Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Well, here we are in South Africa!  We’ve finally made it after five months of waiting, telling people where we were going and wondering exactly how we were going to fit three months of living in Africa into one not-so-big hiking bag.

Our long flights and long layover in Frankfurt were definitely worth it after what we’ve been seeing and experiencing so far in our journeys. 

Although it’s not -30°C, it’s not quite as hot as we had expected it to be.  However, the weather is much more appreciated than the Canadian winters back home.  It has been raining for two days straight, but all the people here are happy because there has been a drought in the area.

We are in Soweto (South West Township of Johannesburg) living at a community center called Impelegeng.  Soweto is a township that still distinctly bears the remnants of the apartheid system.  This is primarily inhabited by the poorer black society.  Most white South African people have not even seen how poor these people really are.  Being somewhat uncommonly seen white people in the area, children are always thrilled to see our big bus driving down the streets of their neighbourhood.  They wave and yell and chase the bus excitedly. 

We haven’t even been here a full week yet and already we’ve been able to learn so much from these people. 

On Sunday, we attended a local Vineyard church that met in a small classroom of a school.  We felt very welcome amongst the people as they greeted us with open arms.  Worshipping alongside these fellow Christians was a brand new experience for all of us. 

The Vineyard church is the church that has been organizing our volunteering in the community.  On Monday, we went to Progress High School and we sat in on classes to get an understanding of the education system in that area of Soweto.  All of the students were very welcoming and excited to have us there.  They taught us many things, for example, words in their own languages.

On Tuesday we had the opportunity to visit another school in yet, a much poorer environment than the previous.  While we were at Johweto Combined Private School, we were split up into groups of 2 or 5 (depending on the class we were in) and sat in on classes from grades 1 – 12.  Although the community is doing what it can to provide quality education for their children, there is still a lack of resources such as a library or even just textbooks.

Later on in the afternoon, we got to use some of the money that we fundraised with the help of family and friends.  We were able to buy paint and supplies to brighten the atmosphere of the dreary classrooms of one of the schools that we visited.  We also swept and tidied up the school while we worked. 

In these past few days, we’ve had some crazy eating experiences.  Some have been brave enough to try chicken heads (complete with eye sockets and beaks), chicken feet (complete with claws) and crunchy caterpillars (complete with legs).  However, don’t fear, this is definitely not an everyday eating practice. 

Don’t worry Mom and Dad, we’re doing great and surviving South Africa.  It’s been a great life experience so far and we can’t wait for more!

Love, Shanna Kelly and Emilee Smart