If you feel the desire to write me, my mailing address is
Samantha Pomplon
Postnet Suite 113
Rondebosch 7701
Cape Town, South Africa
Updates soon!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
High Africa and Urban Voices
This weekend we went on a reflection weekend at High Africa (a retreat center/ high ropes course in the wine country of the western cape). It was really cold, but beautiful! We had cabins on the lake and at night you could see a million stars (although I couldn't recognize any because I'm used to looking at the northern sky). We did the high ropes course, which required us to cross a log, rope, and cargo net 4 stories in the air. It was REALLY scary, but it felt great once we all succeeded. It was also nice to just hang out with the group for the weekend.
By the end of the weekend we had to decide where we would do our service and the language we would take. So, after some reflection and reanalyzing my goals for my time here, I have decided to serve at Manenburg Primary school, which I mentioned in a previous post. I think this will be a great opportunity for me because I can be a teacher's aide and even have my own class of 15 students. I will start later in the week. Because most of the Manenburg community speaks Afrikaans, I have also decided to learn that language. Sorry to all of you Xhosa fans out there, but I won't become fluent in the clicks! I do plan on learning some Xhosa from my friends, though, so hopefully I can teach you a few phrases when I come home. I already "perfected" how to say "Xhosa" with the click.
Last night a few of us went to a spoken word show at the theater near our house. It was called Urban Voices and included poets from all over the world, including NYC! Marc Bamuthi Joseph was AMAZING. He expressed himself through poetry, song, and incredible dancing. It was a really unique, moving, and funny act, and I definitely suggest you check him out. Staceyann Chin was the headliner and stole the show. She's a very small Jamaican woman, but is very powerful. She spoke a lot about the power of women and gay rights. She has a hilarious and interesting book out. I really want to see her again when back in the U.S. A lot of the artists, including the two i mentioned, are featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam. It was a great night, especially because we went out on our own for a cultural activity!
Today was our first day of class, so I had Afrikaans at 9 this morning. We learned about the history of the language and hopefully by Wednesday we will start learning some phrases. I'm so excited!
As a sign off, I will teach you some South African slang:
Howzit- like "what's up?", reply with "good"
Just now- for example, "I'll be there just now," this is misleading because just now can mean any time, including days from now
By the end of the weekend we had to decide where we would do our service and the language we would take. So, after some reflection and reanalyzing my goals for my time here, I have decided to serve at Manenburg Primary school, which I mentioned in a previous post. I think this will be a great opportunity for me because I can be a teacher's aide and even have my own class of 15 students. I will start later in the week. Because most of the Manenburg community speaks Afrikaans, I have also decided to learn that language. Sorry to all of you Xhosa fans out there, but I won't become fluent in the clicks! I do plan on learning some Xhosa from my friends, though, so hopefully I can teach you a few phrases when I come home. I already "perfected" how to say "Xhosa" with the click.
Last night a few of us went to a spoken word show at the theater near our house. It was called Urban Voices and included poets from all over the world, including NYC! Marc Bamuthi Joseph was AMAZING. He expressed himself through poetry, song, and incredible dancing. It was a really unique, moving, and funny act, and I definitely suggest you check him out. Staceyann Chin was the headliner and stole the show. She's a very small Jamaican woman, but is very powerful. She spoke a lot about the power of women and gay rights. She has a hilarious and interesting book out. I really want to see her again when back in the U.S. A lot of the artists, including the two i mentioned, are featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam. It was a great night, especially because we went out on our own for a cultural activity!
Today was our first day of class, so I had Afrikaans at 9 this morning. We learned about the history of the language and hopefully by Wednesday we will start learning some phrases. I'm so excited!
As a sign off, I will teach you some South African slang:
Howzit- like "what's up?", reply with "good"
Just now- for example, "I'll be there just now," this is misleading because just now can mean any time, including days from now
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
T.I.A.
Hey all!
So much has happened since I last wrote. Check out my facebook for pictures from our Cape peninsula tour. These include African penguins, Cape Point (where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet), Cape of Good Hope (the most south-western point of Africa), Ocean View township where they sang and danced for us, and pretty close up shots of baboons!
Yesterday we went to the District 6 museum. I didn't know anything about this until I came to SA, but it was a district of Cape Town, containing 70,000 people of mixed races. The apartheid government forcefully removed every single person and put them in racially segregated townships (which still exist today). They bulldozed the entire district while the residents watched in tears. The museum is dedicated to the district, featuring a lot of pictures, artifacts, and a huge map covering the floor on which people wrote their names where they used to live. We had the privilege of meeting a man who lived there, created the museum, and still works there today. He told us amazing stories. I suggest visiting the museum if ever in Cape Town.
We also explored the Langa township. This was our first time really walking through a township, and it was an emotional experience. We saw stands selling fresh sheep heads which people buy after work for dinner. We went into a metal shack where a woman had made us traditional beer (I can't remember the name right now, sorry!) We passed around the large pale of beer and sipped it one by one. It was an authentic experience that I will never forget. We also met the healer. His place was pretty creepy with animal carcasses and other interesting things hanging low from the ceiling. We also met a group of kids our age running a program in the township educating young people about HIV and motivating them to reach their full potential. It was really inspiring to meet people our age so committed to making a difference in their community, despite the many challenges they faced growing up.
Today we went on a tour of the service positions which we can choose. It's going to be hard to choose just one place, everywhere sounds so important and fun! I'll keep you updated on my decision.
Hope all is well back home : )
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thrive The Heck
Hey all!
So I've officially been in Cape Town for 3 days and I'm LOVING it. Everybody is really cool, funny, and enthusiastic I couldn't possibly be happier with my group or staff! It's such an inspirational environment that everybody's developed.
We were staying in a REALLY nice hotel but today moved into our house. It's old and spacious.
Today we also went on a tour of the townships. I don't think I will ever be able to describe the feeling that visiting these places leaves you with. You cannot visit Cape Town without seeing the sprawling landscape of poorly constructed metal shacks, side by side. There are lots of people walking around the streets because they don't have jobs. One township includes 1.5 million people. And that's just one of many townships here. I cannot even fathom that amount.
However, in the middle of these townships are the sites we will be volunteering at. The people are warm and passionate about changing the conditions their families and friends live in. At Manenburg Primary school we saw a Vanderbilt sign hanging up because of the work that Vandy students have done in the past. The other Vandy student and I took a picture with it and talked with the people there about our mutual friends. It was really neat to see the Vanderbilt connection in SA.
I also have eaten an ostrich burger, authentic African feast, and a gatsby which is a sandwich with french fries, ketchup, and ham.
I'm going out dancing now but I wanted to let you all know what an amazing time I am having. Hope you all are doing well too!
With love,
Sam
So I've officially been in Cape Town for 3 days and I'm LOVING it. Everybody is really cool, funny, and enthusiastic I couldn't possibly be happier with my group or staff! It's such an inspirational environment that everybody's developed.
We were staying in a REALLY nice hotel but today moved into our house. It's old and spacious.
Today we also went on a tour of the townships. I don't think I will ever be able to describe the feeling that visiting these places leaves you with. You cannot visit Cape Town without seeing the sprawling landscape of poorly constructed metal shacks, side by side. There are lots of people walking around the streets because they don't have jobs. One township includes 1.5 million people. And that's just one of many townships here. I cannot even fathom that amount.
However, in the middle of these townships are the sites we will be volunteering at. The people are warm and passionate about changing the conditions their families and friends live in. At Manenburg Primary school we saw a Vanderbilt sign hanging up because of the work that Vandy students have done in the past. The other Vandy student and I took a picture with it and talked with the people there about our mutual friends. It was really neat to see the Vanderbilt connection in SA.
I also have eaten an ostrich burger, authentic African feast, and a gatsby which is a sandwich with french fries, ketchup, and ham.
I'm going out dancing now but I wanted to let you all know what an amazing time I am having. Hope you all are doing well too!
With love,
Sam
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Almost there
I'm currently sitting in my "Yotel" (a hotel in Heathrow Airport), wasting some time during my 10 hour layover. I'm so excited to finally go to Cape Town!
Highlights of the trip so far: flying over Baltimore (if you were at the O's game, I saw you!); sitting in the middle of a bunch of 16 year old basketball players from the Netherlands on the plane; getting creeped on by a 30 year old Nigerian; and the monsoon shower in the Yotel!
Until Cape Town,
Sam
Highlights of the trip so far: flying over Baltimore (if you were at the O's game, I saw you!); sitting in the middle of a bunch of 16 year old basketball players from the Netherlands on the plane; getting creeped on by a 30 year old Nigerian; and the monsoon shower in the Yotel!
Until Cape Town,
Sam
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