Sight Seeing
We have used the weekends mostly for sight-seeing and though that isn’t the main reason we traveled to South Africa, I think it is a valuable part of the experience. It has helped me understand this country better and become even more aware of the inequities I see. On Saturday, May 18th, we visited Table Mountain. We read about this site online before the trip, but I had no idea what it really was. I never could have imagined how breathtakingly beautiful a place could be. South Africa has such incredible scenery. Still, we have read so much about segregation and poverty this semester that it makes me wonder how much the African residents in the surrounding areas of Capetown actually get to enjoy it. According to our tour guide from the District Six Museum (more on this later) it isn’t much. “Black” and “Coloured” Africans often live so far away from downtown Capetown that they don’t get to visit the beaches and mountains. I have noticed that most of the sites we have visited are filled with people from all over the world, but very few have South African accents. It is an extreme privilege to have the chance to enjoy the beauty of this country, but it frustrates me to no end that many of South Africa’s own residents don’t have the same opportunities. Is this true the world over or just here because of the unique racial history in S.A.?
We also visited the most beautiful beach I have ever seen (and I have been to Honolulu, HI so that is saying a lot). It was at Camps Bay. The sand is so white and soft; it’s clean and the water is a beautiful blue-green color. I wish it was summer! At the beach, there are all sorts of people trying to sell items to the tourists, mostly art. It reminded me of the beach peddlers in Mexico. One of the men walked up to our group to show us his paintings. They were beautiful and could easily sell for over $100 each in the U.S. I decided to buy one because I couldn’t resist for 220 rand, which equates to about $24. As we were talking, I learned that he is from Malawi originally and he makes his living from selling his art. I remember someone at the IJR meeting mentioning that there are no jobs in South Africa, especially not for immigrants or refuges due to xenophobia. When someone from our group said that I could probably get the same painting for less elsewhere, it make me think. This beautiful artwork is worth nearly nothing here and I already felt like I was taking advantage by getting something so amazing for barely over $20. Beyond just that, I am privileged enough to get to spend thousands of dollars to come here. I am not sure I want to pay less. What I really want is for him to have enough money to live his life well—whatever that might mean for him. Does the small amount I gave him help? I really hope so.