Whatever You Thought About Africa, Think Again...

Before we came to Africa, we expected the city to be nicer in the sense that it would be safer. In America, we take for granted the level of safety we have even in a city as big as Austin. At orientation, Arelis showed us a picture of a girl sleeping on campus with her bag right next to her, which demonstrates how many Americans are not primarily concerned about the safety of their property or even the safety of their lives. This weekend, three students in our study abroad group almost got robbed with multiple witnesses around (two of which are in this blog group). At orientation at the University of Cape Town, several speakers informed us of the ways we must increase our awareness during our time here. This is not an awareness we would normally need to have.

We did not realize Cape Town would be so urbanized. Even in the cities we grew up in, there were not people constantly shouting in the streets like those in Cape Town. We were surprised to see the amount of traffic that exists because we expected more open, barren land than we have seen so far. Even though we knew Cape Town was a developed city, we expected wildlife such as safaris to be more accessible and common. Due to our lack of exposure to the reality of this country, we had stereotypical expectations for this area that have now been proven wrong because we have seen the development of the city.

Lastly, we never expected Cape Town to be so Americanized. We never would have imagined coming and seeing McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and so forth because we assumed everything we ate here this month would be something we had never eaten before. When we traveled to Century City to go shopping, the food court was so fancy and flashy that it looked like something you would see in Vegas. While we looked at the clothes, we expected to find more “African” or “indigenous” clothing rather than the Hollister, Guess, Express, Lucky, Forever 21 brands we can find in our own mall back home. The music we hear most often is the music we hear on the radio in America, like songs by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. Even though we stand out as foreigners, the similarities between Cape Town and America hide some of our differences.

Week 11: Disgrace By J.M Coetzee

This week I decided to read a fictional book that takes place in South Africa to get a better understanding of the culture. I simply googled 'South African novel' and the first recommended book was J.M Coetzee's novel "Disgrace". Luckily for me this book had many ties with my social service project dealing with the topic of abuse.

The book centers around a communications professor at the University of Cape Town who lost everything after having an affair. Seeking refuge, he ends up living on his daughter's farm in Eastern Cape where he adapts to a new world. During his stay he and his daughter are attacked by three "thugs", where he is violently injured and the daughter is raped. A majority of the book focuses on their reaction and their coping after the attack. As all this is happening there is a power shift in the country (the end of apartheid) that can be seen in the events that take place in the professors life and his interactions with others.

Since I was told that we will be interacting with the victims of abuse, I thought this book provided excellent insight into their lives. It gives you examples of how to and not interact with victims. For example the father really wanted to help the daughter, but his nagging for her to open up just pushed her away. The daughters attack is extremely personal to her, and has a certain way of coping with it. When interacting with the victims you have to be aware of the vulnerable state they are in, and avoid trying to understand exactly where they are coming from, because you just can't, unless you have been in the same situation. The father did the exact opposite, and ended up ruining their relationship. After reading this book I think the best way to help the victims is instead of trying to understand their situation, just be there to support them as they reenter their old lives. Even though this book had a lot going on, this insight is one good reason to read it.

Week 10: Service Learning Projects!

This past week we finally chose our service learning project that we will be participating in during our month in South Africa. I will be working with a social entrepreneurship program that uses the profits of a beaded jewelry business to support programs for young children and skills training for unemployed, previously abused and battered women. In preparation for the interaction with these women we will be interacting with while working on this project, I thought looking up articles on the extent of the problem in South Africa would be interesting. The articles I found was a report titled "90 Percent of South African Women Abused" and an article titled "South Africa Violence Against Women Rated Highest in the World". Just reading about how bad the problem of abuse is, is very eye opening. I think knowing how bad it is, really puts the motive of the organization in perspective. I look forward to working on this project, to help out on this huge problem that plagues South Africa.

Article 1:

http://www.voanews.com/content/report-90-percent-of-south-african-women-abused/1564271.html

Article 2:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/south-africa-violence-against-women_n_2837804.html

Week 9: Overall Top 10 List!

After three weeks of gathering a ton of information on South Africa, we have finally come down to an ultimate list of useful information that will prepare us for our trip. In finding this information I have learned so much about our future destination. We learned about the past, the present, and some idea of what the future will be through a variety of perspectives. In doing so, I feel as if I am going into a foreign country with a good idea of what to expect and how I should approach this new territory. This ultimate top ten list is important to not only visitor like me, but can be beneficial to everyone. The information in these resources can be related to many of the societal problems we see in the United States. Seeing the similarities and differences between how the two societies deal with the similar problems, it can hopefully spark new solutions to the problems we see. 

1.  Power and Privilege Definitions
2. Apartheid Timeline
3. Not White Enough, Not Black Enough
4. South Africa Progressive on LGBT Rights but Gays Still Battle for Social Reform
5. Cape Town: Gangs, Race and Poverty 20 years after Apartheid
6. Realizing Women's Rights in South Africa
7. Here's how South African students talk about race and gender
8. ‘Winnie’ fails to capture the essence of Mrs. Mandela: 
9. Bucket list to visiting South Africa
10. Culture in South Africa

Week 8: Top 10 List!

After looking over my peers blog post over the past 2 weeks, I have generated a list of the top 10 must read articles that I believe provides a well-rounded understanding of South Africa.

1. Power and Privilege Definitions
    A list of definitions in relation to power and privilege
2. For South Africa's Post Apartheid Generation, Discontent Grows
    Focuses on the post apartheid generation who are discontent with the lack of progress
3. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's Unsavory Next President
    An Article on the current president situation
4. The Case of the Right to Education in South Africa
    Explores the education faults in South Africa
5. Opinion: In South Africa, It's Often Said That Being Gay is a Gay Thing
    Talks about cultural identity and the LGBT community in South Africa
6. South Africa's Ticking Time Bomb
    Talks about South Africa's major problems post apartheid
7. Why is Crime an d Violence so High in South Africa?
    Talks about today's high crime rate in relation to South Africa's history
8. Realizing Women's Human Rights in South Africa
    Explores the obstacles the women of South Africa face in gaining their rights
9. Say it Loud, I'm Coloured and I'm proud
10. 9 Questions About Nelson Mandela You Were Too Embarrassed to Ask
      Some background information on Nelson Mandela and South Africa

Week 7: Peer Research

After doing a little bit of research on my own last week, my duty this week was to look at the interesting things my peers found from their own research.

One of the articles I read that was extremely helpful in getting a better understanding of the present day South Africa, was an article posted by Hashem. It focused on South Africa's present day president, Jacob Zuma. I really appreciate this article being posted, because we hadn't really covered the present day politics, and reading this motivates me to do more research on the future president election.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/19/opinion/oe-gevisser19

The second article that I read was Faith's article which focused on the progress or lack of progress since apartheid. The article gave some alarming facts that proved that there is a lot that still needs to be done to improve the lives of the people who have been oppressed for many decades.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-24/news/sns-rt-us-safrica-anc-factbre85n067-20120624_1_blacks-south-africans-african-national-congress

The third article that I found intriguing was the article posted by Larisa Manescu. It is titled "9 Questions About Nelson Mandela You Were Too Embarrassed to Ask". I really like it, because it is a very stripped down version of what we have been learning these past few weeks, but it still hits the main points. Another reason why I like this article was because it contained a different perspective of Mandela. Mandela who is usually praised for leading a peaceful revolution, was depicted as someone who encouraged violence. Not undermining any of the accomplishments of Mandela, I just find this perspective of him interesting since it goes against what we have been learning these past weeks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/12/06/9-questions-about-nelson-mandela-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/

In this blog post I am only including 3 interesting pieces of information on South Africa founded by my peers. In my next post,  I will be posting my top 10 list of other information that gives great insight of South Africa. Stay tuned! 

Week 6: South Africa Today?

In preparation for our Cape Town trip, we have been looking into the past of South Africa to get a better understanding of the new environment we are going to be exploring. We have looked at the  anti-apartheid movement and South Africa's road to equality, but as discussed in class last week, we were not able to get into depth of everyone's role in the movement and how the movement formed today's culture in South Africa. From my own research I have found out some interesting information that can help us get a rounder understanding of South Africa today and their past.

In a youtube video called " South Africa Post Apartheid Generation" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elrWczhTZBk) we get a glimpse in today's younger south african generation. It's interesting to see how the younger generation has given up on the government post apartheid, and choose to put their fate in their own hands. Instead of waiting on the government to make change in their society, they are trying to rebuild the country themselves. One person who was interviewed expresses his lack of interest in the government saying, "I've seen my grandmother vote too many times, and nothing has changed". It shows that even post apartheid there is still a lot of work to be done, despite all of the countries accomplishments.

In an article called "Effects of Apartheid on the Status of Women in South Africa", we learn how they were effected. The article gets into depth of how different groups of women were effected. Urban and Rural women were effected differently, but both faced extreme oppression during apartheid and were forced to live in "shadowed " positions. I suggest reading this article to get a better understanding of how the apartheid effected women.

Using this new found information, I look forward to seeing how the women of South Africa today are trying to expand their roles in their society as South Africa continues to reconstruct post apartheid.

Week 5: Selma and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

This week I watched two incredible movies Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom which follows the events of the anti-apartheid and selma which follows Martin Luther King Jr's leadership in the civil rights movement. These two movies were powerful and raw leaving me as one big emotional mess. 

In the past when learning about these movements via text or lectures the events that took place were always sugar coated in one way or another. To see what they had to go through angered and saddened me. It made me very uncomfortable and forced me to acknowledge that this was once people's reality at one point in time. These movies forced us to look at the real stories that took place and appreciate all that has been accomplished in the past, along with what still needs to be done. But the progress, leadership, and resilience of the people in both movies gave me hope. I really enjoyed both movies as they gave me insight and helped me see the progress that can happen as we continue to fight for equality even in the face of adversity. I am really excited to continue learning more about the history of these movements and how we can individually help in the present day with the knowledge we have gained within the past weeks.

Week 4: Two Men with the Same Agenda

Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. were two very similar men with the same agenda. They both sought to end the racial discrimination that plagued their society and they were both natural born leaders, who took on very important leadership roles when the time called. Even their plans to end racial discrimination were similar at first. They both planned to have a peaceful protest, but as time pass Mandela was forced to change his original plan when he realized that passive resistance just wasn't enough. Besides that, they both stopped at nothing until what they were fighting for was achieved. What they did, pushed for change. The quote below from King represents both men's dedication...

“No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they'd die for.”

                 

-Martin Luther King Jr.

These two men knew their purpose and why they were alive for. They had strong principles and stuck with them, throughout everything. Mandela and King sacrificed themselves for others. Their whole lives revolved around their fight for equality. I think the quote above represents both of their dedication and willingness tom make their dream of equality a reality, and they did just that. 

Today we are living in a world that King probably could not even imagine and that Mandela only dreamed of, and they helped make it happen. There is still more work to be done, but I am looking forward to be learning and seeing first hand the works of Mandela when we head to Cape, Town to see how our generation can push for change in today's society and make a difference. 

Week 3: Getting to Know South Africa

Seeing that I will be spending a month in Africa, I feel that it is necessary for me to get to know the culture and history of this foreign place. All throughout high school it was very rare that the details of Africa's history and culture were brought up. Since our primary focus was the United States history, my image of Africa stems only from what I saw on tv or online, but after reading this weeks readings, I was able to form a better image on today's South African Society. 

The readings when into depth on the history of South Africa. The way that the Natives where forced out of their homeland parallels the way Native Americans where forced into reservations in America. Plus, much like the United States, the racial segregation and discrimination played a huge role in the development of the country. Similarly minorities, particularly blacks,  had to fight for equalities and their rights, much like what happened during the Civil rights movement. To think that 87% of the land was not available to the minorities a few decades ago baffles me. What also baffles me is how recently their rights were restored. It was just 25 years ago when the apartheid policies where renounced, but in that short amount of time the country has progressed immensely.
Still, the apartheid regime has left a lasting impression on the country, creating a separation between blacks and whites. A majority of black lives live on the outskirts of cities in poverty and struggle with the high crime rates that plague the country. The separation stemming from the apartheid regime left many in despair, which leads me to my question for our guest speaker this week, David Gilmore, the Deputy Assistant Security in the Bureau of African Affairs.
 I would like to know how the United States is helping facilitate progression within the underdeveloped areas, otherwise known as townships. Specifically I would like to know if and how the United States is helping South Africa create a better security system for their citizens. I look forward to this week class to hear what Gilmore has to say and seeing what role the United States has within the progress of South Africa.

Week 2: Our Privileges

This week I was assigned two readings, "Unpacking the Knapsack of Privilege" by Peggy McIntosh and "Who Am I" by Beverly Daniel Tatum. McIntosh accounts the inequality, that is prevalent in todays society, on the innate privileges people have and are unaware of. Tatum touches on the complexity of identity and how the role the "dominate" groups effect subordinate groups when identifying themselves.
After reading both readings, I had to do a little self-reflection. Being a female hispanic, I don't have white or male privileges that put me at an advantage, yet this doesn't mean I don't have any privileges. If you think about it I have many "privileges". I contain the able-bodied privilege, christian privilege, heterosexual privilege, etc. Acknowledging these different privileges allows me to see the world from different perspectives. Knowing these privileges, allows room for change. It allows me to change the way I communicate with people and the way I think. If everyone were to acknowledge their privileges, we may be able to redesign social systems and reconstruct power systems just as McIntosh states.
Finding out that race is a modern idea, makes the idea of redesigning the social system more attainable. Since we as a society created "race", we as a society can get rid of that idea. Yes it is going to be difficult, but I believe we, as a society, can make it happen.

Week 1: Who Am I?

Hey everyone! 

My name is Connie Garza and I am a first year psychology major at the University of Texas at Austin. With God's grace I have recently been blessed with the opportunity to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, a program in which I will be able to work in service learning projects alongside local social entrepreneurs. As a student trying to switch into the school of advertising, I would like to use this opportunity to help small business reach out to broader audiences to, hopefully, become more successful within their communities. I would like to welcome you all on my journey to Africa as I learn more about Cape Town's intriguing history and culture, so stay tuned!