The group has had a full weekend as we prepare for our upcoming soccer camp that starts tomorrow! On arrival we unpacked and got settled before heading to the beach to start getting to know one another, have a mini orientation to the program, and begin journaling about why we’re here, what we hope to contribute and also gain during the program, and what we’re most excited about as we dive into our adventure in South Africa.
As the afternoon went on, the day turned windy and chilly in the evening but we still managed to squeeze in a trip up to Signal Hill for the “cloud set” and had some delicious hot chocolate overlooking Lions Head and Table Mountain, which frame the city of Cape Town.
We got a full night’s rest and hit the ground running this morning to learn as much as we could about South Africa’s more recent history, including apartheid, before we travel to the township of Khayelitsha tomorrow morning.
We started the day with an apartheid history walking tour that allowed us to explore the city on foot for a few hours as we continued to kick the jet lag. We walked past the former judicial court where they once assigned South African citizens their race based on a series of tests that were considered “scientific” at the time, including jumping with a pencil in your hair and personal etiquette. We learned about the historic purple rain protest and walked through a section of the previously inhabited District 6, a neighborhood that experienced forced removal and was bulldozed to prevent residents from returning, and which still sits empty today in the center of Cape Town. The group had tons of questions for our guide who grew up in Cape Town and whose family has lived here for generations.
After this, we grabbed a quick lunch and continued our group orientation at the guesthouse. We were met later in the afternoon by Altha, a local tutor who taught us some basic vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation in isiXhosa, the tribal language spoken by the students and staff in Khayelitsha. The group practiced their clicks (there are three different kinds!) and learned some basic soccer-related terminology to help us in the weeks to come. We’ll be practicing our introductions tomorrow to be ready to introduce ourselves to the students on Tuesday.
And maybe the MOST exciting piece of the day was…celebrating Thalia’s birthday! For dinner we went downtown to a tiny Ethiopian restaurant that we later found out was famous in the city for its incredible cuisine. Seating maybe 15 people at most, it was very cozy, and we huddled together on small stools and shared meals family-style in honor of Thalia. Since cake and dessert were not on the Ethiopian menu, our gracious hosts brought out a heaping pile of homemade kettle corn with a candle in it and we got to sing for Thalia in Ethiopian style. From there we enjoyed one more birthday treat of frozen yogurt before heading back to the guesthouse.
Tomorrow brings our first day in Khayelitsha where we’ll be meeting the coaches and staff at Resilient and Victorious United Women’s Football Club for the first time, and also getting a first look at the curriculum they have been developing over the past year. The camp this week will be focused on mindfulness and confidence-building with girls aged 10-14 who live in the township. We can’t wait to dive into our service work. Stay tuned!
Nisale kakuhle (nee-sah-leh kah-koo-hleh),
Anna & Community Service South Africa