So.. what about Africa?...
So.. what about Africa?...
--
In my honest opinion, I had no idea why I went to Africa, South Africa that is...
I suppose it all began with a courtesy asks, from a relative, long long, long long~ away, in the galaxy call Canada... yeah... that part of the area.. Which, I had no idea what the purpose nor the intention of going into S. Africa... Basically, I was, totally blinded before the trip... All I knew was: yeah, I'm going to Africa.. don't' know why, but I'm going... I think I'm going... therefore, the trip into Africa..
S.Africa, a place I kind of knew, from a good friend of mine since elementary school; all because she immigrated and spent her adolescence there. I still have lots of letters from S.Africa somewhere in my room, those letters, barely mention the lifestyle and challenges she faced back in those years. I suppose it's different than N.America, partly due to the tension between racial groups. It's unsafe, as she once told me, thus most of the immigrants return to their homeland once they obtain the diplomat and citizenship. Also indicate that job market is sparse as well; however, S.Africa is considered the only well fit country in the entire Africa continent.. so, what about it??
Often parents around the world use "Africa", as in term like: "eat your food, there are children in Africa whom don't have anything and is suffering..."
?? Well, in reality, it's not just Africa... suffering children are all over the world, could be in metropolitan New York, or very close to you, just that, you don't care... Why should you care, it's not your issue, it's the African issue and it doesn't concerns you... right? Saving animals are more crucial than helping other human beings... 'cause.. humans are evil, animals are cute... Hello Kitty rule the world...
-- I wonder... if there ever be an African version of Hello Kitty??
Anyway, like all my previous trips to Russia, Thailand, and Cambodia, people questioned my motive and asked why I always go into weird and unsafe places.
Well, I, don't know...
Why people wish to fall in love with Paris? Why Milan is the fashion capital, Why Beijing is the living history, Why New York is the money pot?
Do we have to label each city around the world and put them into categories?? For what purpose? just to belittle others? What a waste of time and brain energy..
One should appreciate each location and culture in the world, regardless how different they are to yours, if they can survive this long, there must be something in it, don't make harsh bias toward things you never been to or seen. It's stereotypes, stereotypes are good for initial understandings, but one must always keep open mind on others' culture, religion, or belief. It's not easy, but, worth trying... also, would make yourself a lot easier in adapting to things.. whether, you like it or not... C'est la vie, mes amis.
---
So, what about S.Africa?
Once entering into the country, it felt quite modern, from the airport to the infrastructure, and to the area where we stayed in. It wasn't the Africa people thought of it, nope, it's not Lion King or Jungle Book. Yes, South Africa is different than other countries in the continent. Modern and Western to a degree that countryside feel and look just like California. The scenery is as green as it can be, mountain range as similar to Sierra mountains. And its people, ehh, ok, people are different, but wait, that's Indians I saw!!! What?? There are Indians in S.Africa??? And they work at the airport!!!
Ok, what country I entered?? Is the 24hr flight delay took me to different country???
As it turn out, Indians came to S.Africa during the 19th century's sugar plantation era, thus grow into one of the wealthy population, along with Chinese to make up 2.9% of the Asian/Indian population. S.Africa also has 5 million illegal immigrants, and its confusing racial tensions between tribes and Whites or Colored, it's just, too much info for a weeks' learning.. According to many I talked to, it's a time bomb you just don't know how or when it will trigger. Yeah, that's a huge social problem that don't have an easy solution.
So... Why am I interested in this??
Duh.. Economy and social welfare.
For a society to maintain balance and progress, a stable environment is a must.
No doubt that South Africa has rich resources and potential labor force; however, without a stable economy, it can't go very far.
If, most of the wealthy person or industry all move their wealth offshore, and kept a well escape plan, what good it does to the country where they reside? It just can't.
On top of the umbrella, there's that situation. So, what about under the umbrella?
For all the village and communities we visited, I can see the poverty and lack of material resources. To the eyes of the Westerners, the living conditions are unbearable, the hut, is the most basic structure to prevent rain and winds, water is sacred, there's no well, and I think most is collected from rains. Bathroom never existed, restroom is the camping style, in addition, there are many ill patients.
My cousin was amazed by the restroom and burst into tears when visiting villagers on the first day, seeing couple patients and their living condition. Yes, it's harsh and rough, can easily trigger one's compassion into high gear. It is injustice, it's unfair, it's inhumane, it's.. wait, this is Africa, isn't the awareness started like 50+ years ago?? How come it's still like this today???
Isn't education or AIDS awareness suppose to be well known by now? Then how come the rate is still at large? that newborn babies are infected?
What have they done in the last 50 years?? Isn't there TONS of organization "trying" to help the situation? That Doctor Without Borders visited country after countries each year?
??? puzzled at that moment, my brain just froze and observe the situation...
hmm, interesting...
And then I realize, probably, most of the villagers do own lands, it seems that way to me. I think I'm right on this, that most of the villagers do own lands, as the land is distributed by the tribal chief; therefore, even though people live in the hut, yet they do own lands. Some are having agricultural business, and some wish to turn it into bed and breakfast for tourism.
In my little mind, if you do own lands, are you still considered as poverty??
I could be bias, maybe very bias; that most people in China do not own lands, and people in Cambodia and Laos, or Thailand are in situations much worse than the communities we visited. Not to mention, some community in Hong Kong and New York aren't much better than what we seen during this trip.
Yes, for my harsh judgement, South Africans aren't poor, it's actually far from poor. It has tremendous resources and huge potentials that its residents don't know how to utilize to its maximum, all because the illusion of poverty blind a lot of people.
That, is what I felt on the first day visiting the communities. Throughout the week, each places I visited, sort of proved my initial observation. Honestly, I felt terrible about it, 'cause I was right.
Sometimes, it's difficult to see the potential and not able to tell the one in the circle, 'cause that bubble is difficult to get out of. Especially they are so proud of what they were doing, anything that's not compliment their actions will upsets them. Yet, when the vision or scope is limited or will have hurdles in the near future, and they don't sees it, it's just difficult to let them know. Might as well not say anything at all..
Since I was less informed about the trip and what it's about, I end up gave away things I never thought I would.. but, at the situation and knowing their lack of basic material goods, it's the most logical thing for me to do. If I'm well informed before the trip, I could bring more to give. I suppose the organizers are still learning, wasn't sure what reality lies at hand, and don't have a direction.
Learning that basic material goods are limited, many things we take for granted is hard to "find" in South Africa communities, it's just heartbreaking, that it's such a bipolar nation that top and buttom society are so far apart... it's sad, just sad..
It doesn't matter what and how I said it, if you weren't there, you can't sees it. Whether you feel it or not, it's also depend on the person.
My cousin and I all had mutual agreement not to take much photo on the communities, for one, we don't feel it's necessary nor crucial for it, as modern day people careless about it, therefore, no need to disturb others' happy life.
Those who care, will always care. Scenery photo it is then, as always...
Like I told many, international volunteering isn't about helping others, it's, always about helping self. It's the self reflection process, that, maybe to reshape a person, for better or worse, for richer or poor..
It's a bipolar scenario, on one hand it's poor, on other it's rich, a mix of everything, in the symbol of tai chi, one within another, and, it's normal.
Life on Earth has many forms, which version or which angle is always an art, an abstract art.
South Africa, has potentials, as well as issues, like rest of the world, just, typical...
-TT
--
In my honest opinion, I had no idea why I went to Africa, South Africa that is...
I suppose it all began with a courtesy asks, from a relative, long long, long long~ away, in the galaxy call Canada... yeah... that part of the area.. Which, I had no idea what the purpose nor the intention of going into S. Africa... Basically, I was, totally blinded before the trip... All I knew was: yeah, I'm going to Africa.. don't' know why, but I'm going... I think I'm going... therefore, the trip into Africa..
S.Africa, a place I kind of knew, from a good friend of mine since elementary school; all because she immigrated and spent her adolescence there. I still have lots of letters from S.Africa somewhere in my room, those letters, barely mention the lifestyle and challenges she faced back in those years. I suppose it's different than N.America, partly due to the tension between racial groups. It's unsafe, as she once told me, thus most of the immigrants return to their homeland once they obtain the diplomat and citizenship. Also indicate that job market is sparse as well; however, S.Africa is considered the only well fit country in the entire Africa continent.. so, what about it??
Often parents around the world use "Africa", as in term like: "eat your food, there are children in Africa whom don't have anything and is suffering..."
?? Well, in reality, it's not just Africa... suffering children are all over the world, could be in metropolitan New York, or very close to you, just that, you don't care... Why should you care, it's not your issue, it's the African issue and it doesn't concerns you... right? Saving animals are more crucial than helping other human beings... 'cause.. humans are evil, animals are cute... Hello Kitty rule the world...
-- I wonder... if there ever be an African version of Hello Kitty??
Anyway, like all my previous trips to Russia, Thailand, and Cambodia, people questioned my motive and asked why I always go into weird and unsafe places.
Well, I, don't know...
Why people wish to fall in love with Paris? Why Milan is the fashion capital, Why Beijing is the living history, Why New York is the money pot?
Do we have to label each city around the world and put them into categories?? For what purpose? just to belittle others? What a waste of time and brain energy..
One should appreciate each location and culture in the world, regardless how different they are to yours, if they can survive this long, there must be something in it, don't make harsh bias toward things you never been to or seen. It's stereotypes, stereotypes are good for initial understandings, but one must always keep open mind on others' culture, religion, or belief. It's not easy, but, worth trying... also, would make yourself a lot easier in adapting to things.. whether, you like it or not... C'est la vie, mes amis.
---
So, what about S.Africa?
Once entering into the country, it felt quite modern, from the airport to the infrastructure, and to the area where we stayed in. It wasn't the Africa people thought of it, nope, it's not Lion King or Jungle Book. Yes, South Africa is different than other countries in the continent. Modern and Western to a degree that countryside feel and look just like California. The scenery is as green as it can be, mountain range as similar to Sierra mountains. And its people, ehh, ok, people are different, but wait, that's Indians I saw!!! What?? There are Indians in S.Africa??? And they work at the airport!!!
Ok, what country I entered?? Is the 24hr flight delay took me to different country???
As it turn out, Indians came to S.Africa during the 19th century's sugar plantation era, thus grow into one of the wealthy population, along with Chinese to make up 2.9% of the Asian/Indian population. S.Africa also has 5 million illegal immigrants, and its confusing racial tensions between tribes and Whites or Colored, it's just, too much info for a weeks' learning.. According to many I talked to, it's a time bomb you just don't know how or when it will trigger. Yeah, that's a huge social problem that don't have an easy solution.
So... Why am I interested in this??
Duh.. Economy and social welfare.
For a society to maintain balance and progress, a stable environment is a must.
No doubt that South Africa has rich resources and potential labor force; however, without a stable economy, it can't go very far.
If, most of the wealthy person or industry all move their wealth offshore, and kept a well escape plan, what good it does to the country where they reside? It just can't.
On top of the umbrella, there's that situation. So, what about under the umbrella?
For all the village and communities we visited, I can see the poverty and lack of material resources. To the eyes of the Westerners, the living conditions are unbearable, the hut, is the most basic structure to prevent rain and winds, water is sacred, there's no well, and I think most is collected from rains. Bathroom never existed, restroom is the camping style, in addition, there are many ill patients.
My cousin was amazed by the restroom and burst into tears when visiting villagers on the first day, seeing couple patients and their living condition. Yes, it's harsh and rough, can easily trigger one's compassion into high gear. It is injustice, it's unfair, it's inhumane, it's.. wait, this is Africa, isn't the awareness started like 50+ years ago?? How come it's still like this today???
Isn't education or AIDS awareness suppose to be well known by now? Then how come the rate is still at large? that newborn babies are infected?
What have they done in the last 50 years?? Isn't there TONS of organization "trying" to help the situation? That Doctor Without Borders visited country after countries each year?
??? puzzled at that moment, my brain just froze and observe the situation...
hmm, interesting...
And then I realize, probably, most of the villagers do own lands, it seems that way to me. I think I'm right on this, that most of the villagers do own lands, as the land is distributed by the tribal chief; therefore, even though people live in the hut, yet they do own lands. Some are having agricultural business, and some wish to turn it into bed and breakfast for tourism.
In my little mind, if you do own lands, are you still considered as poverty??
I could be bias, maybe very bias; that most people in China do not own lands, and people in Cambodia and Laos, or Thailand are in situations much worse than the communities we visited. Not to mention, some community in Hong Kong and New York aren't much better than what we seen during this trip.
Yes, for my harsh judgement, South Africans aren't poor, it's actually far from poor. It has tremendous resources and huge potentials that its residents don't know how to utilize to its maximum, all because the illusion of poverty blind a lot of people.
That, is what I felt on the first day visiting the communities. Throughout the week, each places I visited, sort of proved my initial observation. Honestly, I felt terrible about it, 'cause I was right.
Sometimes, it's difficult to see the potential and not able to tell the one in the circle, 'cause that bubble is difficult to get out of. Especially they are so proud of what they were doing, anything that's not compliment their actions will upsets them. Yet, when the vision or scope is limited or will have hurdles in the near future, and they don't sees it, it's just difficult to let them know. Might as well not say anything at all..
Since I was less informed about the trip and what it's about, I end up gave away things I never thought I would.. but, at the situation and knowing their lack of basic material goods, it's the most logical thing for me to do. If I'm well informed before the trip, I could bring more to give. I suppose the organizers are still learning, wasn't sure what reality lies at hand, and don't have a direction.
Learning that basic material goods are limited, many things we take for granted is hard to "find" in South Africa communities, it's just heartbreaking, that it's such a bipolar nation that top and buttom society are so far apart... it's sad, just sad..
It doesn't matter what and how I said it, if you weren't there, you can't sees it. Whether you feel it or not, it's also depend on the person.
My cousin and I all had mutual agreement not to take much photo on the communities, for one, we don't feel it's necessary nor crucial for it, as modern day people careless about it, therefore, no need to disturb others' happy life.
Those who care, will always care. Scenery photo it is then, as always...
Like I told many, international volunteering isn't about helping others, it's, always about helping self. It's the self reflection process, that, maybe to reshape a person, for better or worse, for richer or poor..
It's a bipolar scenario, on one hand it's poor, on other it's rich, a mix of everything, in the symbol of tai chi, one within another, and, it's normal.
Life on Earth has many forms, which version or which angle is always an art, an abstract art.
South Africa, has potentials, as well as issues, like rest of the world, just, typical...
-TT
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