Update

A lot has happened since my last post. On Friday, we visited with the District Director of Education for Port Elizabeth, Dr. Ntsiko. He actually has a master's degree from Ohio State University. He welcomed us to Port Elizabeth and praised Mr. January and the teachers at Emafini. We then went to visit an ex Model C school. These were the schools that were only for white children during apartheid. Today, they are still typically the schools with greater resources whose families can afford the tuition. They are still overwhelmingly comprised of white children and the few children of color who attend come from families who can afford to send them there. After we visited the former Model C school, we went to visit some of the homes where the children from Emafini live. Their housing is inadequate, often they only have two or three rooms for the entire family. Many families pay for electricity that is illegally wired. So there is a constant threat of electrical fires. Despite their extremely impoverished circumstances, the families welcomed us into their homes.

We left the homes visits and went to Red Location Museum, a museum that tells stories of apartheid and resistance (http://www.freewebs.com/redlocationmuseum/). There, we learned about the Langa Massacre (http://nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/Content.aspx?objID=498), the murder of 20 people who were protesting apartheid on March 21, 1985. Using photo exhibits, audio, and text, the museum captures the pain and resilience of those who fought to dismantle apartheid. In so many ways, the location of the museum illustrates the contradiction of South Africa. The museum is beautifully constructed yet sits in the middle of a township marked by abject poverty. This is the reality of South Africa. After we visited Red Location museum, we had a few hours to rest and then Mr. January and some of the teachers from Emafini picked us up to go to a barbecue at Mr. January's house. It was amazing. They grilled lamb chops and chicken, made potato salad and a bean and rice dish. They played South African music and we all danced! At the end Mr. January gave a speech and asked me to say a few words. I thanked them for embracing us and making us feel at home. The Xhosa people have a collective warmth that is beautiful and incredibly welcoming. Even though we are so different in many ways, they are taking such good care of us!