My South African Adventure: a bit late- pictures from the homestay

so here are some pictures from the homestay in Ocean View the weekend of August 22-24.
So that friday i had an ethics test- so i was mentally exhausted but I'm soooo glad i continued to go as it was a weekend that i'll never forget.

After heading home from school, i went to Sarah's at the Res. and hung out there until we all met at around 530pm and loaded on to buses for the 40 minute bus ride over the mountain to Ocean View. Although the name says otherwise, Ocean View actually does not have a view of the ocean and most of the residents living here were forced to remove from Simon's Town and other beach towns during the apartheid era. We got to the high school at about 630 and met our host families. I was paired up with another CIEE student from Georgetown named Morgan. I was only really acquaintances with Morgan so it was nice to be paired up with someone new!

entrance to Ocean View High.

Although i was a bit anxious not really sure what was going to happen- we were warned that some families weren't that exciting- and it really was just a luck of the draw- margot called me friday afternoon to calm my worries & reassure me that i would have a great time & if i wasnt, not to hesitate to call her & she'd come get me. that was sooo sweet of her to offer & it really meant a lot. i've said this before, but i'll say it again- I have the BEST host family here!

So we were officially welcomed by the principle and a few other residents of Ocean View & then had dinner with our host families. My family consisted of husband and wife, Dave & Alice- such sweet people- and Alice’s half-sister, Marion & her husband Magnus. Magnus and Marion hosted another student, Lauren who I didn’t know very well so it was nice hanging out and getting to know new people.

After dinner we loaded up into Magnus & Alice’s car & headed home! Here’s a picture of us in the back or as they call it here, “the bute”… not going to lie- first time I heard Andrew & Margot calling the trunk the “bute” I couldn’t help but smile and think of Finding Nemo and the whole “I touched the BUTT!” scene. Haha

in the "bute" haha

Once we got back to the house we met 3 of Alice & Dave’s 7 kids! It is both of their 2nd marriage so there’s never a quite moment in that household with all the kids, ranging from 21-9. We stayed up until about 1030 chatting- at one point Alice was very open with sharing with us about the hard times her and David went through. She now has her own daycare, taking care of about 60 kids each day with the help of 4 family members- but she shared about how before she had her business she couldn’t afford to buy her children shoes. It was a very touching moment, as tears began to fill her eyes- but it was really eye-opening to understand where they have come from. Alice has lived in Ocean View for 40 years now- and when asked if she’d move back to Simon’s Town she said no because Ocean View is her home.

view down the street

dave & alice's house

morgan in our room!

On Saturday, Alice & Dave let Morgan and I sleep in! so we got up at around 10am and met Marion & Lauren and all headed to the mall to get breakfast. It was quite an interesting experience going somewhere public and being able to see other residents from Ocean View mixing with the better off predominately white areas- some of the looks Morgan, Lauren & I received were shocking. At one point, I overheard a white girl asking her mother how could 3 Americans be associated with 3 coloured adults. That really just shocked me- and it made me realize all the times I’ve probably thought the same thing. It’s upsetting to think that here, & back home as well, there are still stereotypes and prejudices towards those who were at one point discriminated and to some extend still are. At this point I sort of recognized how it felt to be scrutinized & judged because I was associated with a group that was different from me. And it made me feel sick just at the thought of how many times I’ve probably done the same thing- overwritten people because they were clearly not from my “area of life” and different from me. When we walked into one of the stores- I was stunned to see a security guide sort of “pipe” up when he noticed Dave, Alice & Marion walking in first. Then when he realized that Morgan, Lauren & I were with them he sort of relaxed.

So we got breakfast which took forever- I’m not going to go into that story- but our waiter- who was black- couldn’t have been more slow or as unhelpful. It almost ‘reverse racism’ as Dave-Alice-& Marion’s breakfast came first and then the waiter came around to let Morgan and I know that there was no granola for our fruit salad…. It was quite frustrating but also sort of interesting to see what it would be like if discrimination and what not was part of ur life.

After breakfast we walked around the mall and bit more & went to Pick-N-Pay- the supermarket, to buy stuff for our BBQ. It was raining and cold so we headed back to the house after that and just hung out and watched a South African movie called, “Mama Jack”- it’s basically the African version of Mrs. Doubtfire- it was cute. Then when I was about to fall asleep- Marion announced she wanted us to come with her to pick up Magnus from work. So Morgan, Lauren & I load into the car & drive along the beach to pick up Magnus. Before getting him- we stopped at a alcohol store to buy some Smirnoff Storm’s (Marion’s favorite) and then went to pick up Magnus. Magnus works in an embroidery factory & it was so nice of him to show us around & introduce us to the other ladies that work there. It seems like very tedious work that takes a lot of patience- I definitely could not work one of those machines- but Magnus was so proud of his job which was really great to see!

On our way home we stopped off at a small alcohol shop to buy Castle Beer for Magnus & Lauren and then headed back to Dave & Alice’s for a feast. HOLY COW. It was all sooo delicious! steak, chicken & sausage – lots of meat!- with veggies!!! Yum yum yum!

After dinner Marion & Magnus’s daughter, Michelle- wanted to watch Bring It On 3- so we did! Haha it was not the best movie- but it was entertaining nonetheless.

So here I need to add something in- Alice & Dave are born again Christians and don’t drink. Well they felt it was necessary to not let us drink alone- so Magnus and Dave kept leaving the room and having some “boys alcohol.” All I know is that when Bring It On 3 was over and we decided to watch High School Musical 2- Magnus couldn’t help himself and dance & sing-a-long. It was hilarious! We all had a great time hanging out and Marion, Magnus, Dave & Alice were such amazing hosts & really wanted us to feel loved & welcomed.

he was dancing & singing with Zac Efron in High School Musical 2!

michelle, marion & marion's grandson Mateo

magnus & david... im pretty sure this was right before Magnus started serenading us with "leaving on a jet plane!!!"

morgan & mateo!

After Mr. Dancing Shoes (Magnus) & crew left- Morgan and I began to watch highlights from the Olympics- and eventually decided to hit the sack.

On Sunday we were lucky to sleep in again- on Friday Dave mentioned on Sunday’s he goes to the Prison to give a bible class to inmates there- so when we woke up and we saw him in the kitchen we were quite surprised. Then he told us he had a terrible headache & was “maybe slightly hungover”. Then a couple mins. after her told us this- Magnus called saying he didn’t go into work today because he “drank too much last night.”

view from Simon's Town Museum.

So we had until 3pm on Sunday to do whatever- so Magnus, Marion & Dave took us to the Simon’s Town museum and to the old resort Magnus used to be the driver at. It’s called the Monkey Tree resort I believe and it was absolutely incredible. It was also very sobering to be walking through this gorgeous resort with people who would only imagine spending a few nights here. To the 3 of us girls, who are loving the exchange rate, it was reasonable- but in Rand its just crazy. You could tell Magnus was loved there- as all the staff members still remembered him & were coming up to us to welcome us. It really was a beautiful place.

Pool area

view from Eagle's Nestdavid & vieweagle's nest in front & from the main lodge area
Then we headed back to Dave & Alice’s for Alice’s daughters 18 birthday celebration!!!! Alice had been cooking ALL morning & we were all STARVING! It was SO delicious!

After we finished eating it was time to leave to go meet the buses- it was such a wonderful weekend- nice to just get away and relax and meet new people & experience a new way of life. And it definitely opened my eyes to problems of prejudice & stereotypes that remain as a result of apartheid. But nonetheless- it was such an amazing experience- everyone was so welcoming & can’t wait until we return. Morgan, Lauren and I are in the process of finding a weekend that we can go back and visit- Magnus said he’d come and “fetch us” and show us everything we didn’t get to see. So I’m really looking forward to seeing them again.