Dancing and Exercising

My time of impromptu reflecting comes after a week of Rotary Presentations. As many of you know I am here on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. Although it is for academic study, it is awarded to people committed to doing service; thus, service projects are community involvement are encouraged. Although my studies have taken a majority of my time here thus far, I have gotten out into the townships and worked with a couple of organizations: Amasango – a school for street children trying to be mainstreamed into public schools and Entembeni – a drop in centre for elderly people for food and fellowship. To the latter I have started going more and each time I am surprised by an experience of joy and I learn a few more things about the Xhosa language and culture. I started going with another American who is here on exchange for his undergraduate degree named Jeremy from Boston. Young and energetic, I think Jeremy’s example of how he has embraced his abroad experience has challenged me to get out more, experience more, and embrace the culture more. He is also super gracious and encourages me to come along whenever I can all the while teaching me the Xhosa words he has become so accustomed to using. I knew of the centre because a couple months ago a group of us visited and had lunch with the members. The lunch was good and very filling, but we didn’t get a lot of time to fellowship with the people, get to know their names or any of their live stories. Thus, I didn’t know the treat I was in for coming back. The first week we danced, the second I learned a new card game, the third we gardened and just yesterday I led exercises to 80’s pop tunes making up the moves as I went along. We even shared music as I taught them the Hokey Pokey and they taught me some cultural music and dance. Throughout the weeks we have also taken three treks out into the township area looking for beads and craft projects. During all of this I have had the opportunity to speak a little with those who understand English and learn a few words like “Molo Unjani” (Hello How Are You?) and “Enkosi” (Thank You). I even learned how to say your welcome (“wamekelekile”) which I said so often as I was serving lunch to the elders that they started teasing me and calling me “wamekelekile.” Although my language learning is going slow, the experience has taught me other things about South Africa and the townships. At one of our Rotary Presentations last week one of the members asked me the lesson I learned the most. From my experiences in Entembeni I thought of the tenacity of the people – despite difficulties, struggles, riots and frustrations experienced by the people – especially those in the townships – they keep going, keep dancing, and keep teaching… In the months to come I look forward to putting away the books and becoming their student – learning more Xhosa and sharing more. Until then…