Photo Story of memories

The pics in my Photo Story represent the overall theme of the memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, the file is too large for this forum. Email me at jamie_britt@pender.k12.nc.us and I will send it to you via email or check my facebook page. Sorry for the confusion and thank you all again for following me through my journey.

Final Reflections about S. Africa

Travel is the means to open eyes to situations similar, yet so different. While many of the political issues, student numbers, and lack of resource problems are very similar on paper, only a true first hand perspective can truly open the eyes of the beholder. Just because there may be similar numbers and financial issues present at a school, it is something completely different to see students who come to school with nothing and having nothing. For example, each student at Stephen Mazungula has to bring his or her own spoon and bowl in order to receive a meal of beans and water at school. The hunger in their heart drives desire for food and so much more. North Carolina definitely has some of the same educational factors as South Africa; however, the depth this hunger has penetrated within these students cuts far deeper than I have ever before experienced.

The number one factor that I have learned is that educators in America definitely take our situation for granted. I now realize how truly blessed we are in the United States. I would hate to be stuck in a school system with no accountability for money, teaching degrees, supplies, and more.

• Because of the strange process and variety of possible ways a “teacher” could become “qualified to teach” in the past, it is somewhat difficult to know who has actually received proper teacher training from a university. However, it is very easy to recognize official qualifications when actually talking to individual teachers and administrators at each school. That sparkle of desire for knowledge was present at each school.
• There is no governing board to oversee which “professionals” are considered “qualified or highly qualified.”
• Although some schools do receive money from the government, it is possible for the leadership at individual schools misallocate funds.
• It is up to individual schools who do accept fees from parents to disseminate those funds however they deem necessary. For example, at Beamont, the administrators use both fundraising and student fees to supplement teacher pay. That is, they lower student to teacher ratios by hiring more teachers with these funds.

“Equity” is not always equal.

• Both Gray and Gqebera were considered to be “Model C” schools due to paperwork and lack of government probing/leadership at the school.
• Although a school may not be considered segregated, it still is. If a school like Beaumont or Gray only accepts students whose parents can pay a fee of 800 or 1000 rand per year, then there is a huge population of blacks who will not be able to attend the school.
• Technological advancements on paper and maybe even in person won’t always equal educational advancements. Along with computers must come proper training, follow-through, repair technicians, and continued perseverance from all stakeholders.
• It is not enough to throw money into a school without change and innovation regarding educational leaders.
• At each high school visited, the principals said, “I would show you the library, but it is just an empty room.”

Leadership in schools can make or break any situation.

• Peer educators can often accomplish more with troubled teens than even the best teachers or administration trained to counsel.
• The principal and teachers at Gqebera seemed very negative and did not do anything to clean up the messes left from recent burglaries and a fire in December.
• The Human Dignity Center is run by a woman who is 27 years old, yet was a perfect exemplar of humanity and kindness.
• Ms. Elephant at Kama Primary was very motivating and led a successful school. The teachers respected her and took pride in the school more than any other school I saw. Her Grade R (like our Kindergarten) students were even going on a field trip.

Patriotism is a refreshing and powerful tool in any setting.

• We heard the National Anthem a total of four times while visiting schools.
• Peer educators at Lungisa discussed the unification of S. Africa and their pride in democracy as well as Nelson Mandela and their own personal humble beginnings. The parallelism of the young students and the young country bursting with optimism and pride did more than just entertain our group.
• The Red Location Museum is yet another example.

Motivation that comes from within is far stronger than any extrinsic motivator.

• Students at Lungisa decided to get together on a Sunday afternoon in a playground outside of the school in order to put together a two hour skit, speech, and song for our benefit. No credit or grades were associated with this gesture.
• A 4th grade student at Emafini Primary said, “If you are going to dream, dream big.”

Education really is power.

• Pride about having high scores thrived in most schools visited through a special vest given to the top student as well as opportunities to speak in class and organize events.
• The peer educators at Lungisa led an awesome skit, speech, and sharing circle.
• High school students attend school less for socialization and more for the information they need to go to a university and get out of the township.
• No food is offered to high school students in school.

Value is negotiable and varies from stakeholder to stakeholder.

• Edelmira actually taught me how to bargain while we were in Port Elizabeth. I then got to use my new “skill” when we were in Cape Town.
• The reason some students come to school is for a good, hot meal as well as the learning.
• Responsibility for one’s own property comes with stronger desires for basic needs such as food and water. At Stephen Mazungula, each student had to bring his or her own bowl and spoon each day in order to receive food. They also had to wash these utensils and remember them again the next day.

“You can only shed so many tears.” However, it is not the tears that have the power to change one’s situation in life. Therefore, it is only through innovation and change that one can raise above and beyond poverty.

• It is not enough to feel sorry for poverty-stricken families. A peer educator said this quote and really meant it. He spends his breaks and lunch hour helping counsel troubled students to fight STD’s, drugs, and other teenage troubles.

Even with diversity and unity mottos, it is still possible for misunderstandings to arise and stereotypes to prevail.

• A teacher at Stephen Mazungula said “Wow. You are all from North Carolina? I thought only black people lived there.”

When it comes to the arts, especially song, we all sing in a common language. It is not the words, but the power behind the voice that tells a story and sparks the spirit.

• We heard songs from the learners at every school except Gqebera High School.
• On the Robben Island bus tour, Asian tourists asked the tour guide to sing a song in Xhosa. Although her ability to sing wasn’t the best, her voice penetrated the entire bus and spread the feeling of strength and beauty.
• The power and strength of the song and dance at the Walmer Township dinner definitely accomplished more than just “telling” their sorrowful story of poverty to us.

Officially "back home"

Well, I will continue to update this blog for a while as I uncover more pictures, videos, and reflections from the trip. I will soon begin the next phase of assignments which will include major "takeaways" from the trip with some specific examples as well as the presentations for our myriad audiences. The latter will most likely include a Photo Story with even more pictures from the trip which I have not yet shared due to MB restrictuions and the choppy internet experienced throughout the trip. So, please stay tuned as I continue to recoup from the long plane ride and gain my bearings on when I am supposed to be awake and not sleeping ;) Thank you all for so diligently following my travels. I will not soon forget my experiences, my colleagues, or my newfound knowledge.

Thanks Vernon

Throughout the entire trip, Vernon (and his wife Leanne as well as two young children) often accompanied us on our daily vists/adventures. This was extremely helpful during our 10 hour drive from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and the final voyage to the airport. Thanks Vernon for all your help!

Farewell dinner

For our last and final dinner in South Africa, we elected to dine at an authentic South African cousine called Caribou's. Everyone was present except for Pam who had already eaten. Goodbye South Africa!!!

Two Oceans diving

Woohoo! Today was the greatest day ever! I got a chance to go diving with some Great White sharks and awesome turtles, fish, etc. I met some really fun people who went along and got some pretty decent pictures up close to these magnificent animals. The turtles are named "Yoshi" and "Wassabi." I had so much fun!

Robben Island

This island was the prison "home" of Nelson Mandela for 19 years. Our group took the 1 hour ferry ride to the museum where we had a 45 minute bus tour around the island. Some of the roads were washed away because of the recent bad weather, so our trip was cut a little short. The cell you see in one picture was the actual room where Nelson Mandela slept. There is also a limestone quarry where each of the prisoners worked as part of his/her punishment. Mandela also gave his famous speech there by the pile of rocks. There is a church, school, the four separate prison buildings, a leper graveyard, and several houses still on the island today. Today, the entire island makes up a "museum" where approximately 100 ex-prisoners and ex-guards work together to increase awareness about Robben Island. Overall, it was a very informative tour.

Views of Table Mountain

There were some more great views of the infamous Table Mountain from the ferry ride and once we actually got to Robben Island.

Awesome African penguins!

How cool are these? Real penguins! But, they only stand about a foot and a half tall. This was a little "bonus" for the day because I really had no idea I would get to see them in person and up close.

Beaumont Primary

Our final school visit was at Beaumont Primary School. This school was without a doubt the best school we have viewed thus far. The infrastructure is definitely in need of repairs, but the community involvement shows through strong parental duties, volunteer efforts, and overall student success. While the school is funded by the government, the learners at the school must pay fees which are mostly used to supplement teacher salaries in order to reduce class sizes and hire more teachers. It is a Christian-based school with a strong belief that God comes first. Each day even starts with a morning prayer. While the school is performing well and this was a different perspective of South African schools, it is still hard to believe that such vast differences in overall quality can be present within one nation.

Final destination

Well, we have finally arrived in Cape Town where we will remain for the remainder of our stay in South Africa. The view is of Table Mountain. We are hoping the weather will cooperate so that we might be able to take a cable car to the top and get a nice view of the city. So far, we have still seen shacks and poverty, but the city as a whole is beuatiful. The name of our new temporary "home" is Brenwin and it is located at the top of a steep hill.

Cosmos Guest House

We were only here for one night, but it was very enjoyable and warm. I wished we could have stayed longer! The room was spacious and it overlooked the ocean.

"Kids" at McDonalds

Along the way, we stopped for lunch at McDonalds. Kato and Chris decided to get lost in the slides on the playground. Hey - we have to have some fun sometimes.

Views from the ride

Honestly, the ride was much like taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway in our own North Carolina mountains, except for the fact that the ocean was always running alongside the highway. There was a storm last night and today with winds up to 40 MPH. We surely would have called it a tropical storm watch if we were home. Anyhow, we arrived safely and we are off to our final destination in just a few hours. The final school visit is today, so I will post more as soon as I have some steady internet.

Gqebera High School

This is by far the school in the worst condition we have seen. There was a fire in December and no one has cleaned up the rubble. Only one classroom in the whole school has electricity because of vandalism! It really looks like a prison and the teachers seem very pessimistic. They have recently gone from around 1000 learners to 352. What a big jump!

Port Elizabeth scenery

We are leaving Port Elizabeth in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Dad asked for some pics of Port Elizabeth, so here goes... it's a very under-commercialized beachfront town. The one picture just shows one of the open- markets. The hillside housing picture represents what the majority of the homes look like. Some homes are nicer and some people just live in the shacks.

Red Location Museum

We weren't able to take pictures inside the museum, but I took a couple of the scene around it. It is a beautiful building dedicated to celebrating those people who helped end Aparteid in S. Africa. Just outside of the beautiful new building, kids were playing in poor neighborhoods on old mattresses. Very heart-wrenching scene!

Lungisa High School

We finally got to visit a high school. Roughly translated, Lungisa means "rising up to make things better" and that is just what this school is doing. I was very impressed with the leadership, both from the principal and the student leaders. The 11th grade students decided to put on a show of their own accord- no prompting from administration. They were all peer educators who helped act as a counselor to other students in need. These students did a wonderful job, too. They even practiced on Sunday to be ready for today. We need a program like this in the U.S. Then, the 12th graders we saw didn't even have to come to school today, yet they did because the teacher was behind and they wanted the information for Geography. I learned today that high school students are not offered a single meal all day. The students, grade 8-12, go to school for 6 hours without food. Amazing!