Durban life

Lots of Indian influence here...
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Electricity Theft

I just saw this on the way to the airport.

I was watching the news one night and Eskom (the South African electrical company) report I think it was a R625 million (Rands which is about $73,500,000 USD) loss due to electricity theft.

http://www.venn.co.za/index.php?cost-reduction-article&articleid=26

That figure could be waaay off but it's hard to believe now people even get access to these lines in the first place. A friend once showed me a demonstration of how people will go up to the line and cut and re-route the line, which I think could obviously be incredibly dangerous.

But found it interesting to see this sign. At least they are making efforts to not lose some serious revenue here and keep people safe. However, this is somethere you would never see back home.
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Snow in SA

Snow World for the 1st time in South Africa!! Haha...want to come visit Boston/NYC in the dead of winter after 2 ft of snow? And, then you have to dig your car out of that...might not seem as enjoyable ;) hah

I actually can really enjoy digging my car from the winter tundra of a huge snow storm. Especially, when all these dudes take pity on this small little girl, just cracks me up to think they believe I'm completely incapable of doing that task of shoveling.

This thing was funny to see in the mall and all the kids probably seeing snow for the first time in their lives.



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Waiting for the bus in Kimberley

Haha I love looking at what people pack here to take on a looooong bus ride.

Their HUGGGGE "tupper" of goodies, usually some chicken, pap, and veg.

Their 1-liter of Fanta, Twizza, or Stoney.

Maybe a beer or two, three, oooor four.

Their screaming babies.

A pillow and a big blanket to cuddle up in.

And of course their luggage.


A ride down to Cape Town usually entails a 12 hour ride on a bus, however, made much more easy since will pick you up in the evening and you sleep over night and waking in the early early morning in the central bus station in the CBD (Central Business District) of Cape Town.

And going those 12 hours or 650+ miles (1050 km), you just pay the equivalent of about $50 (depending on which bus line you take).

My favorite part of the trip is running into each Ultra Shell reststop and stocking up on chocolate, cookies, or locally-made biltong.

I LOVE BILTONG!! It's what we call "jerky" back home, but it's maybe the best thing to snack on in South Africa. You've got to try ostrich, chicken, beef, and kudu. I'm addicted.

But maybe ya'll need to just make this trip yourself ;) can't wait to see the ocean!! And SWIM!

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My 1st Traditional Dress

It's only been 18 months...

But just got my 1st traditional dress in from our local Sotho (from Lesotho)dressmaker! Love it! I was told I need to now get married in it :/ OR just go to a wedding in it....not so sure the marriage, but it is quite fabulous :)

If you get married here in South Africa in what we'd think as a traditional wedding dress, which is WHITE, they call that here "white wedding."

How do I look?


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End of School, Term 4

The end of the term has been very slow...

Yesterday only 3 of my 39 second graders came to school.

Today we've been drawing allll morning I think I have a star artist :) This is Tsholofelo.
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Life is calling you. I went pretty far

Ever packed up your life of 16 months in the field...?

This is what it may look like.

Drinking my morning coffee and finishing pack, and listening to the news of a win for Obama...it's been a pretty fabulous morning of reflection.

But I will be back...where there's a will there's a way. Even if you are not under the title of Peace Corps, but just American solo out in the field.

See you all Thanksgiving!!!

Miss my village already i'm not gone yet. Back at the end of November in South Africa.



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Hundred dollar bills y'all

The new bill in South Africa.

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Yet another Grade R Graduation...

Another year, another graduation ceremony and a farewell with the Grade 7.

Here DK, gets photos of all the Kindergarten class at my school.

Friday they will allll graduate from what they call "Grade R" here for Kindergarten.


Soooo cute!
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Voting?

I'm slightly confused....I thought I just sent this in.

Do I sent it again?


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Special Olympics Fun :)

Here we, Peace Corps volunteers, are with Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR used to be Zaire). He makes me look like a midget, for he stands at 7'2" (2 feet taller than me)!

Dikembe was present for all of the SOSA Unity Cup action and working closely with the Youth Summit portion of the games where youth across southern Africa gathered to talk about stopping discrimination based on mental capabilities and stop the use of the word "disabilities" and learn to use "differences" instead.

Did you know.... (courtesy of Wikipedia):

"Mutombo attended Georgetown University on a USAID scholarship, and his original intention was to become a doctor; however, the Georgetown Hoyas basketball coach John Thompson recruited him to play basketball. He spoke almost no English when he arrived at Georgetown and studied in the ESL program.

Like many other Washington-area college students, he served as a summer intern, once for the Congress of the United States and once for the World Bank. In 1991 he graduated with bachelor's degrees in linguistics and diplomacy.

And....

Dikembe is commonly referred to as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times.

Also, he is a member of the Luba ethnic group and speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Tshiluba, Swahili, Lingala and two other Central African varieties (that's 9 languages)."

That day the pic was taken I spent the entire morning popping champagne bottles and making mimosas haha. OOoh the life here is hard!


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Race, A Social Construction

I just finished watching Crash.

My favorite line in that is the scene where there are these two guys in a car and one them just smirks and laughs, then the other one who's driving says: "what?"

Other dude: "People, man."

Why are we all so different, when did you realize who you were or who you were supposed be based off how you look on the outside?

Being on the Peace Corps Diversity Committee and now am the new chairperson, we constantly are talking about identity.

And it has me thinking a lot about who I am and how I came to have the sort of lens through which I see the world. As does working with my Grade 2 class, how was I taught as a child to think or learn about the world? And really once again I think it all goes back to my adoption.

Constantly the black sheep in the family (based solely on skin color), surrounded by "white" people my entire upbringing...and never giving a second thought about it, never really noticing or feeling that I wasn't supposed to be there. Yet, somehow intrinsically knowing that I had to be okay with standing out looking different since this was my family and you can't change who your family is since they will always be part of you.

I remember the day when I realized I couldn't call myself "white" and that I could associate myself with the "bubble" that my mother and father would have filled it. When you're a child you don't see color, you just see who your classmates are as individuals and don't judge them or predetermine how they should be based on their outside coating.

I think I'm come to an interesting point in my life where I don't feel like a "poser" or a "wannabe" because I want to identify myself as Latina and I want to make it clear that I am a bilingual Spanish speaker, hot spicy foods, and yes I can dance salsa circles around you and identify with J.Lo. Since now I have that REAL Latina family that I am part of ....but not all of them dance like J.Lo or even know how to dance salsa. All these expectations that at one point in my life I was at one point trying to live up to, I have now become and realized it doesn't matter. Yes, of course I am super glad I can speak Spanish...though with a Castellano Spanish accent from Madrid. All these Latino things that at one point I thought I to fulfill have become there own, and that is me.

I am all these things plus am addicted to NPR (This American Life is the bomb dot com) and the New York Times, love yoga, run marathons, love dog breeds that eat too much (beagles and corgis preferably) and live for the world of public health non-profit. And have recently been introduced to the addictive world of chess.

None of these things listed above are what I would call stereotypically "Latino."

You get older and grow into who you really are and it's a fantastic type of calm. I have to worry about it anymore since I am who I am and that's fabulous :)

But then still the world continues to judge you by the cultural environment you come from and the color of your skin, when to you that is no longer an issue. You just begin to wonder when will all these stop? When will the children in my rural South African village stop calling my "Lekgoa" (white person in English)? When I'm back in the U.S.?

I'm going to stop there but this picture I took as I was filling out my Annual Volunteer Survey, since it once again felt like how it was when I went to fill out the US Census. I just choose other, since really I am not 100% of any of those.

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Rainbow Nation

Today we did picture of a rainbow going over the country outlined as if it were the South African flag.

This is Mmaserame :) with hers.

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Acceptable forms of Corporal Punishment?

You know, this one doesn't seem so bad. The teacher is not hitting the child and then they learn how it feels to hurt and build some muscles.

Hmmm...still on the fence.


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Morning run :)

So I sort of promised some friends that I'd run the Soweto Marathon in a few weeks with them. I'll debating it given I haven't trained at all...

But, this morning I decided to go on a long excruciatingly painful run just to see if I had it in me. I probably ran only 8 to 10 miles (the sandy roads always throw me off my normal tar road pacing). I finished and felt greaaat, a little dehydrated but really good like I could run another 10 miles no problem, so should be ready if I do decide to run the marathon in 3 weeks.

But we'll see...it's a qualifier for the Two Oceans Marathhon which is the biggest pusher to get me to run.


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Nutrition Week kick-off!

We are kicking off Nutrition Week at our school :)

All the dramas, songs, poems, posters, newsletters, organization and hard work...have paid off! Here the program director of the nutrition programme speaks, tell us we're doing a great job!

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Birthday Love Like ...WOOoah!

Starting from about 11 PM on the 10th (the day before my bday) the phone started buzzing off the hook...I have the best friend and family (or at least the most connected friends and family) in the world. Through the day yesterday I started to receive phone calls, emails, Gchats, Whatsapp messages, FB messages and posts, YouTube videos, text messages from across the globe from over 8 different countries (US, Canada, Perú, España, Switzerland, South Africa, La República Dominicana, Brazil...shoo the list goes on).

By midday all the 2nd graders had sung me happy birthday in English and Setswana. I received hugs and blessings from students and staff. After working on a drama I wrote with the kids about nutrition for this large school programme I helped organized for some officials from the Northern Cape Department of Education, I left to visit Naomi. Naomi, my life skills counterpart, has been out of school following a surgery for over a month and she has my same birthday. I went with my friends Masego and DK, and we sat talking for hours about the school projects I was working on and gossip from school.

Soon it was dark and after a HHHHUUUGE slice of Bar One cake, I got a lift home through the dark in time to catch watching Generations (a South African soapie) with my host family. My host mother Thenjiwe was waiting for me with a tiny little vase filled with a few roses from the house garden.

After Generations, I signed onto Skype and talked with some friends back home who wanted to wish me happy birthday.

Even as I jumped into bed, my phone buzzed throughout the night.

What you realize after a day like this though at time you may feel very alone at site far away from your friends and family, yet despite the distance people still reach out to you to make you feel special. You my friends and family have been there for me, some more than others, but it gets me through the day and makes me smile. I couldn't feel luckier in this moment and more connected to some of you on the other side of the world. Thank you for being there and taking the moment to reach out to me :)

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School Programme

So yet again I've been put in charge of something which I'll be curious to see how it turn out...a School Nutrition Programme. I saw told that we needed to make posters and songs and dramas for the kids to perform for this people when they come from the State.

Everything is completely vague and obscure to what the real motive is. I looked at the sheet that had been faxed to the principal and it just looked like the role out of maybe a new way to present material to the kids. Yet some how from this they got that we need to put on a performance or as they say "programme." So I've drawn posters, made up scripts for the kids to do about good eating, written a newsletter for the event and then today I made an actual "programme" sheet. I showed this to the other teacher I've been working with and then told actually we're supposed to make that, "the district will come and tell us." Not very clear but ok....

Will be curious to see how Friday goes.



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Coooool time

When you're sitting in a hot taxi for several hours, sometimes the most relieving thing you can do for yourself, besides find the nearest cold shower, is reach out the taxi window with your hand and say: "1 Cool Time!" (This is of course while you wait for your Kombi taxi to fill at the taxi rank).

This was a life saver for me the other day as I sat heating up, my legs soaked in sweat and pasted to my seat, as I waited for the taxi to fill. I have a tendency to faint and when I've been dehydrated or lack of food or sugar I'm more vulnerable. So reached out the window and ask for Cool Time and bite open the plastic covering and that thing was gone in just minutes. I instantly felt out of the red zone and sat back as the taxi finally filled and rolled out of the rank onto the road and I listened to the John Legend that played on the radio. A cool breeze began to flow through my open window and it just felt soooo fabulous to feel comfortable in 100-degree Weather.

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Racing Feet

Contemplating running Comrades ultramarathon with a 56-miles course...

Just love this picture I took of my kids at the start of their cross-country meet.

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@Woolies aka caffeine time!

Back in Pretoria for our Peace Corps mid-service training or what we just call MST.

...Tomorrow I get a physical and 30 minutes time with the PC doctor, hope that's enough time and that nothing is wrong! On Tuesday, I'm supposed to get a dental check-up...crossing my fingers that there are no cavities!


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Tooth brush anyone?

Since I've started working with the foundation phase at my school I've noticed that how bad some of these kid's teeth are.

Time to start brushing! Next project : tooth brushing poster!!


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Bless the SNOWFLAKES down in South Africa...

I came back from a morning of taking care of all things administrative on the school computer and had a surprise waiting for me :)

I had given the teacher I'm working with the idea that cutting symmetries in the paper could help them understand our unit on symmetry better. It also helps develop their fine motor skills and is artistic too.

My grade 2 class of 39 kids had each made me a snowflake. We all voted "yes" or "no" to get a top 3 for the best snowflakes in the class and settled with the fine scissors cuttings of Rethabile, Ohentse and Atisang.

Those will then be put on the wall under our new "Work I Am Proud Of."

These just make me so happy. Glad to be contributing to creating more creativity and individuality in them.


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Finding the Light in The Cold One, Maserame

Here, I work with Maserame ("Ma-say-ram-ee") on building a koloi or "car" in English.  

She really enjoys block building, as do I - it's actually lots of fun.

I initially started working with Mma Heyn’s grade 2 class because I wanted to begin to work in a Foundation Phase (grades Kindergarten through 3^rd grade) classroom and because I wanted to given one little girl, Maserame, a little extra attention.

I first noticed Maserame in the beginning year when she came walking in to the staffroom dressed in what looked to be an older sibling’s school uniform with a school sweater which dropped down past her knees and a skirt that almost hit her ankles (most school skirts go to the knee).  Maserame is 7 years old and about the size of my 5-year old niece and half her weight.  Her face at that moment looked saddened and she looked at the floor as she walked slowly into the staff room holding one a teacher’s purse draped across one shoulder, which was about her size.  The teacher said with a huge smile and very loudly: “Dankie Maserame-we!” and she handed her what looked like R1.  She clapped her hands and then cupped her hands together to catch the coin (something typically done in the Northern Cape when you receive a gift), and then left the room as silently as she had entered.

I was standing next to Mma Chabaemang, who is my life skills counterpart, and she whispered to me that Maserame was HIV-positive and an orphan.

Maserame is a Setswana name, which means “the cold one.”  Mma Heyns told me that she probably got this name because she was born on a very cold day. Her mom must have been HIV-positive and did not take the Nevirapine. 

When Nevirapine is given to the HIV-infected pregnant woman 3 days before her baby’s birth, and then one dose to the baby within 3 days of birth this will greatly decrease the risk of the child contracting the HIV virus.  This cuts down the risk down to 1 in 10 for contracting the virus. Either way it’s a really sad story for this poor little girl who lives with her Gogo (grandmother) who is not working and responsible for providing support for several children at home.

After my initial sighting of Maserame, I started to notice her around the schoolyard during recess walking by herself and slinking along the school walls quietly, not looking anyone in the eye.  She hung around the kitchen after school hoping to receive a second helping of food in case there was any left for the needy children.  She slowly learned my name and would come up to me in smiles and give me “sharp” thumbs-up, and soon would show up to find me in the mornings to tell me she hadn’t eaten breakfast and was hungry.  Then, that would be my indicator that I needed to find Masego to whip up some instant porridge for her.

One day I asked her friend Dimpho, where was Maserame.  She replied, “Masarame is lapile Mma.”  I soon found her and she looked tired and she was burning up a fever and didn’t want any of the food I offered her.  Later Mma Chabaemang and I drove her home to her family to see what was going on.  Her house is very far from school and there her grandmother lived with several other grandchildren and took care of, many on child social grants.  Since the recent death of Maserame’s mother there was no change of the child’s grant to the orphan’s grant, which is a little bit more money.  So we had the grandmother agree that she would begin to pay for transport for Maserame in the mornings and afternoons to get to and from school and have the home-based care group come by to check in on the family about the grants situation.

To me, it just underlined the need for support this child needed. 

So this term, I worked hard with Maserame to correct and flip her backwards letters, count correctly in Setswana and English, and how to read in Setswana and English.  Not only did I give her more one-on-one attention in her studies, I called upon her in class.

Here, I work with the kids on counting by 3's (tharo) to 90 (somamarobongwe) kwa Setswana, with Tlotliso ("Co-clee-show") to my right and Maserame ("Ma-say-ram-ee") next to him in the hood.

Slowly Maserame started to smile more.  She started to get loud in class and raise her hand more and more, and to answer questions in front of the entire group of 38 other students without looking shy.  Other students even started including her in their activities and cheered her on in races during physical education class outside.  They too began to see how my love for her made her come alive.  This girl whose name speaks of the bite of the chilly winter, started to illuminate.

I look at her today and just watch her at the beginning of what I hope is a bright future without being ashamed of being labeled as “sick” and without being stigmatized and feeling that weight on her back for being HIV-positive.  Today she is proud and I am just so honored to be part of that. 

To my girl Masi - this one’s for you, keep going! 

And ALWAYS remember you are worth it! 

And that we all love you so much!

Here, Maserame ("Ma-say-ram-ee") stands in the schoolyard next to the Foundation Phase classrooms.

Lunchtime sunning

Spotted this kid in the sun today :)

Looks like it's finally starting to heat up here.


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Northern Cape's Doctor Office

Hmmm...is this an office you'd like to be diagnosed with a sinus infection in??

I hope the diagnosis is right! Last 2 times I was sick in foreign countries (One developing - Ecuador and the other developed - Spain), I ended up in an ER in Boston and then later hospitalized for weeks.

Anyways...watching my symptoms and starting medication today!




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Political Banter Does Reach Africa

Being far away from the political flames in the American kitchen has be a gift and negative experience.  I wouldn't say that I am someone who is obsessed with staying current and up to date with everything that goes on in Washington DC, nonetheless I would say that it behooves you as an American living abroad (or anyone who likes to call him or herself a "global citizen") to stay current with what is going on in the news and know how to throw out a few opinion on say international diplomacy, the current state of the global economy, history, and of course have a firm understanding of who you are and where you fit into the world.

Yeah, I have high expectation, I know.  But it could be said that I come from an elite group who prides themselves on their knowledge of the world and being able to Oooh and Aaah each other on what they can bring to the conversation in (I'd say a noncompetitive way).  We like to educate each other about the world and how to think.  I really do love my friends who educate me on about life and the world at large.

But either way, I'm just bantering away now, I wanted to just say that being abroad is really no excuse for not knowing what's going on at home back in the 'ol country of Uncle Sam.

I like to scan the New York Times for things like this:

...which made me laugh (sooo hard my morning coffee which was in my mouth got spattered across my computer screen). Or article of Nicholas Kristof which make me think and smile, he is seriously the best.  You hear and see key words like: 

"Legitimized rape"

"Obamacare"

"Voter identification"

"Romney/Ryan"

"The Black vote"

"The single women vote"

"The Latino vote"

The list can go on and it can get a lot more verbose than I can type.  It's just nice to think that I'm not all day around a bunch of American who are talking about the upcoming election or sitting on my old couch in NYC watching the election buildup unravel on PBS.  It just all makes me anxious.  This will be the second time I will be abroad during a presidential election.  I'll be curious to see if my absentee voter card even arrive in my little postal box in the Northern Cape out here in South Africa. I'll be impressed if I get it and then the vote is even counted.

I think of the few times I've been to DC and listened to everyone go on and on about which think tank they work for and what they do "up on The Hill."  I like politics but only up to a certain amount.  I felt slightly overwhelmed in that environment, it's like give me a break! I can't breath with all these politicos jabbering on around me and polluting my air...Hahaha. Either way hope you all are not getting worn down by all the political conversation.  And to who ever is in charge of sending me back my absentee ballot, please do! Since I want Obama to win, or else I might need to stay here.

Oooh here's the White House beer recipe: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/09/01/ale-chief-white-house-beer-recipe

TGIF Fridays :)

Every Friday at my school it's casual day and the kids get to wear whatever they want.

My boy Pabi (his nickname for Pabelelo) showed up today in his tiger get up! Always looking "SHHHHhhhap" or sharp ....I just have to say I absolutely love this tiger suit of his!

Today he only wore the jacket but Pabi has matching pants too, but when he wears it he has the entire school after him and teasing him as he plays into the part of being a tiger :)


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La Bella Vita

Ever wake up and say that today....today will be a good day no matter what.

I was up texting with a friend back home at maybe 4 AM and then tried to sleep and couldn't and just lay in bed listening the chickens, dogs, and donkeys make their own noise of specialty. My drift off thinking about my friendships and the people I've been able to stay in touch with despite the distance and how their messages of encouragement and support just kept me going.

As I walked down the dusty dirt and sandy road smiling to myself and watching the sun peak through the clouds above. Life is good, and what do I have the right to complain about? Absolutely nothing.

I've have two incredible families, one in Peru and the other in the USA, I've had an upbringing which has allowed me the opportunity to fantastic education and to see the world. You know and life is just so bizarre since I think of where my journey began and where I'm headed and to think of all the things I have accomplished and experienced under the age of 30 is just immense. Life, man.

Live it and just smile. Today is a beautiful day in Africa.
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Mme wa ntswa ya Lewatle

Today I read a full book in Setswana and I am hoarse.

The kids love this book, The Seal Mother or in Setswana 'Mme wa ntswa Lewatle.'

The first time my 2nd grade teacher read this book to the class all of them sat in silence and jaws dropped as the story unfolded. The laughed and smiled at the dancing seals and were in awe of the seal turning into a woman. They all emphasizes with the small boy Andrew who eventually finds the seal skin of his mom hidden and brings it to her. The said that he loved her so he had to bring the skin to her. They all looked sadden by the end when the mom leaves her family to go back where she came from in the sea.

Today we had just finished reading one of these big book for early learner and all the kids started yelling "Mma Suzani!! Ntswa ya lewatle!! Ntswa ya lewatle!!!" So I went and got the book and read the entire thing to the kids yelling over a few of them from time to time as they'd get distracted and start fighting and bothering each other. My lil boy Thuto who has a pair of glasses he wears and is soooo cute read along with me the entire time. And by the time I was finished I was completely hoarse. And as the teacher I'm working with said as I got through the entire book, "Now Mma Suzanna you know Tswana!" Haha....I don't know about that but my language skills in Setswana is definitely getting better :)


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Picasso in Afrika Borwa?

I took this the picture of my little grade 2 student, Tlotliso ("Clo-clee-sho"), who I help daily as he struggles through with help on his numbers and phonemic awareness.

The kids had been drawing some pictures of "dipologolo" (animals in English) and this one was a cow. Very Picasso-esque...I saw it and instantly thought of "Guernica." What do you think?

Despite all Tlotliso's daily struggles, maybe he could just be the next Picasso :)

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The Next Step?

It’s films like this that make me want to become an immigration lawyer. 

Being a year in country now, I am constantly thinking about the next step 11 months down the line. I ruled out grad school since applying from over here and studying for GREs and GMATs etc. seemed almost impossible. I think about going back to New York and maybe go HIV/AIDS outreach work in say the south Bronx or Harlem. 

I think about getting another job in international development and seeing what happens. I wish I could stay here in South Africa and head to Cape Town to work for a NGO doing some aspect of public health work. To work on the other side of project management "in the field" is something that Peace Corps doesn't truly give you.  I miss the ability to be in a job and actually know what my role is at that organization and know what my exact responsibilities are, and to have things turn about the way you expect them and in a timely manner. 

I miss my families in Peru and the USA. I think about my documents that still stay held up with a lawyer in Lima trying to reclaim mi cuidania peruana with the wish that I will be able to work for my country of birth which I know needs my help. I received this message from my the last half sister of mine in Peru who I have to meet:

“hola!! no me voy a quedar con las ganas de decirte esto...dejame decirte q te admiro mucho por el buen corazon q tienes lo demuestra tu mirada y se q ayudas a mucha gente , papá Severo tambien me a hablado de ti, ojala puedas vivir aca en Peru ya q gente como tu se necesita bastante aqui.bye b” 

What I get caught up on is the last part of her message. “I hope that you can sometime live in Peru since there are people here like you that need you a lot.” I think about this and just wish that Peace Corps had just placed me in Peru. And then I think to myself that I should have just dedicated my time to Peru.  I could have just dedicated 2 years to my nephews school in San Juan de Lurigancho, helping the kids there who need me just as much as the kids here do. I feel bad for not going there and helping people. Maybe that is the next stop, but at least not while I don’t have my citizenship still up in the air. 

There are just so many people out there who need your help, it gets hard to pick where you should be fighting your battle.  If you're passionate about helping others where do you go?

Flags Lowered Across South Africa... a period of national mourning

Headlines read…

“The State is to press murder charges against some of around 260 Lonmin mineworkers arrested during the violence at Lonmin's Karee mine at Marikana.”

“Three-thousand striking workers Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana in the North West have been given a final ultimatum to return to work today or face dismissal.” 

“Flags will fly at half-mast across the country from tomorrow. President Jacob Zuma has declared this week a period of national mourning.”

“The bloodbath at Lonmin's Marikana Mine has led to a drop in the company's share price, the Guardian reported today.” 

- SABC http://www.sabc.co.za/news/tag/Marikana

Today I walked past the police station in town and saw the flags at half-mast.  I knew it had to be for the fallen in miners in Marikana, even though at that moment I had no idea that South Africa is in a period of national mourning.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/08/16/world/africa/20120817-SAFRICA.html?smid=pl-share

To anyone who doesn’t know much about mining and what it means to South Africa’s economy, join the club. Before I came to South Africa, all I knew about the mines was that it had been a breeding ground for the spread of the HIV virus and had distanced families from their loved ones and had little to adequate housing for its workers. 

However, piece by piece it starts to get clearer and clearer to me how the industry works here.  Just look at the village where I live, the only people that I know who are working and have a steady job are working in the mines.  I watch men as I go out for my run at dusk leaving the village and heading for the tar road in their uniforms, ready for work.  Occasionally, I even see a women dressed in uniform and headed to work (way to break barriers – makes me smile).  And then, as I leave my house in the early morning, I watch men get dropped off from the kombie taxis, coming home from work.  

Men (mainly) walk through the village wearing their mining uniforms with the neon strips that glow when the car lights hit them in the night and the strips of material then shine across their arms and legs.  My host father “Papa Stuart” came down to South Africa from Botswana to work in the mines, now he receives the pension and stays at home enjoying the life of retirement by fiddling in his garden and fixing up the house (sound familiar Papa Dinsmore?).  As you drive through the Northern Cape, it’s almost impossible not to see a mine along the side of the road or off in the distance.  In fact, last time I was in the kombie (taxi) heading to Pretoria a university student, who was doing his practical out in Northern Cape, tapped my shoulder and pointed at a gold mine which he stated was the deepest gold mine in the world.  He said that at this mine they got the gold and then sold it to China, where it would be processed. [FYI China is taking over African business, or maybe just South African biz, since I always see them talking about it in the SABC nightly news].

What became quite clear to me today was not that the price of platinum rose to its highest price in more than six weeks after the violence at the Marikana mine (New York markets closed at $1469/ounce on August 17th), but what emotional pain this is bringing to so many of the people involved, government, families, industry, and unions alike.  The news tonight reported that women were in hysterics because they had not been notified by the hundreds of husbands, brothers and uncles who were arrested during the strike and about if they are alright.  Tonight, I sat in the dimly light livingroom with my host mother and father with chills running down my arms as I saw the pain in their voices and their eyes.  

Map of South Africe where "A" marks where Marikana is in North West province

I turned to my host parents and looked at their faces and saw the sadness.  They said to me that it was outrageous that they did not know what was happening behind closed doors in the prison.  My host dad said, “this is very bad for South Africa” and turned his head away and closed his eyes in what looked like shame and grief.  Having just been to the Apartheid Museum and having just watched this movie The Bang Bang Club, which is about several renowned photographers during the last years of Apartheid, all I could think about was how these images of the violence in Marikana seemed so similar to images presented to me in both places.  And all I could wonder about was if my host parents were thinking the same thing.

Visit to the Apartheid Museum

Today I visited the Apartheid Museum in Soweto with 41 of the new class memeber of Peace Corps trainees also known as "SA26." Through selling merchandise to all the current Peace Corps volunteer the Diversity Committe was able to raise the R600+ to bring everyone to the museum today. It's my job to make sure all the money is raised and I process all the clothing orders with a vendor and then distribute them to all the PCVs.

Today as I was walking around the best quote in the Mandela section:

"On my first day of school, my father took a pair of his trousers and cut them at the knee. He told me to put them on and tied a piece of string around the waist. It was the first pair of trousers I ever owned - up till then , I wore a blanket, like all the other small boys."

And to see where I am living on the relocation map was incredibly interesting. Coming back and getting a third look was much needed.
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Damon Dash!

There's this is the cute little coloured boy who comes over to our house on weekends to be babysat and he is just it! The cutest thing since sliced bread :) He'll run around the sandy front lawn and his energy just never seems to stop as my Papa Mokwena yells his name, Damon, at him and something in Afrikaans. He just be about 2 going on 3 years.

He calls me "Fifi" and will come and jump up to catch my door handle and bulldooze himself right into my room to come and hangout.

We'll often spend the weekend conversing in Afrikaans-English gibberish and there will always be lots of "sharrrrp!" We spent most of the Olympic swimming matches together with him sitting on my lap and me assisting with him learn to do freestyle or butterfly just like he could be the next Chad Le Clos superstar.

He's now been gone for a week and I desperately miss him! I hope he comes back for more baby sitting :)
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