My program organizes an annual weekend trip to Ocean View where students are assigned in pairs to a family for two nights. Ocean View is known for being a pretty run down town yet still in good spirits. They have nearly a 40% unemployment rate, high rate in teen pregnancy, and a distinguished meth problem. Needless to say, I was slightly concerned when I signed up for the weekend get away.
On Friday night they had a sort of welcoming celebration where we met our home-stay families and ate dinner with them accompanied by entertainment provided by kids from the community. When I met my mom for the weekend, Suraia, she told me there was another girl named Chelsea staying with us as well. Turns out it was Chelsea Flintoft, a fellow Bronco. Definitely put me at ease.
The weekend was filled with a lot of family and a lot of food. Our host mom, probably aged in the 70s, had her niece and nephew and their two daughters staying with her so it was a full house. And the house had little room to fill to begin with. Small sitting area to the kitchen with no dining table, so all meals required our plates on our laps, followed by a bathroom, and three tiny bedrooms. The bathroom was the weirdest thing. It didn't have a sink. And the tub didn't have a shower-head.
On Saturday morning we were immediately greeted by our host-moms grandchildren. A boy, Jayden (1 year and 1/2), and his older sister Jade (9). Yes, siblings named Jade and Jayden. Creative. Anyways, the kids absolutely loved us. And yes, I mean love, because things got a little too far with the 9 year old. After giving them constant attention all day and feeling somewhat like a babysitter, Jade expressed her affection by starting to kiss my hand and cheek. I thought it was just a cute overaggressive way for a child to show appreciation, but no. In due time Jade started telling me that she loved me and asked if I liked boys. When I told her yes I choose boys over girls, she said she wished I preferred girls and she could be my boyfriend. I'll leave it at that.
That day we went to the beach with other extended family, distributed soup to the needy, and had a Braai (South African BBQ) at night. These people really are all about family. Their friends are all distant relatives, every gathering is about family, and everyone participates to help one another. They also really like to party. No hesitations for giving out beers and making mixed drinks and apparently if I "drank too much and couldn't walk home, they'd carry me home". Fortunately I didn't get anywhere near that level.
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On Sunday morning we went to a Catholic church service followed by a large brunch and just two hours later it was time for another meal - a send off lunch before our departure. I have never felt more full than I did in those two days. During lunch a daughter in law finally said to me "you don't eat very much, do you?" The cue was that I didn't go for seconds or thirds, like most others did.
Talking to one of the older male relatives was extremely fascinating. Their entire family is colored, and spoke Afrikaans: two indicators they are of the oppressed demographic. In short, he (Jeremy) had a lot to say about the South African government and how horribly they treat the coloreds. Because South Africa is 80% black, the government has an implemented policy that therefore 80% of the jobs must go to the blacks regardless of qualifications. Basically, the South African government is extremely messed up. And hearing it from a disadvantaged colored was probably one of the most interesting conversations I've had in this country.
Overall it was a very nice weekend, but I was glad to get out of there. I was ready to sleep in my own bed, not be a babysitter, and not feel compelled to eat my heart out. The families were extremely generous and welcoming and though for majority of the downtime I had I was wishing I was at home able to get my immense amount of school work done, my time there did not go unappreciated.
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