BIG update

Well well well, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything that’s made sense on the blog so I figured it was about time to give you guys a semblance of an update. I’ve been up to a lot in the past several days and it’s very hard for me to keep all of it straight, I’ll do my best.
Two Sunday’s ago, I think, the entire group went to a church service in a township (I think it was Guguletu but I, embarrassingly enough, don’t remember which one it was). Two weeks later I still have mixed feelings about what I experienced while I was there. The service was definitely intense and I have never seen that kind of community in my entire life. In a way this service was the most at home I’ve felt since I’ve been here. We were all welcomed with open arms and my original fears of being an intruder were semi-erased. Kids were running around everywhere, full of wonderment. This reminded me of home. Every family holiday I’m used to little cousins running and falling everywhere, this was no different. Anyways what I really wanted to put up here was the role of the church in the community. The congregation’s passion and commitment was like nothing I’ve ever seen. I actually could not comprehend it. It made no sense to me that so many people would cram into such a small, hot, uncomfortable space all to praise a God who has done nothing but hand hardships down to these people (After the service we went on brief tour to see where most of the laity lived, all I can say that the struggle in South Africa for equality is far from over, more on the living conditions later). Maybe it’s just me but I couldn’t imagine worshipping the entity that allowed the apartheid system and all subsequent consequences to happen, I just couldn’t. As I said this much was impressive. Much of the churches message seemed to be about dealing with these hardships (I really couldn’t understand any of it as it was in Xhosa, hell I can’t even pronounce Xhosa). This is where my admiration for the congregation turned to really considering what I thought about my surroundings.
I will preempt all that I say from here on out with the fact that I am at least an agnostic, much of my personal beliefs are in direct contrast with the very idea of religions. In addition to my personal philosophies I can’t help but notice the massive amount of human rights violations various religious institutions have both committed and allowed to happen. Anyways I’ll try to make this as readable as possible to people of all institutions, none of this is intended to be a shot taken at anyone who subscribes to any belief it is merely a reflection of my own beliefs that you may or may no agree with. Anyways, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the teachings of the church that I went to and the church of the American South during the slavery years. I feel like the church here is inspiring people to continue to wait for their pie in the sky, life sucks now but eventually you will die and go to heaven and all will be well. To me this is not OK. The church is definitely offering catharsis instead of using it’s organizational power to create movement for real change, they are satiating rather than motivating. This bothers me intensely.
In other, more positive, news, most of the group went for a hike up Table Mountain. This was one of the most mind-blowing experiences of my life. The views were incredible, it was just the right amount of difficulty, and there was a certain je ne sais quoi while I was hiking. I can’t explain to you what happened but something just clicked most of the way up the mountain. It very well could have been endorphins rushing to my brain; all I know is that it felt damn good. I already can’t wait to go back up, I would almost classify this as a life changing experience.
Internships have started in the past couple of weeks. The first week was a little dull as I attempted to get into the groove of the organization. Most of last week was full of blog writing, something entirely necessary for the organization, as they are waaaaaay behind on the blog writing. Plus, I happen to be one of the only people in the office with English as a first language, comes in handy sometimes. Anyways, has been much more interesting. The past two days I have been going door to door in the township Khayelitsha, this is where my office is located. Khayelitsha very well could be the worst part of Cape Town crime and poverty wise. It takes me a good couple of hours to recover from the workday as being in the middle of Khayelitsha is harrowing to say the least. Most of the houses, they call them shacks, I’ve visited have been one room informal settlements made of tin and cardboard, there is no running water or electricity, the toilet is a bucket and the bedroom is the kitchen. As I said to my Mom today the level is not even comparable to what I am used to at home, it is impossible to comprehend unless you are in them and with the people. It has been tough communicating with them as they can’t understand a damn word that comes out of my mouth (most people at home can’t understand a damn word that comes out of my mouth anyways). I’m not sure what else I can say about the internship, everything else you would have to actually be there to understand. Rest assured it has been an experience so far and I expect it to get more interesting every week.
The future…this weekend looks to be an eventful one. On Thursday one of my house mates brought to my attention that there will be underground hip hop artists performing at a club on Long Street (this seems a lot closer to my scene than the dance clubs we’ve been going to, I really can’t dance for shit; it’s not hat I’m in my head to much to do it, as I’ve often been accused of being, it’s that I really have no idea what to do with my hands and feet). On Friday morning I will be surfing and hopefully not finishing the night as a sharks breakfast (Some people are nervous but I take solace in two things…1. I don’t have to out swim the shark, just the person next to me 2. I use the presence of sharks as motivation to stay on the board). Also on Friday, there is some sort of astronomy tour in Kirstenbosch Gardens (look this place up it’s beautiful). On Saturday I’ll be helping coach a friend of mines youth soccer team from Khayelitsha. I’m very excited to help and I’d like to think that he’s very excited to have me help. When I met him he was telling me about how most of these kids have had 0 exposure to white people and in their brief interactions they practically bow down, thinking that because of their skin color white people are superior. I’m hoping to end that practice at least for these kids and to show that I am certainly not superior to anyone on the basis of my skin color. Related to this, today during one of the door-to-door visits I sat down with a pretty large family and I TERRIFIED the little 2 year old boy in their family. I kind of knew what was up but I seeked confirmation after from my coworker. All he could say was that the little guy had almost no experience with white people. It’s just a small story and everyone involved was laughing pretty heartily but it is easy proof that Equality has not been realized in South Africa no matter how much progress they have allegedly made. Until black kids can look at white people as people instead of superiors and vice versa or something terrifying we need to continue to strive and struggle for some sort of peace (I’ve been getting way to political in this post, I realize that most of you could give a shit about my politics and philosophies, I apologize). Anyways, back to future stuff. I am very excited because yesterday a coworker and friend invited me and another person in my program to his house in Khayelitsha for a braii (this is a South African bbq). Looks like I will have the opportunity to try some pretty different stuff (two example are chickens feet, I’m not entirely sure how you eat a chickens foot as it seems like there is no meat on it, and smilies). Smilies deserve it’s own, non-parenthesized description. A smiley is a boiled lambs head. Essentially the eaters cut off the eatable parts, which mostly consist of the cheeks and gums. If said eater is feeling particularly ballsy they can go for an eyeball or brains. I’m hoping there is more food at the braii because I can’t see me filling myself up on smilies and chickens feet. Regardless I will give both a try and keep an open mind (I mean I have had McDonalds chicken nuggets before they became “all white meat.” I’m pretty sure it can’t get any worse than that).
Well, this is all for today. I’m sure I’m missing a ton but this probably already longer than any of you want to read. I hope you made it to the end.