Free Falling :)

"Oohhh my goodness!! Am I really doing this?! I'm gonna be okay, there will be someone attached to me, he doesn't want to die so I wont die for sure! God, I'm the closest I'll ever be to you. The closest to flying, please help me make it safely to the ground." And these were my thoughts as I was on a plane with 6 other people, including Gaby and Sam. We were skydiving. Yes, we were jumping off the plane and we were all, pretty scared indeed. I was the first one to jump. Paul, the one who jumped with me told me, "okay put your legs out, (mind you we're at 9000 ft altitude) put your head back and hold on to the straps, I'll do the rest." And so I let go.  That's always the hardest part isn't it, Letting go?  For it is the utter manifestation of rendering to the unknown-that's one aspect of it at least. Anyway, it was a free fall of perhaps 30 seconds. I was just facing down and the wind was cold and fast, I couldn't scream just breathe in through my mouth. Then the parachute came out and I was standing and seeing Cape Town, South Africa from above. That was the first thing I did as soon as I got off the ship. If you haven't sky dived yet, I definitely recommend it. It'll be an experience I will always remember.

South Africa was FUN, beautiful and definitely a place from which I learned greatly. The landscape is gorgeous. There were a lot of mountains, trees and animal life. Cape Town, South Africa is by far in looks more modernized compared to Morocco and Ghana. There is a lot more modern infrastructure found and there are various places that reminded me of Los Angeles, Brazil and Washington, DC. For example, where we ported, looked like the Santa Monica Pier, it was even fancier actually. The Ferris wheel was ritzier and the restaurants and mall there were just as nice in comparison. Going into town, it reminded me of Brazil. I saw a lot of similarities from the sidewalks to the music and shopping markets. The first night in Cape Town, I had a trip with one of my classes (World Music). We went to the houses of a couple musicians, Zami Mdingi's and Hilton (something). Although South Africa's "official" language is English because the English colonized them, throughout Africa people speak their own language, Zami for example speaks Xhosa that originates from the Zulu tribe.  Xhosa is a series of sounds composed of  “clicks” and “glocks” made for example, when you breathe in air through your teeth. The song she sang in Xhosa was very catchy and up beat. I thought it sounded like contemporary jazz, with some rap in it, which was amazing and done with such skill because of the complexity of Xhosa. We were in her home, enjoying her presence and music as well as the food her aunt had cooked for us that was very delicious indeed. Her dancing very much reminded me of Beyonce’s dance moves, but then again it is likely that Beyonce has looked towards Africa for her own dance and musical ensemble. The second house we attended was Hilton’s home. He is an admired composer and performer in South Africa. He is so skillful and plays an abundant amount of instruments; he said he lost count of how many instruments he plays. He played a series of instruments for us including the birimbao (which in South Africa has a different name), mouth bow, piano bow, cajon (Cuban instrument) and piano. I found great similarities between Brazil and South Africa. I found in Brazil a Birimbao, as well as got to know the genre of music- Bossa Nova. Hilton’s compositions I perceived integrated the birimbao as well as the Bossa Nova rhythm and beat.  Hilton told me that the birimbao comes from South Africa and of course I thought, Brazil’s musical roots, at least in Bahia where the majority of the slave trade occurred, are fundamentally African.  Hilton’s last performance was a 25-part piece he said, that described his 29 years of marriage (if I remember correctly). He played part five. I really liked this piece because even though I did not know what part five represented, I knew it was about significant moments and circumstances. He wife stood by the kitchen counter and watched him play the piece. She knew what it represented and I’m sure it was a time of sweet reminiscing.

The role of music in Africa as I witnessed more so in Ghana and Cape Town than in Morocco, is a great part of people's daily lives. I think in Cape Town specifically, it takes on a more symbolic role of Freedom and it’s also and perhaps more importantly a method of maintaining one’s history alive; one’s ancestors and traditions. Being in both of their homes was an amazing time because they shared with us their gift and virtuous profession.   Before we departed Hilton’s home, we sang “Hotel California,” good old Eagles. Watching everyone sing the song, including Hilton who played the cajon to accompany the guitar, I thought, “thousands and thousands of miles away, and yet I still feel like I am home.”

I went to a safari while in South Africa. I saw the BIG FIVE that includes: lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. Because we went to a game reserve (Aquila Game Reserve), these animals are tamed because they are fed, so they're not as "wild." But it was still a great experience to see them out and about, running around and playing with each other. It was so cold. South Africa was surprisingly very cold. It was the beginning of Spring when we arrived.

South Africa was beautiful and filled with so many things to do, which I didn't get around to do. We did a lot though, including Table Mountain, where we could see Cape Town from above as well. It was indescribable. We saw the sunset from there that day, and I have to say it is by far the most beautiful sunset I have seen yet. The ocean from above looked so still, so calm and the array of colors, which as the sun set illuminated and glistened over the ocean was simply gorgeous. I'll have a mental shot of that evening forever imprinted in my mind for sure. On one afternoon, I went to Mazoli's in the township of Guguletto, which was a super awesome and fun experience. I had the best, juiciest meat I had ever tasted in my life! The dancing was great; I learned some South African moves, and quite a workout I must say. The people were so nice, and it was great hanging out with the locals.  I also saw a lot of Caribbean and Cuban restaurants. I even went Salsa dancing one night at the Buena Vista Social Club. It was so much fun and the twist South Africans give Salsa is real cool and smooth.  Ooooo!!! I had pizza one night...OMG! It was amazing, definitely one of the best pizzas I've had in my life, lol. (I still miss dominos though!!!)  I also took a city tour one day. I rode in one of those tour buses you see in Hollywood with the open rooftop and where tourists sit at the top, yes I did that haha. I definitely felt like a tourist, but I am glad I did that because I got to see various places; spent some time at the Kristenboch Gardens...beautiful! I simply love the green, the plants, flowers and different looking trees. We chilled. I even took a nap below the shade of a tree on top of a hill. It was so amazingly relaxing. We rode along the coast, through Camps Bay, spent some time at the beach, also passed the fine winery grounds, and finally stopped at a Township- the Imizamo Yethu Township.  A township signified the segregation between whites and non-whites of a people during times of Apartheid. Non-whites were thrust into these townships with lack of infrastructure and dire conditions. I recognized the polarization between blacks and non-blacks, very apparent in the Townships. This reminded me greatly of the Favelas in Brazil. I also visited the District Six Museum—a history of a colored people displaced from their homes in the times of Apartheid. Discussions about Apartheid in Cape Town at the District Six Museum were not all that different from conversations I’ve had with professors back home about the institutional racism and segregation in the states today. There are many differences between countries in terms of ethnicity, culture and traditions but the similarities lie at the core of the socio-economic factors that facilitate poverty, crime and violence all too similar and alike all over the world, including the states. 

The last day in Cape Town I visited Robben Island, the place of Mandela's 27-year imprisonment, who after his release in 1990 became the first African President of South Africa in 1994. As I walked through the hall of prison cells, I looked into Mandela’s cell, touched the cold concrete and felt on my face the weary yet fresh air that transcended, I witnessed an ex-prisoner speak of his experience. You see, this prison was designed for political prisoners who resisted the racist laws of Apartheid. These prisoners were not waiting for freedom, they were preparing for freedom as they toiled together like slaves under the sun. As I walked back to the ferry, and walked the same route the prisoners walked upon their freedom from Robben Island in the early 1990s, I began to wonder about that feeling—freedom. It must have been a beautiful yet scary feeling. I thought, "how does one live in freedom when all one knew was hate infested separation?" "How did they cope with a new normal outside the confines of a prison cell that became home?" "How did they reconcile the past with the new in order to move forward? And how did they apply their new knowledge, theories and vocabulary to freedom and new struggle? I think Robben Island gave me time to reflect on my own notions of freedom, my aspirations, my convictions and whether or not I was preparing for a better humanity. How far will my idealist ways take me and will I be prepared for the possibilities? Robben Island was a death sentence for many, but Robben Island was also a place that bred life long leaders.  I cannot assume the gratitude or ingratitude the prisoners felt or feel today about Robben Island, but as for myself, I do know that while I walked back to the ferry, those few minutes provided me with a time of self-reflexivity as well optimism.

That last evening in Cape Town, as the ship prepared to sail once again, this time towards the island of Mauritius, we had the honor to welcome Desmond Tutu, an Anglican Bishop known for his activist ways during the years of Apartheid. I think he is to the South Africans what Monsenor Romero was and is to the Salvadoran people. Desmond Tutu gave a speech. He is a cute little man, with a great smile and powerful words. I think that more than anything his presence was hopeful and encouraging. He challenged us to dream big and to be the greatest idealists we could be.  Usually, I am scolded for being idealist, but not that evening.  That evening we were worthy of praise and he commended the idealists and challenged those who were not. He planted the idea that a better world is necessary and possible for those who never thought about it, yup, that's exactly what he did.

We've left Cape Town, and a lot was done, seen, witnessed and spoken about. You know that saying, the more you see the less you understand?  Yes that's how I felt when I left Cape Town, South Africa and Africa for that matter. I was challenged to think outside of my own understanding of things and I'm still trying to conceive certain things. Africa is now a memory, and I've been blessed in many ways through my various experiences there.  I hope to apply all I have learned thus far from these wonderful places I've visited, Morocco, Ghana and South Africa when I get back to the states. Not sure how I will do that, but somehow I know it'll help me in life and future decisions. 

I hope one day you can make it out to Africa.

Love, Jenny