This was the final week
for classes, a bittersweet ending to a valuable experience teaching at Wits. I
truly enjoyed the interaction with my colleagues and helping my students in
both formal settings and more casual interactions around campus. I feel as if I
have made an impact on my students' lives and hopefully shaped their
perspective on teaching. They handed their last second semester assignment on
Thursday and have their final research report due on 5 November…after I grade
and the enter marks I'm done!
Things are gradually
coming together as I close out the year, get ready to go home for the holidays,
and move to Rome. I was able to sell my car to one of the Fulbrighters who will
be at Wits next year and he is going to take my room in my house. I think that
he'll enjoy living off of campus, interacting with my roommates, and having
more freedom to explore the city and country. As I offer advice and insight
into my experience at Wits and in Johannesburg, I think back to January -
Mariann and I didn't have the luxury of talking to Fulbrighter because we were
the first in Johannesburg. I think back to the experiences I had, both
frustrating (e.g. registering car, speeding tickets, "Africa time")
and the exhilarating (e.g. teaching, traveling, spending time with family). I've
grown a lot and feel that I have a different perspective on the world… Not to
say that my perspective was incorrect before, I just feel that I have new insights/experiences
that have shaped my outlook.
On Thursday, Nick and
Andrew - the Fulbrighters from Bloemfontein - packed up their rental car and
drove to Johannesburg. Although they are done teaching, they are not allowed to
go back to the US, as the Fulbright contract stipulates a certain time period
on the grant. So, they decided to go to India and Nepal for two weeks. It was
great to spend time with them before the left and before we all leave South
Africa. Crazy enough, when they get back on the 9th, John will be on his way to
South Africa, I will be done at Wits and then we will travel before I leave!
On Friday, one of the
Fulbrighters from Port Elizabeth came into town and Mariann and I went out to
dinner with her in Melville. As she had never been to Johannesburg, we went to
Soweto and through the city center in the morning, meeting up with Rob and Ben
(from Pretoria). We went to the "Neighborgoods Market" which is a
local market, with local food, food shops, and artwork in an abandon parking
garage in the city. It is a really cool event - very unique and a "diamond
in the rough" so to speak, because it's not in the nicest part of town.
They had international foods - French, Italian, Mexican, German, Indian, et
cetera. We got lunch, talked, and then decided to go to the Koppies (park)
before the rain came. It was a beautiful day and we watched the storm roll in
leaving right before it started to downpour (and hail). Not too motivated to go
out to dinner, we decided to make dinner at my house and then I dropped Ben/Rob
at the train station and Alice at her B+B. It was great to spend time with the
Fulbrighters … there are not going to be too many more opportunities!
And last but not least
here is some anti-Apartheid reggae…("Joanna" =
"Johannesburg")
"Well Jo'anna she
runs a country
She runs in Durban and
the Transvaal
She makes a few of her
people happy, oh
She don't care about
the rest at all
She's got a system they
call apartheid
It keeps a brother in
a subjection
But maybe pressure can
make Jo'anna see
How everybody could a
live as one
[chorus:]
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
Hope, Jo'anna
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
'Fore the morning come
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
Hope, Jo'anna
Hope before the
morning come
I hear she make all
the golden money
To buy new weapons,
any shape of guns
While every mother in
black Soweto fears
The killing of another
son
Sneakin' across all
the neighbours' borders
Now and again having
little fun
She doesn't care if
the fun and games she play
Is dang'rous to
ev'ryone
[chorus]
She's got supporters
in high up places
Who turn their heads
to the city sun
Jo'anna give them the
fancy money
Oh to tempt anyone
who'd come
She even knows how to
swing opinion
In every magazine and
the journals
For every bad move
that this Jo'anna makes
They got a good
explanation
[chorus]
Even the preacher who
works for Jesus
The Archbishop who's a
peaceful man
Together say that the
freedom fighters
Will overcome the very
strong
I wanna know if you're
blind Jo'anna
If you wanna hear the
sound of drums
Can't you see that the
tide is turning
Oh don't make me wait
till the morning come
[chorus]
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