Pei-Ru's Thought Bubbles (and photos)

Day 5: Getting Ready

Last night, I saw the most amazing view I have ever seen in my humble little life. My gosh. I don’t even think I can begin to describe it, and pictures don’t do any good either. I can only say, even the eagle there was quiet, stunned by the sight. Haha, I’m putting too much human interpretation into the eagle’s simple afternoon hunt. The view we had was from riding the cable car up the Table Mountain. One side over looks Cape Peninsula’s layer after layer’s mountain ridge falling into the sea; another side over looks Cape Town. I had an awesome time wondering to different corners of Table Mountain, taking the view in bit by bit. I wish my mind was less busy, though. At first, I was simply in awe and my brain didn’t even wake up in time to think about anything else. Then for a few seconds, I was no longer present. I was hoping, thinking, how much more perfect if there is that significant other who was here sharing this experience with me. Haha, then I couldn’t really think of one person who would love being here with me as much as I would want them to. So… my mind turned again… how much I wish more people could see this, too! Actually, none of these thoughts were harmful, but, were they necessary? Nothing was accomplished by the wishing and hoping, as if the experience wasn’t perfect enough already. I had amazing companies who were meant to be there to share this experience with me. How much more do I want? What a shame that I was not “really” seeing what is happening around me? The thing is, the situation is special in its own way. Us human, often think that we can manipulate our experiences to have the best times, all the time. But how do you know what is the best time anyways if you were never there, being present in the experiences given? Once again, like Patrick reminded me once, nothing can make you happy or sad. Only you can. Being there, can.
Taking the experience last night as a lesson, I want to make sure that I am fully “present” tomorrow when I start my work at Etafeni. It has been a true blessing that I get to be here. I have to do quite a few readings for my internship, but perhaps, it will be best to go in with a clean slate. Haha, didn’t Mao said something like… he likes the young people because they are like white sheets of paper? Well, in a different sense, but I hope to be a white sheet of paper, too, for tomorrow.
YESSSSS. I'm super excited. I mean. I am also super nervous. But, work starts tomorrow!!

Day 4: The Art of Focus

The ECON class arrived late last night and it has been wonderful. I got to meet some new people and no longer needs to eat alone! At the same time, I feel fortunate that I had the past three days alone. Instead of chatting, I could listen to the city and let it lead me. Thinking of it, I probably only spoke no more than 30 sentences everyday!
I thought more about Monkeybiz today. Another thing that I need to learn from them and another program in Cape Town, Mother to Mother, is the idea of focus. AIDS in a big issue and there is many ways to address it. You can talk about it more in a medical term. You can work on implementing early awareness for teenagers or even children. You can even work on helping orphans whose mothers had AIDS. Monkeybiz focus on skill training and HIV positive women’s support. Mother to Mother work on counseling for HIV positive women and promoting testing for HIV. I once asked Mitch Besser, director of Mother to Mother program, why doesn’t he also work on AIDS awareness for teenagers as that is the way to stop AIDS, he says… That is an important issue, but one can only do so much. If I don’t focus, then I will not be effective. Such a simple explanation but I always forget because… this is important, that is important, and I ended up doing everything but not being as effective as I could be. If every organization focus on a different aspect of an issue, then together they cover the grounds, isn’t it.

Day 3: Monkeybiz and Sustainability

Third day in Cape Town! Finally, I am able to find my way in the city and see the adorable side of the people. It amaze me how being uncomfortable, lost, and fearful can make your whole experienced a cloud; a stormy cloud, in fact. Today, the cloud cleared by midmorning, both physically and metaphorical. After doing some yoga I headed out, determined to let the city take me on a little adventure. Right turn to go toward the pastel pink building. Left turn to see the castle-looking church behind the trees. Then, up this heel. Hmm… what a city edge, industrial-looking street composed of drycleaners, hardware store and locked doors. Keep going, I see something bright pink even higher up. Wait. Lime green, rose, turquoise, purple-ish blue. Is this Murano, Italy or Greece? I was so focused on the buildings that I did not see the grandiose backdrop of this section of town, the Table Mountain, till I sat down at a little “coziest coffee shop in this side of town.” The coffee shop is tucked away behind the butchery, that is next to the restaurant, that is behind the takeaway. Apparently the coffee shop was not even expecting any tourist this early in the morning. The son was still moping the floor and the Mom had to argue with the Dad that, we are open, we are open! I did not even look up till after I order my muesli with yogurt and honey. Cape Town’s Table Mountain is right there staring at me and I did not even notice. Apologies. After 15 minutes I still only have an empty bowl and a spoon in front of me. Then I hear a car pulled up. The Dad and the daughter rushed up into the coffee shop, “we got you the honey!”
After breakfast I continued walking down Bo-Kaap, this part of the city that is decorated with the wonderful colors that match the vibrant energy of the city. Then, there was Monkeybiz. The shop is marked by an un-missable yellow front with red monkey print all over. Monkeybiz is a nonprofit started by artists and help 450 disadvantaged women in Cape Town to create wonderful beadwork, that not only provide the ladies an income, but also beautiful in their own right. Every Friday, like today, there is also a workshop and a HIV clinic upstairs to train and support low-income HIV positive women. A pink and brown beaded giraffe, a blue, silver and yellow beaded cow, and multi-colored table mat that says ”Love People with HIV.” The cheerful color and shelves after shelves of hand-mades shout to me promises and unwavering belief and self-confidence that, “We will not let AIDS beat us down.”
The idea that a non-profit needs to focus on building a bridge instead of ferrying people across the river. The idea that is empowering instead of feeding the thirst. Monkeybiz helps revive the traditional beadwork with an modern aesthetics instead of teaching the locals something new. How wonderful… This is something I need to learn more and bring to Thai Circle… Hopefully, my work at Etafeni that starts on Monday will also be working from the same principle. Isn’t this what Williams has been talking about everyday, sustainability?
www.monkeybiz.co.za

Photos: Almost Heaven

Day 2: Nature is Grander

Today, I am taking a trip to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, taking advantage of the last few days I can do the touristy things before my internship starts. I am standing at the Southern most tip of Africa. Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet here after the long stretch of the turbulent and troubled African land. This place is marked by no sandy beach nor a smooth transition. The land comes to a rock cliff that falls free of gravity to the endless water. Nature’s stroke of genius. Looking back at the mountains that run up the spine of the country, I think about the million of people below and their sufferings. God is supposed to be able to hear their cries even at such great height, but standing here, I can only hear the wind, the splashing of waves and cry of an eagle. My heart is telling me, from the view of the universe, everything shall pass. Our suffering also shall pass. Our pain and fear is created by ourselves but not the Nature. And we are just a phase in the limitlessness of Nature. Like a palm of sand. While each grain may represent the sufferings we experience, heavy, when the wind comes, each flies away and fades into the limitlessness of Nature. Was there ever the palm of sand?

En Route to South Africa

Waiting in Johannesburg Airport, I feel my heart beating out of my chest, my hands tightly gripping my bag, and cold sweat trickling down my back. Why? Why am I nervous? I’ve traveled the world alone yet I’ve never felt this way before. I tried to look within the tension of my body for the cause. Is it because I’ve heard constant warnings about the danger and crime in the city? I am not allowed to take public transportation or even taxi alone to my work site. I can’t even drive because the director herself has been hijacked before and held at gun point. Perhaps. Or is it because this is my first time going to a country where the dominant race is African, Blacks? Honestly, this may be part of the reason. But, it takes a bit for me to admit to this as I have plenty of close friends who are African America, Matthew especially. But, hasn’t the media, the government taught us, congregations of Blacks usually means, watch out? Usually means poverty? Usually produce graffiti? Usually means crime?
This recalls my feelings when I went to Urumuchi, near Pakistan, and found myself in a Muslim land for the first time. I knew, clearly, that these were not the ones who attached America on 9/11, but the media and the airport security has cultured us to suspect them. I felt this rising anger as our bus went through the city. This feeling did not last long because they quickly became, those friendly people who grew 60 different kinds of grapes, still a limited understanding of the locals, but come on, I was only there for like 2 days.
As my taxi drive into Cape Town, I found my eyes watering. I felt an overwhelming emotion for a reason that was not completely clear to me. I will explain in the next blog.
I tried to focus on, how, when seeing my own self influenced by media, fear and stereotypes, do I stop? This media-portrayed image of the people here will also affect my volunteer work. Can I go with absolutely clean slate of mind? If I am not right now, how do I make myself so? - My challenge for the next 4 days before my work begins. II will not let myself take a typically image of Africa and the African people. Black people dressed in ragged cloths, standing in front on a mud house. Hands with soiled finger nails reaching out for aid. Giraffes in the setting sun. How I love giraffes, though.