Ainsley, Audrey, & JR travel on . . .

Following their time in Cape Town, Audrey, JR and Ainsley went to Europe on their way home.  Ainsley sent the following email that tells a bit about how their Cape Town experiences continued to influence their choices:

Audrey, JR and I made it through London and now to Geneva safely but wanted to let you know that we're still using our Cape Town knowledge here. While walking around London on Sunday we found a rally to commemorate the ten year anniversary of the civil war in Sudan and the Darfur crisis. Also, nothing made us quite miss Cape Town as much as seeing an advertisement for a Shakespeare play from a South African troop done completely in isiXhosa, Afrikaans and about 4 other South African languages.

Ainsley has learned so much by teaching

writing about my time interning at Thandokhulu. I find that my days and weeks vary a lot so it can be hard to find a theme or point I want to make about the school but as my time there is coming to a close I find that I’ve had a lot to say this whole time. At Thandokhulu, and teaching in general I’m finding, it can be very sink or swim. Most days I go in without a real idea of what my day will look like. There are constant shifts in my schedule as teachers ask me to substitute or stay in the office to grade. And like most jobs I have bad days when I don’t feel the teachers need me or my students respect me but I also have good days. But I didn’t want this blog post to be about the bad days. I wanted to show how much trust I feel from the teachers when they send me to take over their grade 12 classes. Or how amazing is feels when my class does well on their exams.

 

Ainsley with two of the learners from Thandokhulu High School

I don’t know what type of school I will work in one day or even if I will choose to stay with teaching but my learners at Thandokhulu have welcomed me and accepted me more than I could have ever expected. They are constantly showing me how hard they are willing to work to achieve their goals; mainly by working against the system that makes it easier for them to fail. I am so in awe and honored to have been able to work with these learners and see what they are capable of because it’s so clear how much they can really do when given the opportunity. Thandokhulu as a school works just as hard to provide an education to students who are so willing to work for it. The teachers and staff are so committed to these learners and have to take on roles like parents or social workers along with already being teachers.

I have learned so much about teaching and my own teaching style as a part of Thandokhulu. I have learned to be fair and remember where my learners come from. I’ve learned to never over look a class based on their reputation because they will surprise you. But more than any of that I’ve learned about Thandokhulu and it’s perseverance, it’s respect and it’s refusal to accept anything mediocre. So thank you Thandokhulu, you have all my love.

Ainsley on learning to stand alone

Looking back at my past blog posts I realize how I often write about the friends I’ve made on this trip. I’m so happy to return home with such amazing people but I’m also realizing how I’m ok without them as well; how I can still do great things outside of South Africa and without 30 people cheering behind me. We will always have each other and our shared experiences but it’s becoming clear that because of their support I can do these crazy things on my own too.

             

While I realize that I will survive (as I have done before) without this group, this weekend forced me to do scary things without all of them there and made me understand my own power. We traveled the garden route this past weekend making stops along the way and one of those stops was at bungy jumping in the Eastern Cape. As the highest commercial jump in the world we obviously needed to stop. I generally hate heights and the idea of free falling but it was something I felt I needed to do while here. While a lot of the group jumped together, I was on the bridge with only a few others people. And as I was standing on the edge of a huge bridge alone, there weren’t 30 people yelling behind me. And even though I was by myself up there, I was still able to jump.

           

Over the past 3 months I’ve learned a lot about being part of a team and working with people to achieve one goal. I’ve seen the ups and downs of consensus and I’ve learned when to stand up for my opinion and when to let others take the lead. And with all of that in mind I’ve also learned to do things for myself. To find support from myself instead of a huge group in order to do things that scare me. I can only imagine the great things that we will accomplish as a group when we go home but I’m starting to see the power behind an individual as well.

Ainsley on a wonderful excursion and coming "home"

Like most of our activities on this trip, excursion to Johannesburg was not what I was expecting. When looking at our schedule there was a lot of time spent in museums and learning about South African history. And while we learned a lot and saw a new history of specific events, the best part of the trip was not found in the knowledge I gained. Like I’ve experienced in Cape Town, it was the people we encountered that made the trip what it was. The passion they had for their jobs or just the unfamiliar lifestyles we found gave us just as much education as any of the museums. 

One day we spent our time at the Boys andGirls Club of Soweto. As we volunteered in different projects at the club we got to know the kids and the director, Casey Bridges. We only spent a few hours there but it was easy to see how important Casey’s work was to him and how much the children needed and appreciated what was provided for them. 

Ainsley (front left) working and playing at Boys and Girls Club in Soweto

The following night we went to a South African play, "Curl Up and Dye". While the play was entertaining getting to speak with the actors and playwright afterwards was so much more interesting. They shared their experiences growing up during apartheid and how they see South Africa today. But it was clear that in letting us into their pasts they were also explaining their stories to each other for the first time. Through their experiences we got a glimpse into the childhoods of girls classified black but with very different families, classified colored and classified white. 

Finally, on Wednesday we visited the apartheid museum and while I loved the exhibits and displays our tour guide interested me most. He was in the middle of training to be a traditional healer; a calling he had felt his whole life. I loved hearing about his culture and I think it is so important for us to learn about it since what we don’t understand we often judge. But his culture is a significant part of South Africa and it’s so important that we expose ourselves to as much of it as possible and be open minded. Along with his lesson on traditional healing, he also opened up to us about his HIV+ status and how he views ARV treatment working in conjunction with healing; working together or how they assist in different aspects.

           

My most significant realization though, was how despite the friendliness we saw in Jo’burg and the education we received, I really missed Cape Town. I missed searching the skyline for Table Mountain to find where I am in the city. I missed the constant sound of Xhosa being spoken around me. But mostly I missed my home, the place we had grown comfortable and where we knew what to expect. But now I have to acknowledge that we have to leave this place again so soon.

Ainsley on the teamwork of her co-educators

Six months ago I’m not sure if ever would have noticed or picked members of our group out of a crowd. At the airport only three months ago it was hard enough trying to figure out who exactly was on our trip. But now I can’t imagine how my life would be without this group. While I have formed amazing relationships with individuals, I am most impressed with how our group functions as one. We probably argue as much as we get along but the group has the ability to come together when it matters most. We support one another and provide a force to fall back on.

           

In the Loch Road house, Avery has been waiting months for Easter to come and wanted to make it special for us all since we wouldn’t be with our families. And while I’m sure some of us groaned at the idea of having to add another thing to our to-do list everyone made the time to make it special and participate. Avery had the idea for “secret bunnies” so everyone would get a small gift or just something to show how we appreciated each other on Easter (or a few days early). I was so blown away by how everyone really came together for Avery’s idea but most importantly for the group. Secret bunnies turned into long, intense scavenger hunts with the whole group running through the house looking for clues but ended with everyone feeling closer because of the thought and care put into their gifts.

           

That same night the whole program came together to put on a dinner for Vernon, his wife Esme, and Parks and his family. This has probably been the first time I’ve seen us come together so flawlessly and work as a team to create one singular thing. And I don’t think we could have asked for a better event. As a send off before excursion and to say thanks to the people who make this trip possible for us, our group worked so hard and it came out so perfect.

           

Our whole lives through school, sports and activities we’ve been pushed to the idea of teamwork and working together but I don’t think I’ve seen it work as well until now. As a group we can accomplish so many things and I think I’m just now learning how to appreciate this. The group was thrown together and we are all so different but our combined experiences and our short past together make us such a significant force.

Aisley's gaining spirit of spontaneity and adventure

In the year before I even applied to come to Cape Town I felt like I had gained more spontaneity and adventure. Even the whole process of applying and committing to come was, in some way, my version of proving that I was being more adventurous. But I was completely unprepared for what I would gain in the short time we are here. The atmosphere of the city and the personalities of our group have pushed me to seek more freedom in my experiences and become far more impulsive than I would have expected. Sometimes it’s small things like trying new foods or exploring a new part of the city but mostly it’s about keeping myself open to new experiences when they come my way. With this new spirit I’ve been able to climb mountains, see the city and overall, open myself up to some of the most incredible people. And I find that it’s not necessarily about doing crazy things all the time but about not accepting my life sitting down and to constantly push myself to do anything that I might not have done otherwise.

I’m so excited that I have been able to change myself in this way but what’s most important to me is that I can keep this feeling once I go home. Cape Town and Connecticut are two very different places but I don’t want to lose my sense of adventure just because I’m going back to a place I’ve lived my whole life. Whether in Storrs or my hometown I want to continue to look for new experiences and bring this part of Cape Town home with me.

Ainsley inspired & motived by her interesting, committed friends

Every day I become more grateful for the people on this trip with me. I am constantly surprised and impressed with the lives so many of us have led before coming here, the unexpected talents we have, and how truly smart everyone is. I’m sure past groups on this trip have felt the same but I can’t imagine being with any other group of people. Each day after my internship is over I just look forward to coming home and talking with the people I live with about their days: what they loved and hated, what challenged them. When looking at the type of people this program attracts, it’d be hard to find a group more dedicated and enthusiastic about the work they are doing here. And by living with such an interesting and committed group constantly pushes me to be more motivated as well.

This past weekend a couple of us met a girl who had the most interesting life story about having traveled and lived all around Africa with her family. But instead of flaunting her lifestyle she commended us for being genuinely curious about the world and seeking out adventure. She emphasized that the friendships we make with the people on our trip will be so much more significant because of our common desire to explore and learn. This was so incredible to hear because someone who grew up living such an interesting life gave us credit instead for being able to form these unbelievable bonds with each other and so far I feel like we have. This group has turned into family as we are exposed to a whole new world together and are forced to adapt. But I feel like I am adapting and learning as much as I am because of the people surrounding me. I am lucky enough to have friends here who will take care of each other when we’re sick, who welcomed my family to the city like it was there own, and who genuinely want each other to succeed.

           

Collectively, we have no idea how to keep a room clean for more than a few hours and we are terrible at consensus decision making. But the amazing things this group is doing far out weighs any of our faults. Within our group we have people protecting those in need, providing an education for those not granted one, and working to create a difference. As we work to do these great things I can feel how much we’re benefitting each other too. No one has pushed me, motivated me, and inspired me as much as my friends here have and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to know them all.