The fifth week

This week I went to school for only two and half days, because some interesting excursions were organized for us. It was a big surprise when on Monday morning the fire trucks arrived to Herschel. We already started wondering where the fire is. Then we figured out that there is no fire. Every year some special guests bring the invitations for the Matric Dance in an original way. When I got home I heard that Steff fainted and she had to go to the doctor.  In the evening she asked me if I could take over her place in  the swimming competition on Tuesday.  Of course I said yes.  Tuesday after school there was a Herschel Interhouse Gala. The school is divided into four houses -four groups- that compete against one another. This is not only about competition, but also about team building and keeping up the spirit. All girls have to join because there is lots singing and we have fun together. I swam instead of Steff for Carter, the blue house. It went very well apparently, because we won the swimming competition.

Herschel Interhouse Gala

On Wednesday we spent the day at “Vryegrond”, townships right outside Cape Town.  It is a very poor area which was originally an informal settlement. The word “townships” has a bit different definition here in South Africa. This area was created during the Apartheid Government where  non-white race groups, in other words: black people, coloureds and Indians,  were forced to leave their own location and go to live outside the city. We were prepared for this visit, but it was but anyway really shocking to see all these little huts made of cardboard box and metal and garbage. It is very hard to believe  that people live here in these poor conditions in the 21st century. The life is very difficult here without the proper services such as sewage and good roads. They do have electricity sometimes and they can get clean water from the tap outside.  Most of the huts were built on the lands of someone else, which is also an important issue.  More than 400.000 people live in these townships.  The majority of the people doesn’t have regular work.  Lots of them are use drugs and alcohol, there is lots of violence  and crime at night. It would definitely not be save to walk around by myself. One of our security guide said to me that if I would walk into a narrow street here alone he would not be surprised that I would never return.  This township  has been developing since 1994. Schools and a library were built and the government tries to improve the infrastructure as well. We visited a preschool here, which was very nicely made. It looked like any Dutch kindergarten.  Elise used to help with teaching literacy in this school. We took some presents  with us such as books, colouring books and pencils for the children. All the children were very happy to see us and were very cheerful and they were laughing and having fun all the time. They loved taking pictures of others and themselves! I also had a very deep conversation with a 6 years old boy, Moses: He asked me, “Is God up in the sky or down there?” I point up to the ceiling, but then he says, “No that’s wrong, God is in your heart”. This was so beautiful, I will never forget it. After our visit to the townships we went back to Cavendish shopping center to eat something and to watch a movie. It was good be together with all exchange students again. But my head was  full of different thoughts. This is a complete different world. The contrast is too big. How lucky we are that we can live in a normal house, we can study, we can do sports, we can go on holiday overseas. We do not have to fight for a better life . What kind of future is waiting for little Moses?


 Moses

 The Vryegrond Township

 School