Happy Valentine’s Day to all! I have much to share this week, but I couldn't resist posting this now!
Mira
Haley and I decided that since it’s a day of love we should pamper ourselves and get massages. We were planning to do it yesterday, but the scheduling did not work out so instead I made an appointment for a pedicure this morning at 8 a.m. for only me ... Hadn’t really planned on it but it just felt right. I got up this morning feeling guilty because I really still needed to nail down my research topic for the EcoJustice class I have this afternoon, but I figured I’d just go with it and try to make the best of everything. The morning was beautiful. It rained over night and so it was damp and cool. All the kids were walking to school and it was so peaceful. I made it to Newlands (where the Spa is) in plenty of time so I went to my new FAVORITE “Melissa’s Food Shop” for a coffee. It is a tiny place (literally 2 isles) , but it’s the closest thing to “Central Market” as far as fresh/whole food and cool atmosphere. I made a little list of things that I would come back and buy and then went for my pedicure. (Side note...Pedicures here are a little different, instead of sitting in a chair, you lay/sit on a massage table and they bring a bowl to put your feet in!) The therapist was from California! She married a South African two years ago and moved here. Believe it or not, she majored in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Organizational Psychology! (WHAT ARE THE ODDS?!) (she went to school to become a therapist here though because she is still a temporary resident and will be for the next three years) She was absolutely such a blessing to talk to. Hearing her take on things and coming from the same background, she was very honest, blunt and refreshing. All of the frustrations I have felt thus far she could relate to. She gave me tips on where to go for what things and made some really eye opening comments about life in general here. For example, yes everything is very inexpensive for the most part but you are with out a doubt getting what you pay for. To live what I would consider a comfortable lifestyle (like what we have at home) is much more expensive here. Luxury electronics, cars, petrol, even clothes/shoes really are higher priced here. We also visited about the townships and I was explaining my class and research topic to her. The TCU mission statement is “to build ethical leaders in a global community.” News flash. These people have NO idea what a global community is. Everyone is concerned about only their specific thing. Even in the grocery store you can ask a guy in produce, where the cereal is and he will not know because it’s not his job to be informed on a larger scale. That same thing happens in their homes as well. When we went to Macon Garden Village, Saturday we literally dug in the dirt to find a woman’s water meter and taught her how to check it. Knowledge is power and these people have no one teaching them. I’m still not exactly sure, what my research topic is going to be but it was so helpful to be able to think through some things this morning.
William
Crazy thing number two. So after meeting Mira, I was so amped up and I went back to Melissa’s to buy my goodies. On my walk back to main road I ran into a guy getting into his car and I said “WILLIAM?!” That’s right folks. The same man whose home I was in on Saturday in MGV. He works for the City of Cape Town and reads water meters. I was so intrigued by him on Saturday and asked about a million and one questions and had every intention of talking to him more, and there he was standing on the sidewalk!!! He asked if we had gone to tour the water facility yet and gave me his number to call him when we do go.
With my head spinning with all sorts awe and wonder as to how I had so many intentional conversations all before I’ve even been to class, I hopped on a mini bus and headed home. Like I said, I’m not sure where this whole “water research/EcoJustice” thing is headed but it’s got the potential to be really cool.
xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment