It has again been a while. So first things first: just in case you've been desperately searching for new photos, even though I made them, they won't appear together with this post. We will come to the why later.
Since I made my last entry I did actually see quite a few things, as those of you who keep up with Facebook as well will have read.
First though I didn't go to S.P. High the next day, it did eventually happen this Wednesday, so two weeks later.
Which basically was because last week I traveled around with a history class from the Shetland Islands, Scotland. They've come down here in association with the Global Classroom Project in order to some research about the South African history. But besides that research they've had quite a bit of sight seeing on their program, so it was suggested I go with them. The first thing we did together, last weeks Sunday, was a journey to Cape Point, which of course is a must-do when visiting South Africa. So now I can but a "done" behind that one. It was a fairly nice day and I and all of us had a good time. The next day we went to Stellenbosch University. On the way you come past Kaylisha, where one to four million people live in shags, at some parts right up to the street and then as far as the eye can see, a shocking view really. At uni one of the history professors talked to us about Africanerdem. I not having the background of having done that at school understood only half of it, but it still was quite interesting. After that and a short break in the uni mall (don't ask me why they have a mall at the campus) we went to Spier, a local wine farm, of the massive kind though. They had some lovely food and we did some wine tasting, after which I brought 12 bottles home. 6 lovely Souvignon Blancs and 6 nice roses. Tuesday we went to the National Library for the pupils to research, which was quite boring for me. On Wednesday though we first went to Robben Island, another must-do. Quite a nice trip, a beautiful island, the history is of course not to pleasant. The tour on the island could have been a little less touristy though. After Robben Island we went to Hout Bay, where we met Mr. Denis Goldberg. Denis Goldberg was a political activist opposing the apartheid regime. He fought together with Nelson Mandela and those other big names. He was also sentenced to life imprisonment in the same process with them. He then spent 22 years in prison before he was let out in 1985. So now this men was talking to us for nearly 3 hours about his life, his experience, and his view on things and all that in his living room. That was an experience of a life time and probably some of the most interesting hours for me so far. Then on Thursday we went to South Peninsula High School, where we first got to witness a lesson to see if there are differences to our own and then the principal and two of the teachers told us about OBE, the South African grading system. It comes from the quite good basic idea of having a developing grade during the whole of the year rather then having exams. But realization isn't really convincing. Afterwards we went for a drive through Langa, one of the poor parts of Cape Town. There were people there who cooked in the streets, for safety reasons. It is not uncommon that they live in a one family flat with 3 families and there are shags to. It was never that quite in the minibus before or after. Ironically we went to the Waterfront afterwards, on of the fanciest and most expensive malls in Cape Town. I think the students enjoyed it though.
On Friday the Scots again went to the library in the morning. So I decided to use public transport in order to join them later. After I got to them we went to see the South African Parliament which is right next to the library. The building is really nice and the main chamber is similar to the one in the UK. But there is a second chamber which is like in Germany formed by representatives of the regions and has a half round build-up. Afterwards we visited the Slave Lodge and the District 6 Museum, of which I liked the first one better.
And finally on Saturday the whole group climbed Table Mountain, and we did it! Even though many of us struggled in the beginning, including me. I must admit my legs got a bit rusty. It got better quite quickly though and then we were really able to enjoy the climb and the view. And what a view that was! Just as my sandwich (you don't need to get this one people). Saturday night we then had a braai, which was nice. Then came the point to say goodbye to the Scots.
On the rest of the weekend I again was able to see how big families here are when some of my hosts family met just to have a get together. Was nice though.
On Tuesday I got my new phone, with which I'm writing this now. Which is why you don't get to see any photos in this post, I've send a friend one picture per mail the other day it nearly took 25min. My phone does do the internet job for me though so I'm really happy about it.
Wednesday it finally happened and I went so S.P. High to work there. It was a nice day, which I spend in the IT department but it is not clear yet whether there will be a regular job for me there.
And that is that for this post pretty much.
Just a final thing, as I get mail to my phone now, mail now officially is the easiest and cheapest way to reach me.
Have a good one everybody.