever covered.  Now I am not so ignorant and have also learned to be open to multiple views and opinions. In this world we are living in it can be portrayed as very black and white and right and wrong. I have learned to assume good intent and that there may be some gray areas. We do not always have to be right all of the time. We have to realize that sometimes we are wrong. We have to learn to listen and to stand up for each other especially if our rights are being violated. We need to learn that we cannot be silent about issues such as racism and gender inequalities. How will we get there if we do not speak? How will we get there if we do not make a stand? Many people are suffering today from discrimination. We need to learn from the past and become more accepting of others. We need to celebrate and embrace differences! I know that everyone on this trip is going to go home changed. All of us have grown at least a little bit on this trip and we have all grown together. We have all been there for each other. We all share this special bond and I consider all of them my family away from home. I am going to miss them when I go home but hope to stay in touch.

I am having a lot of mixed feelings about going home. At the beginning of this trip and throughout this entire trip I have been feeling very homesick. I have been missing my family, friends and boyfriend a lot. But at the end of the day I’m in South Africa! I am seeing and meeting things and people that I would have never if I did not take this great opportunity. I love my internship, classes and the country itself. It has become in a way my home away from home. With only one short month left I know that the time is going to fly by. It already has. I have decided to take it one step at a time. Even though at times I do miss the security and safety of being back in the states. I need to put that aside and really keep on embracing myself into the culture and learning as much as I can until I have to go. Saying goodbye is going to be the hardest part of this trip but I know that someday I will be back. Whether it is only for a week or two I know that I have to come back and visit. This country and the history and everything that is happening now is too good to not come back and share it with others. So going home definitely has its ups and its down but either way it is going to happen. So I will not get sad about leaving until I am on that long plane ride. Until then I am going to live it up and make more memories to take home and share!

Kimmi's excursion experiences

For my spring break this year we went to visit Johannesburg, South Africa and also Kruger National Park.  I had so much fun at both places. We were in Jo'burg for a couple of days. There we visited many museums. 

The museum that hit me the most and made me very emotional was the Hector Pietersen Museum. We went to this museum one of the first days we were in Jo'burg. If you do not know already Hector Pietersen was 13-year-old boy who was shot by the South African police. He was marching for his right to an equal education. Many of the kids from Soweto, one of the biggest townships in South Africa, marched in protest that day. It was supposed to be a simple protest and turned violent. Students were fighting for the right to an equal education that they deserve. The police came to break it up and started to fire shots into the crowd. That day about 200 kids died and hundreds injured. One of the famous pictures is of Hector Pietersen being carried by an older boy after he was shot. This picture really captured the meaning of Ubuntu because this boy who was carrying Hector did not even know him. But here in South Africa it doesn’t matter if you are a stranger if you see that someone is hurt you are going to help him anyway.

Throughout the museum I learned more and more about what happened that day and how many innocent kids lives were taken. It just made me so sad because to think how young those kids were. I just don’t understand how the police can violently shot at and attack these kids. It was supposed to be a simple protest they were no threat to the police. I just don’t understand why the police felt the need to start killing so many innocent kids. I started to think also some of these kids were as little as my Grade R kids. What if I was a teacher back then and one of my students got shot and killed. I just could not even imagine. These were so many kids killed that day. Kids have so much potential, they have their whole lives ahead of them and they are our future. Kids have so much more to live for and to see that the police killed so many of them I just cannot wrap my mind around. One of the stories I read in the museum touched me as well. This 8-year-old girl was walking down the road when this happened with her mother. She was not even in the protest she was completely innocent and one of the policemen shot and killed her. She was innocent she was not even involved but just because she was a kid the policeman assumed and shot her for nothing. That museum was so sad to learn about and I could not even believe something like this happened.

Kimmi plays hoola hoops with kids at Boys and Girls Club of Soweto

While in Jo'burg we were able to go to many restaurants that had traditional South African food. We went to a casino and I played Black Jack for the first time. I can definitely see how addicting gambling can be. I almost got sucked in and I had to stop myself from putting another R100 in to play. I enjoyed walking around downtown Jo'burg and learning more about the history of South Africa. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend one of the afternoons volunteering with The Boys and Girls Club. There I was reading with one of the boys and we were learning about how muscles worked and how you use them to run and bend your arms. By the end of my time there he understood and really did learn about muscles, which was exciting. I was also able to play with some of the kids outside where one boy and I made up a game with hula-hoops. It reminded me of my childhood and how my sibling and I would always be given something little like a hula hoop and make up a game that would keep us occupied for hours. When we went to Constitution Hill one of the things in the building that I liked the most was there was an area where you can write down whatever you want about South Africa, human rights, etc. I thought that was a good idea and very interesting to look at and read.

When we first came to Johannesburg I was very scared because people told me that it was a lot more dangerous than Cape Town and more crimes occurred there. But in the end I was not so scared. I did find that the people there were not as friendly as the people are in Cape Town. I also felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. That may have to do with the fact that we were always in a big group of 24 people on a huge coach bus. But I felt that being white made people look at me differently because of my skin color. I think because of Apartheid many may still have some sort of resentment against whites because of the way that they were treated. At times I just felt so bad riding around in this big fancy coach bus to places where many did not have enough money to buy groceries for the week. I guess there was no other way to get around but still. Being stared at by many on the streets made me want to duck my head and hide. I did feel safe in Joburg because we were provided with the private transportation and stayed in a safe area. But Joburg did not feel like home. I found myself missing the familiarity and nice people from Cape Town. Plus I also found myself missing Table Mountain, which in Cape Town I can see, everyday. In Joburg there are no mountains.

Next stop was Kruger National Park. It took us about 7 hours to get there. This long bus ride reminded me of all the trips my family and I went on to Wisconsin. When we arrived in Kruger it was extremely hot and humid. I roomed with two other girls in a chalet. It basically looked like a hut from the outside but once you got inside it looked like a small hotel room that fit three beds and a closet. It was far away from any big city and was kind of in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t help but think that it felt a little bit like home. I was finally comfortable enough that if I wanted I was not afraid to walk around alone. The only thing I feared there was getting lost or eaten by some animal.

Brittany, Kimmi, Kristin on game drive in Kruger

We went on a game drive/safari that first night where we saw a giraffe, rhino, kudu (antelope), impalas and wart hogs. On the safari we watched the sunset and the beautiful starry night cover the sky. We woke up at 4 in the morning for our morning safari ride. It was so worth it though. We watched the sunrise and we saw elephants, giraffes, a female lion and cool birds. First we saw an elephant from afar then we saw this huge elephant that actually started to cross the road and stopped right in front of our truck. It stood there and started to flap its ears so we remained quiet then it walked across. It was amazing I had never seen an elephant that close before. I took a nap and then we walked around during the day. At lunch we were all sitting outside eating and in the river we saw hippos! In the afternoon I went on a bush walk. I felt like someone from National Geographic. I had my camera with me and although we had to be completely silent I took some videos. There were two armed men with us leading the way. We saw a giraffe from afar and also some impalas crossing the road. We were on an elephant hunt and on the way found some poop and where the elephant laid. We also stomped through tall grass and spider webs ---- it was so much fun. I really enjoyed my time at Kruger and wish that we could have stayed there longer. On the way out of Kruger we saw elephants, water buffalo, giraffe and hippos.

While on excursion I missed the comfort of the pool house and being able to see everyone and make my own dinner. I also missed the comfort and familiarity of Cape Town. During the whole week the only form of technology I had was my phone. I did not use it because it costs so much for people back home so I had no contact with my family or friends for a whole week. It was kind of relaxing to have no technology and no distractions. I read a lot and wrote a lot. But it was very hard not being able to talk to anyone from home for the whole week. I can’t believe how much I rely on the Internet and how much I was craving it while I was gone for such a short period of time. Overall I had an amazing spring break and am so lucky that I was able to visit such amazing places. By the end of the week though I was ready and excited to go back home to Cape Town.

Kimmi listening to both sides

After watching the Kony 2012 film, talking to others and reading articles all regarding the topic it took me a while to gather my thoughts about Kony 2012. When I first watched the 30-minute film I posted it on my wall right away and was so excited about it. I wanted to do it right away and wanted to spread the word about it as fast as I could. The first thing I did was look at one of my cousin’s wall to see what she thought since I knew she was very big into human rights and topics like these. She had posted a letter that was against the issue. I was shocked! That’s when I decided to look more into the topic. I read the letter then read some other articles regarding the issue. I first could not believe how easily I got sucked into this. This film was good because it did educate and inform me about an issue that I think is very important and should be known worldwide. What I didn’t understand was if this had been going on for 26 years then why am I just learning about it now? Why now are they deciding to talk about it and make it known? I had so many unanswered questions. This organization, Invisible Children, their overall idea and concept is a good one. It is very important to spread the word and educate others. I just don’t think they are doing it in the right manner. I think it is important that everyone knows what is going on but in a way this organization is brain washing us. This film was seen by so many and was spread like wild fire so quickly, everyone was talking about it. At first when people started to debate about it I didn’t understand either like why are we debating? Everyone is just trying to do something right and trying to stop this awful man. Now I see that this film was a good film to see but we are making Africans look helpless. I think that sometimes the U.S tends to step in and try to be the hero. This film shows Africans as helpless and now that the troops are in Uganda they think that will solve this problem. I just don’t understand how it will? First of all why are they in Uganda? I read an article about Uganda being at peace now for about five years and Kony isn’t even in Uganda anymore. So why is the US there if Kony is not? I know that Uganda has a lot of oil there so you cannot help but wonder if that is why we are there all along. Are we there to look like we are there for a good cause and being heroic but in reality we are there for the oil? Why are we invading a peaceful place? What I also don’t understand is what do they plan to do once they have Kony. It will be very good once we catch him but then what? Kony is a smart man and he has been brain washing all of these kids. Who knows what these kids are thinking and if they are doing all of these crimes then maybe Kony brainwashed them to be like him and think like him. If he did then there are so many little Konys running around so if we get one (the leader) there is no guarantee that the LRA will end just because the leader is gone. I also do not understand why Kony 2012? Why did they set a deadline? What happens when 2012 passes and we still have not caught Kony? Then do we just give up and say well at least we tried and gave it our best? Do they really expect us to catch him within these 9 months? Invisible Children gets me mad. I did not realize it but apparently all the money that they want you to donate to this cause well most of it is going to the organization. Most of the money is to keep Invisible Children running and only a small portion of it actually going to those watch towers and everything else they described in the film. What is Invisible Children to begin with? As far as I’m concerned they go around to different colleges and give talks and educate many about topics such as Kony 2012. But then as I was talking to a friend he pointed out that there are four types of people. There are people who know and do something, people who do not know but would do something, people who do not know and would not do anything, and people who know but do nothing. Basically Invisible Children their target audience would be people who do not know but would do something about it. This percentage of people is very small though unfortunately and the majority of people know but do not do anything about it. Those people who do know and do things about it though if you think about it they would have already known about these issues whether there was Invisible Children or not. So once again I believe that the idea of IC educating others and getting the word out is a good idea and it is important. I just do not see what exactly it is doing for the majority of people. I am so glad that I am here because I live in a house with 17 people. So a lot of us do not agree on certain things and Kony 2012 is one of those issues. It is nice to listen to conversations and hear both sides of the story. Through this issue and everything I am experiencing and learning about here in Cape Town I have realized that I want to be up to date with current events and these types of issues. I also cant believe how oblivious I have been in the past. This has been going on for 26 years and I am just learning about it. I knew that I was pretty bad and hardly watched the news and hated listening to NPR. But I thought that a big issue like this I would have known. I am glad that I am now aware of it and other issues going on in the world today. I have realized how important it is to be aware of things. I also see that to every story there are two sides to it. When first reading about this and watching this I thought how could there be two sides to such a wonderful cause. But now after a few weeks of discussing I have seen the other side and tend to lean towards it more and more. I have realized that it is not always as it seems. We need to always question everything that we are presented with. We cannot just assume that everything the news or media is saying to us is correct just because they are the “experts.” We need to be aware of who is telling us what and that maybe there is another side to this issue. In this film I thought all of the money was going to the watchtowers and kids but now I see that most of it is going to Invisible Children itself. This is just like people. Another valuable lesson I have learned here. That you cannot judge people just by the way they look or even what they do. You have no idea what some people are going through and it is best to assume good intent for the most part. Most people mean well but may come off a certain way because they are going through something hard. It is not fair to judge people or think a certain way about them just because they do something. So in the end I believe that we should get the word out about Kony but do not portray these Africans as helpless. We need to keep in mind that we are the ones coming and “helping” them even though they didn’t ask for it. I think its time that someone asks what they think about the whole film.

Kimmi with thoughts racing through her head

Everyday at Christel House is amazing. I love the kids, teachers and the unconditional love I get from both. I just finished writing an 8-page research paper about Christel House. I am so happy that I am part of such a great organization. I just hope that I will be able to make an impact even if it is just on one kid. I did not want to be just like any internship that they have had in the past. I want to be different and I want to help them in some way. I know that it is a little far fetched since the kids are so little and only five years old. For goodness sake I do not even remember what I did when I was five. But it would be amazing to come back here one day and see my students and have them remember me. But I guess we will just have to wait and see.

It’s about 3:15 in the morning and I can’t sleep. Today there are so many different thoughts racing through my mind. Today I was finally able to sit back and reflect on everything. I started to think while the kids were taking a nap. They all looked so peaceful and happy. Every time I go to school the kids greet me with smiles and hug. A little girl who is five years old and has a cough problem since her mother smoked while she was pregnant is always smiling. These kids are genuinely happy and are essentially just kids. At Christel House I tend to forget where I am. I tend to forget that I’m at a school for impoverished children. With matching uniforms and hugs and kisses you tend to forget about their problems and everything that they are going through. Its hard to imagine at just age five they have to go through a lot of things and already have so many problems at home.

That just brings me back to being five. Do you remember when your biggest worry was not being able to get dessert if you misbehaved? Do you remember when you did not have to worry about cooking dinner or going to work? When I was five years old all of those embedded stereotypes and norms. Who created all of these social norms? Why do we have to shave? Why do we have to look this way or that? Society tends to embed all of these norms into our heads without us even knowing. But when we were five years old were we concerned about wearing the most up to date new designer line? When we were five years old did we care think about being normal and what to wear or not to wear? Being young was so amazing. You didn’t have to worry about getting from here to there. You did not have to worry about much. You would just play with your friends and be happy.

That is what so many of these kids have that sometimes I find myself not having…happiness. Sometimes I do not understand how I can lack something that I should have. I have such a great life and just am so fortunate for everything in my life. Some of these kids go home and some do not have running water, some do not have dinner. But do I see them coming in sad and complaining about their lives? No. These kids are happy. These kids have great energy and are great listeners and learners. They try very hard and once they have accomplished something they show me and are proud. This is why teaching is so rewarding. Sure it is fun to be hugged a billion times and to be attacked by a sea of Grade R students. But the most rewarding part of this job is the kids and when they improve. When you see that all of your hard work and teaching has worked. That is the best feeling in the world. When you are working with a child and see the light bulb go off in his/her head. When they finally get it and it clicks. That is when I get that warm feeling inside and can’t even describe how rewarding it is. When your children finish a task that they have been working very hard on and show it to you. When you tell them something so simple as “a job well done Chelsea.” They grin from ear to ear and they get that same feeling nice and warm inside. These children feel the love and support from teachers when they know they care. It is priceless being able to work with these children.

Yes, I am indeed becoming really attached to my Grade R class not only the kids but also the teachers. Everyone in Christel House is wonderful and all the kids want to do is give you more hugs. It doesn’t matter who you are if you know them or not the kids are giving hugs to everyone left and right. It is unconditional love. I am going to miss all of their hugs and some trying to kiss me all of the time. I am going to miss my chats with my teachers. It is really bad. You know that feeling when you know that you are falling in love with someone and you can’t help it. You don’t necessarily want it to happen but it does anyway. Well that is how I am feeling right now towards these kids, teachers and South Africa. I don’t want to fall hard but I am and there’s no stopping it. I know by the end of this trip I will be in tears.

I came to South Africa because I wanted something different. I needed to get away for a little bit and I needed to truly find myself. I am so glad that I choose to come to South Africa. It is a place that I have never seen before. To me it seems that not a lot of people are worried about what car they drive or what clothes they wear. These people know the true meaning of happiness and love. People genuinely care for you and look out for you. I keep on thinking back to the Sunday morning I went to church in a township. That was the most powerful service I have ever gone to. The music really brought everyone together. You can tell that everyone came together. They weren’t there because their parents dragged them out of bed or they had to go. These people wanted to go. These people had great energy and good vibes. It was such a beautiful service. Looking around I saw all of these beautiful people and heard this beautiful music. Did they have a piano? No. Did they have any instruments? No. Their voices and spirits were so loud that they did not need much. Just like these kids and many other people I have seen they believe. They do not have much but they still believe and they make a fantastic life out of what they have.

My teacher is an inspiration she is such an amazing teacher and person. I can tell how passionate she is about the kids. She also has to give them a little bit of tough love every once in a while. But she is great with the kids and so funny. I love the way she teaches and really admire her. I have been learning a lot and am glad we made such a great connection from day 1. The assistant is also wonderful. She is also so caring and great with the kids. She teases them and is fun with them as well. I know that once she finishes school she is going to be a truly amazing teacher, she is already. The kids inspire me the most. They make me want to live everyday to the fullest and to put all of my worries to the side. They make me put everything into perspective and make me realize that some things in life are just not worth getting upset about.

I have learned by living with 17 people in this house that there are a lot of strong personalities. But I have also learned to forgive and to not judge people so quickly. Of course some personalities clash right away. But now that I have started to get to know everyone on a little bit deeper level I have seen the true person he/she is. Everyone on this trip really does mean well and I care about each and every one of them. I have had a lot of fun getting to know everyone. There have been some bumps along the way but now it is a smooth ride. I can now say that I can get along with everyone and enjoy going out and spending time with the group. At first as you know I was having a hard time. That was probably one of the biggest challenges for me flying across the country with no friends or family with no one to lean on. Here I was alone with 20 strangers and had to make friends. I know that it sounds very easy making friends but for me it wasn’t. I was so used to my best friends from home and my family being a car ride away. Here I was forced to be on my own. It was hard and took a while to get adjusted but now I have found a lot of good friends that I am sure I will stay in touch with for years to come.

Another challenge was letting go and venturing outside of my comfort zone. I had a hard time letting go of that fear of no one liking me and even of the people here. But I have learned that being safe and opening up to people to overcome those fears. I am planning on going on a homestay in Oceanview one of the townships next weekend. I will be staying with a host family for a few nights. I am very excited to learn more about this culture and be able to really experience it hands on. This is why I came here to learn more about the South African culture. These people all have different stories of how they got to where they are today and different opinions about the Apartheid and race. I am very embarrassed to say that I had did not know anything about South African History before arriving. I did not know who Nelson Mandela was or what the Apartheid was. I am so glad that I am learning so much but wish I would have learned at least a little bit in school.

I feel happy and giddy and I can’t even describe it. I have learned to not take so many things for granted. I am so mad that in America materialistic things have become so important to us. How money has become so important to us as well. How we are afraid to get to know strangers and usually when in a rush just blow off clerks when they ask how we are. In the US we always seem to be in a rush and going from here to there. We are just go, go, go all of the time and tend not to relax and rest. We need to find more time for ourselves we need to reflect every once in a while and just stop and breathe. We need to learn how to enjoy life and enjoy our food. My dad would always tell me to enjoy my food not to rush. That is true for food and also for life. If you rush rush rush you will not get as much out of life or the wonderful taste of food as if you just took your time and really tasted every ingredient and spice. Life comes so fast and before you know it a month or two has passed by. I have learned here and after talking to my boyfriend not to be sad and worry about how I have to leave in two months. I mustn’t worry about the expiration date on my trip. I must slow down and enjoy every last second I am here. I must use this opportunity to explore not only Cape Town but also myself and how I feel. I must learn what truly makes me happy. Things like yoga, kids, and running, eating and talking with friends. These things may take time out of my day and may help me procrastinate from the work I have to do. But by getting the most out of the time here is just as important maybe even more than reading my book. I always have the day or night before to write that paper right? I know that you all are always busy and go go go just like I was and usually am. But you can’t forget to take some time for you and to treat yourself every once in a while. It can be something as simple as treating yourself to Starbucks (that’s what I did at home…still can’t find anything close to as good as Starbucks here…I’ve been drinking Instant Coffee which is interesting to say the least). Okay I am done rambling on and now it is nearly 4 in the morning so I should try to sleep. But if anyone gets the chance to visit some place as amazing as South Africa do not even hesitate just do it! You will not regret it! I definitely did not.

Kimmi on making a difference

I have been here for more than a month now and that is enough time to realize how much I love it here. I'm really going to miss it when I have to say goodbye. Recently I got involved in Big Sister, Little Sister program where I was paired up with a little sister and am able to tutor her and get to know her. I will be teaching her some life skills, instilling confidence and being the best possible role model I can. I think its very important for these young adults. I am excited not only to get to know and get close with my little sister but also so that I can restore faith in her. I want to give her confidence and support and show her that even if no one else cares, including herself, I care. 

I plan to not only get to know my little sister, Tania, that I was paired with but I would also like to learn about her culture and where she comes from. She will give me insight and maybe change my perception about the world and how I see people. The issue that I am addressing is where young people living in these townships are facing many problems like poverty, drugs and gangs. One of the goals is that through tutoring, interacting with them and teaching them life skills it will prevent them to get into trouble and help them see that there are better things out there they can get involved with.  I hope to show these young adults that they will have to work hard to get where they want to be but in the end it will all be worth it. I am so happy and excited that I am involved in this! She got so excited when I suggested that we could hike Table Mountain. She just wants to get out and do things. It seems like at home she just does not really have the opportunity to go out and explore Cape Town. 

There is so much to do here as you know I have been doing so much already. She lives here and I don't think she has done half the things that I have done. This makes me sad and really puts it into perceptive again how lucky I am. It relates to class when we were talking about privileges and its true. Money really does play a big role in some of the privileges that you may be offered and others will not. I know just by meeting Tania once what an amazing and hard working person she is. How can someone who is like me and able to give so much not receive that much in the end. I like to know that I will be able to spend time and take her out and have her experience many things. She will be able to learn a lot from me and I will most definitely learn a lot from her. It just makes me sad that I will only be here for two months so will have to leave her. I just hope that she will be determined to do well and work hard. All I want to do is make a difference while I am here. Whether it is on one of my five year old Grade R students or just one person like Tania. 

I am in South Africa not only because it is beautiful and so different and eye opening but to become more aware of my surrounding. I also came to make a difference even if it is as little as giving Tania the confidence to want to succeed and want to push herself. With only about two months left I hope I will make a difference to at least one person and go home being aware and make a difference at home as well. 

Kimmi on lessons regarding race in South Africa and the U.S.

At Christel House they are having a big sports day on February 23, 2012. Today we broke the kids into their four groups that were countries. The countries were where other Christel Houses were so it included USA, Venezuela, India and Mexico.

One of the little girls was then taken away to talk to the social worker. Her father passed away about four years ago. In South Africa, if you are together for a certain amount of years but not married then you are considered common law married so you share and get everything if they pass away. But her mother had no paperwork  to prove that, so she did not get the estate. Instead the property went to Masters, which is where it goes in cases like this. Masters decided to sell the house and so on Friday when this little girl came home from school she was forced to move out of her house. Masters did not even tell her mother anytime in advance just kicked her out right then and there. Currently the girl’s mother is going through chaos. They are staying with the girl’s older sister. It’s just a really sad story and she is going through so much already at such a young age. I couldn’t believe it.

           

In the classroom at circle time today we went over the date, weather, and yesterday and tomorrow. Miss Loren also taught them about big and small by giving examples. She used two of the students and showed that one boy was the biggest in the class and was taller than another. She also taught them about patterns. She drew an example of patterns on the board. One example was a big circle, little circle, big circle. Then she would ask them what would come next so they would get the concept. To make it even more difficult she put three different shapes pattern some of the kids got it others struggled.

           

While the kids were napping today I had a very interesting conversation with my teacher. First of all I love my teacher and we have a very good connection. She is amazing with the kids, passionate about her job and overall just a very funny and great person. She speaks fluent Afrikaans and is classified as coloured.

She said that all of the teachers at Christel House are coloured and all of the assistants are black. I thought this was interesting and wonder if it was done on purpose or by accident. Then we started to talk about race and she said that she thinks that Cape Town has gotten a lot better over the years. But the assistant said that it has stayed the same (the assistant is black and is fluent in Xhosa).

Miss Loren was talking about one story. This little 5-year old girl in the class was one day talking to her friend during snack time. Then she started saying that she wasn’t a ______  (a derogatory term) and she kept on repeating it. This shocked me that a 5-year old would know such an awful term at this age and know the meaning of it and use it! I could not believe it.   It’s very sad. My teacher was going on saying that she was also very shocked. She said that she sees everyone as the same and does not treat one person differently from another based on race. She said that her parents had to deal with that in the past through Apartheid and wish that on no one else. She told me that South Africa is now trying to be united and not look so much at race because of what happened during the Apartheid. That’s why they have so many official languages and their flag also represents every race. My conversation unfortunately got cut short because the bus was there. It was very nice to talk to her and I can’t wait to talk to her even more and learn more.

           

We had class today from 6pm-9pm. We talked about all of our privileges and that list can just go on and on. Chantelle came into our class and presented us with a trip where we can go to the township called Ocean View for a weekend. It’s a homestay so you are paired up with one other person and stay in a home together and get to know the family, eat meals with them, and help out with household chores. While there you also get to work on one of the projects whether it is a children’s after school program or technology club. I just think this is a real life changing experience that I would not want to pass up. When she was talking about it I got more and more excited about it. I can’t wait to go there and really experience a different side of South Africa.

           

To finish up the night we watched episode III of the PBS series Race the Power of an Illusion: The House We Live In . It shocked me. First they started the film by talking about immigration. They said how some people saw immigrants as a racial invasion. They talked about how the what was referred to as the Melting Pot did not actually include Asians, African Americans and other “races,” it was mostly just whites and Europeans.  The film also went into a case that really shocked me, it was about a Japanese man. He did everything right in order to become an American citizen he raised his kids like Americans and believed strongly in the American government. But when he was trying to become an American citizen he argued two main points. The first was that race shouldn’t matter for citizenship and beliefs and wanting to be an American should matter. The Supreme Court told him that he wasn’t white enough to become an American. They used “scientific evidence” to “prove” he was not white enough. Three months later man from India tried to become an American citizen and used science to say that he was Caucasian. The Supreme Court then told him he could not become an American because they said that science does not matter and that being white is understood by the “common man.”   According to the common man he was not white.

This really got me mad because our very own country and Supreme Court weren’t letting these two hard working well deserving people become American citizens just because of their race. They first used science as an excuse then once a man backs up being Caucasian with science they reject him as well. I just can’t believe that I did not learn these facts in my U.S History class. Nicole was saying that many classes are required for everyone to take at UConn such as Psychology, US History, English but the one class that matters the most is this class on the social construction of Race.

Everyone at UConn should be required to take this class because everyone should be informed about these issues that we had in the US. Everyone should be aware and educated about race. Especially people who are going into Education and Business. We should be teaching everyone about the things I am learning about now. All of things I have learned in the past about my history have been about wars and basically made me think that after the Civil War was over race was fine and everything is good. We need to teach our children more about this and make them aware.

We learned about the Alien Act as well where Asians were not allowed to purchase or lease land because they were too different and couldn’t become like the rest of us. This just made me think about my grandfather and how he was in the farming business. I wonder when he came over to the U.S if any of this affected him and how he felt about it. I wish I would have been able to talk to him about it before he passed. But this class is making me very interested in the American Asian culture as well and during the summer I’m going to try to learn more about it.

When the soldiers came home from World War II the federal government provided federal housing communities so that they could afford to purchase a home and pay 10 or 20% down and then the bank would finance the rest. One of these communities was called Levittown. One of the black soldiers was interviewed in the film and talked about being interested in one of the houses in Levittown and wanting to buy one but the salesman told him he couldn’t sell the house to him because he was not sure whether the owners of the development wanted to sell to blacks or not.

I just could not believe how awful that must have felt. He fought for our country and could have sacrificed his life but his own country would not let him live in certain areas. I had no idea that racism was so strong back then. It just gets me so mad when I learn about things like this. It makes me wonder what was going through everyone’s head and how could people let racism in the US get this bad. It makes me wonder how much better it has really gotten. Most people have just put a blind eye to race in the US I know myself included. I know that when I get home it will be a culture shock for me. I am interested to see what changes I see and what I can do to try to fix the way we think.