Sunday

Woke up at about seven thirty this morning to the sound of lions roaring in the distance. An odd thing for American city-boy to hear while rolling out of bed.

Sadly, however, that would be the closest I would get to lions today, as our game drive in Sun City had to be postponed. We found ourselves getting behind this morning after a late breakfast, and it took us an indefinitely long time to clean up the kitchen. We then had to fill up the safari cruiser-- which, remarkably, gets only 2.5 kilometers per liter (Americans, that's less than six miles per gallon)-- and then clean it for the next group.

We then made the two-hour drive to Sun City, an African paradise casino-style family park in the middle of nowhere. I walked right by Gary Player's million dollar prize golf course but didn't have time (or a spare 5000 rand, which is over $600) to play. We saw some amazing experiences the students will get to have in South Africa at Sun City, most of which I will withhold my descriptions in order for students to tell their parents later.

This evening I experienced a church service which was entirely in Afrikaans. It was difficult at first, but interesting to see how some of the songs corresponded to the American melodies I know. Didn't get much out of the sermon, but I did listen intently. Amazingly, I met an American from Indiana after the service who was just as clueless as I was; turns out we both have South African connections who brought us there but neither of us understand Afrikaans. I had so missed hearing the American accent.

I wasn't able to mention it yesterday, but Saturday evening we went to a pub near our game farm to watch the most important rugby game in some time: South Africa, who is currently number one in the world, versus NewZealand, who is number two. The South Africans are named after their national animal called the Springbox (it's like deer) and the New Zealanders are called the "All Blacks" (not because of their race but because they wear all black uniforms). The electricity in the pub was as intense as any big NFL football game I have watched, and I really developed an interest in rugby; South Africa won 28-19. I would go on about rules and tries and kicks and scrums, but Americans aren't usually interested in that sort of thing.

Several things I have noticed about the South African people:
1) They care for their country and their people deeply, but there is still (much like America) a great racial divide between black and white. This is partially because of history (apartheid) but also because the blacks and whites do not interact due to language barriers. Virtually every black South African can speak English and at least understand Afrikaans, but very few of the whites ever learn the black languages, of which there are dozens.
2) South Africa has eleven official languages. Amazing.
3) These people value food much more highly than Americans. Probably because so many thousands in their country are starving. After a meal, every South African I have met makes it a point to either finish their food or find a use for it. Nothing is wasted. This morning when we were cleaning up the cabin, no one wanted the rest of the Fanta two-liter, so one of the men chugged half the thing instead of throwing it out. Also, one of the men I have met told me a story about how offended he was when he witnessed a "food fight" in America some years back. We could probably learn a lesson from the South Africans in this regard.
4) The South African press actually attempts to report on stories that are important: things like life, death, crime, poverty, and politics. They aren't as interested in sensationalist ratings-driven madness like we are in America. Probably why their front page this morning was about the slipping economy in Johannesburg while ours was about one "stupid" statement our President made during a press conference about healthcare.
5) South Africans have no idea what cold is. They put on their winter jackets and pretend to freeze to death when it gets into the 30s Farenheit. Right now is their winter, and it gets to 60 degrees in the afternoon. They still think it's cold. They're like those people in the South who complain when it gets to 50. I wish our summers were this dreadful.
6) Briaas (pronounced "brahies") are like barbeques in America, and the South Africans have them all the time. They love them. I have had three for dinner and have been here only five days. Not that I'm complaining; they're very good and tasty.
7) Most of these people have never heard of basketball.
8) Pedestrians beware. Cars have the right-of-way in South Africa, and if you do not get out of their way, you will be hit. Seriously.
9) South Africans actually call soccer "soccer." Weird, because I was positive every other country in the world called it "football." They do use the metric system, though, like every other country in the world. Oh yeah, except America. It's sad that I have to spend half my trip doing math conversions in my head to see how far we are from something or how fast we are driving.

Anyway, it was a wonderful day in South Africa. I am learning so much about these people, God, and myself, and we're putting together a great trip for our students. It is like I have been re-programmed, and much of what I have believed about life and love and this world has been turned on its head. God is here, among the poor and destitute of Africa, just as he is in the suburbs of Mason and the projects of Over the Rhine. If only we, too, could learn to live together and reach out to the desperate ones among us.

Have a wonderful evening. Until tomorrow.