Chintsa Summer 2012

My trip to South Africa was the first trip I've ever taken overseas. It was so easy! Buying the plane ticket was the most difficult and stressful part of the trip because I was unsure of flight times and plane changes, but once I figured that out, everything fell into place.
I was met at the airport by a wonderful man named Thobs, employed by Volunteer Africa, and he had all the others from our group with him. I felt like I was returning home, the welcome so warm.
After a couple days of orientation, we began our program with the schools. Each morning we walked to the office from the house we stayed in, checked in with the program leader and caught our ride to our school.
We worked with the children 3 hours each day and returned to the house to work on course work. I was able to participate in some community activities such as sports and adult education. People from the community were friendly, but careful, and allowed me small glimpses into their lives.
Chintsa does not have the same hustle and bustle as East London or Johannesburg. I felt we were pretty insulated from reality. I observed a community still segregated by economics and although I experienced some traditional lifestyles, I couldn't disspell the feeling of white privilege. Obviously, keeping the volunteers safe is a priority, but maybe if I had not been with a group from Texas State University, chance for cultural immersion may have been greater.
Returning to Chintsa is a priority. I want to be a part of the educational growth of the children and reverse the damage of apartheid.