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Kristin

Upon landing in South Africa, we were all tired from traveling for 24 hours (incredible we can be half way around the world that quick), but for me, it was so cool to finally land here in Cape Town. I’m more excited than I was before we flew out, and most of my expectations were blown out of the water. I was expecting Cape Town to be mostly flat and “deserty” looking, but it is so green and so diverse, with rolling hills, mountains, beautiful beaches as well as the plants here. I knew South Africa was a third world country but I didn’t think Cape Town would really show that. I was expecting it to be similar to the states (which some parts do look similar), but seeing the Townships where people lived really put into perspective that there are real struggles here. So far, all my interactions with South Africans have been positive and very optimistic – they seem to be very happy and cheerful people!

 

We were able to experience Gumboot dancing which was an expressional dance used in the mine fields and it was a very cool dance. Mining is very difficult and hard work, but through this expression of Gumboot dancing, we were able to see South African positivity shine through this difficult job and making the most out of the situation. The dancing showed unity and an understanding and sharing of struggles. It was really neat to experience that on our first day and shape the mindfulness for the rest of our trip.

 

The most impressive experience today aside from the Gumboot dancing was definitely our drive to the Team House (where we are staying for the week). 40 minutes from the airport, and I was able to gain a better understanding of Cape Town by just observing the different areas. Seeing how big the Townships were and what they actually looked like in our first 10 minutes of the drive. We were able to see the breath-taking landscapes, mountains and beaches and it gave me an appreciation for this other side of the world.

 

Nick

Today was full of new and exciting memories. It was really cool to see Africa out of the window of the plane while flying. Talking as a group with Libby from Liverpool, England was also very neat. I liked how we were able to talk about differences between English and Americans. Gumboot dancing was also fun.

 

After traveling completely across the world, I can say that I am tired, but it doesn’t feel much different from the United States. My pre-conceived idea that South Africa is a pretty well-developed country in relation to other countries I was expecting to be staying in the desert with little to no plant and animal life in the surrounding area.

Gumboot dancing to be very significant to the South African people and culture. It is apparent that the people working in these mines valued their families and social lives. Working in the mines deprived them of these things for long periods of time so they formed the beginnings of Gumboot to share the stories that they have with their families.

 

Jackson

My thoughts on my experience would be that I am in awe. I have not been able to believe my eyes since I have been here. When I found out that we were doing dancing, I was so excited. I enjoy dancing and learning something new. The dance was difficult but exhilarating to learn. My favorite part was “being the old man”. It was cool that this dance had a meaning behind it. Learning about the mining stories was interesting.

 

This is my first international trip of this caliber that I remember (I flew to Malaysia when I was very young). Flying like this is intense with the time differences, long flights, and quick turnovers. Finally coming up to South Africa was a humbling experience. The place that we are staying is beautiful and I am excited for everything that we have in store. I had pre-conceived feelings of nervousness before the trip. A lot of that was imposed on me by my parents. I feel ready and excited for what is coming to store.

 

The Gumboot dancing was more than just the dancing itself. The dancing was a symbol of thinking of their families while they were working. It also helped them keep positive attitudes during the strenuous work that they had to do.

 

I think we were able to connect with some of those struggles as we were trying to learn something new that was foreign to us (the dance), or not fully understanding the language that they were teaching us in. I like how the instructors say that dance and singing can help almost any problems that you are going to have.

 

Bryan

Today started off rough, with 3 hours of sleep and a 1AM wake-up call to catch our final flight from Dubai to South Africa. The flight lasted about 10 hours, and while I attempted to sleep the entire time, the ability for me to slumber in that position remains an elusive ability for me. As such, my stat for the duration of our events today, while being immensely interesting, where also very fatiguing for my psyche. This old man needs some sleep….

 

With that being said, the lunch at Coco Bean was great to experience. The food was very good, I got to try fried and grilled hahe. The young woman serving us and her daughter were very nice and answered all of our questions without issue. After lunch was Gumboot dancing, which was both entertaining, and interesting. I enjoyed getting to know the two gentlemen that taught us the dance and to interact with them and learn a little about the heritage, culture and history was fascinating. And they were just really friendly dudes. It was great to meet them and hear of how they dance they taught us was developed by the slave crews working the mines under very harsh conditions. To see how the roots of their dance came about from attempting to break up the monotone of work, and avoid detection from the boss were very interesting. I learned a great deal from just being able to interact with those two gentlemen.

 

Leni

Now that we have arrived in South Africa with our feet on the ground, I have a sense of relief and joy because we are here, but I also miss home because of my friends and family. My pre-conceived feelings have been solidified now that we are here. I am relieved that we made it.

 

The lives of mine works in South Africa were no doubt very hard. The poor working conditions mixed with oppression made working and living as a mine worker, unbearable. The expression of Gumboot dancing fit into the hardships of mine workers by giving them an outlet to express themselves and have fun. While being overseen by watchful, oppressive, eyes, Gumboot dancing let mine workers have fun and express themselves.

 

My experience today has been amazing and eye opening. Not only is South Africa beautiful, it is also rich with history. My initial thoughts before getting off the plane were that South Africa is very poverty stricken. I thought this based off of the outward appearance of the townships just outside of the airport. They looked similar to favelas in Rio de Janeiro or the shanty towns in India and parts of Asia. I soon learned from our tour guide, that some of the people that live in the townships make more money than people who lie in established homes. Lesson the day: Don’t judge a book by its cover! This part of the day stuck out most to me because of the vast amount of people that live in the townships.

 

Justin

Overall I am so amazed. Ever since we arrived in South Africa, I am just in awe! Seeing all the landscapes and he natural beauty of South Africa. Our team house is not at all how I expected it and it was like a five-star hotel. Even though I am tired and sick it was hard to really not participate and have the energy to explore and really experience Cape Town.

 

For me, I usually don’t have pre-conceived feelings because working in the Diversity Center had taught me well but at the same tie I do have my bias that South Africa will be under-developed and in the first few cases it was because I say the township and how it reminded me a lot of the Philippines and how they also have those types of communities.

 

Otherwise, I am truly amazed by South Africa and the people are awesome and very welcoming. Its understanding that visiting a country can be nerve wracking but at the same time be open to new experiences and that our biases will only get in the way of a once in a lifetime experience.

 

Learning the Gumboot dancing was really amazing to learn and hearing about where it came from was saddening too. I connected it more with the African American slavery and how they too use songs to pass down traditions and messages and also expressions. Looking at it in my lens, I know that the miners would have used only tools possible because they are working long hour for low pay and they barely see their loved ones or have the privilege to have a vacation. I remember what Professor Robert said…’that the Africans have used music and beat as a way of expression protest and also to show the hardship that they experienced. There is actually a dance move in that Gumboot dancing which emulate the pain of the back and to me it reminded me of how labor intensive the mines were and usually these jobs are offered to the black South Africans. In every song, I was able to pick up this thing because of the nature and history of the dance.

 

Javier

My feeling right now is excitement and just eager to do the next activity. Traveling across the globe just felt like I could not go to sleep and I need to see everything because I felt was going to miss something important. My thoughts about South Africa, I felt a little insecure about what to expect from the locals. Currently all of them are positive, upbeat, and most important, safe.

 

How I interpret gumboot dancing was since some of their dance moves related to the hard labor and the movements at what they did in their job, I felt that their dance expression was a way to feel a sort of paradise and happiness. Even though it was hard work, separated from their families, and the conditions were the worst, form the dance moves, I can tell that it was a strict or sense of guidelines.