Aandklas, Inspiration, and a Visit to Mandela's Hospital

Our professor told us that her nephew mentioned he'd be up to take us out on the town on Wednesday night.  In South Africa, Wednesday is called "dop day" or drinking day, when people used to celebrate making it half way through the week with a drink...or a few.  Today they call it "small Saturday," an old British nickname and tradition.  (For the record, there was nothing "small" about it!  It was totally like a regular Saturday.  Don't know how people who have to go to work in the am do it!)  So anyway, out we went with Odi, our fearless host.  Directly behind our hotel is Hatfield Square- footsteps from the University of Pretoria--which means there are countless spots to choose from.  He picked Aandklas, (Afrikaans word for "night school") which had trivia that night.  We signed up as a team, and I must say, we didn't do too bad!  One round we got 14 points.  Amazing.  There were even a few American questions that we agreed to help his team on (in exchange for drinks or answers to rugby questions, haha.)

After a long dop day, it was a little tough to get up this morning, but our first speaker made it well worth it.  We had two speakers from the organization Bunang Baswa (Sutu for Harvesting the Youth) that came to chat with us about what the perceive are the two biggest problems in the education system- literacy and a severe teacher shortage.  It was interesting to reflect on the ways people view teachers and teaching in our own country and compare the two.  There seems to be a genuine shock from adults and students alike that we as teachers could actually like what we do and in fact, choose to do it despite low pay.  Sigh.

The two people from the organization were truly inspiring, and by far the best speakers we have had so far.  The passion they had for the work they do is so important.  One spoke of the fact that you can't ask the former generation of revolutionaries to fight again for what is right.  And if you won't, who will?  So, painstakingly, they work with schools and students to provide access to libraries (some even mobile), to build a culture of reading, and to inform policy on a national level.  They do so much and wear so many hats, but are a non-government funded NGO.  In fact, one of the two mentioned that 80% of all he's earned since birth get poured into the organization.  But he wasn't complaining.  He said that when you find something you are passionate about those are the kind of sacrifices you make.

Our group with the speakers form Bunang Baswa

In the afternoon we had a completely different experience, hearing from a government agency whose representative spoke about youth (in Africa, that means up to 35 years old) in really negative terms, saying that students were lazy and wanted to be spoon-fed.  She talked with disgust about a student who put money in with a job application, describing him as arrogant.  In a country with rampant corruption, a young adult might not know any better as this may have been the norm for them, ignorance and arrogance are not the same thing.  These are the same kids from the same places- but the interactions they have with adults in this field seem to be drastically different.  Sad to think that an amazing organization struggles to make ends meet but this one gets all it needs with less of an impact.

After we picked our jaws up from the floor, we made a quick trip to pay our respects to Mandela at the hospital he is in.  It was a really sobering experience.  It's a bit strange to write messages and help to create a memorial to someone who is at least technically still alive.  At the same time, it felt strange reading messages wishing that he "get better," because it seems that is not a possibility at this point, as much as we wish it were.  No one really said a word when we were there, just took in the image around us of a beloved leader, activist, and role model who helped to give people hope and truly transform a nation.  His 95th birthday is next week.

Just one of the many warm messages filling the area around the hospital

You could write a message and pay your respects.

The nation's hero

It was nice to visit that as a group and even quietly reflect to myself about what an amazing person he is and how much he continues to inspire my students and me each year when we discuss South Africa.  I'm sure next year teaching about it will be even more powerful having been here for a month.

This is form the apartheid museum.  From afar it is just a bunch of sticks, but up close, you can see it has been arranged to show none other than Mandela in profile.  Can you see him?

We regrouped after and went to a nice dinner with a bunch of classmates directly next door to the hotel.  Grabbed a drink after with Jessica- it was apparently happy hour- so we got 2 for 1 beers.  4 beers came out to a grand total of 37 rand.  That's less than $3.70.  Insane!

We've got an early day so off to bed.  More higher ed stuff tomorrow followed by a free afternoon.  Think we are firming up Jo-burg for our free weekend!

Maur

P.S. Want to make a difference and donate to the organization I mentioned?  I will be.  Here's the link:
http://bunangbaswa.org