Oh, Happy Day!

Happy Martin Luther King and Inauguration day!  4 years ago, I traveled out to the mall to watch the first black president get sworn in. It was such an amazing day. Today, I stayed home - far from the cold and crowds - and watch the scene from the vantage point of the press. Personally, I thought there was too much emphasis on Michelle's fashion on the tv talk shows, which was great, but the only topic discussed prior to the inauguration. No reflection on the past four years...which, I think these type of occasions are for.  


With that said, one of the sweetest moments of today was Obama saying “I want to look out one more time because I'm not going to see this again.”  It reminds us all that we should stop and look around because we might be missing out on an important moment.  Ferris gives good advice life. Obama and I thank him

Ubuntu

I have been impacted by the power and beauty of the African cultural practice of ubuntu, which is translated: "I am what I am because of who we all are." This concept/value/code of ethics speaks about our interconnectedness, our common humanity and the responsibility to each other that flows from our deeply felt connection. I think this concept of interconnectedness is something that I have always felt and approached life. But, this concept and  approach to community is something that I have only come to truly understand while here, in Africa, especially compared to my western upbringing, which emphasized being individualistic. 

My first day of my internship, my classmate and I were asked to edit a video which starts with the Zulus saying "umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu," which means a person is a person through other persons. The video states that it is the essence of township living: sharing and caring, empowering and uplifting one another is the common trait of these communities. And this is what I saw in Guguletu and Nyanga, when I was working at my internship with Mhani Gingi.  It is humanistic way of life and I am so thankful to have experienced and understand this culture and morals (compassion, cooperation and communalism) of Ubuntu. Here are some greater people sharing the meaning of Ubuntu in the world:

‘The spirit of Ubuntu, that profound African sense that we are human only through the humanity of other human beings – is not a parochial phenomenon, but has added globally to our common search for a better world’ (Nelson Mandela, 2000)

One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity (Tutu, 2008).

 I plan to keep ubuntu in my heart and my mind from now on.

July 18th

This passage is from a recently read chapter from Long Walk to Freedom:

"But now the white man had felt the power of my punches and I could walk upright like a man, and look everyone in the eye with the dignity that comes from not having succumbed to oppression and fear. I had come of age as a freedom fighter."

My experience here has been transformative and inspirational. I feel political active again (something which died or was hindered in Washington -one would think the opposite would happen), which feels nice to be so passionate again and mentally provoked. Traveling alone has causes a lot of great self-reflection and becoming comfortable with who you are as a person. And it has concreted within me, what I know about already about myself and shown me things about myself that I had wondered about (if I was capable of doing certain things and how I would fair in new situations), which have all been positive (to me, at least). I wonder what else I will feel when I return back home to the States... but, I will let you know when that happens. 

But back to the point, today is Mandela day. I spent my 67 minutes of this day, which honors Mandela's 67 years of fighting injustice at the Siyaphila crèche in Nyanga, where we celebrated Madiba birthday. It was (also Siyaphila's 2nd birthday the day before) really great afternoon of service. The little ones had so much fun - we played with balloons, painted faces (I thought I could be, but found I was not a good face painter) and made masks for them to wear as they decorated biscuits and ate cake - and we did too. Also today, I finally visited the District 6 Museum, which was an area  in Cape Town where Colored, Indian, and African people were forcibly displaced and removed because of apartheid. It was a reminders of the sad injustices that Madiba fought against. I am so thankful for him and that he made South Africa a better place. I saw it quoted that we should be thankful for just breathing his air and I agree. I feel so lucky to be in South Africa. I hope that every day could be Mandela day. 

 

 

 

Cape Town adventure begins

Yesterday was my first full day in Cape Town. The city is just so beautiful and there are moments where I felt like I am in Europe and even New Orleans (though I never have been, besides photos). I am really excited to explore and just see much more of the city. It was a very adventurous trip out here which included almost missing my flight to Johannesburg and bags that were MIA. Luckily I got my bag and can smell nice and beautiful again! I need to figure out how to post pictures on here, esp since picnik is gone. But, I wanted to share this nice photo of the king protea (Protea cynaroides), which was in our guesthouse when we arrived. The lovely owners left us with some groceries and this beautiful flower that is also the national flower of South Africa. It can be found here in the south-western and southern areas of the Western Cape.  Apparently it represents the rich and diverse history of South Africa and the rainbow people. It is also part of what makes up the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and a Unesco World Heritage site or so, says the southafrica.info page.


Hope to post more soon, but I need to work on a paper and sleep! 

Coolest map

(Source & h/t Buzzfeed) I love maps and history, so I really love this map that features the origin of the name of every country on the map. You have to go to i.imgur.com to see it full screen and appropriately. I wish I came from the navel of the moon.

One year ago today...

...we were part of history.  It was an amazing day.

Two days later, I caught the flu. Not good...

...but, I would do it all over again especially if I have Alessandra with me.

Facinating

When I was in high school, I wanted to become a historian b/c I thought history was so cool and interesting. It's still cool and the majority of the books that I read are history books or biographies. Today's Washington Post article, "Fresh Look at Martha Washington: Less First Frump, More Foxy Lady" is fascinating. I love when 250 year old secrets become revealed. It makes me miss school and learning. Recently another friend revealed to me the theory that Lincoln might have been gay. I wonder what other 200 year old secrets will be revealed...

I still can't believe that I haven't visited Mount Vernon. I think this new article forces me to go and visit so that I can see those purple wedding shoes. Martha had good taste in shoes for the 18th century. I need to be venture out to VA to go on historic sightseeing trips. I miss learning.

amaZING!

Alessandra and I went to the Inaugural Concert and it was so much fun! Luckily, we cut and lied our way to the upper portion of the reflection pool. That's how we do it in America, lady! Thank you Alessandra for getting us to the front! Our karma was being surround by crazy old people and their obnoxious kids. But, good time had by all!

Here are a couple of my favorite picks:

I remember looking at this girl on the jumbotron. Hilarious! Wake up!!! You are missing history!!!