Miss Peterson in South Africa: 3 more days in Cape Town

View from the top of Table Mountain

I've been in Cape Town now for almost two weeks and I have been able to see much of it because of the amazing friends who have taken me around in cars as well as Kelly and her mother Cheryl who took me with them on a bus tour all around the Cape including to Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Clifton, District 6, Long Street and the Aquarium.

My time in Cape Town has been spent going to the beach, specifically Clifton (gorgeous), going out to dinner at some beautiful restaurants, traveling around town via mini bus (only R6 per trip, equivalent to less then $1 US dollars), hanging out with friends at the hostel, and trying to see as many sites as possible. As my money dwindles, my mind is increasingly thinking about home and seeing my wonderful friends (Feather, Erin, Kim & Lacie to name a few), my amazing boyfriend, Dave, his wonderful family & OF COURSE.....my fantastic parents, grandparents and brother.

I hope to go to the District 6 Museum before I leave, which tells the stories of the black people who were removed from their homes and placed in separate living areas. This is one of the areas most impacted by the apartheid and as we drove through District 6, you could see many deserted areas of grass and weeds which have never been rebuilt.

I felt intense desolation and sadness as we drove through this area. It's amazing the great lengths people will go to, to separate themselves from people who they feel are different from what they know in culture, language and skin tone. Different means to many the "unknown", territory not stepped upon. But how can someone say, "If you are different then me, you do not deserve to even have a home. Let me destroy your home and put you in another area so I don't have to even look at you."

My adventures are coming to an end, and I can't help but think about my students from the township who have NEVER seen the ocean, or lions, elephants and monkeys. South Africa is a beautiful place, but like the United States, we isolate the poor into corners and then we don't give them access to the resources and means to get back out.

I remember waving to my students from the township the last day we volunteered...they walked their separate ways to the township where we were told not to go, and we unlocked the gate to Kingswood which had barbed wire around it, and we had the key. Who knows if these students will ever have "the key"...to feel as if they are valued members in society. To feel that they are "somebody" who will contribute to the good of the nation.

The poor in the United States happens to be the minorities, and their standard of living is considered almost RICH to the poverty seen in South Africa. In South Africa, over 80% of black and coloured people make up the population, yet they account for the entire "poor" population. What it comes down to, is that race & socioeconomic status should not be so closely related. What must we do in the United States to change this? We all have an ethical obligation to try.

This is my last blog entry before I return home to the states! Only 3 more days left....I will see you all when I return. Cheers!