JR on some many memorable experience

I can feel myself settling in here, which is comforting.  The tourist period is over, though I still feel myself walking around in a wide-eyed mix of disbelief, wonder, and a hunger to learn more about everything.  Starting my internship has been comforting as well as unsettling.  It’s comforting to get into a schedule there and to begin working to make an impact here in Cape Town, but it’s also unsettling that we are already at the beginning of internships, when it feels like I just hopped off the plane yesterday. 

My internship so far has been slow, but I remain optimistic.  The first few days have been spent reading up on the rights of people around Cape Town, because Black Sash primarily helps people become aware of their rights as citizens.  So in order for me to inform someone of their rights, I must know their rights as well.  But reading through the rights of citizens, I have found some things that really peak my interest, and I’m hoping to further pursue those in detail. 

I had an amazing experience today, and all I could think of was the idea of Ubuntu.  We were headed out to eat at Mzoli’s (unbelievable, by the way), when we picked up a minibus taxi.  Avery, queen of Cape Town, began talking to the bus driver, who happened to be someone who is very community oriented and a very giving human being.  He offered to drop us off in Guguletu (many mini buses do not go that far into the township) as well as pick us up and take us around the townships.  We stopped in Manenburg, at the Manenburg People’s Center, an organization with many different activities happening, all community revival oriented.  It was closed but we were able to talk with one of the women there, and we plan on going back eventually.  But we were also able to watch a parade through downtown Manenburg.  As an optimist, one of the things I have been trying to do is see the beauty in the townships, a place where it’s easy to focus on the negative.  And that parade really moved me, it was one of the most beautiful, joyous processions I’ve ever been able to witness.  I just kept thinking about the chain of events that led to all of this happening.  Meeting our driver, his hospitality and enthusiasm toward helping, taking us in and spending his whole day with us.  It was a very overwhelming and beautiful experience, something I’ll remember the rest of my life.   

JR in center (right) surrounded by some of his housemates.