Mariko feeing more prepared to live in South Africa

I cannot believe the semester is over and that we are heading off to South Africa in less than a month. I am extremely grateful that we had the opportunity to share our thoughts and get to know each other before living together on the other side of the world.  Aside from serving as a platform to meet each other, the pre-departure class offered new perspectives to not only take with me on the upcoming adventure, but to also apply to my everyday life.

           

I didn’t know what to initially expect of the class, but imagined we would be talking about safety, reviewing South Africa’s history, and figuring out the logistics of our trip. And while we did have discussions about all the aforementioned topics, we also learned exceptionally valuable lessons about American society and how similar it is South Africa’s. The parallel between the past and present issues facing South Africa and the US is extremely visible, but only if you are willing to open your eyes and see it. Perhaps that’s the most important lesson I’ve learned in this class; we need to consciously acknowledge the injustices around us and reject the instinctual denial that allows many of us to pretend that we live in an ideal, free country. While it is easy to point fingers at South Africa for their archaic and deplorable “apartheid” policies that taint their recent past, we cannot forget where we are coming from. White privilege is not a South African phenomenon, but rather a global one. Furthermore, racism and hatred aren’t problems that belong solely to generations of the past. Just because current tensions do not fit the overt pre-Civil Rights Movement, black versus white, de jure profile, discrimination and inequality remain pervasive both systematically and individually. 

             

In addition to the planned curriculum of videos and readings, the array of current events that shook domestic and international stages stimulated a lot of open and formative conversations throughout the semester. One of the common themes of our discussions was the fear of sounding ignorant or offensive because of our opinions. I have always personally feared crossing a line or perpetuating a bias when speaking about wedge issues. However, Marita’s lessons not only encouraged us to delve into uncomfortable topics, but also taught us that shying away from such conversations is detrimental to the prospect of a progressive future. We need to hear all sides of the story, look at the bigger picture, then make an effort to not just adopt any opinion, but to work on formulating our own.

I honestly feel that the pre-departure class would benefit anyone, even those who are not going to South Africa, because it forces one to reconsider the foundations of most social tension and hatred.  With that being said, I feel much more prepared to live in South Africa and fully reflect on my future experiences having taken this class.

           

I hope everyone has an awesome holiday vacation and enjoys the last couple of weeks with their family. I can’t wait to see you all at the airport!