Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

AAAAWWWWEEE I am so excited.  My first visitor, Olivia, is coming in exactly 1 WEEK!!!  To get another perspective of life here, she will be a guest on SOULjourner during her visit. To kick it off, I asked Olivia to share her perceptions of South Africa, what she is looking forward to doing, and why she is coming? Look forward to also hearing her joys, surprises, and of course travel pains and annoyances! 

Cheers!

--Mei

Olivia and Me at a UMES Homecoming!

To be perfectly honest, I have very little perceptions about South Africa.  I am a little ashamed to say, but outside of Apartheid, widely talked about tourist attractions like Table mountain (can't wait) and "Blood Diamonds" my knowledge is extremely limited. I actually never even thought about the country as a place to visit until a few years ago when a good friend of mine went for his honeymoon.  As a result of my friend, Meisha, taking a job, I felt this was a great opportunity to visit my friend and experience the beauty of this opportunity of a lifetime. You CAN'T imagine how excited I am to take this journey to another part of the world.  To date, I have never taken a trip of this magnitude! Outside of the Caribbean, I have only traveled to Iraq (a military mission) and Qatar (pleasure trip while stationed in Iraq).  The experience I had while traveling to these countries has opened my eyes to the beauty of countries outside of the US and the Caribbean. 

While visiting South Africa for two weeks  (Jo'Burg, Rustenberg, and Capetown) I plan to visit as many of the country's "must see" places, interact with my friend in her current element, in addition to meeting with teachers to discuss their teacher development programs!  I am very excited about that opportunity because it gives me an opportunity to share my experiences working with teachers with teachers in another country.  Hopefully we will all receive new ideas to take back to our respective schools to improve the instruction for our children. 

Meisha has talked extensively about the experiences that she has garnered while living in the community of Phokeng and I get more excited each day. I am looking forward to experiencing some of those in addition to developing my own.  Like a sponge, I am looking to soak in EVERYTHING I can possibly hold during this trip.  I would like to thank Meisha for giving me this experience of a life time.  Her free spirit has provided me and others (who will visit later) this magnificent opportunity.  In 7 DAYS {screaming}, I will be South Africa!!!

P. S. My plane stops to refuel in Egypt, despite all of the craziness there, I hope to get to see one of the 7 wonders of the world...so with that please pray for my safe travels. I look forward to sharing my experiences with everyone upon my return to North America!  

--Olivia

Happy 94th Birthday Madiba

Learning sign language

Today is Nelson Mandela’s 94^th Birthday.  Everyone was asked to celebrate his birthday by spending 67 minutes (I have no clue why 67???) helping someone.  In honor of Mandela’s birthday, I took 25 learners from my youth club at Thethe High School (a mainstream school) to a Kultwaneg (a special school).  As I mentioned in an earlier post, Kultwaneg is a boarding school for deaf and intellectually disabled learners from preschool to high school (for your reference in photos the Thethe learners are in grey uniforms and the Kultwaneg learners are in blue and gold uniforms).

When we arrived at Kultwaneg, the learners surrounded the Thethe learners and stared at them.  I could tell the Thethe students were nervous.  Although, we have had great conversations about acceptance, inclusion, and tolerance, this was now the real world.  One learner actually told me she was traumatized and asked were the kids violent and would she be safe.

We started the activity by teaching the Thethe learners the alphabet, hello, bye, and thank you in sign language.  I then took all of the learners through a series of Mandela quotes.  The learners were then asked to share a motivational word inspired by the quote.  Next, in pairs the learners painted the motivational words on rocks and on a curb to decorate the school.

The awesome part of the activity was that I could see the Thethe and Kultwaneg learners forming friendships as the day went on.  They relaxed and really enjoyed themselves.  At the culmination of the activity, about 8 of us had to wait around at Kultwaneg as the taxi dropped off the first group of Thethe learners.  I was so touched to see the kids talking and playing together.  Some of the Kultwaneg learners took us on a short tour of the school.  We saw a garden that had been started and the Thethe learners volunteered to work on it the next time we came.  And in the taxi on the way home, the Thethe learners were practicing sign language and asking when we were coming back.  I have to admit I shed a couple of tears as I listened to the kids chatter on about the days activities (well they were speaking in Tswana but pretty sure that’s what they were talking about).  I was so proud of them.  They opened up and truly were accepting of the Kultwaneg learners.  The girl who was initially traumatized even made really good friends with one of the intellectually disabled learners.  So much so that he wanted to fight another Kultwaneg learner because he talked to her.  ROTFL.

I know I keep saying this but when I look back over my life today will be one of those moments I will remember (I am becoming  such a sap).  I was so humbled and in awe of how it all transpired.

One of the learners that was initially scared and her new friend

So you can share in the fun we had, below are the Mandela quotes we used in today’s activity. 

“If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.”

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

 “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

“It is not where you start, but how high you aim that matters for success.”

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

“One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.”

“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

--Mei

A Quick Laugh from SA

Both of the items below were given to me.  I find both hilariously funny (although I feel like I shouldn't).

First, is an advertisement for a traditional doctor I received at the taxi rank.  Advertisements for traditional medicines, along with safe abortions, penis enlargements, and safe circumcisions, can be found posted up everywhere.  I think I may start an import/export business!  I am sure there are some folks in the States that need to be cured from some of the ills these herbs heal. :0)  BTW-Although, many do believe in traditional healing, to my understanding the folks handing out flyers aren't as respected or are seen as crooks.

Second, is a CV that I believe is being emailed around (and is real).  I went to get a transportation quote from a bus company and the guy helping me gave me the letter to read while I was waiting.  You have no idea how relieved I was to find out he gave it to me to as a joke (he actually voluntarily gave me a copy to keep) and wasn't trying to get me to hire some random family member.  Although, the letter is funny it does illustrate a bit of SA's current woes: horrible public education system and unemployed youth--which go hand-in-hand.  Also, speaks a bit to the "hater" (real and unreal) and "crabs in a barrel" mentality I have also seen.

Cheers,

--Mei

Special Olympics' Impact in Africa

Dr. Shriver reminded me in his opening remarks at the Special Olympics Peace Corps Partnership anniversary of Aaron.  I wanted to share his story with you to give you an understanding of the critical work Special Olympics is doing in Africa.  Unfortunately, in many rural African communities (and in some non-African developing countries) people with intellectual disabilities are seen as being crazy or cursed.  Some families are so ashamed of having a child with intellectual disabilities that they keep them hidden away.  Limited resources and knowledge of how to work with someone with intellectual disabilities also adds to people with intellectual disabilities being excluded from mainstream society.



I learned about Aaron at a Special Olympics Africa Leadership meeting where the Malawi team was recognized for changing Aaron's life.  When the Special Olympics Malawi team met Aaron his family had him tied to a tree.  They presumed because he had intellectual disabilities, impaired speech, and physical disabilities that he was incapable of speaking, walking, or leading any semblance of a normal life.  The Special Olympics Malawi staff educated the family and worked with Aaron on his communication and motor skills.  As you may be able to see from the photos (sorry I took pics of the photos when they were projected) they not only got him untied from the tree and into proper clothing but taught him how to catch a ball.

This is just one of many powerful stories I have heard during my time here.  I hope this also serves a reminder that even small acts, like teaching someone to catch a ball, can make a huge difference in someone's life

Ciao!

--Mei

A Milestone Moment

Yes, I know, less than two posts ago I wrote about having one of those quintessential Peace Corps moments that makes you realize this is what it is all about.  BBBBBUUUTTTTTT….I have now had a moment or experience that I am sure I will look back at years from now and realize was a pivotal moment. 

Yesterday, Peace Corps and Special Olympics celebrated the one-year anniversary of their partnership.  For those of you that might not know, a member of the Kennedy family started both organizations--Special Olympics by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Peace Corps by John F.  Kennedy.  Sargent Shriver, Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s husband, also built Peace Corps while serving as its first Director.  It’s actually amazing that this partnership didn’t come into fruition earlier. 

The celebratory event at Peace Corps headquarters included remarks by Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams and Special Olympics CEO Tim Shriver, ANDDDDD featured video presentations from a fellow Peace Corps Response Volunteer in Panama and me!!!!!  We participated, along with our Special Olympics counterparts, by webconference. Our videos were followed by questions by Director Williams and Dr. Shriver.  Pretty cool right!!!  Peace Corps Volunteers barely have contact with the Peace Corps staff in their country of service so interacting with the Director is a rare opportunity.

Since the event was held in DC, my mother was able to attend.  The Director of Special Olympics Africa even made sure that she was recognized and she got some good photo opps too, lol.

I can’t pinpoint exactly why I feel this was such a pivotal event in my life.  Maybe it was just my five minutes of Peace Corps fame and nothing more.  I guess only time will tell.   Nonetheless it was a hella cool experience that I am sure will be followed by more as I finish up the last 3 months of my service.

Also, I got a bit nervous and didn't share what I have learned thus far from working with Special Olympics, in particular from working with the athletes.  So I'll share with y'all. 

Admittedly, I had limited experiences with people with intellectual disabilities before working with Special Olympics.  Working with the athletes and the SO Get Into It Youth Clubs has forced me to face my own biases and misperceptions.  I quickly realized from my first interactions with the athletes that I underestimated their abilities--something that I will never do again.  As I have gotten to know some of the athletes and learned their stories I have been inspired by their determination and courage.  From them I have learned (or been reminded of) three valuable lessons:

1. Don't ever be defined by someone else's perceptions of you.
2. There is no obstacle that the human spirit cannot overcome.
3. (This is near and dear to my heart) Never be afraid to dream the impossible dream!

Once I get permission, I will also share the videos with ya.

Cheers

--Mei

"I am an African"

Last week I attended the Grahamstown Art Festival, the second largest art festival in the world.  Post coming soon on this AWESOME AWESOME festival!!!  Quickly though my spirit was so fed and alive attending everything from comedy shows to spoken word performances.  My favorite show/performance was "I am an African" performed by Kmad.com, a proudly South African contemporary dance company.  Their afro jazz performance reminded me of The Dance Theater of Harlem.  Below is the poem that accompanied and narrated their movements.  It only gives a small taste of the performance, but I thought the words were thought provoking enough on their own that I should share them.  Enjoy!

---Mei

I am an African

I am an African, not because I was born here, but because my heart beats with Africa.

I am an African because she is the cradle of our birth.

When Africa celebrates her triumphs my feet are alive with dancing.

I am an African, not because I live on its soil but because my soul is at home in Africa.

I am an African, for her wildness quenches my spirit and brings me closer to the source of life.

I am an African, not because my skin is black but because my mind is engaged by Africa.

When the music of Africa beats in the wind my blood pulses to its rhythm and I become the essence of music.

When the colors of Africa dazzle in the sun, my senses drink in its rainbow and I become the palette of nature.

-Wayne Visser

You can view the full poem at: http://www.waynevisser.com/poetry/i-am-an-african-2