I've never felt so white in my life...

We've moved on from Pretoria to Soweto and what a change it's been.  A move from a rich white city to a poor black one wreaks havoc on your heart.  But I wouldn't change it.  It has been so interesting to see history from both sides in the last 2 weeks, to hear two different perspectives on the same topics, to meet people who have lived through both sides of Apartheid and to see the reverberations of such a huge part of history.

And it's true... I've never felt so white in my life.  It's actually been a little uncomfortable at times, walking through parts of Soweto in a large group of well-off white people 'gawking' at what we see.  But I'm changing as I experience this and I'm excited to see what sort of fire I come home with. 

The move from Pretoria to Soweto doesn't mean things have slowed down at all, in fact, they've gotten busier! 

We arrived in Soweto in time for church on Sunday morning, and it was so different from church back home.  And yet no different at all, just a building filled with people worshipping God.  The pastor spoke a bit louder, that's all :)  Afterwards we stayed around for a braai and to play with the kids.

playing hair dresser at church

Monday started with a tour through Soweto - it's unbelievable to think that people today, in the 2011, live in such squalid conditions.  Not all of Soweto is impovershed, a lot of work has been done since the end of Apartheid, but it still gave me a lot of food for thought.  

Kliptown

We also visited the Hector Pieterson Memorial.  On June 17, 1976 the government tried to enforce a new law whereby math and science would be taught in Afrikans.  To the black students, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.  They organized a peaceful protest, but as things go, it escalated into a violence conflict.  A small boy, Hector Pieterson, was caught in the middle and killed.  The memorial is heartbreaking, but such a tribute to a people who fought so hard to be treated like humans.  Again, South Africa is changing me, how could it not?



'To honour the youths who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy'

 The next stop of the day was much more fun: Soccer City!  I may not be the biggest soccer fan, and was no devout follower of the World Cup, but it was pretty neat to walk through the stadium.

leaders in the change room

about to charge onto the field to score the game winning goal!

group shot!  even though, technically, we weren't allowed on the pitch :)

 The next day, after a few lectures that really provided another viewpoint on apartheid, we went to the Apartheid Museum.  Incredible.  There is so much to it, so many twists and turns into darkness... And such an incredible rise out of it.

the 7 pillars of the consitution outside the museum

segregated entrance

It's been on heck of a week, and it's only halfway done!

Cheers,
Sandy