Hello (again) Amsterdam!!

Our flights appear to be on time, and all is well. Please keep us in your prayers. 

Thanks!  

Julian Cabrera: A Day in Nazareth House

Today we had a busy day of service at Nazareth House. We woke up bright and early in the morning and walked to the Red Sofa Cafe to eat our breakfast. While we were eating our meal, we chose the songs we would sing for the senior citizens at the retirement center. After much deliberation, we decided to sing "Let It Go" from Frozen. When the time came, we prepared to sing, but it was not yet our turn. We sang hymns with the senior citizens, and they gave the floor to us. Our voices sounded terrible, but they seemed to have liked it, that, or they were lying to us to be nice. After our time singing we had a little break. We found some rackets and played tennis on the court next to Nazareth House. There we learned how well Colin plays tennis and how terribly everyone else plays. We then went to the child center and helped take care of of the toddlers the best way we could. They were quite a handful, but with a little bit of patience, we managed. We ended our day with a nice dinner and finished by celebrating Jefferey's birthday with some dessert.

In our various activities we learned about valuing the moment. There was peace and serenity in every moment of our day. We lived in the moment and enjoyed it to the fullest. As our trip is coming to a close, we are happy to be returning home. However, it will be very difficult to forget the relationships we built. We will enjoy the friendships we created with the teenagers of St. Martin de Porres school whom we definintely hope to see again. We have enjoyed our time here, and we will leave with more than what we came with. We can't wait to share it with our family and the Bellarmine community.

The "sickest" guys in the Museum!

Johannes Hui: Youth Day

Happy Youth Day! On this day the people of South Africa celebrate their protest of the Bantu Education Act to obtain the right to a decent basic education. We began our day at the South African Natural History Museum where we learned the story of both the native people and the wildlife through exhibits like a blue whale skeleton. Immediately after, we drove through the rain to arrive at Green Market Square where we bought our souvenirs for the trip. Most of us picked up a few canvas prints and stone or wood animals. Hungry after an hour of honing our feeble bargaining skills, we then headed to the Eastern Food Bizarre. The majority of us chose to have a delicious Indian meal or rather disappointing Chinese food. Returning to the hotel, about half of us chose to go see the game between Angola and South Africa at the nearby World Cup stadium. We walked over to the stadium and Mr. Moreno asked about buying tickets as we arrived, upon which we were presented by the security guards with free tickets to the game! Although we could onto stay for the entire game, we were elated to be able to step foot inside the stadium we had seen on TV so many times. To end. The day, we met with Mr. Jacques Du Preez to learn about some of major issues in South Africa including corruption, dissatisfactory public service providers, and a decline in the quality of education. As we listened to him, were shown another side of the story of South Africa, one that was almost the opposite of the optimistic picture we had been shown as they emerged from the end of apartheid. 

For us, today felt like the beginning of the conclusion of our trip as we both had a chance to be tourists in a new city and gain a fuller picture of what South Africa really was like. We had originally planned to go to Table Moutain had the weather permitted, but despite the change in plans, we still had a packed and enjoyable time. In fact, we wished we had even more time as we had to leave the soccer game early for our meeting with Mr. Du Preez. Speaking with him was probably the most meaningful part of the day. We were struck by his constant praise of America as a leader and ideal country. It made us grateful, but more importantly, the contrasting picture he gave us of South Africa to the hopeful country after apartheid we had learned about warned us that doing something right in the past does not guarantee a perfect future. Even though the same party, the ANC, had remained in power, their reliance on their successful past was not enough to keep the country going in the right direction. The events of the 1990s were unable to solve the problems people faced today. All in all, today was a good way to begin winding down our trip as we came to understand the complexity if the people and the government in this country 10,000 miles away form home.  

 

Ethan Vieira: Last Day in Soweto and Cape Town

June 15, 2015

Yesterday was our last day in Soweto and it was nothing less than what was to be expected after an amazing week. We started the morning off with the lovely sound of Father Bruce's dogs barking and with Michael's Church Bell alarm going off at 5:30 am for the people who wanted to go out for a run before mass. Per usual we ate breakfast as group with Nutella, toast, oatmeal, coffee, and fruit and talked about the experiences in Soweto. From Colin's 8th grade friends at the Apartheid museum to the beautiful people we have grown to love in Soweto. As we prepare for mass and the final hours before we leave for Cape Town, I could tell that everyone was a little sad. We began to deflate the air mattresses, well Abhishek began jumping from bed to bed. Jorgos and I folded the blankets and that's when the realization that we were getting ready to leave hit. 

As we walked the long road to St. Martin's Church (roughly 10 feet from the front door), we were definitely in for a treat. The mass started with a beautiful choir with high energy and awesome dance moves that only foreigners like us can make look awkward. Throughout the mass Fr. Bruce leads the mass into an incredible homily about Youth Day (June 16) and about freedom. Fr. Bruce truly has a way with words and has an attitude that only a Jesuit can display. After a two hour mass that felt like thirty minutes we went outside and talked to our new friends that we've grown so close to. From Scott to Fr. Bruce, this community has opened their lives to us and we all knew the goodbye was not going to be easy. After packing up our bags, we walk around Soweto the last time together and I notice that the morale of the group is very low. We go to room 13 (the art room) to see some of the most beautiful pieces of art I've seen a teenager create. We share our final thoughts with each other and like clockwork wild Willie  is at St. Martin's to take us to the airport. Although I'm so excited to go to Cape Town, I'm so sad that I not only have to say goodbye to all the students we met, but Fr. Bruce I was really going to miss. Fr. Bruce cooked for us, cleaned with us, played card games with us, and joked around with us. We take final pictures and say final goodbyes and we're off to Cape Town. Although everyone was really bummed, we are all optimistic about the final days we have in South Africa. 

After saying bye to Willie and checking our bags, it's time to go through security. Johannes forgot to take his pocket knife out of his wallet so the TSA definitely had some questions for him. We then boarded the flight to Cape Town and the flight was two hours and went by very fast after the 20 hour flight the week before. The flight went well besides for the extremely rocky landing due to how windy it was in Cape Town. As we were getting off the plane I turn to Mr. Moreno and I say to him that this place is going to be completely different than the place we just came form. No surprise there, we exit the airport with a new tour guide that is like a 180 compared to Willie. With Jamie (the tour guide) we go to the next hotel and pass through the exciting city of Cape Town. We go out to dinner, we get some gelato, and then off to bed excited for out first full day in CT. 

Our second day in Cape Town begins dark and early with a walk to the laundromat to be the first customers of the day. We eat breakfast and the second we walk outside it begins to rain lightly. We're off to Robben Island which the dock is only a few minutes away from our hotel. We line up to get on the ferry and the rain and wind definitely become stronger. The ferry ride was extremely rocky and the wind was very strong. In normal teenage fashion, Jorgos and Jeffry decide to recreate the infamous Titanic scene. We survive the large waves that seem to come straight from the show "Deadliest Catch" and land on the same island that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on. We get on the bus and begin the tour of the island. Robben island has 200 occupants from families to ex-prisoners, either way the price of a house is incredibly cheap there. We begin to learn the history of the island and find out that the Portuguese discovered the island in the 15th century and used it as a ship rest stop. Then the Dutch and British occupied the island and used it for people who suffered from leprosy to exile them from society. There was a church and a cemetery that was used during that time which was very cool to see. We continue on the bus and see some penguins. Due to overfishing, penguins in SA are becoming endangered and can be extinct by 2022. Anyway, we visit the quarry that Nelson Mandela and other inmates worked in. The working conditions were so horrible that it caused a lot of health problems for the people who worked in the mines. After the bus tour of the island, we then go on a tour of the prison with a man who was imprisoned for seven years. This man was put into jail due to being involved in the uprising in Soweto and he was in his teens when he was arrested. He explained to the group where his cell was, the sounds he heard there, and the overall experience of the jail. Being toured around a prison by a man who was actually an inmate was an unparalleled experience. Although the look of the island is like our Alcatraz, the tour was a lot more interactive. Throughout the story he mentioned the first days in jail, the daily life of a prisoner, and ultimately how proud he was for actually being in prison. This struck me as interesting because just being on the island for an hour, conditions seem horrible and I would be very angry if I was sent to this jail. He said he was proud he was sent here because he went to jail for something he truly believes in, which is better than not doing anything at all. He then shows us where Mandela's jail cell was and it was just like the pictures. A bucket, a book, and a space that looks like a size of a coat closet. It was a truly humbling experience being showed around the prison by a man who was tortured and lived through an era in South Africa that was incredibly violent. After getting our pictures, it is now time to get back on the boat and head to the next destination. 

We're back in the van and we're heading to Kirstenbosch, which is a beautiful place filled with flowers and amazing views. We travel though foggy Cape Town and begin to look at some of the most beautiful flowers in the world. We travel though tree canopies, hiked trials, and climbed these interesting trees. Johannes was in photography heaven with the amazing flowers throughout the garden. We spent quite a long time there and took in all the beauty that SA offers us. With the GoPro on Colin's head, we walk around looking as touristy as possible. Mr. Moreno was incredibly happy when he found the skeleton gouge. After getting some beautiful pictures, we buy some souvenirs and we're on our way to pick up our laundry and walk around the surrounding areas of our hotel. Half of the group decides to go out for a run, and the fun kids take a walk to the beach. Once we got to the beach, I found some awesome shells and rocks that I can hopefully sneak through customs. On the walk we talk about the best parts of the day and what we have learned thus far about ourselves. This trip is so much more than just an immersion trip. This trip has created very strong and new friendships and a new outlook on the world. Although these cities and lives are not very different from America, its the history of the country that makes the country so different. The love that we have all encountered in this trip has been unlike anything I have experiences in my life. Everyone we met has loved learning about out culture just as much as we love learning about theirs. As this day in Cape Town comes to a close, we go to bed with a stronger understanding of not only the history and beauty of this country, but of the importance of overcoming and persevering for freedom and equality. 

Cape Town... All is well

We just wanted to let you know we arrived in CapeTown safely on Sunday night.  We also visited Robben Island and Kirstenbosch Gardens today, Monday.  Here are a few pictures. The boys will post more photos and stories on Tuesday. 

Take care. 

Michael Henry 

Colin Denzel: Soweto Reflection

Today was our last full day in the Soweto township, which meant that it was our last dinner with Father Bruce. The dinner consisted of Shepard's pie, tropical fruit juice, and for dessert, chocolate cake. It also consisted of recounting Willy's edgy humor, Abhishek's glamorous hat, Jeffery's Russian hat, various impressions, Ethan's laughter, and for dessert, a pregnant Jeffery speaking spanish. While none of these make any sense to you, just know that it left us with laughter that gave us, in the words of Mr. Henry, "More cardio then we've had on this whole trip." It is amazing to think that just over a week ago most of our friendships barely expanded beyond meetings no more than an hour in length. But the dinner, despite it being the most I have laughed in a long time, is but a small and rather insignificant fraction of the emotions that we have experienced over the last two days. 

To be completely honest, I began the trip thinking about the inspiring words I could use in the blog to make our experience in South Africa sound as authentic and spiritual as possible. But our experience at the Nkanyezi Center and the stories we heard far surpassed anything I could have done with my fancy words and sentence structure. The Nkanyezi Center is a school for children with multiple disabilities, ranging from Cystic Fibrosis to Autism. One of the most touching stories I have ever heard was the story of the woman who founded the center, Mrs. Tshabalal. She had five children, all boys, which made for a hectic household. Her youngest son was named Nkanyezi, who was born with cerebral palsy. She told us stories of carrying him everywhere she went, caring for him and protecting him at all times. 

But the part of the story that will forever live in my memory was what she was forced to endure at home. Her husband did not approve of Nkanyezi, and refused to take any responsibility for him. Her husband was abusive towards both of them, and Mrs. Tshabalala told us that he would lock the doors and turn to violence. She would be forced to hide with Nkanyezi, and often protect him by giving herself up. Eventually, her husband forced her to choose between him and Nkanyezi. She made the decision to leave her husband, and moved out to become a single mother. She won custody of her two other children, as the remaining two had already passed away. It was at this point that she realized there were very few schools that provided for students with disabilities, and the ones that existed were insufficient. So she started a center herself, originally working out of a small classroom in Johannesburg. After being there for about three months, they were evicted because the land lord felt that whoever was to move in had a better purpose. 

Mrs. Tshabalala was forced to move many more times until finding a home. Luckily, an elementary school in Sowedo had moved, and they were able to move into the old buildings. The locals were able to see Mrs. Tshabalala working around the premises, carrying a now 12 year old Nkanyezi on her back while she cut the overgrown grass by hand. Soon after this transition Nkanyezi became ill and was hospitalized. Mrs. Tshabalala visited him as much as possible, but was forced to leave when the night staff arrived. She recounted receiving a phone call one day, and being told that her son was in coma. Ten days later, Nkanyezi passed away at the age of 13. The staff advocated that the name be changed to the name it still holds today, the Nkanyezi Center. Mrs. Tshabalala told us this story at the end of our day of service, as she had a doctors appointment in the morning. She had been getting treatment on her back, which has been badly injured because she lovingly carried her son for 13 years. Hearing such a emotional story, especially from the woman who experienced it, changed your entire outlook on life. It left me with a sense of awe and inspiration. That such a kind and loving woman, who was constantly offering us tea and coffee, was capable of enduring so much, makes you wonder what you should be capable of with the opportunity that you have been blessed with. 

Hearing Mrs. Tshabalala's story made the work we had done so much more satisfying. We began our day by meeting the children. We lined up awkwardly in front the children, some of which were confined to wheelchairs, and waved to no response. Then, one of the staff workers began singing. She sang, "Thank you Jesus" in a powerful voice, both in English and in Zulu. At first, we were all unsure what was happening, but then the other workers joined in, and the faces of all the children lit up. I could not help but smile, as the overwhelming sense of joy flooded the room. After a short tour, we began our service for the day. Some of us helped out in the garden, tilling dirt, pulling weeds, and forming blisters. As fulfilling as the work in the garden was, it palled in comparison to playing with the children. 

Whatever happiness is, as abstract and profound as it may be, I found it in the faces of the children we played with. They were overjoyed to hold my hand and walk in circles around the room for half an hour. They threw stuffed animals that had belonged to my sister in the air over and over, falling over laughing every time. We engaged in staring contests, talked to them, and even worked on secret handshakes. It was in this moment that I was able to take a step back and realize that I was interacting with children who had disabilities, were half my age, and lived ten thousand miles from home. And through it all I gained a sense of happiness and satisfaction that I could not have anywhere else.

That night, we celebrated the mass of the Sacred Heart with the community. We sat outside in the cold, constantly throwing wood into trashcan fires in order to stay warm. Mass is different here in South Africa. The choir sings upbeat songs, and everyone dances to the music, leaving us Americans to sway side to side as close to the beat as possible, hoping that nobody notices us. The mass was followed by a meal for the community, where we drank soup from a disposable cup, as we stood and talked to the people of Soweto. In two days, we have formed friendships that span cultural and racial boundaries, yet feel stronger than most of the relationships we have back at home. Talking to our new friends, I realized that they have the same gossip, drama, rumors, misunderstandings, and even humor that we have. I don't know why it never occurred to me, but it is a very humbling and humanizing experience to know that teenagers half way across the world have the same emotions and experiences that you do. I feel at home, and just as comfortable in conversation here as I do back in America. 

Today was also full of emotion, and focused on coming to a true understanding of where we have been living for the past four days. The first thing we did after breakfast was meet with a local social worker and a group of students from the school we are staying at. We shared our stories and experiences, with the goal of learning what life is really like in South Africa and America for teenagers. What struck me about the stories that the South Africans told was the common theme of an absent father. Of the ten people who shared their story, nine of them had an absent father in one way or another. What was even more shocking was that everyone dealt with the issue differently. Some explained that they found father figures in older siblings, others said that they used it as motivation to ultimately prove their father that they are of worth, and even others said that they had been able to move on and forget about it. One of the students that had the last mode of thought was asked by the facilitator how he felt about not having a father. He answered, "I really don't care, to be honest, I don't like to think about it, but I think I don't care." But the same students, when asked how an absent father would affect his own fatherhood, said that he would be present at all costs, and that he would not want his son to grow up the same way. He said that he wanted his son to be happier than he was. The facilitator pointed out that this showed that he has tried to internalize his emotions, but understands the effects an absent father has, and is going to make a change. But the true problem in Soweto lies within the culture, not necessarily every individual. We spent a majority of the morning discussing the role of a father, the ideal father, and the differences between fathers in SA and in the States. We discovered that absent fathers are a huge problem in Soweto, as many men have children with multiple partners. Once again, this gave me an appreciation of my own gifts, and how fortunate I am to have a stable and joyful family life. 

Afterwards, we had lunch with the students and attempted to teach them how to play American football. They are definitely fantastic athletes, and amazing soccer players, but to see how awkward it was for them to throw a football was almost funny. Here in South Africa, they really like soccer, rugby, and boxing. We also played with much younger kids who had been walking around. We threw a frisbee, and all though we didn't speak the same language, we were able connect with them. Then, we cleaned up and began our walk through Soweto. 

We walked to the Hector Pieterson museum. Our walk took about 15 minutes, and to be honest, I was nervous. Outside of Saint Martins, Soweto has dirt sidewalks, cement or wire fences, and barking dogs. Obviously, race has been a huge issue in Soweto's history, and being a tall white male, I knew I would stick out. But we walked with Father Bruce and our friends from St. Martin's. Along the way people were honking and waving from their cars, greeting us, and talking to us. Within five minutes, all of my original fears had vanished, and I felt as if I belonged. 

For me, the most drastic part of these two days was the Hector Pieterson Museum. It commemorated to death of a 13 year old boy in Soweto, who was protesting for equal education. The government had put into effect that all African schools would be taught in Africans, a language that is a variation of Dutch with minimal African influence. None of the Africans spoke Africans, but the teacher went on giving lessons anyway. In frustration, the students went on a peaceful march, and carried nothing but signs. Despite this, police opened fire on the protesters, and killing Hector and many others. The iconic picture is of Hector being carried away, blood dripping from his face, as his younger sister runs next to him while crying. 

What made our experience so much more tangible and real was the stories our friends told us. Along with the facts, exhibits, and videos that the museum provided, our friends from Saint Martin's were able to provide us with stories and the views of someone who lives in Soweto. While they were not alive for the protest, many of their parents were, and tell them stories and their memories. They talked about how this has shaped Soweto and their own lives. One of the people I was talking expressed his views on the current state of Soweto. He said that whites do not oppress blacks as much anymore as blacks oppress one another. He explained that their new rights and freedoms have created new opportunities, but that they are limited. He thought there was a sense of competition that only brought others down. Seeing someone else being successful does not bring joy and empathy for someone, but rather a sense of jealousy and hatred. What he told me that he believed that blacks in South Africa would not progress until they were able to overcome that. 

I understand that changing this would not fix the countries problems, and that the views of an 18 year old are not always the correct or even popular view. But that does not mean that there isn't an experience or person that hasn't shaped his views. That in itself is one of the most important things I have learned on this trip. There are so many different views in the world, and you may not relate to or even agree with them. But behind every story, there is a history, experience, or person that has shaped someone's view on the world. Sometimes, understanding where someone's views come from can be much more important and profound than the views themselves. Despite the gifts and memorabilia we will bring home, I believe that the most valuable thing I will return with are the stories of people I meet. Whether the stories be inspiring, joyful, sad, or profound, they carry the history of a person and their culture. History and experiences shape individuals that have the capability to shape cultures and our world. I have realized that coming to an understanding of South Africa can't be found through reading books, or even seeing the country with our own prejudices. Only through knowing the people and their stories will we be able to understand a culture and a country, and become more aware of the world around us. 

Abhishek's blog

JBlog 8/11/15
Waking to the crowing of a distant rooster at the crack of dawn. This was how I pictured every morning would begin throughout our stay in Sueto. To my surprise, I woke instead to the piercing ring of Michael's church bell I phone ring tone. My head throbbing from the previous late night I attempted to drift back to sleep. That is, until I noticed Father Bruce staring down at our mats looking amused by our American laziness. 

Realizing that sleep was impossible I looked around noticing that one especially excited member of our group was missing. Indeed today was Ethan Viera's big day. He was finally going to be cured of his serious, long term ailment: roller coaster withdrawals. We were going to visit an amusement park! After freshening up we sat for a scrumptious and plentiful bounty prepared by father bruce. My surprises for the day were far from over as our plans changed at the last minute. We decided instead to spend the day in a more productive manner, touring Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, and visiting the Voortrekker museum.

Our first glimpse into Pretoria was of a suburban neighborhood resembling those found in the Bay Area. It is home to the second largest concentration of foreign embassies outside Washington D.C., and we passed numerous countries' embassies with residential, homely facilities. To no one's surprise, the US embassy interrupted this sprawling neighborhood with a giant modern corporate structure covering an entire city block. Upon arriving at the Voortrecker museum, we were greeted by a grand structure with intricate artwork engraved on the vast stone edifice. Willy, our tour guide, explained the bloody history of native interactions with European colonists. It didn't take long for our group to draw parallels to our own nation's bloody past. 

At this point we were all getting hungry so willy drove us to a gas station. Assuming we had stopped for 'petrol' as willy calls it, imagine our surprise when he told us to get out for lunch. A nearby door led to an escalator which we took to a restraunt overlooking the freeway. The view through the giant glass window of the restraint was surreal as we watched vehicles hurtle towards at highway speeds and disappear below our feet.

Our return to Saint Martin was quickly followed by a friendly soccer match between us and the local St.
Martin students. In a shocking turn of events we won the game 4-2 and quickly called it quits to preserve our monumentous achievement. After another hearty meal courtest of father Bruce, we settled in for another fun-filled night, excited for adventures to come.