“How About This Weather Hey...”

So, a lot of my impressions and experiences of DC are grand and great. But a lot of it too, the stuff it is impossible to convey when someone asks “How was DC?”, is relatively minor. The temperatures were incredible. Not the temperature so much as humidity. Food is convenient. In Downtown DC where I was working (it’s more or less like the Sandton of DC) every second door is a food shop. From high end, 4 star places I imagine World Bank executives frequent to low end, fast food joints interns like myself frequented getting lunch is as easy as taking a few steps out of your office building. In the same way iPhone was the device of choice for 90% of the people I saw, so too is Starbucks the overwhelming favourite – IT’S EVERYWHERE. If I had some spare change I would certainly look into opening one up in the downtown area. I guess that is the difference between a “developed” and “developing” country – the seemingly small things. The convenience of the metro system and accessibility to choice (not convinced this is necessarily the sort of “development” worth emulating) are the sorts of things that by the end of my 6 weeks I had taken as given and necessary.

The level of poverty is something I also found rather strange. On the one hand, I found the average beggar on the street to be far better off than the average beggar in Johannesburg. When it was hot some of the homeless had bottles of water, in the late afternoon I would walk toward SAWIP offices from the USADF and I would walk past beggars eating McDonalds meal. This past weekend Camille and I had a discussion on this and she remarked, “I thought poverty was poverty no matter where you went. That all changed the day that guy didn’t take my sandwich.” I laughed. I remembered the day she was talking about: a few members of the team had gone to Chipotle for a taste of the much raved about Mexican. We struggled our way through the “infant” (Elroy’s description) sized Burritos but most of us failed to finish so we took doggy bags. We walked past a homeless man and Camille offered her leftover, “Nah, I’m good – I don’t want that!” he replied. That was without a doubt the first time we had been declined in such a way. We chuckled to each other, shocked, in a “We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto” sort of way.

As much as DC poverty is not South African informal settlement poverty, it still exists. On our last night we visited the White House. I was taken aback at how many destitute people sleep on benches within what has to be viewing distance from a national and international centre of power. It was rather metaphoric. While marvelling at the iconic building – mesmerized and pinching myself that it was right in front of me, that I had just experienced everything I had experienced, that it was real and not a dream – behind me was another reality. I guess that’s how DC was in a nutshell: A chance to examine the ideal (a reality for some), all the while conscious of the immediacy of others, less fortunate, reality. It was, as any travel is, a chance to broaden my perspective of the USA, SA and (because of the global nature of DC) the world.

Americans know how to Ubuntu.

We (non-Americans) are often times led to understand Americans as self-interested bordering on selfish. It would seem capitalistic principles and the “pull yourself up from your bootstraps” attitude that underlies American society is all that informs social relations. My experience was quite to the contrary. On one afternoon the team took time off from our internships and attended the Points of Light conference. The conference is the biggest of its kind in the world: a conference dedicated solely to community service and the spirit of volunteerism. Thousands of people gathered from all across America to share experiences and inspiration about giving back. The conference itself was impressive (at least the afternoon sessions we attended): Donna Brazile was the MC, speakers included Karl Rove and J.R. Martinez, and the plenary was as glitzy as what I imagine a national convention to be like.

More than the Points of Light conference I found everyday Americans to be helpful, giving and highly aware that there exists a duty for every person to treat others according the Golden Rule. Every time I asked a stranger for directions (which ranged between once a day to once every block) they would not hesitate to explain how to get to my destination in detail (as opposed to simply pointing in the general direction – what I’m more used to). When they were a little unsure of exact street names or number of blocks they stopped dead in their tracks, dropped their bags and whipped out their iPhones (aside: witnessing how many people had iPhones it was not hard to understand Apple stock prices – EVERYONE HAS ONE!). One particular evening while wandering around DuPont I asked a group of people walking in the opposite to the one I was moving for directions. It turns out the exact spot we were at when I asked them was an intersection of what seemed like 15 different streets including a couple of the dreaded “diagonals”. One of the girls in the group gave me what she thought were the correct directions. After I’d walked a few blocks the girl sprinted back, iPhone in hand, and apologised profusely to giving incorrect directions. Pardon my shoddy story telling skills but it really took me a back that after giving directions and not being sure, she Google-Mapped the address and sprinted after me to ensure I got to my destination. This story is similar to the one I shared in an earlier blog about an evening the team was running through the streets of NYC in search of Times Square when a friendly New Yorker offered me his umbrella despite his need for it being greater than mine.

On almost every street corner in downtown DC there are a group of young people getting petition signatures or fundraising for some or other cause – the situation of refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, USA inner city education or lack of clean drinking water in Zambia. Would you or do you find the same in South Africa? It goes without saying that there are people working exceptionally hard to fight similar or equally important causes in South Africa. Perhaps their methods are more effective than college kids in the centre of DC. Perhaps not. What I took from this was the same sense of duty, volunteerism that was being praised at the Points Of Light Conference. This is a spirit that can be encouraged in our own country (if not encouraged then at least recognized more publicly).

It cannot be said enough times – the generosity and graceful hosting by not only the host parents but also board members really changed what I thought I knew about the way things are done across the pond.

A few team members have already mentioned how difficult this question is to handle. All at once you’re called upon to detail 6 weeks in a few sentences. Sigh. It is impossible. Even if time wasn’t an issue there would still be the challenge of finding the correct adjectives because ‘Awesome!’ and ‘Amazing!’ really don’t do the experience justice. So, I’ve decided to tackle the question head on and attempt to detail (more like outline) the most outstanding highlights of the journey.

“If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.”

We saw this slightly kitsch phrase on our way out of OR Tambo airport, an advert for a big company. We chuckled and mocked the sheer cheesiness of it. Like all things cheesy though, it struck a nerve within most and perhaps we were too embarrassed to admit its truth. Firstly, the DC trip was not like other people’s trips to DC. It could not be replicated by one or even a few of us. One of the best things about the experience was the fact that it was shared. When happiness is divided it multiplies. Simply having friends around to share in the admiration of New York skyline or gawk at the White House made the experience all the better. Having people around to have post-discussion discussions was a good release and insight to not only how others view things but also how I receive things.

On another level, it was simply nice to bump into familiar faces on the Metro and in the street. DC isn’t the biggest city but it was made even less intimidating and homesickness was kept at bay because I was guaranteed to see a team mate (or WIP or NSL team member) on the way to work/a SAWIP event/intern happy hour.

Professional exposure

It really was a critical component to the whole experience. I was lucky to be placed at the US African Development Foundation. It was my first internship and first real exposure to a 9-5. Wow. My experience was a complete 180 degree shift from 1^st year lectures which I often (not too often *cough cough*) took as optional. My daily routine consisted of waking at 7 to leave for the Metro by 8:30 to be at work by 9:30.

It wasn’t an internship in the sense of doing photocopying and coffee runs. I was assigned to do research on Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative ‘Washington Fellowship’ (http://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/washington-fellows). The ADF is one of the parties involved in the Fellowship, and my “job description” was to research how the Foundation could best set up inclusive selection criteria, mentorship program and a vibrant alumni network all the while with a focus on ADF’s strategic interest – economic empowerment of marginalized communities. It seems slightly inappropriate to use this phrase when describing work but I’m going to use it anyway – I had a WHALE of a time! Firstly, I found my “assignment” to be of great personal interest: I am a young African on a program much like what one would expect the Washington Fellowship to be like, and I’d hope in the future to be involved with the Washington Fellowship. Secondly, the staff at the ADF were extremely welcoming, friendly and helpful. From the friendly, elderly doorman who greeted me every-single-time I entered the building (even if it happened to be 5 times within the space of an hour) with a friendly, “Hi, how ya doin’ miss!?” or “Looks like its gonna rain laytuh!?” and my favourite of all time “Happy Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday!” etc. (as if everyday itself was worth celebrating in and of itself). My supervisor, Michele, went out of her way to ensure I understood my tasks and how to go about executing them. Also, it was arranged that on some days I would have one on one lunch with members of the staff. Each of them has their own interesting views and personal interest areas but all with the same bubbly, open demeanours. They were honest in discussing the work they do and where there is room for improvement. I appreciated this honesty greatly.

Before I arrived I had imagined all sorts of scenarios for how the world of work would be. In all variations and possible scenarios I’d imagined the world of work involved people at least 30 years my senior, who were set in their ways and unwilling to hear the opinion of an inexperienced 20-something (dark, I know, blame it on too much ‘The Devil Wears Prada’). The reality of my work exposure was that age was no big deal. Most of the PAs (Program Assistants) were in their 20s and 30s, and although they were younger I never got the sense of a great age-based hierarchy. It was rather a case of well experienced versus less experienced. This was one of the cool personal lessons I took from the exposure and the trip in general – age doesn’t automatically diminish the value of your contribution.

The following is a speech that was given at the SAWIP 2013 Farewell Reception at Hogan Lovells on July 19 2013.

Two score years ago in this very city not far from where we’re gathered this evening, thousands gathered from every corner of this vast nation as a show of solidarity with the struggle for civil rights. Six weeks ago, in this very city I received an email. It was from the SAWIP management team. “We would like you to speak on your South African story, SAWIP journey and take away lessons from the DC experience.” Like many young South Africans my South African story is a sticky point – what is my South African story? Will it be what people want to hear? Should I add some spice and divulge intimate experiences for the sake of dramatic effect? Unlike Elroy, I didn’t study drama and for both your sake and mine I will refrain from doing my Halle Berry impersonation this evening.

My name is Lwamba Chisaka. I was born in Swaziland and raised in South Africa by Zambian parents. I could speak about how my life has been different and about how my story is not the typical South African story. But I would be lying. For the truth is there is no typical South African story. The experiences of a diverse nation such as ours cannot be summarized, typified or simplistically conveyed in a matter of minutes. My roommate for the summer was Rachel: a feisty, Irish, gal on the Washington Ireland Program (WIP). In one exchange she was able to summarize the conflict in Ireland. On numerous occasions throughout our stay at the Schwartz’s she would turn to me and say, “I still don’t know what the South African conflict is!” Other members of the WIP class would say, “I still don’t know what the South African accent is!” The truth is, at least my truth is the South African identity is our conflict.

“It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” I had always thought this but it’s hard to keep the faith that you are not defined by irrelevant characteristics when you reside in small college campuses and small towns such as the ones I was raised in, and even more so the one I attend college in today. In the United States people ask what my name is. Then, they ask where I am from. And then, depending on who they are they ask either what my interest area is or what my pet giraffe looks like. The point is they don’t ask me, like most people in South Africa do, where I’m really from. My identity as a South African is not questioned. Neither is my identity tied to my nationality at all. In DC it has been incredibly refreshing to witness for the first time what I always knew in my heart to be true: it is possible to make connections with people based only on your shared interests. I have appreciated conversations and had more in common with people the world might superficially consider my opposite.

The experience of South Africa and the United States are much the same and during my time here I have found myself constantly comparing the two. On the issue of national identity I think the 20-something South Africa could take some notes from old Uncle Sam. Two moments that stand out for me during my summer in DC are the singing of 'The Star Spangled Banner’ at the Washington Nationals baseball game and the 4^th July Fireworks. On both occasions I found myself inspired and even a little jealous of the unity of this nation. I was taken aback by how power a national identity can be. Powerful enough to make me (an emotional island as was recently remarked by a team mate) get butterflies in my stomach, goose bumps on my arms and tears in my eyes. Should South Africa work toward this? How does South Africa work toward this? These are questions I will take back with me. I believe that in many ways it is out of this shared identity that a culture of service and leadership flows, a culture exemplified by the SAWIP organization. I have a dream that our nation will rise up as well, and live out the true meaning of its creed – united in diversity.

It would be impossible for me to sit down without making explicit reference to the events that happened 50 years ago. As far as speech titles go, ‘I have A Dream’ is rather misleading. It makes it easy to remember the speech as a passive description of hopes and dreams for a country when in fact it was a call to action, a reminder of the gap between reality and ideals. On the fierce urgency of now Dr King said, “this is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.” I say this to you my team mates and friends, to you who feel as though your time and the baton have passed, to you who are satisfied you are doing enough and those of you who like me, are not satisfied you are doing enough: “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.”

If we are to continue the legacy of our founding father Nelson Mandela, we have to recognize the responsibility we have to build our nation. 1994 was not the end, it was the beginning. Institutionalized discrimination is not over as long as children attend mud schools, and the illiterate don’t have access to courts and young people are not given the opportunity to get or create employment, and it is certainly not over as long as achieving the good life comes down to luck, location or money. Institutionalized discrimination is alive and well and it is for us to dream big as Martin Luther King Jr. Did. It is for us to make the correct and tough decisions as Lincoln did. It is for us to never lose faith in the political system upon which our democracy is built as President Obama has. “It would be fatal,” Mr King said, “for our nation to overlook the urgency of now.”

SAWIP has created within me a heightened sense of urgency to pursue solutions our country and continent need so badly. I am deeply grateful to SAWIP for the opportunity it has afforded me to think about and explore these issues. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I Have a Dream - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

It is undeniable that Nelson Mandela has played an immeasurable role in shaping the direction of our country, continent and world. There has been an increasing criticism of the idolization of one leader at the expense of those around and behind him. I can’t and won’t speak on this. Not because I don’t think that other people were equally or more instrumental but because as I mentioned in a previous blog I find it overwhelming to articulate myself when things get large.

During the past few weeks as his health has begun to fail him I have found myself realizing just how much I admire, respect and love all he has done. Everyone has different things which stand out for them as his greatest attributes so I thought I would share just a few of mine.

Firstly, I admire his ability to forgive. Much has been said about the exceptional way he was able to ‘rise above’ his oppressors and never harbor any grudges towards those who treated him so. In my mundane, daily life it is a constant struggle to learn how to forgive others for their shortcomings and in their mistreatment of me. It is probably even incorrect to label what Mandela felt as forgiveness. It was, in my observation, the understanding that forgiveness and reconciliation was the quickest and safest path to achieving the end goals of the struggle. How big a person must one be to set aside their personal/group interests for the sake of creating an inclusion nation? The superhuman selflessness was demonstrated again when Mandela served his two terms as promised and made way for others. South Africa is often said to be an exceptional country not only within Africa but globally, most especially for the way it transitioned from one of the most oppressive and discriminatory states to being at the forefront of constitutional democracy. The praise really belongs to Mandela and leaders like Mandela who were able to prioritize the good of a nation above their personal interests.

Secondly, I admire Mr. Mandela’s dignity, poise, charm and grace. All of these words are similar but each one says something the other doesn’t quite capture. Mandela’s friendship with his guards on Roben Island is well documented. On that unlikely friendship many of them remark on how impossible they found it to be anything but courteous and respectful to a man who treated them as such and who, naturally commanded respect. When interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour ex-President De Klerk said he was struck by how tall Madiba was, how he carried himself (straight back with the best posture) and the aura that surrounded him. For someone who had been in prison for as long as he had to be steadfast in the conviction that what he was fighting for was morally correct and achievable at all costs he shamed his oppressors by never surrendering his dignity. For this I admire him. South Africans are increasingly humble about their country and at times conservative with their optimism, and yet even during the darkest of days he was able to maintain poise about the future of the country. In his first interview when asked about whether the vote should be given to all South Africans Mandela replied that education levels have nothing whatsoever to do with granting people their right to vote. I hope that it is in the same spirit I think people now should continue the fight for socio-economic rights to adequate education, health, housing etc.

Thirdly, I admire his humility. From even before he was released from prison Mandela was the icon attached to the anti-Apartheid struggle. Despite being given superhuman status of being a living legend Mandela never grew, as some would (and have), arrogant or complacent. If anything and by all accounts he became even more humble as he retreated from public life and formal politics of the country. He used his platform to start organizations that would ensure his interests would continue to be served. Whatever platform he was given to speak or attach his name to was used to benefit those in need. I admire that when all was said and done he chose to stay in the humble village he grew up in. I admire his simple outlook on life.

There is so much to be said about Mandela the man and all that he represents. I look forward to hearing what it is about him that other people admire.

"Moral Imagination: The humility to see the world as it is, and the audacity to imagine the world as it could be." - Acumen

Being finicky about words doesn’t win you very many friends. In the midst of a heated discussion, or any discussion for that matter one of the worst things you can do is raise the issue of semantics. And if you are so brave chances are you'll be met with one of my favourite conversation enders, "Ah yes, but see now you're talking semantics". As if the issues are seperate from the semantics.

Before the team made the trip to DC we received advice from several different people including alumni and American exchange students. Without exception all of different people who advised us on how best to navigate American society mentioned race. In South Africa the issue of race is discussed openly and there is even, one might say, an eagerness to work through the issues quite publicly. As a result of where we are in our history (having only ended institutional racism around the time of our teams birth dates) there is a particular frankness with which we discuss things which for outsiders can seem blunt. We were encouraged to think twice before diving into such sticky topics of conversation with people with whom we are not familiar.

A few weeks ago a few members of the SAWIP 2013 team met at a host families house for an informal evening of drinks. The issue of race came up (surprise surprise). We had a very interesting discussion about the use of ‘Black’ versus ‘African American’, ‘Caucasian’ versus ‘white’ and the difference between South African and American uses of the word ‘Coloured’ (or ‘Colored’ in the American case). We concluded the conversation with no real conclusion. In my estimation, most people had contradictory views on the semantics of race. Much of what we feel and think about the issue is rationally irrational, and therefore contradictory at times. Contradictions are a difficult but perhaps the most interesting and important aspect of many issues (our group discussions on international relations and international trade are testament to this).

In some form or another I believe all interesting conversation and thought to be had is underlay by a semantic tension. With a lot of the development work I’ve been exposed to in my workplace as well as the SAWIP discussion we’ve been having the term “grass roots” is used often. For some reason this term worries me deeply. Grass roots are invisible, subterranean and are relatively at a lower level to absolutely everything. As I stated in the beginning of the post semantics always seem petty, but for me words are not objective but rather they carry as much weight and meaning as you choose to attach to them. That is why we might not hesitate using the term ‘Coloured’, ‘White’ or ‘Black’ in South Africa but we understand that given America’s history other terms are more sensitive.

Another issue of semantics that has stood out since being in the USA is ‘Africa’. For starters it seems for a worrying number of non-Africans I’ve encountered they can speak of ‘Africa’ as a uniform, single entity. During our free time the team spent some time in NYC’s trendy Meatpacking District. One of the gentlemen we met (who appeared otherwise educated) enquired, earnestly, whether the government – singular – in Africa steals all of the gold and prevents the development of infrastructure. While other people might have been concerned about his sweeping generalizations about corruption/development what I found most worrying is his understanding Africa to be a country. And so, while it may only be semantics, I have chosen to speak only of South Africa (or any other individual country) and make explicit reference to the fact that Africa is the continent not a country. This is not to mention the distinction most people (including governments) make between ‘Sub-Saharan’ Africa and ‘Middle East’ Africa (another blog another day).

At the end of all of this I suppose the point I wish to make is simply that the words we choose to use or not use reflect far more than a superficial preference, but rather a way of looking at the world that can be a (or thee) source of conflict.

Since arriving in DC I have become more accustomed to the DC way. I’m by no means a pro at it. Like sports armchair critics I know what needs to be done to win the game I’m still working on learning how to do it myself.

For starters, there’s the dress code. Nothing too bright or too tight or too flashy. Anything along the spectrum between Vogue prep and tweed clad science professor should do the trick. Exceptions are made for travel and when it becomes totally acceptable to ride the metro in a full suit with running shoes, flip flops or Crocs.

Then there’s the introductions. Six words: BUSINESS CARDS! BUSINESS CARDS! BUSINESS CARDS! Don’t even bother coming to DC if you don’t have a stack of these bad boys. A business card is to a DC professional what an ID is to a bouncer. You’re not in until it’s produced. A firm handshake (which isn’t particularly a DC thing because honestly nobody likes a limp handshake) is preferable.

Conversations must be upfront and direct re: everything even and perhaps more so with strangers: Tell them what you are doing at XYZ event, ask other people what they are doing at XYZ event, who invited you, where you work, always discuss how your careers might intersect in the future and so you should definitely put each other into contact with each other’s contacts. It goes without saying the average District of Columbian is fairly up to date with current affairs. The DC way is knowing enough about the political, legal and economic issues of the day to hold a conversation.

As it goes with any major city (we experienced this to a greater extent in NYC this past weekend): keep it moving. Whether you are walking in the Metro station, on the sidewalk, in the breakfast queue at Starbucks, in lunch queue at Subway, in the restroom queue at a club… KEEP IT MOVING! Time is money and nobody likes to be late because the international intern is having trouble trying to figure out which direction North is. Know what you’re going to order before you get to the front counter in order to avoid death stares (I learnt this the really, really hard way).

As much as you are upfront be charming and friendly, this is after all Schmoozville: where politicking and networking collide. Discuss serious issues with just enough wit and humour that you don’t become “the-girl-who-wont-stop-talking-about-drones-while-everyone-is-trying-to-have-a-relaxing-barbecue”.

Never forget names, faces & positions. Nothing is more embarrassing than re-introducing yourself only for an Ambassador or senior businessperson to say, “Um, we just met 5 minutes ago.” I’m still struggling with this one. None of the psychological tricks seem to work and I find myself forgetting names daily. I am getting slightly better at it and have made it my mission to leave DC a name/face remembering machine.

The DC way as far as weather goes most days is: Externally - tropical humidity meets desert heat and Internally – the general understanding is that buildings and homes balance the external heat by having sub-zero Air conditioning.

The DC way intrigues me no end and is even better live and direct than it appears in movies and series.

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” is what everyone always says. As it stands I am about as removed from farming as can be – farming metaphors might as well be instructions on how to build a spaceship. When I was accepted into the SAWIP program I was simply grateful to continue interacting with like-minded students, become more deeply involved in service and learn from the incredible experiences the program offers. When I was informed I’d be doing my work experience with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) I was, similarly, grateful for the opportunity to work in a US government agency that does work so closely related to my interest areas. We are more or less at the half way mark of our stay in DC and I have to say I have not been disappointed. Thus far I have been doing preliminary research and getting to know what and how exactly the Foundation does what it does.

The genuine interest in Africans that staff members take took me slightly aback. My intern supervisor has been great in setting up meetings with individual staff members. Every day I have either a meeting or a “brown bag lunch” (only just learnt the phrase – you each bring your own lunch and have a meeting in the conference room) with someone in the office. All of the staff I’ve met thus far have such a detailed knowledge of marginalized communities all across Africa. Where I might hesitate in giving names to all 50-something countries on the map, they are concerned with the intricate details of communities many governments would prefer to forget.

The huge influence American politics and culture have in my life (Exhibit A: Apple products, Obama, NBA, Hip Hop, reality TV, McDonalds Spicy Chicken Burger Deluxe and so on and so forth) together with the knowledge that across the Atlantic the reverse is not happening (i.e. American youth are not equally influenced by African politics and culture) led me to think it impossible for an altruistic interest to occur between the two.

The slightly cynical philosophy student in me questions whether there is such a thing as altruism, especially in international relations. The same “they” who refer to the counting chickens before they hatch also say “Everything happens for a reason.” I would not go so far as to say everything but I would have to agree that some things happen for a reason. My placement at the African Development Foundation is one of those things. During my short time here I have had my mistrust of Americans and cynicism about their interest in Africa deeply challenged and changed.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of a “brown bag lunch” with an ADF Program Assistant. Like most in PAs in the office, she had done Peace Corps volunteering (her 2 years were spent in a village in Botswana).We spoke for close to 2 hours about the challenges and opportunities in both Africa and America. We both ended the discussion with our deep desire to eventually work in Africa. One might expect me to want to settle in Africa. It is after all, the place of my birth and forefathers. But for her to say she would want to go back and work in Africa really moved me. It moved me because for many young Africans the goal is to leave, to not take part in the process of building the continent, to shirk what I feel is a responsibility to give back. For an American to feel such a sense of duty, compassion and love for a continent hard done by history is something which I personally needed to see. In the same way we (South Africans and Africans in general) feel stereotyped by our ‘Merican brothers we might too be guilty of typecasting them as patronizing or fakers or ulterior motive-having.

Having zero expectations for what I was expecting or hoping to learn has really broadened my experience and, as a result, I have learnt so much in a small amount of time (including how to sit still for 8 hours straight).

I haven’t done the exact calculation but I am convinced that this year, 2013, I have met more people than I have met over the duration of my whole life. A large number of the people I’ve met this year have been thanks to SAWIP. The depth at selection camp should have given me some idea of the sorts of people I was to meet (and still am) but I don’t think anything could. I remember alumni giving us advice and sharing their experiences at Orientation Camp. One of the things they stressed was the idea that your team is important and becomes even more important when you’re in DC. Goodness, they were correct. The other day we had a discussion about how close we (the 2013 team) had all gotten. Someone might possibly perhaps have commented about the fact that as a result of all the time we’re spending together her dreams frequently involve team mates. I might possibly perhaps know exactly what she was talking about. The team really has grown quite close and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know them daily.

My host family (Joyce and Richard Schwartz) are kind and warm and go out of their way to ensure that I have what I need and feel at home. Every night after work there is scrumptious (really, scrumptious) home cooked meal, and I’m trying not to think too hard about what it will feel like to go back to my humble Stellies ways (noodles and take out). My roommate Rachel (from the Washington Ireland Program) is my sister from another mister. We are freakishly similar and get along like a house on fire. The very first night I arrived we stayed up into the wee hours of the morning discussing the political landscapes of Northern Ireland/the Republic of Ireland and South Africa. Just a few days later we stayed up even later in one of DC’s pubs. The Schwartz’s are also hosting two Irish New Story Leadership (www.newstoryleadership.org) team managers – Ben and Jack. I remember wishing for a brother when I was younger (I am one of two girls) and over the years I have increasingly thought that was a silly wish. But having them around has restored that childish longing. What with all of the representation, you would be forgiven for mistaking the Schwartz’s dinner table for a United Nations conference table.

My supervisor and the staff at the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) are all such incredible people. I’m not eloquent enough to articulate al it is about them that I admire and appreciate so much. One thing in particular that stands out for me is how knowledgeable they are about African states most Africans probably haven’t heard of themselves. Further, I am astounded daily by how committed the staff are to development on the African continent. Even further, I am intrigued by the development model the agency uses and in the coming weeks I hope to learn more about the process they use to create economic development in marginalized communities. Only this past weekend we were running through the streets of New York City. Our session at the South African Consulate/South African Permanent Mission to the UN had just ended and we got in some rain (read: flash flood) on the way to Times Square. Along the way a stranger pushing a heavy trolley of goods folded his umbrella, handed it to me and said, “Here you go ma’am. You could probably use this.” My heart melted. I didn’t need the umbrella. In fact, we were having quite a fun time running in the rain all suited up. His kindness was what I appreciated most.

My SAWIP journey has allowed me to meet so many beautiful people and for that I am eternally grateful. It can be difficult to see the glass as half full when it comes to people. This year, thanks to this program, I can attest to the truth in the saying, “What you put out is what you receive.” The intention behind SAWIP, WIP and NSL programs is to reconcile fractured societies and to do so in a constructive, positive way. As a result, what these programs attract are only the most constructive, positive people. Every day I wake up looking forward to the wonderful people I might possibly meet.

Often times, when life gets overwhelming I try to bring it back to the basics. At the end of the day life is about life. No matter where the emphasis is placed I think for most people the main aim of life is life itself: making life better, creating life, ensuring a favourable afterlife and so on. Everyone’s life is equally valuable, and a utopic society is founded on equality of opportunity and Rawlsian 'veil of ignorance' ideals.

Our visit to Solms-Delta wine farm was a wonderful reminder that such a society is possible. The farm places an emphasis on providing humane and fair conditions for workers. In an industry with a less than stellar human rights legacy and notorious for poor working conditions Solms-Delta’s approach is highly exemplary. As soon as I returned home that Saturday afternoon I emailed my mum and sister, raving about the revolutionary wine farm that “does things differently”. My faith in responsible business restored. How heart warming I found it that farm owners could look past financial bottom lines and see workers as valuable partners as opposed to in cold economic terms, a mere factor of production.

The following Sunday evening (after the Solms-Delta visit) my mother called to inform me my grandfather had passed away. He was 91. I didn’t know him particularly well, and hadn’t seen him in years. I had and still have a significant array of emotional responses to his passing most of which aren’t related to the blog. I will attempt to stick to the ones which are. Firstly, I felt a great sense of gratitude. Gratitude for all that he had gone through and sacrificed in his life and its contribution indirectly in my life. Secondly, I would hope that during his life those in the community around him (not only family but government and employers) valued him. I remember as part of my SAWIP application I had mentioned how it bothered me that the world isn’t able to recognize humanity equally. I think it has to do with my youth but it is hard to be comfortable knowing that lives are valued according to societal positions.

This theme was raised again after our very moving 2-day visit to the Holocaust Museum this past week. The challenge is to be able to, as Mario so eloquently puts it, affirm and recognize the humanity of each person. This becomes an overwhelmingly difficult challenge when the number of people involved is so many. How can you love people you’ve never met? I don’t think there’s an actual answer. And I don’t think there has to be one (actually I do, but I know there isn’t one accessible to me currently so I’ve decided for sanity sake to let it be). I’ve decided to recognize and value those I encounter and those whose lives I can affect. This definitely seems like some kind of a cop out. I suspect it’s the necessary, unavoidable kind.

In no way do I think love, freedom and equality should be zero-sum but in many ways our society operates that way. The media is the most clear example of this. Glamorous and sexy people and topics that attract readers/viewers are what is reported most. This wouldn’t be a problem except that it is done at the expense of arguably more important and needy people and causes. There is, after all, only so much airtime to go around.

The same can be said of our brains and hearts: There is only so much thought and emotion that we can give. Even if I can’t change the external world, I reckon the best I can do is utilize my internal capacity responsibly (i.e. allocate energy according to what I think the priorities should be even if they are not aligned with the media, society, capitalist structures etc.). This is what the owners and management of Solms-Delta are about, and for that they are my heroes.

“We who were born in the calm after thunder

Cherish our freedom to think and to do;

If in our turn we forgetfully wonder,

Yet we'll remember we owe it to you” – Forty Years On

Music

Politik - Coldplay [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFKPBiOw5A]

Imagine - John Lennon [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8]

In my brief 22 years on earth I’ve had my fair share of discussions of The Big Issues and the not so big issues. At the end of a few too many conversations I’ve noticed things end with some jocular variation of, “Oh well. I guess it’s something to think about.” or “It’s a difficult one” or “There are so many issues to deal with.” As a debater and former philosophy major nothing gives me more sleepless nights. “We’ll see how it goes”, is, for me, the most painful end to a conversation. It’s what parents in toy stores say: not in the mood to deal with their toddlers’ emotional breakdown they postpone the discussion for home. In my estimation it’s important that young people in particular steer clear of this.

Ending conversations like this is bad for business because it stifles thoughts, aborts ideas. In an essay entitled ‘The End of History?’ Francis Fukuyama suggests that we’ve reached an evolutionary endpoint in human history. He discusses several issues which I find interesting. His essay is reflective of what I think many believe to be true: mankind’s major intellectual work is done and all that’s left is to tinker around the edges of knowledge. I’m not convinced. There’s more thinking that needs to be done. Thinking (whether it be technological invention or imagining new socio-political systems) is perhaps harder now than before given the accumulated historical constraints and the weight of all we’ve inherited. Every time I’m part of a conversation that ends with a dismissive, “I don’t know hey!” I think, “Neither did any great thinker!” The point is you have to put yourself out there. Pick a side and argue the heck out of it, explore issues fully, follow thoughts to their conclusion. You owe it to yourself and the world (Pardon the fluff).

One of two things happens. Firstly, people might disagree with you. If they do well then you just have to have an intellectual version of the toddlers’ meltdown – you have a back and forth debate. Secondly, you might discover you were mistaken or you’ve changed your mind. In this case, well, you change your mind. Perhaps what scares people into ending conversations prematurely is a lack of surety. I mean, after all, how do we solve poverty/find a solution for the country’s racial problems/fix the education system? They are big complicated issues. The truth is nobody has a complete set of answers. Nevertheless, we might be able to come to new ideas and better solutions if we say something, anything rather than to end the conversation with a parents-in-the-toy-store copout.

“It is better to be wrong than vague.” – Freeman Dyson

Music

‘Razzle Dazzle Them’ – Chicago OST [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB0CkB7mRiY] (No to deception. Yes to an inspirational amount of intellectual razzle dazzle - making something up and making it sound good. I think this song really relates to the topic because great ideas are often born out in a creative, visionary/slightly make believe, off-the-cuff place that you only get to if you allow a conversation to go there.)

Yesterday we were privileged to visit the Graham and Rhona Beck Skills Centre just outside of Robertson (http://www.skillscentre.co.za/). The Centre’s staff as well as the Head Master of a local high school walked us through some of the challenges the community faces. Its one thing to know about social issues (in the most academic, general, read-about-it-in-the-paper detached sort of way) but it’s another entirely to hear about the situation from people who live and work there. I am so thankful to the Centre opening itself to the group, giving us the opportunity to learn about a town only an hour (and a bit) away.

In the Skills Centre promo video Mrs Beck speaks about how her husband was a visionary for being able to spot the farms potential. I’d have to agree. It truly is a splendid site. It’s not ‘Camps Bay sexy’, neither does it have the ‘Rolling Green Hills Of The Winelands’ feel either. It’s quiet, removed and peaceful. At the start of our visit I was on the fence about how I felt about the location and set up. After all, wouldn’t a more ‘humble’ building situated in a central spot in the Main Street have been more suited to local skills development? As the day progressed I came to appreciate the location. A few times I caught myself staring, transfixed by the beauty of both the building and its surrounds. ‘Am I at a community skills centre or a wine farm?’ *insert forehead smack* The fact we so naturally make a distinction between the standards and styles associated with these two groups – the community which produces the wine and the community which enjoys the wine – is problematic for about 20 different reasons (another blog post, another day). I commend the Foundation for the providing nothing but the best facility for the broader Robertson community. It is indicative of a genuine commitment to the best skills training and holistic personal development.

It was mentioned by one of the social workers at the Centre that, “The mountain is in the way. People have heard of Worcester [a nearby town] but they’ve never been... People aren’t prepared to go over the mountain.” Sometimes we need to take a step back and out of our zones to get perspective when we come back to our communities. Today I went over the mountain (technically through the Huguenot Tunnel, but work with me). I didn’t find anything particularly new because I’ve known (in that detached kind of way) of the challenges in the area. It was nonetheless a reminder that there is life on the other side, and my first time being in that part of the Western Cape. In my estimation the work being done by the Skills Centre is the first step to taking Robertsonians ‘over the mountain’. The skills development being facilitated at the centre is incredible. But more than that the Centre makes one (I say one because it made me feel this way and might do the same for others) feel at a distance from the rest of society. The first step to going beyond ones comfort zone is being comfortable with a distance between one’s self and the community – literally and figuratively. The mountain doesn’t only insulate one side, it does so for two. It’s easy to pity the other for their naiveté or ignorance, but the truth is both sides are equally naive, afraid and too comfortable to explore the other.

Trying to engage with a community other than your own is often tricky. It takes an awful lot of self reflection and self awareness to toe the line between useful assistance/empowerment and condescending pet project. I cannot imagine it being something which can be addressed within the next 6 months but it is something that I think is worth thinking about going forward: If the conditions which bring about a situation are systemic then can we, in all good conscious, be satisfied with not attempting to rectify the situation at that level. Whenever I catch myself saying these sorts of things I get the sense it’s time to stop, lest the urge to start singing Kumbayah overwhelms me. This idea is always simmering on the back burner in my mind, and so I have no doubt it will be a recurring theme in my SAWIP journey.

Lwamba

X

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one” – Mother Theresa

“I am an optimist. It does not seem much use to be anything else.” – Winston Churchill

“The leader has to be practical and a realist, yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist.” – Eric Hoffer

Music

(Melancholic yet hopeful. Because, in a nutshell, that’s how I felt after the trip.)

‘I’m Always Chasing Rainbows’ – Perry Como http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mci1xkJWIu4

‘I’ll Fly Away – Kanye West http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvl9il7tymc

‘Little Boxes’ – Malvina Reynolds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SADPuUYF_4I

‘Paradise’ – Coldplay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G4isv_Fylg

‘Square One’ – Coldplay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0tLS9fL1So

The beautiful Graham and Rhona Beck Skills Centre.

(Spoiler alert: It creates apathy and prevents social cohesion)