Liz on good conversations

Good Conversations:

Liz atop Lion's Head

This past Monday some of the Malleson girls and I hiked up Lion’s Head to see the sunset and then hike down with the light of the full moon guiding our way. It was absolutely spectacular, the views of the entire city from the ocean to the mountains was breathtaking in the twilight. We stayed up on the top of the mountain to watch the city lights come on as the sky grew darker.

While atop the mountain I ended up getting a mini photography lesson from an Alaskan physics professor who is here for a year to teach. We talked and joked until the other girls determined it was time to head down.

On our way down we hit a little bit of a traffic jam as everyone else was also trying to get down while the second round of people were attempting to get up the mountain and there was only one ladder. You wouldn’t have thought you were on top of a mountain with the amount of traffic there was but nonetheless we were. This was ideal as I had more time to take some pictures along the way and stumble upon some of our other classmates that live in the other house. We all began the journey down together and kept each other company during one of the roadblocks. While on our way down two South African guys with white skin found themselves in the middle of our group and since we were all waiting together we decided to talk to them and ask their story.

I then proceed to have a fascinating conversation with this man about his opinion of South Africa’s history, current president, education system, ID books vs. social security numbers, in addition to American stereotypes and comparisons. What amazed me was how willing he was to discuss all these topics. Politics have never been a topic I enjoyed discussing but I think that’s because of the way people who wish to discuss politics approach the subject. People who wish to discuss politics always tend to be determined to convince everyone in the room to convert to a different party or pat themselves on the back for already being a part of it. It is never brought up to simply discuss and actually listen to one another. That stark contrast was what made this conversation so enjoyable. We weren’t discussing who was right and who was wrong we were simply examining the differences.

Since my time in South Africa I have found myself more willing to strike up a political conversation, while some may not be as fair-minded as this one it is something I have opened my mind up too. The conversations that I have with people on a daily basis are the memories I am writing in my journal every night. It is this insight and this information that I am going to take with me and share, while the facts will be a basis for a political conversation it is the good conversations that I will continue to pursue and value above anything else in my last two months here for this is my favorite way to learn.  

‘Til next time, peace out broskies.