I went on a walk today. I walked to the local mall where I purchase my meals for the week, if I wanted to I could by clothing, jewelry, and well anything I really need. It is interesting to have a picture of a place that you will be visiting or even staying. I envisioned dirt roads, black people, and open air markets. What I see on a daily bases looks like the house that my grandparents stay at in the winter (Arizona) mines the large metal fencing with razor wire decorating the top. I watch the over sized men and model like woman make there way through the consumerism covered mall. I walk out side of the mall to find pubs, dance clubs, and restaurants. This is always full of students, at noon I will at least see 40 people drinking or drunk. Will this life style change when school starts? Will some of these strangers be my friends? In a way I hate it here. I wanted something that was not America. I wanted to experience something out of the ordinary. I wanted it to be like West Africa. But now that I am here and in the moment I think to my self and realize that West Africa is not the place for me to be, South Africa is. It fits my life style; I have what I need at my finger tips but can see the exotic life with in an hours drive.
I am here with a lot of Dutch students, and they never let me forget that I am an American. I fell that we as Americans are fucked (excuse my language, sorry mom). I am told not to speak when we talk to the police, when we go out, when we do anything. What is wrong with this picture? The first time I traveled outside of the states everyone loved me because I was an American. In only 7 years the reputation that the states had at one time is gone. I am a danger to the Dutch based off of where I am from, what my passport says, not off of what my personality is like or my beliefs on life. I wish that I was not from the states; I wish and hope for a brighter future for the citizens of the states.
I hope to be traveling to Durban for the weekend. This will be our celebration of school starting on Monday.
I am here with a lot of Dutch students, and they never let me forget that I am an American. I fell that we as Americans are fucked (excuse my language, sorry mom). I am told not to speak when we talk to the police, when we go out, when we do anything. What is wrong with this picture? The first time I traveled outside of the states everyone loved me because I was an American. In only 7 years the reputation that the states had at one time is gone. I am a danger to the Dutch based off of where I am from, what my passport says, not off of what my personality is like or my beliefs on life. I wish that I was not from the states; I wish and hope for a brighter future for the citizens of the states.
I hope to be traveling to Durban for the weekend. This will be our celebration of school starting on Monday.
posted by bella at 4:21 AM
1 Comments:
Say you're from Canada. That's the most successful thing i've found. You think 7 years is it as far as ruining the u.s. reputation? I think there's been some animosity for longer than that in south africa. I forget the historical crux of it, but i think we toppled one too many governments there.
One question i have is regarding what an econ teach told me at one time. He stated that in south africa it is against the law(?) to replace a man with a machine. Have you noticed a prevelance of human laborers in place of mechanical ones? If i am recalling correctly this was said to be strangling the south african economy.
Well, keep rocking it. Avoid politics like the plauge. And let me know how the springboks are doing this year. Rock!
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