Projects Abroad's Social Media Manager Emma loved my blog! I'm posting it here in case I lose the link to it later, but I'm hoping you've already had time to read it:
Africa is everything I expected and it's also nothing like I thought it would be. I hear the phrase "you'll get used to it" quite often, but I feel as though the adaptation has gone mostly smoothly.
Coming from the United States, I'm used to seeing flags everywhere. They fill our store windows, our cars, our sporting events and our homes. The flag is used to represent every endeavor that Americans undertake and to misuse or misrepresent the flag would surely be unforgivable, though I feel that the American flag has lost a bit of its meaning somewhere along the way.
Here in South Africa, I have been amazed by the flag. It seems to represent a vibrancy that is nearly indescribable. I see it everywhere: on the backs of jackets, on hats, T-shirts, shops, painted on walls, flying high above the townships and most importantly, on the cars. Many of the cars here have miniature South African flags wrapped around their side-view mirrors. I can already tell you that I'm going to be spending the next three months searching for a set of them to take home with me so that I might have a bit of South Africa with me.
The other night, Projects Abroad organized a boat cruise right at sunset, and as with all boats, the flag was flying high. Looking to the back of the boat and seeing the South African flag set against the sunset, I was reminded of the pure joy of this place and of the sense of potential I feel when I see the bright colors that represent this rainbow country.
The flag isn't just ubiquitous without purpose; here I feel South Africa in the flag and in the way that people fly it. The flag knows the struggle against racism, poverty, HIV/AIDS; it is a symbol of life and a reminder of a painful past and a look toward a hopeful future. The flag is now and it is so very much alive. The flag seems to emanate such a radiance and even seeing it now, I feel as though I too am a part of its hopeful message.
To be here is to know how colorful life can be.Africa is everything I expected and it's also nothing like I thought it would be. I hear the phrase "you'll get used to it" quite often, but I feel as though the adaptation has gone mostly smoothly.
Coming from the United States, I'm used to seeing flags everywhere. They fill our store windows, our cars, our sporting events and our homes. The flag is used to represent every endeavor that Americans undertake and to misuse or misrepresent the flag would surely be unforgivable, though I feel that the American flag has lost a bit of its meaning somewhere along the way.
Here in South Africa, I have been amazed by the flag. It seems to represent a vibrancy that is nearly indescribable. I see it everywhere: on the backs of jackets, on hats, T-shirts, shops, painted on walls, flying high above the townships and most importantly, on the cars. Many of the cars here have miniature South African flags wrapped around their side-view mirrors. I can already tell you that I'm going to be spending the next three months searching for a set of them to take home with me so that I might have a bit of South Africa with me.
The other night, Projects Abroad organized a boat cruise right at sunset, and as with all boats, the flag was flying high. Looking to the back of the boat and seeing the South African flag set against the sunset, I was reminded of the pure joy of this place and of the sense of potential I feel when I see the bright colors that represent this rainbow country.
The flag isn't just ubiquitous without purpose; here I feel South Africa in the flag and in the way that people fly it. The flag knows the struggle against racism, poverty, HIV/AIDS; it is a symbol of life and a reminder of a painful past and a look toward a hopeful future. The flag is now and it is so very much alive. The flag seems to emanate such a radiance and even seeing it now, I feel as though I too am a part of its hopeful message.
To be here is to know how colorful life can be.
****
It was rainy and cold today, not something I was looking forward to. Svenja is preparing to leave on Friday morning but has suffered from an unexplainable ankle injury that has kept her unable to do much of anything for the last couple of days. Yesterday, we had to haul a chair into the tiny shower so that she could wash without having to put weight on her ankle.
This ankle injury has brought together three very different ideas about dealing with injuries. Priscilla has one point of view, I have another and Svenja has still another! I've learned that drinking hot water (plain) can help calm your stomach and that hot water bottles will never go out of style.
Before I leave, I'm going to buy this wonderful sort of small appliance that boils water. We use them at work, we use them at home, I have entirely fallen in love. I
I've been watching classic American movies while I've been here; it's an odd place to rediscover your own pop culture, but I'm always being teased for having never seen certain films. Thus far, I've watched "Dirty Dancing" and "There's Something About Mary" and am currently halfway through "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
I don't find Patrick Schwayze attractive, although I can see his appeal. I loved Dirty Dancing, it was so much perfect America in its most raw and unattractive form but it was also an absolutely adorable love story. It was classic and momentous but not heavy, although the abortion plotline was one I wasn't prepared for at all. I laughed out loud several times at "Mary," something I don't normally do alone.
I do so love Holly Golightly so far, in all of her oddness and her ideas. I'm not usually one who enjoys olde rmovies, but I'm thinking I may have changed my mind about those things.
You're never quite as far from home as you think you might be.
***
Here's a link to a song I can't get enough of; it's all over the clubs and the radio here. The video is weird, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgFE5OQbt_g
***
Tonight, in place of the weekly social, we're either going to a place called The Melting Pot in Muizenberg or Chrome, down on Long Street in Cape Town.
***
I've a plan for work! There is hope and a possible solution! We've created a plan and we are going to use next week to put it into action.
Today saw the end of the typing project I've been working on; I'm re-writing the chapter on HIV/AIDS due to my dissatisfaction with the information that was being provided.
We shall see how it goes, hopefully it will all be well-received.
However, the manual at present is nearly free of grammatical errors and this I am pleased with.
***
I'm drinking 2000 mL of tea a day. Hydration at its finest. Sort of. The ladies tease me because of all of the tea in the Nalgene and also because of all the bathroom breaks.
Stay tuned for word on the exercise situation; there was running the other day (not so much running as attempts at running, but it was almost a mile and it was alright) and there will be an explanation of the joke that has become the yoga. Perhaps there will be a jog today. I'm determined.
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