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Hello all
So this is my first Monday back at work since I got back from South Africa. I am particular bored as I haven't gotten to go out to court today and have really spent the morning catching up on all sorts of administrative things. Anyways, no one is really interested in that I am sure but would rather hear about South Africa. And since, I still have another 15 minutes for lunch I shall try to oblige. Sorry, no pics yet, they are on my home computer but they are coming, I promise.
So here are 7 thoughts from South Africa
1 - South Africa must be the most economically diverse country on earth. I saw the most extraordinary wealth when I was in the country and yet I also saw incredible poverty. I am not talking Malone Road vs Shankhill Road but I am talking Royalty vs near death. It honestly amazed me that people could live so well and not be affected by what is on their doorstep. Still, the issues are far more complex than I can do justice to in this blog but suffice to say that the number of people in poverty is so vast that perhaps it will be many generations before they work their way out. However, the crazy thing is that South Africa is the rich African country!!
2 - Apparently people are keen on me with a beard. I shall let the readers be the judge upon posting a few pics soon.
3 - South Africa is incredibly beautiful. I guess to an extent, people had told me to expect beauty but I honestly had no idea just how fantastic the place was. From the mountainous terrain around Durban to the stunning Capetown waters and the vast Krugger National Park, there really is a little of everything. And I didn't even get to try the surfing!!
4 - Racism. What I mean by that is that it is not unusual for people out there to call people simply "the blacks" or "the whites" or indeed "the colours". Again, I was somewhat expecting it but when you hear it at first it's most peculiar. I definitely did detect racist undertones amongst some of the White South Africans that I met who honestly believe that their lifestyles are under attack. I suppose to an extent they are right. That's an interesting debate in itself. Affirmative Action, good or bad?
5 - The HIV crisis out there is very very real. I was "fortunate" enough that the doctor that I stayed with at the start of my trip brought me into all the areas of his hospital. What I saw there was incredible and gave me even more faith in the African people. People who were suffering with all sorts of ailments putting on their best face and not letting their difficulties get them down. The only exception to this was in the HIV ward in which there nothing but absolute despair.
6 - Paranoia. This is to do with the vast crime rates in the country. At the start of the trip when I was with my parents, everyone that I met couldn't believe that I was going to head off by myself. It got me so nervous that I felt like it was a 50-50 chance that I would be mugged as soon as I arrived in Port Elizabeth. No worries there though, PE must be one of the most chilled out places around.
What is odd with the crime though is that a lot of people have had bad experiences. Yet, everyone and I mean every single person that I met treated me well. I guess there must be a small minority that spoil it for the rest. But still, the majority are wonderful wonderful people.
7 - The highlight of the trip. Well, it might surprise you. It should be the safari that I was on and yes that was incredible (I even got to see all of the Big 5 on one afternoon). However, the real highlight was at the District 6 Mueseum in Capetown. Now bear in mind that I had been a bit unlucky with the weather in Capetown in that I had been prevented from going to either Table Mountain or out to Robbin Island (Nelson Mandela's prison for 18 years of his incarceration).
Anyways, I arrived at District 6 Mueseum was is basically a memorial to those "blacks" that were displaced from that region as a result of the apartheid policy. I spent an hour just wandering around the mueseum and as you can imagine the whole thing is quite moving. At the end of my time there though I wandered into a room at the back that I thought was the tea room and seeing that there was no one there went looking for someone who could get me some tea. I didn't realise that the back of the place was attached to a small local primary school and I wandered straight into it. When the kids saw me there, it was just incredible, so moving. When the kids saw me they just ran at me and started to hug me. I honestly didn't get it and at first I thought that they wanted money or sweets or something. Once I saw the teacher with them though I realised that this wasn't their objective but rather it appeared that they were just happy that a white man would actually come into their school and spend a little time with them. At least, that's what I was told. I'm still not sure that I understand. One's thing is for sure, I was moved.
Anyways, I've tried to give a quick summary albeit I know that this entry has probably went on a little longer than I had envisaged. I didn't even get to talk much about the fact that I did a rope swing with a freefall of some 110 metres. Very scary indeed.
If anyone wants anymore detail do let me know and I shall try to provide.
For now, I've gotta get ready for dinner with the President.
So this is my first Monday back at work since I got back from South Africa. I am particular bored as I haven't gotten to go out to court today and have really spent the morning catching up on all sorts of administrative things. Anyways, no one is really interested in that I am sure but would rather hear about South Africa. And since, I still have another 15 minutes for lunch I shall try to oblige. Sorry, no pics yet, they are on my home computer but they are coming, I promise.
So here are 7 thoughts from South Africa
1 - South Africa must be the most economically diverse country on earth. I saw the most extraordinary wealth when I was in the country and yet I also saw incredible poverty. I am not talking Malone Road vs Shankhill Road but I am talking Royalty vs near death. It honestly amazed me that people could live so well and not be affected by what is on their doorstep. Still, the issues are far more complex than I can do justice to in this blog but suffice to say that the number of people in poverty is so vast that perhaps it will be many generations before they work their way out. However, the crazy thing is that South Africa is the rich African country!!
2 - Apparently people are keen on me with a beard. I shall let the readers be the judge upon posting a few pics soon.
3 - South Africa is incredibly beautiful. I guess to an extent, people had told me to expect beauty but I honestly had no idea just how fantastic the place was. From the mountainous terrain around Durban to the stunning Capetown waters and the vast Krugger National Park, there really is a little of everything. And I didn't even get to try the surfing!!
4 - Racism. What I mean by that is that it is not unusual for people out there to call people simply "the blacks" or "the whites" or indeed "the colours". Again, I was somewhat expecting it but when you hear it at first it's most peculiar. I definitely did detect racist undertones amongst some of the White South Africans that I met who honestly believe that their lifestyles are under attack. I suppose to an extent they are right. That's an interesting debate in itself. Affirmative Action, good or bad?
5 - The HIV crisis out there is very very real. I was "fortunate" enough that the doctor that I stayed with at the start of my trip brought me into all the areas of his hospital. What I saw there was incredible and gave me even more faith in the African people. People who were suffering with all sorts of ailments putting on their best face and not letting their difficulties get them down. The only exception to this was in the HIV ward in which there nothing but absolute despair.
6 - Paranoia. This is to do with the vast crime rates in the country. At the start of the trip when I was with my parents, everyone that I met couldn't believe that I was going to head off by myself. It got me so nervous that I felt like it was a 50-50 chance that I would be mugged as soon as I arrived in Port Elizabeth. No worries there though, PE must be one of the most chilled out places around.
What is odd with the crime though is that a lot of people have had bad experiences. Yet, everyone and I mean every single person that I met treated me well. I guess there must be a small minority that spoil it for the rest. But still, the majority are wonderful wonderful people.
7 - The highlight of the trip. Well, it might surprise you. It should be the safari that I was on and yes that was incredible (I even got to see all of the Big 5 on one afternoon). However, the real highlight was at the District 6 Mueseum in Capetown. Now bear in mind that I had been a bit unlucky with the weather in Capetown in that I had been prevented from going to either Table Mountain or out to Robbin Island (Nelson Mandela's prison for 18 years of his incarceration).
Anyways, I arrived at District 6 Mueseum was is basically a memorial to those "blacks" that were displaced from that region as a result of the apartheid policy. I spent an hour just wandering around the mueseum and as you can imagine the whole thing is quite moving. At the end of my time there though I wandered into a room at the back that I thought was the tea room and seeing that there was no one there went looking for someone who could get me some tea. I didn't realise that the back of the place was attached to a small local primary school and I wandered straight into it. When the kids saw me there, it was just incredible, so moving. When the kids saw me they just ran at me and started to hug me. I honestly didn't get it and at first I thought that they wanted money or sweets or something. Once I saw the teacher with them though I realised that this wasn't their objective but rather it appeared that they were just happy that a white man would actually come into their school and spend a little time with them. At least, that's what I was told. I'm still not sure that I understand. One's thing is for sure, I was moved.
Anyways, I've tried to give a quick summary albeit I know that this entry has probably went on a little longer than I had envisaged. I didn't even get to talk much about the fact that I did a rope swing with a freefall of some 110 metres. Very scary indeed.
If anyone wants anymore detail do let me know and I shall try to provide.
For now, I've gotta get ready for dinner with the President.
posted by Irish Tim at
5:28 AM
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