Today’s agenda covered several very significant things, one from South Africa’s past- the Apartheid museum- and one from its future- the nearly completed world cup stadium in Johannesburg. The day became an interesting juxtaposition of the country’s very real and imposing past, and the situation today, where South Africa has been given the honor of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, an event recognized and celebrated in every aspect of life here as we sit about a month away from the beginning of the tournament.
One thing that is important to recognize about South Africa is its love of symbolism- the Apartheid museum is no exception. The moment you walk in, you are greeted by a long reflecting pool, representing the future, and huge pillars depicting the rights dictated in the constitution, such as dignity, freedom, and responsibility. Quotes from Nelson Mandela abound, and for good reason- after walking through the temporary exhibit about his life, I felt much more connected to the story that I’m following in his book. It’s literally the words jumping off the page, giving us visual details and artifacts from the life of this incredible leader. I think I am just now beginning to grasp the gravity of Mandela’s actions and leadership for the country of South Africa, and the more I do so, the clearer the path to the ending of Apartheid becomes. I keep understanding the history in different pieces, and through different mediums and people born in different time periods- Even just today, I went from the many accounts presented by the Apartheid museum from people who lived through it to talking to a ten-year-old girl who had just recently visited the Hector Peterson Memorial and the Apartheid Museum herself.
I am continuously frustrated that I am just learning about Apartheid now, although I wasn’t alive for its reign. I think it is perhaps because I realize that my parents would have heard about it, and am feeling eager to question them on what kinds of information about it they were getting in the United States as it was happening.
Shifting gears a bit, we started off the morning with a tour of the newly minted world cup stadium. What an amazing experience! I was so impressed by the whole structure, as well as by the insider access we got- even touring the locker rooms and presidential sweet! It’s amazing to be in the mindset of analyzing the country for hints of Apartheid’s effects, yet be so immersed in situations like this where it appears that South Africa has been extremely successful, at least in some respects, at overcoming Apartheid’s economic and societal effects. The whole trip we’ve been doing jumping, from seeing the shadier parts of Soweto and the townships to being at the University just a few minutes later. The disparity is confusing, and can sometimes be frustrating. It makes it hard to summarize the country, and to tell what it’s like, but I think that that’s part of most of Africa- unique societies, economic situations, and environments all working very closely together towards functioning as one society. It’s changing how I view the continent as a whole and how I’m adjusting to dealing with these huge differences, which will hopefully become easier as the course goes on.
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