Day 5:
On day five we had the opportunity to visit the Thembalethu School for Special Needs Children. They initially catered only to kids with Cerebral Palsy but now they also cater to kids with physical disabilities as well like polio and scoliosis and amputees. The kids there range in grade from kindergarten to 9th grade but they can be in age up to 18 years old. Going to the classes was fun because I could tell that the teachers were able to give the kids the necessary one to one time due to the smaller class sizes. Also all of the kids looked happy and like they had everything that was necessary for their particular disability. We also got the opportunity to talk with one of the therapists that works at the school. She showed us the different technology that the school uses for the various students to teach them to use a computer and to be able to write and do assignments even if they have limited mobility. After going around to all the classrooms we also had the opportunity to listen to their choir. I was not sure what to expect at first but I was soon astounded. Their choir was amazing. Someone in my group said at one point that the people here sing just to sing. They don’t sing because they have to or to make money, they do it because they enjoy it and have a passion for it. That I think is one of the most important things for a human to find, something that they are passionate about. Whether it is singing, dancing, drawing, talking, or whatever, if you can find a passion and incorporate it into your life you will be happy.
Another thought that occurred to me after our visit is that the kids there are just like the kids back home with disabilities that I have had the privilege to speak with, they know no other life so if they are happy in this one why do others wish that they had something else. Maybe they were born without a left leg or being unable to speak but if they are happy with their life and content where they are who am I to wish that they could speak or feel pity because they will never run on two feet. Happiness is not being able to do everything under the sun. It is being loved and loving in return. It is finding a passion and holding on to it, simple as that. It is different for everyone and I will never be fully able to understand what makes others happy but I have no right to judge others based on what I think they need.
Saturday we went to the vine lands and got to visit three vineyards: Lourensford, Spier, and Solms-Delta. As we were driving to the first winery I was easily able to tell the biggest lasting effect of the apartheid reign. This area, one of the wealthiest in the Western Cape, had all of their signs in Afrikaans and is primarily populated by white people. The townships on the other hand are clearly the poorest has signs in Xhosa and almost all of the people are black or colored. The distribution of the races among the areas of Cape Town remains much the same as they were when apartheid ended. I was happy to see that Solms-Delta is working to change that though. They are working to change their ownership over to the black and colored workers who have been there for many years. They are also working to build them houses that they can call their own rather than just having houses that they rent from the vineyard.
Sunday: Simone, Riise, Catherine, Suzie and I made the decision that we wanted to go to JL Zwane for church again. We were able to take a taxi there (after a slight bit of confusion we were able to make it) in time for church. It was interesting being in a service that was almost completely in Xhosa again but the members were kind and gave us songbooks to follow along in and helped us if we were lost. It was also a sad time though because I realized that that was the last time I would potentially see some of the people in Gugulethu. One person in particular, Yandisa (who joked that he was going to marry ten of us during the week), was not happy to be saying goodbye to us. He even tried to lighten the mood by saying that he was going to continue to work on finding cattle to get us back. Unfortunately though, we did have to say good bye and leave. I hope that I can keep in touch with everyone that I met in Gugs. I grew so comfortable with them and felt so welcomed. I will miss seeing them, being able to joke with them, and having their support when I am having a hard time understanding South African culture.
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