I've officially been in South Africa for half a week. I can already tell these two months are going to fly by! I'm living in the small surfer town of Muizenberg, about a 40 min train ride from Cape Town. It is a very cute little town with cute shops, restaurants, pubs, surf shops, coffee houses, etc. and brightly colored little houses and friendly face.
But there are also apartments in complete shambles, lots of people without electricity and running water and that's nothing compared to the townships where our kids are living. I've only seen them from the outside so far, but heard stores from the childcare group that works inside the township. It is unbelievably sad, heartbreaking, unimaginable! These huge "towns" are totally fenced in with rusty tin. The same rusted corrugated tin, not even fit for a soda can, is used to build all of the "homes" that are stalked wall to wall, row by row. None can be larger than about 60 sq feet and some are no bigger than a twin bed. Children, teeny tiny children walk around all hours of the day and night with no parents. 5 year olds taking care of 2 and 3 year olds. About 60% of the population has substance abuse problems--lots of them kids as young as 6. And 80% of the population has HIV or AIDS. 80%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The older one's of these township kids (the 8-13 year olds) are the one's we get to know at the surf program. It is an incentive-ized program, so theoretically we are only seen the best of the best behaved kids. They are still crazy! Also they are just little kids. Just like any little kid around the globe, they just want to play, and move, and talk, and be loved. But they are quite violent with each other and have street smarts like no American ever will. They deal with gangs, drugs, abuse, and no food on a daily (if not hourly) basis. I haven't gotten to know any of them real well yet because it is a holiday week and so kids are out of school and not doing all the regular programs. Only 4 came by yesterday, but it is supposed to be about 20 a day, so hopefully I will meet more today. They are all going to be better surfers than I am, but they are ready to teach my clumsy ass. And they are waaay better dancers, they are dancing all the time to any music that is playing. African or American!
Our volunteer housing situation is nothing like I am used to. Standards are coming way down. But it is still a million times better than the situation our kid's are in, so we all have a big smile on our faces and are changing our mindsets.
There are three volunteer houses,
they're all walkable but about 25min away. It is the biggest house and
the house where they hold all of the events, like yesterday's Brii
(BBQ). However, it is also the dirtiest house with the most building
issues. A couple leaks, electricity only works in about 2/3 of the
house, plumbing has no pressure relief so makes lots of loud noises and
doesn't always work. The water is safe to drink, but not tasty and comes
out brown at first. The cots are all bunkbeds--we girls are 8 to a
room--and super thin. But we are so grateful to have what we have!!!
Much nicer than most places we see around town! It is a (relatively)
very safe neighborhood, pretty residential in the town of Muizenberg. We
are about a 20min walk to most shops, cafes, and pubs and it is very
safe if travelling in groups. My house is full of almost exclusively
Newbies (that started the same time as me), which is both good and bad. The group in my is good. I like most people and REALLy like about half (there are
17 total I think). The seasoned one's in our house haven't been
incredibly friendly--not rude or anything, just not real open. And they are pretty crazzy drinkers. 18 year olds, enough said. But seems
like ppl from the other 2 houses are full of more volunteers who have
been here for A LONG time. (plenty of 4 to 6 monthers) And they are all really friendly, fun, and
open. They go out to the village pub just about every night of week and I
haven't actually made it there yet (I know, CRAAAAzZy). I've been so
tired and jetlagged and just wanted a completely clear head to get ins-and-outs of my
program.
I've mostly got it down though, so Karaoke tonight!!
And then I've got a three day excursion this weekend that is going to be NUTS so more on that later. Teaser: Monkeys, elephants, and high high heights!
Love you all at home. Shout-out to Apollo XOXO
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