Wentworth, Sibaya, and Trevor Noah

Yesterday was Saturday. We had planned to have an early start and drive down to Victoria market, which I have heard to be rumored as one of the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa. Whether this is true or not it is truly an experience to wander around the 138 year old Market.
To read more please click here <--

Unfortunately, we did not make it because we woke up late and had a slow morning start. In any case while Joe went out to get some provisions to do an oil change before our long drive to Johannesburg, I stayed at home to do Yoga. I made it most of the way through the 1.5 hour long video session then got ready to meet with the youth group I am involved in. Because the students in the area have half a day of school on Saturdays I was surprised to see our young ladies dressed in their "street clothes". I am so used to seeing them in uniforms that this was a nice surprise. Today was the first time we got to see the ladies' pictures that they had been taking with the project cameras. They seemed to be very eager to share and see each others pictures. When the meeting ended it was really nice to see people that didn't know each other before were walking together and forming friendships. It was also nice to see some of the girls in the neighborhood documenting their space.

When we left the girls we ended up returning home to rest up before going to see the comedian Trevor Noah. We had purchased tickets a couple of days after we heard he would be preforming from my auntie. Prior to getting on the highway north we also got to see the full moon, which according to the Sunday Times was the biggest and closest it will be this year.

Trevor Noah performed at Sibaya Casino. A magnificently opulently South African structure which incorporates Zulu inspired architecture, museum quality cultural artifacts, and of course slot machines and all other gambling paraphernalia. When we entered I was truly taken aback and took in all the visual stimulation as it came.

We found our seats in the iZulu Theatre and waited to be entertained. I considered the show to also be part of my research since Trevor Noah is a Coloured (aka mixed race) comedian who has a satirical outlook of South Africa's people and politics. A lovely surprise were the two acts prior to Trevor. One was another Coloured guy originally from Sydnam, Durban - a formerly Coloured area and a White beat boxer named George Avakian (aka Georgeous the Beatboxer) who blew the crowd away with the sounds that came out of his mouth. Please check out some of his work here <-- In all it was a beautiful night and we even got to do some dancing after the show. It was a quiet ride home, no traffic, but you could hear people drag racing down the open roads. Today, we went to church with one of the Rotary members from Chatsworth and afterward spent the afternoon with my cousin and auntie visiting some flea markets. Friday was a full day as well. I was supposed to do an interview but was late because I was getting my eyebrows threaded. For those of you who don't know about threading, it is a method of removing unwanted hair using a thread that is twisted around the hair and pulled out as a result. It has the same effect as plucking or waxing except the first time I tried threading I was amazed at how good they were and also enjoyed the novelty of the entire process. The place I went to to get my eyebrows done was at Lotus Park, during Apartheid an Indian area but since '94 and the democratic elections mostly "Black" Africans are moving in and not everyone is very happy.

In any case I got to the library to do my interview. It was supposed to take only a couple of hours but ended up extending because the man speaking was such an expert that he just began talking and before I could ask another question he was on to another topic. Well I was supposed to meet my cousins at 1:00pm but ended up meeting them at 2:40. We had decided to go to lunch because by that point lunch was way passed. Unfortunately for the people working at Yossi's, a Moroccan place, we got there just in time for them to have to stay open another hour and prepare four more dishes. Thankfully, the cooks prepared for us a lovely meal and satisfied our hungry bellies.

After we finished we ended up at the Botanical gardens to pass some time and while my one cousin went home to prepare for prayers, as he is an ordained Buddhist monk, his brother came with us and we headed to Suncoast Casino on Durban beach front to meet Cool and the Gang. We arrived a couple hours early so we got to walk on the beach before waiting in the Casino. Unfortunately, even though we were the first ones there we did not get to meet the band because we were not pushing in front like all the others. :( We barely got a signed picture but because we had been there so long I was determined to get something. Though I don't care about the group that much it was the principle of the affair. Plus I was hoping to give something to my uncles. Let's see if they like it.

Although the night was a disappointment it was really nice spending time with my cousins and laughing. I wouldn't have done it any differently. :)

UKZN and New Rotary Clubs.

March 10^th, 2011

Today was a pretty relaxed day. Joe and I woke up and read our books on South Africa, did some yoga and decided to go to the Temple of Understanding which is the largest Hare-Krishna temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The temple is located in Chatsworth, Durban one of the former Indian neighborhoods during the Apartheid regime. We decided to visit the temple because later in the evening we were going to the Chatsworth Rotary Club to give a talk and meet some new people.

Anyway, we entered the temple and a female devotee sought us out and told us a bit about the temple. She explained to us how the building was built in 1985 by a German devotee. From the air it is in shaped like a lotus. The many portraits of Krishna’s life were digitally produced, she told us. The statues of Krishna and the mother effigy were dressed daily as a devotional practice to attain a closer relationship to God and God’s love.

When we left the temple we had some time before the meeting so we walked around Gandhi Park. About 30 minutes prior to the meeting we made our way to Chatsworth Hospice where the club meets. We first met the president – Mr. Parlin Paramaul and chatted with some of the other members when they arrived. I got to sit up front between the secretary and president. After the prayer, repeating the four way test, and the Rotary business was taken up it was my turn to speak.

I got a warm reception and we were invited back anytime. They seemed eager also to have Joe speak about his research so we’ll get to go back soon. At the close of the meeting we had a dinner of mutton bryiani (like a rice pilaf) and carrot, cabbage, and radish salad. I must say it was a nice surprise.

From President Parlin we learned the Chatsworth Club has several community projects. There is a uniform program to distribute school uniforms to needy children and a food distribution to needy families to name a few. We hope to get involved with one of their many programs soon.

February University students were protesting all over the KZN province beginning on February 25th, lasting until the entire week. Joe and I went to campus at around noon to hear some jazz not really thinking of the protests. We had just comeback from a very laid back weekend in Eshowe with my aunt. We were going to go to UKZN on Monday, February 28th to listen to some music students perform. We decided to pass through the Shepstone building. I think we were a bit early because I began hearing some singing. It was just a few students in the hall at first. Then about 300 yards away in the direction of the theater a large group of students came marching by and singing. I got out my camera to document the event as a good anthropologist should.

Anyhow, the first wave of students came by without incident and seemed joyful at their united effort. However, as some of them in the back were passing you see their efforts were not entirely peaceful as they knocked over very heavy cement trash bins onto the tile floor. A wave of trash was left in their wake.

About 10 seconds later another wave of students could be seen. I wondered out loud to Joe whether we should follow or wait for the next wave. We decided to wait off to the side. It was exciting hearing the singing and watching the students march. Unfortunately, the next wave were not so peaceful because right at the beginning a young man threw something a juice box at me. Then he yelled for me to turn off the camera that I was not permitted to take pictures.

To read more from the SA news click here <-- Before I could do or say anything he came up to me and tried to grab the camera. Joe told him to stop and pushed the guy away. Then the guy hit Joe. It was surreal! My camera was flung out of my hands, I was pushed to the ground, my glasses flew off my face and I lost a flip flop. At that point I had nothing material to worry about so I tried to get between them but Joe was swinging to defend himself. People were screaming all around (from what I got from the video). Then a bunch of other guys jumped in, luckily some were trying to help us! Anyway some guy picked up my stuff and handed it to me and we were shoved into an empty class room. We just looked at each other in shock. Joe's nose was bleeding but was not broken or anything. It didn't look very good though. When we gathered are barrings we exited to the same guys that I assume shoved us into the room. They inquired whether we were okay and if we wanted to go to the clinic. As we were standing around a large group of students began gathering around us. I was not really scared or nervous at that point although maybe I should have been. I really just wanted Joe to clean himself up and make sure he was okay. The young man had the foresight to lead us away from the protesters. He apologized profusely and explained to us how sometimes the people get very emotional during these times and when they see someone from another race taking pictures they get angry because they think those people are trying to make them look bad. Well, if I must say his actions made him look bad and I got it on video! Joe washed up. While he was in the bathroom a young lady came up to us to apologize for the incident. I think they felt really bad when they found out we were from overseas. Another student came up to us and asked us to report the incident to the police. Joe did not want to but we ended up talking to them outside after the guy led us out. Anyway, when we were talking to the police the guy who had lead us out and urged us to report ran up to us saying "it just happened again" around that same time there was almost another altercation between the protesters and another guy (dunno if he was a student or not). The police asked if we wanted to press charges but we were like "who would we press charges against?" because we really didn't see his face. He was tall, skinny, black guy with a brown t-shirt which was now ripped or non-existent thanks to me. We gave them our contact info. and the captain - a tall, thin Indian man with shotgun shells round his waist, a bullet proof vest, and aviator type sunglasses on - stated he would file a report for their purposes. Anyway by the time the students were outside we watched a few of them stage a sit in and then decided to leave because I had an interview to conduct. It was hectic but luckily nothing worse happened. : ) Next time I see a protest or gathering of people and I want to document it I will stand far away so there is not a repeat incident.

Here is the video http://www.youtube.com/user/stahjose#p/a/u/0/vXNi7COtiog

UKZN "peaceful" student protests

Things are usually pretty calm here except for this past Monday.
University students have been protesting all over the province I think since Friday. Read more here: http://www.dailynews.co.za/ukzn-students-go-on-rampage-1.1034280

Joe and I went to Howard campus at around noon to hear some jazz not really thinking of the protests. We had just comeback from a very laid back weekend in Eshowe with my aunt. We headed for the library but it was closed. We decided to head to the building right next door (Shepstone building). We found relief there and then were going to start heading to the theater. I think we were a bit early because I began hearing some singing and got curious to just observe. It was just a few students in the hall at first. Then about 300 yards away in the direction of the theater a large group of students came marching by and singing. I got out my camera to document, as a good anthropologist should. Anyhow, the first wave of students came by without incident and seemed joyful at their united effort. However, as some of them in the back were passing you see their efforts were not entirely peaceful as they knocked over very heavy cement trash bins onto the tile floor. A wave of trash was left in their wake.

About 10 seconds later another wave of students could be seen. I wondered out loud to Joe whether we should follow or wait for the next wave. We decided to wait off to the side. It was exciting hearing the singing and watching the students march. Unfortunately, the next wave were not so peaceful because right at the beginning a young man threw something at me. Then he screamed for me to turn off the camera that I was not permitted to take pictures. Before I could do or say anything he came up to me and tried to grab the camera. Joe pushed the guy to prevent him from touching me. Then the guy hit Joe. It was surreal! My camera was flung out of my hands, I was pushed to the ground, my glasses flew off my face and I lost a flip flop. At that point I had nothing material to worry about so I tried to get between them but Joe was swinging to defend himself. People were screaming all around (from what I got from the video). Then a bunch of other guys jumped in, luckily some were trying to help us! Anyway some guy picked up my stuff and handed it to me and we were shoved into an empty class room. We just looked at each other in shock. Joe's nose was bleeding but was not broken or anything. It didn't look very good though.

When we gathered are barrings we exited to the same guys that I assume shoved us into the room. They enquired whether we were okay and if we wanted to go to the clinic. As we were standing around a large group of students began gathering around us. I was not really scared or nervous at that point although maybe I should have been. I really just wanted Joe to clean himself up and make sure he was okay. The young man had the foresight to lead us away from the protestors. He apologized profusely and explained to us how sometimes the people get very emotional during these times and when they see someone from another race taking pictures they get angry because they think those people are trying to make them look bad. Well, if I must say his actions made himself look bad and I got it on video!

Joe washed up. While he was in the bathroom a young lady came up to us to apologize for the incident. I think they felt really bad when they found out we were from overseas! Another student came up to us and asked us to report the incident to the police. Joe did not want to but we ended up talking to them outside after the guy led us out. Anyway, when we were talking to the police the student who had led us out and urged us to report ran up to us saying "it just happened again" around that same time there was almost another altercation between the protesters and another guy (dunno if he was a student or not). The police asked if we wanted to press charges but we were like "who would we press charges against?" because we really didn't see his face. We gave them our contact info. and the captain - a tall, thin Indian man with shotgun shells round his waist, a bullet proof vest, and aviator type sunglasses on - stated he would file a report for their purposes.
Anyway by the time the students were outside we watched a few of them stage a sit in and then decided to leave because I had an interview to conduct. It was hectic but luckily nothing worse happened. Joe's nose is okay but he has a black eye. :( Lesson learned, next time I see a protest I will be far away if I want to document!

On a lighter note, yesterday evening we did a few interviews in the late morning and afternoon. At 18:30 hrs (6:30 pm) we went to give a talk at the Rotary Club in Amanzimtoti at the Winkelspruit Bowling club. Sipho Gumbi is the President of the club. We were welcomed by last year's president Roy. Joe and I went around he room introducing ourselves to everyone. The club's attendance was about 80% with 20 people present. There was a nice mix of people in age and ethnicity. There was even a Rotarian there who knew Bloomington, IN very well since he had gone on a training there for five months! We had a lot to talk about. Everyone was very warm to us and we were treated as part of the family. We even found that some of the Rotarians were our neighbors! After I spoke we were invited to make the "Toti" club our second home, especially because it is so close to where we are staying.

Our next meeting is in Chatsworth, can't wait to meet those Rotarians.