Class, Indaba, and a Look at the Week Ahead

It's been lots of class since we've made it back to Pretoria for Soweto.  Yesterday was three different class meetings.  After lunch we had another speaker from the University of Pretoria who brought to light some of the key issues facing the higher ed community in South Africa.  Apparently, though we've heard the term infrastructure used quite a bit to describe a key issue in S.A., it even involves the issues of "mud schools" and "schools under a tree" that still operate in S.A.  The facilities that we saw in a video she provided were a shock to my system.  It's hard to believe that in 2013 students still don't have adequate facilities in which to learn.

Ran out to grab some dinner with two classmates, Jessica and Ryan.  After, we headed back to our "indaba" or gathering for the night.  These are really informal sessions.  Picture this, during the day, we sit in a u-shaped conference style set up.  For the indaba, we are sitting on the floor in the center of that same u.  People were dressed informally and even brought wine for us to enjoy.  Jessica and I got up there early and had the bright idea of scaring people as they came in, since the lights were off anyway.  We crouched down and scared our first victim, our friend Gaby.  We all cracked up.  Obviously, we recruited Gaby to join in the scares.  Before we scared the next person, we saw her feet- it was our professor!  She was all about it, telling us that we should close the door too.  Hilarious to have her as an accomplice.  We scared one more victim and then decided to act our age.

At the indaba that night we debriefed the various homestay experiences we had all had.  Some of the group were in seriously posh homes, but that was by far the exception to the rule.  The most prominent theme was the warmth and generosity of the families we stayed with.  Seemed like it was a great experience for all.

While I should have gone back to do my journals for the class, Jessica and I ended up grabbing a drink with a classmate, Janelle, at a local pub.  Nice way to end the night.

For the purpose of the blog, today will not translate as terribly exciting, as we had two different class sessions- one with HESA, an organization of different universities in S.A. and one with a Department Chair from the University of Pretoria- talking mainly about access to higher ed and how to make sure kids have successful outcomes once they get there.

Checked out a local phone which I'm looking into buying.  It's super cheap and would be nice to just have an unlocked phone for future travel.

Tonight, our professor's nephew who is in his twenties agreed to take the group out for some drinks.  She's sitting this one out.  He's meeting us in just a bit.

Up in the coming days?
1. A trip to pay our respects at the hospital Mandela is at.  Some of the group went today.
2. A possible trip to Jo-burg to connect with a friend of a friend.
3. A day at an elephant rescue place playing with them!
4. A trip to a lion camp where we get to hold baby lions followed by a full safari.
5. An evening around a fire pit participating in a drum circle!

Life is good!

A blog without pics would be boring, so here's some other highlights from Soweto.

My Soweto Sis, Gaby, from our program posing with a guy dressed as a traditional warrior and me!

Old power stations that have been painted and are now a local site for bungee jumping.  We saw someone do it from below!  Lots of screams.

Our amazing buffet in Soweto.  Yum!  (Only round 1)