First week in South Africa

After a brief stay at a retreat center to get over jetlag, reconnect as a group, meet our country partners, and go over some safety guidelines while in South Africa, we went into Pretoria for out first week. It was a week to help us get an insight into Afrikaner culture and was our first home stay of the semester. On Sunday we went to an Afrikaner church, the service done in entirely in Afrikaans with a bit of English for our benefit. After church we met our host families and then spent the afternoon getting to know each other.
On Monday we had a lecture and then visited a battlefield from the Anglo-Boer war. We then went to an old Diamond mine before heading ‘home’. Tuesday started with a visit to the Vortrekker Monument and an Old Fort called Schanskop. Both had a fantastic view of Pretoria. We Finished off the day visiting the Samuel Marks House, an old mansion that stands as a testaments of the wealth that came for some from the diamond minds in the early 1900’s. On Wednesday we visited a village called “House of Bread” which is open to homeless Afrikaners. In the afternoon we went to the University of Pretoria and had a lecture from Peit Meiring. He talked about his work and experience in help leading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Thursday was a very early morning to get to the Gospel Train, which Laura is writing a post about. The drum workshop that followed back at the University of Pretoria was at times rhythmically challenged but a good time all the same. After a quick stop to the Union Building (where the president works) we found ourselves at a giant mall to spend some free time before once again going home. On Friday we went to a lion park where we pet baby lions and watch full-grown lions from the safety of our bus. It was a hit with everyone as was feeding the giraffes. In the afternoon we made our way to Freedom Park; a monument built in honour of lives lost in the struggle to bring freedom for all people in South Africa. Saturday was a free day to do one last activity with our host families. Events included going hiking, mountain biking, swimming, going out for dinner, etc. The Pretoria home stay was a week packed with history, museums and a little adventure. We all had different experiences with our host families, but it was a good week and look into Afrikaner culture.
-Robin Taves

Home stay

Spending a week in someone's home is something that is too rarely done. When you are in someone’s home as a guest you get to take away the filter people put up and exchange it for a true look into their character, habits (good bad and goofy,) strengths and shortcomings. Sebastian and I were privileged enough to stay with the Tredoux family. This family of four was more then hospitable in every way imaginable. So much so that we even got breakfast in bed every day! The Afrikaner people know hot to host! The weeks events were filled with histories and stories of the Afrikaner culture, an amazing subject, but the advantage of living with Afrikaners is we get to see first hand the differences between out two cultures.

The first thing Sebastian and I were exposed to is a traditional Barbecue, called a Braai We arrived at the house on Sunday to the amazing wafting scent of a three different meats on a charcoal grill. Scrumptious. The next tradition is something called a nap. Apparently you go and sleep for an hour or two in the middle of the day! Seb and I were instantly interested in this idea and quickly fell asleep (yaay Jetlag.) Through the week we were exposed to Biltong, a beef jerky type food made by sun drying different types of meat (Beef, Pork, Springbok, or Zebra to name a few) with some very potent spices.

Our 'Siblings', Susan and Jacque, were members of the local school orchestra so we had the pleasure of going to their first concert of the year. I certainly enjoyed myself, especially singing along with their rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

The best part of the homestead week for me was Dinner on Friday. To start this story properly rewind to Sunday. The family requested that Sebastian and I cook a Canadian meal for them on Friday. My first reaction was, 'wow they are brave to ask two male University students from a strange country to cook them a meal', then it was 'What is Canadian that is easy to cook'. Fast forward to Friday again, after taking us shopping for groceries and showing us around the kitchen we set to work. Seb and I had decided on Crepes and Poutine as our dish de jour. We did warn them that Canadian food usually is high carb as we need extra energy to insulate us from the cold. So an hour later and surprisingly nothing burnt we served. The poutine, being the main course, was a hit. Jacque was especially enthusiastic when he found out poutine contained no veggies. The crepes served as a great Canadian dessert. A medley of sugar, maple syrup (brought from home as gifts), lemon and whipped cream provided enough calories to insulate through a long cold night spent in an igloo.

In conclusion, the week was a great look into the Afrikaner culture, their views on Apartheid and the politics of today. I really enjoyed my time under the roof of this very welcoming family and am certainly glad to have met them.

-Gus Van Weelden

Gospel Train, Hallelujah.

Picture this; a train car during morning rush hour, packed with mainly black people with the exception of our group of 39, singing praises to God in a language I do not understand.
Hello, Gospel train.
It started as a very early morning with students mixing yawns with excitement at the novelty of riding the infamous gospel train. We poured off our bus, the leaders bought our tickets and we waited in line in an outrageously packed train station, amongst hundreds of people heading to work. You could hear the gospel train arrive in the station, thanks to the magnificent rhythm and voices these Africans have.
Now to clarify what the gospel train is; during morning and afternoon rush hour the gospel train is certain cars on different trains that have singing and praising and praying and preaching on them. We were blessed to have this opportunity as we rushed to squish our 39 onto an already squished car. We sang a song our group had practice “Guide my feet” and we sounded pretty good if you asked me for a group of white people singing/screaming at the top of our lungs. Ok, so maybe we were not that great actually. Even though most of the singing was in a language different then mine and the singing was way beyond me in my lacking vocal skills, it was incredible to praise the same God as my sisters and brothers of South Africa.
Side note, I cannot write about he incredible beats and rhythms I have experienced here. Train side drumming mixed with foot stomping is more than my mere words can express. Unfortunately, our train mysteriously broke down which killed the praising as people jumped off the train so they could walk the tracks to work. Something illegal in Canada but hey, this is Africa.
Overall the gospel train was phenomenal. I thought I had “how to do church” down pat, and I thought I had experienced every church & denomination. That said, I had never been on a train church before.
Gospel Train, Hallelujah.
-Laura Hill

Safe and Happy in Pretoria!

To all of the worried parents, friends and family: We are safe and sound in South Africa!

After many gruelling hours in airplanes we touched down early Friday morning in Johannesburg, weary with jetlag but excited to begin our adventure! With a single missing bag to show for all of our airplane-hopping we were led to meet Stephanes, our cheerful bus driver for the next three months, and "Elwierda," our already epic bus.

Our first two days were spent at a beautiful retreat centre called Heronbridge, recconecting with one another after a whole month apart! We had some quality sleep time, getting over our jetlag. We also got an introduction to the country and to strategies for safety from Johannes and Mpho, two people with whom we'll be working closely in the months to come.

On Sunday we drove to Pretoria, a large (over a million inhabitants) city very near Johannesburg. We attended a church service done in the Afrikans language before meeting the families hosting 1-3 of us for the week. It was thrilling to be welcomed into their homes; my family has been excited to prepare some delicious Afrikaner dishes for us.

This week we've been immersed in Afrikaans culture, visiting monuments and museums, exploring Pretoria with our host families and hearing from different speakers (including Piet Meiring at the U of Pretoria) about South African history, Aparteid and the current situation.

We've had some great weather and some surprise thunderstorms. We've met some great people and re-established our tight community. And the experience has just begun.

-Brock P.

27 and Sunny in South Africa

We made it! After 20 hours of plan rides, the longest a 12 hour ride from London to Johannesburg we made it to South Africa. During our long layover in London many of us rode the Tube into downtown to see some of the famous London sites like the London Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abby and others. It was a quick tour of the city that including eating some local grub, the most interesting of which might have been the black pudding.
This next few days we will try to get onto the time change and regroup/reconnect as a site since we have not all been together for over five weeks now. On Sunday we will head to Pretoria and go to an Afrikaans church and then meet our host family that we will be living with for a week.

Off we Go

After a long Christmas break we head off today for South Africa. The core of us will leave from Winnipeg and pick people up along the way in Toronto and even meet some in South Africa. So stay tune for pictures, stories and updates as the semester goes along.