Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Finally Some Photos
The last few days have been an incredible experience. As you will see, I spent some time with many great people in one of the camps outside of Jo'burg. It's very late so here are just a few photos of some of the people I met in the camps.
Sunday
It's been a full week since arriving to Jo'Burg and even reflecting on what we've done in the past week, I'm still speechless. The people we have encountered and the stories we've heard make you think twice about everything.
The trip to the border was a lifetime experience. I can't say the actual 7 hour bus ride was something I want to write home about but seeing the amount of goods people take back with them to sell in Zimbabwe is just astonishing. Currency in Zimbabwe is printed weekly because of the inflation. Immigrants from Zimbabwe come to South Africa with briefcases full of Zimbabwe dollars to exchange it for maybe R20. We were able to trade R6 for about 10 50 Million Zimbabwe dollar notes that expired at the end of June. We were told the highest note is 75 Billion Zimbabwe dollars.
The run-off election is supposed to take place on June 27th and ask anyone here and they will express their uncertainties that it will not happen. Mugabe has all of his bases covered to ensure he still takes the presidential position, which could lead to civil war in Zimbabwe. All of the immigrants we talked to along the border have lost hope in their country and are thankful they are trying to make ends meet in South Africa. A few we talked to said they would go back to vote but many said they would not go back to Zimbabwe unless the had to. We met a 17 year old boy who has illegally crossed over the border 3 times. Every time they arrest him and take him back he just finds another way to cross back over. He lived in the mountains for a short period of time before he crossed over the last time. This was also where he crossed the Limpopo river, which is infamous for it's crocodiles and their appetites. He now works at one of the market stands in Musina, a city just past the border where in exchange for food and shelter he helps sell food and clean up the stand. This kid looked exhausted but he's just happy he's found opportunity in South Africa. He's not worried he'll get arrested again because he'll just come back over.
Last night I got into a political debate from someone who is from Cape Town. Hearing what he thought about Zimbabwe's situation and what would happen in the future was eye-opening. It was at that moment I didn't feel like a foreigner. I felt like I was sort of a South African in living history. I hope civil war doesn't break out in Zimbabwe and I hope for the best for that country, but right now things are so shaky no one knows what could happen.
I suppose we'll have to anxiously wait until June 27th.
The trip to the border was a lifetime experience. I can't say the actual 7 hour bus ride was something I want to write home about but seeing the amount of goods people take back with them to sell in Zimbabwe is just astonishing. Currency in Zimbabwe is printed weekly because of the inflation. Immigrants from Zimbabwe come to South Africa with briefcases full of Zimbabwe dollars to exchange it for maybe R20. We were able to trade R6 for about 10 50 Million Zimbabwe dollar notes that expired at the end of June. We were told the highest note is 75 Billion Zimbabwe dollars.
The run-off election is supposed to take place on June 27th and ask anyone here and they will express their uncertainties that it will not happen. Mugabe has all of his bases covered to ensure he still takes the presidential position, which could lead to civil war in Zimbabwe. All of the immigrants we talked to along the border have lost hope in their country and are thankful they are trying to make ends meet in South Africa. A few we talked to said they would go back to vote but many said they would not go back to Zimbabwe unless the had to. We met a 17 year old boy who has illegally crossed over the border 3 times. Every time they arrest him and take him back he just finds another way to cross back over. He lived in the mountains for a short period of time before he crossed over the last time. This was also where he crossed the Limpopo river, which is infamous for it's crocodiles and their appetites. He now works at one of the market stands in Musina, a city just past the border where in exchange for food and shelter he helps sell food and clean up the stand. This kid looked exhausted but he's just happy he's found opportunity in South Africa. He's not worried he'll get arrested again because he'll just come back over.
Last night I got into a political debate from someone who is from Cape Town. Hearing what he thought about Zimbabwe's situation and what would happen in the future was eye-opening. It was at that moment I didn't feel like a foreigner. I felt like I was sort of a South African in living history. I hope civil war doesn't break out in Zimbabwe and I hope for the best for that country, but right now things are so shaky no one knows what could happen.
I suppose we'll have to anxiously wait until June 27th.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Dodgy.
WOW.
I have no words to describe what the past week here has been like. Nothing I can come up with does Jo'burg and the people here justice. Everyone we've met has been so extremely hospitable and welcoming--we were told before we left that it feels like home, and it truly does.
While we were at the Xeno Forum Tuesday night, one of our professors met Shayne Robinson, a senior photographer for The Star here in Jo'burg. He has been more than amazing to us and I'm not sure where a lot of us would be if he didn't have the sweet connections he does. Seriously. He has a contact for everything, every story we could possibly imagine. He's awesome.
Today he took myself, Kate and Jenna out to shoot a youth against drugs rally. It rained last night and he said when it rains, things usually get called off. So, we had no rally to shoot but that was no big deal. Shayne took us up to the highest point in Jo'burg where we found some pretty amazing photo opportunities. We've got some pretttyyy cool stuff planned!
I believe I've developed a British accent this trip--and am trying to get the African one down. No luck yet, but the Brit one is quite fun to break out now and then. We've been to a couple dodgy parts, but all very interesting.
A Bollywood movie is being filmed on campus, so the past couple days we've walked past the crew and mass of extras. Our goal is to creepily be in the background of every scene *DAVDIIDD WEBSTERR* (Which is comparable to High School Musical...perhaps.)
cheers, mate.
am.
I have no words to describe what the past week here has been like. Nothing I can come up with does Jo'burg and the people here justice. Everyone we've met has been so extremely hospitable and welcoming--we were told before we left that it feels like home, and it truly does.
While we were at the Xeno Forum Tuesday night, one of our professors met Shayne Robinson, a senior photographer for The Star here in Jo'burg. He has been more than amazing to us and I'm not sure where a lot of us would be if he didn't have the sweet connections he does. Seriously. He has a contact for everything, every story we could possibly imagine. He's awesome.
Today he took myself, Kate and Jenna out to shoot a youth against drugs rally. It rained last night and he said when it rains, things usually get called off. So, we had no rally to shoot but that was no big deal. Shayne took us up to the highest point in Jo'burg where we found some pretty amazing photo opportunities. We've got some pretttyyy cool stuff planned!
I believe I've developed a British accent this trip--and am trying to get the African one down. No luck yet, but the Brit one is quite fun to break out now and then. We've been to a couple dodgy parts, but all very interesting.
A Bollywood movie is being filmed on campus, so the past couple days we've walked past the crew and mass of extras. Our goal is to creepily be in the background of every scene *DAVDIIDD WEBSTERR* (Which is comparable to High School Musical...perhaps.)
cheers, mate.
am.
Friday, June 20, 2008
travel disciplines the imagination
four letters.
help. four letters which can ask for a world of things.
food.
blankets.
shelter.
aid.
four letters.
hate. a word which can represent a world of things.
anger. pain.
lack of housing.
unemployment.
loss of government grants.
Somewhere in between those eight letters and two words, here I am.
In the middle of Jo'burg South Africa trying to figure out how the two starkly different words can be so entangled in one world. Here I am, trying to figure out how to tell you why it is so important to understand both and their balance together. I'm trying to understand why one must integrate the other for a solution and why the opposite must stand in the first place.
The past few days I've spent in South Africa have felt like a century of days compiled into six. Each day I've felt inspired by my peers and the people I have been interviewing. As I grapple with questions of human interest, human dignity, origin and heritage I can hardly remember a time when I have felt more alive.
Today I went to a camp located outside of Jo'burg where internally displaced people from multiple African nations have been sent in the wake of the xenaphobic violence. Rifle Range Camp is home to more than 2,000 men, women and children. As I walked through the camp and talked to the people staying there I was overwhelmed with people asking for help.
Help from someone, anyone who would listen and do something. Help from anyone who does not hate them. I saw people today who were living with few belongings but surviving with strong words and strong hearts.
The people I met today where forced into tents by hate. Hate that is still prevelant and boiling. It is a hate I have to understand by the end of this trip. A hate I must see objectively to tell all sides of the story, so I can explain how the hate and help on both sides can be transformed into hope.
Right now my hair smells like a camp fire. The stinch is from the fires at Rifle Range. These fires burn into the night and through the day. These fires heat their bodies and their water, but not water for a warm shower. When I take a warm shower tonight the smell in my hair will be washed away. The memories of what I saw today will not.
help. four letters which can ask for a world of things.
food.
blankets.
shelter.
aid.
four letters.
hate. a word which can represent a world of things.
anger. pain.
lack of housing.
unemployment.
loss of government grants.
Somewhere in between those eight letters and two words, here I am.
In the middle of Jo'burg South Africa trying to figure out how the two starkly different words can be so entangled in one world. Here I am, trying to figure out how to tell you why it is so important to understand both and their balance together. I'm trying to understand why one must integrate the other for a solution and why the opposite must stand in the first place.
The past few days I've spent in South Africa have felt like a century of days compiled into six. Each day I've felt inspired by my peers and the people I have been interviewing. As I grapple with questions of human interest, human dignity, origin and heritage I can hardly remember a time when I have felt more alive.
Today I went to a camp located outside of Jo'burg where internally displaced people from multiple African nations have been sent in the wake of the xenaphobic violence. Rifle Range Camp is home to more than 2,000 men, women and children. As I walked through the camp and talked to the people staying there I was overwhelmed with people asking for help.
Help from someone, anyone who would listen and do something. Help from anyone who does not hate them. I saw people today who were living with few belongings but surviving with strong words and strong hearts.
The people I met today where forced into tents by hate. Hate that is still prevelant and boiling. It is a hate I have to understand by the end of this trip. A hate I must see objectively to tell all sides of the story, so I can explain how the hate and help on both sides can be transformed into hope.
Right now my hair smells like a camp fire. The stinch is from the fires at Rifle Range. These fires burn into the night and through the day. These fires heat their bodies and their water, but not water for a warm shower. When I take a warm shower tonight the smell in my hair will be washed away. The memories of what I saw today will not.
Interesting stories
Yesterday my group and I were able to go to some pretty interesting places and talked to people who had a lot to say about their situation.
One of our contacts, Eddie from the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, was able to take us to field where Zimbabweans sleep while awaiting their asylum papers. There, we heard from a man who crossed the flooded Limpopo river in order to come here and get money for his family. Another man was in South Africa after he was beaten for openly supporting the MDC in Zimbabwe. This man inspired me the most- he had been beaten for his beliefs, his arm was broken, yet his main concern was getting back to Zimbabwe to vote in the upcoming election.
We also spent some time in an old tire warehouse where a large group of Zimbabweans are staying since their houses were burnt down in the xenophobic attacks. A volunteer woman there, a South African, came to the building twice a week in order to cook for the people and pray with them. She had an interesting view on the situation, having been inspired by the Bible to help the displaced people.
Overall a great day, and it looks like we will have another today.
One of our contacts, Eddie from the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, was able to take us to field where Zimbabweans sleep while awaiting their asylum papers. There, we heard from a man who crossed the flooded Limpopo river in order to come here and get money for his family. Another man was in South Africa after he was beaten for openly supporting the MDC in Zimbabwe. This man inspired me the most- he had been beaten for his beliefs, his arm was broken, yet his main concern was getting back to Zimbabwe to vote in the upcoming election.
We also spent some time in an old tire warehouse where a large group of Zimbabweans are staying since their houses were burnt down in the xenophobic attacks. A volunteer woman there, a South African, came to the building twice a week in order to cook for the people and pray with them. She had an interesting view on the situation, having been inspired by the Bible to help the displaced people.
Overall a great day, and it looks like we will have another today.
Eddie
Today our group is heading to the market theater where there are a bunch of informal shops set up and run mostly by illegal foreigners. They're pretty used to tourists around there so Kenichi ensured me that it would be safe to have my cameras out and ready and most people will be fine with having their picture taken.
I usually keep my gear in a backpack because theft is so common here.
My group has been pretty successful thus far. Yesterday we drove to Pretoria to meet with one of Jenna's contacts, Eddie, from the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum. We assumed we'd just get some good background information and maybe some audio to use somewhere but then Charlie jumped in and asked Eddie where we could go to tell a visual story. So Eddie ended up taking us to the Home Affairs building in Pretoria. Zimbabweans literally camp out around the building, waiting for papers. There was a squatter camp across the street so we walked through there and talked with Zimbabweans. There was a group of them cooking chicken heads. One of the Wits students later told us that, if cooked just right, they're actually pretty good.
Eddie also took us to this old tire shop that was an informal home for Zimbabweans whose homes were burnt during the xenophobia attacks. We met a christian South African who, instead of getting a job, makes food and cares for the muslim Zimbabweans who live there.
We got lunch at this American restaurant that was called Ohio...well...I don't remember. But it was pretty awesome. Pretoria is different from Jo'burg. I felt more secure there. And there were a ton more Afrikaaners there. The place where we got lunch was right by the university so it's the college hangout.
I usually keep my gear in a backpack because theft is so common here.
My group has been pretty successful thus far. Yesterday we drove to Pretoria to meet with one of Jenna's contacts, Eddie, from the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum. We assumed we'd just get some good background information and maybe some audio to use somewhere but then Charlie jumped in and asked Eddie where we could go to tell a visual story. So Eddie ended up taking us to the Home Affairs building in Pretoria. Zimbabweans literally camp out around the building, waiting for papers. There was a squatter camp across the street so we walked through there and talked with Zimbabweans. There was a group of them cooking chicken heads. One of the Wits students later told us that, if cooked just right, they're actually pretty good.
Eddie also took us to this old tire shop that was an informal home for Zimbabweans whose homes were burnt during the xenophobia attacks. We met a christian South African who, instead of getting a job, makes food and cares for the muslim Zimbabweans who live there.
We got lunch at this American restaurant that was called Ohio...well...I don't remember. But it was pretty awesome. Pretoria is different from Jo'burg. I felt more secure there. And there were a ton more Afrikaaners there. The place where we got lunch was right by the university so it's the college hangout.
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