I spent
most of Monday and Tuesday at home because I was sick.
On
Wednesday, I returned to work where I started a project on youth engagement.
Currently, EJN focuses mostly on civil society groups. However, they want to
start a project where they go into affluent schools and teach students about
the human rights implications of economic malpractice, illicit financial flows,
tax evasion, etc. Right now, I am making a spread sheet of different funders,
organizations, and initiative that are similar to the campaign EJN hopes to
start, who may be able to offer help or advice. The project is still in the
beginning stages so I probably won’t actually be able to go to any schools, but
it’s interesting to be looking at the logistical side of running a campaign
like that.
After class
on Thursday, I stayed at school to do some work and then went to First Thursday with
Amelia, Meg, Lily, and Colette. First Thursday is an event held by
restaurants and galleries in downtown Cape Town on the first Thursday of
every month. There’s street food and open galleries so you can browse the work
of local artists. I will most definitely be returning in April. While I
couldn’t actually afford any of the art, the experience was kind of like a
trendy outdoor museum where you could eat. Plus, it was free.
On Friday,
Alex L, Caroline, Derek and I headed to Muizenburg for a relaxing day at the
beach.
Saturday was
really busy. After a morning at Old Biscuit Mill, Meg, Lily, Amelia, Caroline,
Derek, Drew, Collette, Josh and his friend from home, Ryan, and I went hiking.
Initially, we planned to explore the caves in Table Mountain. I have learned
that many South Africans are intensely ambiguous about directions and we ended
up about 2.5 hours away from the caves. Instead, we hiked to the peak of a
ravine, where we got a beautiful view of the city. Every time I go hiking I am
reminded of how it is my favorite thing in the world. There is nothing better
than the sense of accomplishment you feel after a long hike. I always find that
the vastness of my surroundings is comforting, and almost humbling. It is a
reminder that despite how caught up I am in my own life, I am a part of
something much bigger. It’s good to be resituated like that.
I spent
most of Sunday working on a grant proposal for next fall and working
on my homework. That evening, Alex L, Molly M, and I went to Kirstenbosch
gardens for a picnic and concert. I didn’t love the opening band, A King.
However, I loved the main act, Short Straw—an indie band that was similar to
Vampire Weekend, but reminiscent of Bowling for Soup. A weird and angst-y
combination that made me nostalgic for bus rides home from track meets.
The longer
I’m here the more aware I am of race. Especially when it is predominantly
white. In class we talked about when you were first aware of race. Honestly, I
don’t think I was ever fully aware of race, in terms of it being a social construction
with such dire socioeconomic and political implications, until now. I think my
parents did, for the most part, a pretty good job of explaining that physical
appearance wasn’t an indicator of inner worth. It was almost to the point where
I couldn’t understand how racism and sexism could still exist because I didn’t
understand how anybody could ever, be it subconsciously or overtly, believe
they were better than another person and not be completely evil and in jail.
It’s weird navigating a world where you will never ever truly know the
constitution of another person’s inner dialogue.
No comments:
Post a Comment