Oh yeah, annnnd ok real quick, for those of you who don’t know about the Amy Biehl Foundation. Amy Biehl is from Newport Beach and came to Cape Town in 1993 (note that the apartheid did not come to an end until 94) and worked at the UWC Community Law Centre working on South Africa’s new constitution and women’s rights and also helped with voter education for South Africa’s first free elections. She was stabbed and killed in a township outside of Cape Town by 4 angry young black men who were blamed white people for all their hardships and disadvantages resulting from apartheid. At the time they obviously did not know why Amy was in South Africa and that she was working to end apartheid. Anywayyy, the 4 men were convicted and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. To help with a peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created (the belief that acknowledging the atrocities committed, asking for forgiveness, and forgiving will help both the perpetrators and victims heal so that South Africa can move forward) the men applied for amnesty and to honor Amy’s love of South Africa and her belief in the truth and reconciliation process her parent’s supported this request and the 4 men were released from prison. In 97 Amy’s parents created the Amy Biehl Foundation to “weave the barrier against violence.” The Foundation provides a variety of afterschool programs for children in the townships where they are still experiencing great inadequacies and shortcomings. They provide classes in music, sport, art, reading, greening and environment and HIV/AIDS peer education---things that they do not get in their normal school day. It also gives the kids constructive things to do, gets them off the streets, and gets them a meal.
Moral of the story is that 2 of the 4 men , Easy and Ntobeko, responsible for the death of Amy now work for the foundation! And I just met both of them last week! I put my hand out to shake Easy’s hand and he said “I don’t shake hands…” (I got a lil nervy) and then he said “I give hugs!!” and gave me a huge hug. Ummm yeah, it’s an incredible atmosphere to be in. The other day in the car Easy was singing and dancing and cracking jokes and one of the interns wasn’t really laughing and Easy says, “BE HAPPY, you don’t know, you can be dead tomorrow, so today, to do list: BE HAPPY.” Needless to say, it is an amazing organization and serves as proof of the power of forgiveness, and the ability to turn something awful into something so positive—an example for the rest of South Africa.
With all of that said, I think I’m going through a little bit of a mid-life crisis, yes, at 20, but I think my roommate would agree. I can’t believe I’ve been here for only a month, and my eyes have been opened this much. Obviously, I have never experienced anything like this before, but I just feel like I’m supposed to be here. Right now. because I can’t imagine being content in a life without experiencing all of this.
On Sunday, one of Molly’s co-workers invited us to go to her house for her family’s weekly Sunday lunch. She lives in a colored township called Ottery, this township does have formal housing. It is interesting because the inside of the house will not be done, like the flooring or the kitchen cabinets but they will have nice TVs, stereos, cell phones and one of daughters had a BMW. One of her daughters lives across the street and the other just down the street. The sense of community in these townships is amazing, everyone knows everyone. Even in New Crossroads, the township (mostly Xhosa people) that I work in in the afternoon, there is an unbelievable sense of community. After the kids get their meal at around 5 pm they all walk home even the little 1st graders. I asked another teacher if that was safe for then to walk home by themselves and she said there is a Xhosa saying “It takes a village to raise a child” and that everyone treat eachother’s children as their own. Anywayss back to Sunday lunch. The hospitality was amazing and they practically cooked us a feast! The food was sooooo good! Molly’s co-workers best friend is Cape Malay (from Malaysia-people were brought to South Africa as slaves from Malaysia way back when) and cooked us some traditional Cape Malay food---aka my new favorite! It’s similar to Indian food. She made vegetable curry and rotti. Oh mann rotti is delish. It’s dough made out of water, flour, salt and lotsss of butter, then rolled out and lightly fried, kind of like a tortilla but a little thicker and flakier, sooo good!
We also experienced out first South African rugby game on Friday night! And ventured out to the wine country on Saturday, it was absolutely beautiful! We are going surfing in the morning before class and then on Friday we are off to Hermanus for a weekend retreat.
Ok I done now. I have to make up for not writing for a month I guess…
Loveee you all. Peace.
1 comment:
Christina,
John and I read your blog for the first time today and are so impressed and proud of you. We live such a privileged life here that it is easy to forget that most of the world is not so lucky. What an incredible experience to be there and live in the midst of it. I can only imagine how you must get caught up in all of it. It will change you and how you view life and the world forever. We love and miss you. John and Shae
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