At last--on South African soil!
We spent the first day settling into our gorgeous guest house aptly called "A Room with a View". It's whimsical--a palpable page from an Anthropologie catalog, but better! So, naturally, I fell in love with it instantly.
Fueled by a decadent breakfast (not that the plane food wasn't divine) we loaded the bus and toured Soweto (South-West Townships).
Historical note: This is the site of the 1976 student-led protests against the mandate of Afrikaans instruction that ended in tragic bloodshed.
Today, despite the wealth of preconceived notions about this proud black community, our guide emphasized that its residents live well enough on a deeply African ethos: sharing.
Our passage through the 100 square kilometer township included a stop at Nelson Mandela's house, which, coincidentally (or not!) shares the same street as Desmond Tutu's abode.
After befriending some talented kids at the market (beyond impressive back flips that I wasn't quick enough to capture), we navigated the labyrinth of the Apartheid Museum. Pictures of the museum itself elicited a slap on the wrist, so I took to an adjacent field as the sun began to sink. (That's my professor atop the grasses if you can spot him!)
We're in Joburg until Friday.
Two full days of interviews and a traditional South African dinner are on tap.
My belly is looking forward to it.
Until next time!
Love from Johannesburg.
Oh thank you for such descriptive prose! It makes me feel like I am on the ground with you. "Liberation". Keep it up!
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