Durban

I'm terribly claustrophobic. If we start driving soon I think I'll survive this trip. We are going to a place outside Durban called The Land of a Thousand Hills, with Utampo, the South African organization we will be doing our workshop for this morning. I have never been this tight before. I wish I could move, but I can't.

George is one of the nice guys I'm seated next to. He likes to talk but that is good because he has good things to say, unlike other people who like to talk and really have nothing important to say.

There's more space now. I'm so grateful, I'm no longer squished. I thought I was going to die. I am so happy. Thank you.

I have been through a transitional stage this whole week. I just realized that I am not always happy and that I don't have to hide this. I have been pretending for too long.

I'm not nervous about facilitating the workshops. I don't know why, but maybe when I get there I will be.

[later...]

The Human Scavenger Hunt is an icebreaker where people have to find as many people as they can who can answer the questions on their sheet. During Frozen Pictures, four groups used their bodies and froze in a position that described a theme, which today was either racism during Apartheid or racism after Apartheid ended. Then we talked about what kind of racism people see and what has and hasn't changed with the end of Apartheid.

In XYZ, we spread out in two groups. Group A was the privileged group while group B was told that they want to become part of group A. People in group B were handed pieces of paper that had letters X, Y and Z on them. When people in group B went to people in group A, the X's were automatically allowed into the group, the Y's had to negotiate their way in and the Z's were not allowed in no matter what. Afterwards, we had a discussion about how this experience relates to their life in South Africa.

The final activity was about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Participants were handed the UDHR, told to read it, and then they formed their own declaration of human rights.

Thank you Arun. Arun is part of Umtapo. I'm so happy because she just gave me a compliment that made me realize that no matter how many mistakes that I may make people will look passed it and see my efforts.

Now we are headed to see another part of Umtapo's programs, a women's center down in the valley in a rocky farming community. I am scared the van is going too fast. I can't take this. The road is too windy. The worst that can happen is that I could fall and die. Imagine I am on a cloud. I can't do it. I am still scared. This is a terrible roller coaster. We're so close to the edge. Too close. Do we ever get down? My ears popped. I'm writing this messier than Barry, so this must mean something. Get me outta here!!!

[later...]

What would it be like for you if you had to walk three hours to work or to school? Every day? Twice a day? Seven days a week?

What would you do if you heard that women with no money at all started a community center and a means to make money (with beautiful necklaces and bracelets using beads)? Well, today I met a few women who do such things. They also have a donated Coke machine (I am thirsty). I am happy for them even if their location is terrible. It is a good thing that they are doing.

Annie's Journal Traveling Day Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 - 8 Day 9 Traveling Day

Dezroy's Journal Traveling Day Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 & 5 Day 6 Day 7 - 8 Day 9 Day 10 Traveling Day