First of all for all you worried parents out there, we are in Durban, South Africa safe and sound. While recovering from jetlag, a local friend took us on a tour of the city. We went to a marketplace trying various foods which reminded some of their home, India. Yes and if you want to visualize the people here do not think of the portrayals of Africans you see Hollywood make or don’t imagine a black person making various clicking noises. Get that image out of your mind. Think of a place with a variety of people, white, black, and mixed. While there are many noticeable differences, don’t think of everything radically different from the U.S. While pumping iron at a local gym for instance, you’ll still hear some rihanna, some justin bieber, maybe some neyo in the background. Later on during the tour of the city, we saw the different industries in the area which cause pollution in area yet there still have been efforts to diminish the amount of omissions. Back at the house (where we will be living together for over a week before living with our homestay), we got schooled in the fundamentals of rugby with the hopes of seeing an actual match soon. Now we’re chillin’. Then bed. Then 10k or 5k run or walk tomorrow morning.
Parents, thank you for being brave enough to send your child to another part of the world. It has already been very rewarding.
More to come. Oh and HI MOM!! And Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there!!!
I'm smiling as I read your post. I was in Durban last year and found it a lovely city, quite energized by the then-upcoming World Cup. If you get a chance, talk to some of the local university folks. They are doing some really innovative things to try and provide higher education where demand FAR outstrips supply.
ReplyDeleteParents-- your offspring will have an amazing time in South Africa. Don't worry!