Emma and I are taking a seminar once a week run by Quinton Redcliffe, the leader of CIEE. The purpose of the seminar is to discuss our experiences living abroad in Cape Town. One of the perks of the class is that he takes the whole group a trip to Joburg in order to learn about a different side of South Africa. Talya and Anna came along as well...
The city offered a whole other side to South African history and culture that we had not experienced in Cape Town. Constitutional Square and the Apartheid Museum offered a historical perspective on the issues of racism and crime, while Chez Alna Restaurant, Umoja and the bicycle tour of Sowetto illustrated how these issues are manifested in everyday contemporary South Africa. (The Pirates' soccer game was just for fun!)
My feelings throughout the trip were both positive and negative. My Bed & Breakfast was absolutely wonderful: the room and meals were great, and the hostesses were so kind. I was amazed by the energy of the people at the Pirates’ soccer game, in church, and in the Umoja performance. We definitely felt that the people of Johannesburg have a vibrancy to them that is echoed by the city’s rapid industrialization, economic robustness, and growth in preparation for the World Cup. However, there were also many negatives. I was shocked to see the polarity of Sowetto: how people can be living in such horrific conditions only minutes away from the lavish houses of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. It was also disappointing to see many dangerous and negligent aspects of the city: abandoned buildings, homeless people, and slums.
Our most poignant observation was one that made us very confused about the city of Johannesburg: one that seems to be caught between the Third World and Modern World, held back due to its omnipresent historical past. This brings us to our one criticism of the trip: despite being very educational and enlightening, unfortunately we thought we only scratched the surface of Johannesburg. Perhaps we are demanding a clear answer to an infinitely complex question, but we felt that the trip served to highlight issues surrounding race rather than explain them. During our stay in Sowetto and our trips throughout Johannesburg, racism was obvious. We were surprised by how segregated the races were. We really saw ONLY black people—and manly blacks of a low socio-economic status. While it is very important to be exposed to this marginalized group of society, it is equally important to show how the other half live. We wish we had seen a variety of coloured and white communities so that we might get a fuller picture of South African society. We wish we had spoken more to Johannesburg natives about the issues surrounding race—such as politics, tribalism, and religion. We realize that these might be unrealistic expectancies for a weekend trip, but we hope we can continue expound upon these questions further in class.
Overall, it was an incredible experience in Johannesburg. Thank you Quinton for the opportunity!
No comments:
Post a Comment