The President, is it?

Hello all,
 
What a week it has been!! In some ways I feel like I've been in Pretoria forever, as the transition has been so incredibly smooth settling in here. This is mainly to do with the wonderful people I've met who have helped me out over the past 7 days and also having my friend, Emma, still with me. In other ways, however, my mind is being expanded tremendously and so every, single moment feels unique and new. I guess this one of the many blessings of travel.
 
I survived my first week of practicum! You'll find me most days on the 6th floor of a large, curvy, pink and green office tower in downtown Pretoria - where taxis honk (or 'hoot' as they say here), people bustle and drivers whistle out their windows on the busy streets below. The core  is definitely dirtier and more chaotic than my neighborhood. I have spent this week getting used to my new set up (slooooooooow internet and LOTS of security as I enter the building) and attending meetings in order to be 'briefed' on things happening in the Department. It's a bit overwhelming right now but I'm sure things will improve as time goes on. I am slowly getting a picture painted for me as to what my specific role will be and it sounds like I will be conducting some baseline research with child protection social workers in all of the 9 provinces. This means travel throughout South Africa and I couldn't be more chuffed about this. 

Aside: I can't quite get used to the noises here. During both the days and the nights.  At night time it is more obvious, when the world is quiet and loud car engines, gun shots (according to Emma), alarms, sirens, dogs, and crickets (I think) keep me wide awake. Even when I walk out of my house in the morning and take a pause, the sounds are so very intruding.
 
There was a big event in our Department yesterday and it's quite comical that I was a part of it. It was the Official Launch of Child Protection Week and the proclamation of the Children's Act which was done in an address by the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma (or Jay-Z as the locals call him). I attended a planning meeting for it during the week and my mind was cataloguing all of the different preparations necessary to pull such a thing off. There were also many, many departments involved in pulling this together. Talk about cross-sectoral collaboration. The event itself was held in a township community hall just outside of Pretoria, with 1500 children and carers present along with the necessary dignitaries. It was pretty cool to see the President and hear him speak. However, I was more moved by the children who were there, all in their South African Fifa jerseys and waving their South African flags. When the national anthem was being played the children were, in unison, singing at the top of their lungs, I was really emotional and had to really take a moment to think and notice where I was standing. (I also learned that the Sesame Street characters in this country have HIV. Very interesting.) Read the story here: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=nw20100521163308251C377799

It was also "Football Friday" whereby all government staff wear their Bafana Bafana (Boys, Boys) jerseys. Bafana Bafana is the name of the South African football team. They are in the World Cup and obviously the local favourite. Apparently it's like this for all Fridays from now on leading up to the kick off. It's kinda like causal Fridays' at home I guess, with a twist. My colleague, Carmen, was kind enough to get me a jersey so I won't stick out like a sore thumb (although, regardless of that, I sorta already do!) I also found out the country's winter school holidays are being extended because of the World Cup.  If only Canada had given us all a vacation during the Olympics! :)

Anyway, that's all I'll say for right this moment. I was in Soweto today and at a Rugby match but that deserves another blog altogether. Thanks for reading.
 
Brianna

Pretoria

I am in my new 'home'. I arrived late Saturday night in a wind storm. I was greeted by Asnath - my landlady's housekeeper who lives next door in her own separate quarters (her grandson and husband also live there). She went over the security measures for the house in great detail after we stepped foot inside. My mind was racing and I couldn't keep track of what key went where, which button meant what, etc. I was just preoccupied with my own thoughts about how different it is here - a society based on mistrust? I DO get why but it will take some getting used to on my part!

The house I am in has gates, barbwire, outdoor beams which detect movement, an indoor alarm system, bars on the doors and windows, as well as individual keys which lock each room. I sleep beside a device that has a panic button on it in case. There are also two dogs here which bark very loudly whenever anyone walks by. (I am an extremely light sleeper so need to get used to this!)

The neighborhood I am in is very nice. A lot of bureaucrats live here apparently. It's quite close to the city centre as well as popular areas such as Hatfield and Brooklyn.  I have done a bit of exploring nearby (there is a gym close yay!!) and feel a bit better since Saturday. The plants and trees are so lush and large, I love it. The sun has been shining everyday too. I will post pictures soon.

There has been no shortage of things to do - I have met some wonderfully social and friendly people. My landlady's son (Jed) is stranded in SA until his passport comes through so he took us around on Sunday and organized a Braai for us tonight. Also, a friend's cousin lives just up the road and we met for dinner last night. He is having a party on Friday so I look forward to going to that and meeting more locals. Also, my colleague at work is super and has offered to introduce me to her friends and take me places to tour on the weekends. I have definitely landed upon some fantastic people that will make this experience even more enriching.

I did start my practicum today which was GREAT. HIGHLIGHT: That I will likely get to travel to other parts of South Africa to conduct some research. Can you believe it?! I need to write a whole other separate blog for that. Stay tuned.

Brianna 

Between

I'm beginning to realize the irony of my title: 'In Between Bars' as this could also refer to the security bars which are covering all windows and doors in my new home. I literally live in between the bars. And behind them.

The word 'between' is becoming noticeably everywhere. It's hard for me not to notice. I saw the following sign up in a winery on Tuesday:

Also, the quote of the day delivered to my inbox yesterday was: "If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." - Michael Jackson, 1958-2009

And, THEN walking through Pretoria today, a sign beside a block of flats which read: 'In Between'!

(I take these 'signs' as flag posts which tell me I'm on the right path. This familiarity gives me faith and a sense of affirmation.)

This got me thinking about Cape Town's in 'betweens'. It was quite obvious to me who the elites were bustling about the city - those driving fancy cars in their fancy clothes with their fancy accent drinking wine spritzers...very Parisian. Men with their sweaters wrapped around their shoulders and women in their high riding boots. I also noticed those who were at the opposite end of the spectrum - those who live on the fringes of society. Those men and women who desperately beg on street corners and followed me a few blocks, those who watch over parked cars on the street ('job creation' the locals call it), those who live in shacks along with highway, electricity poles (a recent addition) openly draping above. Yet what about those in between? What about those South Africans? Your average working class South African citizen? Who are they? How do they live? Are they happy? Do they believe their society has improved since Apartheid ended? Do they have pride? They often are not as noticeable, going about their own business, yet they do make up the dominant group of people I will meet and come across in the next few months. I will be asking them these questions, among others. And where, more importantly, do I fit in? Am I in between all of this?
 
I was on a very crowded plane headed for Johannesburg last night. I believed it could be an accurate representation of what is on the ground below. Loud. Mix or colours and ethnicities. Languages galore. Aggression. The pilot kept coming on the intercom updating us on a rugby score. Reminded me of what might happen on a WestJet flight during a gold medal hockey match. The flight was incredibly rocky actually and I was terrified for a few minutes.

 Our last few days in Cape Town were excellent. Hard not to fall in love with that city - even in the rain. We visited a museum called District Six on Thursday. It is a tribute to the area of Central Cape Town that was declared a 'White Group Area' in 1966. By 1982, over 60 000 African people were forcibly removed, their houses flattened by bulldozers, to a barren outlying area known as the Cape Flats. The museum is a tribute to those who were affected by the forced removals and is a good example of community development. The community museum was organized by and for the people it is paying tribute to - a good example of how intimate stories of personal lives can uplift spirit, bring people together to triumph in overcoming marginalization. There was nothing fake about that place whatsoever - all the artifacts, the people working, the art, etc. were all donated by those who suffered the most. I left feeling incredibly moved. The land of district six, to this day, remains barren.

Saturday was spent driving along the coast...embracing the sun that had finally graced us with its presence. They week ended all too soon. Cape Town is magnificent.

I have a lot to say about my first impressions of Pretoria and how I feel about living here. I've done a lot of processing in the past 24 hours and still trying to make sense of it all. Let's just say I am feeling a bit like I live in a prison cell. I know it's for my own benefit but feels over dramatic right now.

I have to get up very early for the start of my practicum tomorrow so I really have to get to bed despite my longing to write forever. More about this later.

Brianna (along with an obnoxious cricket which sounds like it's in my room)

Robots

Hiya from the Cape!

One of the first South African slang terms I've picked up is "robots". This is what South Africans call traffic lights. The robots. I love this!! On Monday, Emma and I saw a man hit a robot with his Beamer. Slammed right into it as we were crossing a busy road and took it out completely. Then he attempted to drive away with the bumper dragging along and a flat left tire. Everyone just stood around and laughed. In North America, we would rush over and see if the driver was OK, but not here. Yesterday, we went by that same road and the traffic light was still on the ground. Guess it's not that important!

Another slang word I'm becoming fond of is "pleasure" - the common response if you say "thank you" to anyone, even the grocery store clerk.

I've had a good week. Besides the rubbish weather, we've enjoyed a nice, calm pace to life. It hit me today: I am nearing the end of my non-working days. I have not worked full-time since August of 2009, before my Masters' begun. This should be an interesting transition - not only will I be back to a 40 hour work week, but in South Africa no less.

I have started to absorb what is around me day-to-day. It's hard here not to get caught up in the glitz and beauty that is Cape Town; admittedly, I have forgotten at times that I am in Africa. In certain moments I feel like I am in India. The horns, the aggressive driving, the smells of the sewage on the streets, the men lurking on street corners. At other moments, I feel like I am back in the UK. The street signs, the toilets, the large housing estates, the produce. This city is an interesting blend of old and new, Euro and Asia, rich and poor.  The birds are ridiculously loud when they squawk, as is the rain when it comes down and hits the roof.

Monday we attempted to go to Robben Island (where Mandela was held prisoner for 28 years) but the weather was too poor so the boats were not running. Instead we explored the Waterfront area, which is full of shops and restaurants. Not very African, more like West Edmonton Mall. I got a glimpse of the World Cup Green Point Stadium nearby, pretty swank.   The clouds finally lifted a bit and we saw some of Table Mountain from the balcony of the restaurant we ate lunch at.  Gorgeous.

Tuesday we got on a tour bus with 6 others (2 Germans, 1 Danish, 2 Canadians and a Brit) and took a drive out to Stellenbosch, the wine region located about 45 minutes out of Cape Town. We spent the day out there visiting the following four wineries: Fairview, Solms Delta, Tokara and Villiera. They each had their own unique atmosphere and stories. I loved every minute of it - our driver, Bruce, was full of laughs and had some great corny jokes. Such as: "Cape Town is like a baby...always wet or windy". Hee hee. He also had the best music to go along with the drive - very important to me as many of you know. I wrote down quite a few local artists names as a result.

Yesterday was action-packed as the forecast was predicting there would be some sun. (It was right.) We got on a bus early and drove around the entire Cape Town area, stopping for a coffee and walk at Camps Bay. Wow. Stunning place to live.  I have a new life ambition to settle in Camps Bay (sorry, Mom).  We then ascended Table Mountain - it took about 1.5 hours. There were 5 of us - poor Bernie who just had knee surgery...she was struggling. I will remember a lot of water spraying off the waterfalls and high winds on the climb up.  Also, it was quite steep at times. TOTALLY WORTH IT THOUGH!!! The views of the both sides of the mountain (one towards the Camps Bay/12 Apostles side, the other the Cape Town side) were spectacular. I couldn't quite wrap my head around where I was. It's like being on top of the world. Sigh.



Last night we headed out for a truly 'African' meal and to a place called "Mama Africa's". I ate crocodile! It was actually quite nice. The music and vibe in there was sweet....I was grinning a lot and happy to be in the chair I was in.

Big hugs from the girl with poofy, wavy hair and not-so-dry skin,
Brianna

The Long Journey to Africa

Calgary-Amsterdam

After departing Calgary at 6 pm and saying good-bye to my teary family, we (my friend Emma and I) arrived in Amsterdam at 11 am local time. It was rainy but still felt warmer than snowy Calgary.   After a quick bite at the hotel, we took an afternoon nap which helped us prepare for a fun night out on the town. I quickly remembered why I love Europe and Amsterdam so much. Everything was green, quaint and lots of people were on their cool-looking bikes. So civilized.
  
We took the 'silent' carriage in a large train to Central Station to be warmly greeted by two friends. We had a great dinner in a little Italian diner near the red light district which was followed by a drinks in a corner pub where we sat outside and soaked in the glittering lights and canals. We somehow didn't get back to the hotel until 4 am (which felt quite normal...8 pm in Calgary!) and got up again at 7 am for our flight to South Africa.

Amsterdam-Johannesburg

Schipol Airport was a zoo on Saturday. It was like the world had descended upon Amsterdam to fly somewhere. We made through the madness to happily find a coffee and a charger for Emma's cell phone which she conveniently forgot (mine doesn't even work, mind you, so I need to sort that out soon). We got on board the gigantic plane that was KL591 to be told that we could not take off (as we were poised on the runway) due to a technical malfunctioning of the fire alarm system on board.  This definitely needed to be rectified, so we turned back for the gate.

We were then told that it would be quicker to all disembark the plane and use a different one instead of fixing the technical problem. This was met by a large groan! Instead of departing at 1030 am, we were to leave at 2 pm. This changed things arriving into Jo'Burg so late at night (like 1 am) and caused me concern for my baggage collection plan in which my landlady's friend was going to pick up half of my luggage to take to my new home in Pretoria. I doubt he would be up for doing this now.....I called and left him a message saying we were about 4 hours late.

Arriving in Jo'Burg was quite ordinary despite things I've heard. It was really late and I think being the only flight to arrive helped. Customs was a breeze as was collecting our bags. Allan, the baggage 'driver', was there after all! He had come late, bless him. He took my one bag back to Pretoria with him to drop off at Carol's (where I will be living). We then hopped into a cab and got to our hotel. I couldn't see much of Jo'Burg at this point, only the highway. I don't remember falling asleep....but zzzzzzzzzz was easy to take at this point.

Johannesburg-Cape Town

We woke up at 730 am to sunny and warm South Africa!!!! We were back at O.R. Tambo International before you could say 'Cape Town' and back on another plane. Flying into Cape Town was a joy! You could easily see the long coastline and beautiful Table Mountain, the clouds hugging it closely. We were picked up by Emma's friend Andrew, and he took us to our hostel located in the "Gardens" district of central Cape Town. It for sure helps having someone to shuttle us around and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the city tomorrow. We just got back from a nice dinner out. The rain is supposed to clear up by Wednesday thankfully!

I'm afraid my first impressions have been fairly limited to airports and cars. However, we did drive by some townships on the way into town and I could see first hand how segregated they are from the rest of the 'haves'. The city itself appears much more developed. Something I took note of quickly was how women carry their children, like on their backs, piggy-back style, and wrapped in cloth. I also have took note of how society seems be pre-occupied with gates and locks and keys. We have 3 separate doors to open before we even get to our private room. World Cup advertisements are also everywhere!!!

The rain has started up again...it sounds so loud out there! Torrential! Here's hoping it's less obnoxious tomorrow. Bye for now!

Feet on the ground in Africa (wow),
Brianna :)

The Concept

(No, I don't mean in between bars as in drinking holes....) ;)

Hello! Or Hallo! as they say in Afrikaans.

On the journey throughout my Masters of Social Work program, there have been numerous times where I have been holding on for dear life to my bar-of-the-moment, swinging along, too afraid to let go. There have been other times where I could feel myself grab onto a new bar, when I released my grip of the present, because the next step, my growth was calling out to me.

This blog is about what happens in the middle, in between bars, where trnansition and change occurs. This is a rich and rewarding place to be, a place people often fear. My intention is to articulate that in this space "In Between Bars" I have learned to FLY. The inspiration for this metaphor comes from a wonderful book called Warriors of the Heart by Danaan Parry: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0965380823


In 5 sleeps I will be taking off for South Africa. I will spend about 3 months there, 12 weeks working for the Government in the Department of Social Development. Here is a synopisis of what I will be doing (as described for the Dr. Irma Parhad strudentship Programmes):


Brianna will travel to the South African capital Pretoria, located in the Gauteng Province to complete her advanced Masters’ of Social Work practicum.  She will be working within the South African National Department of Social Development (DSD), within the Chief Directorate of Children. The DSD recognizes that lifelong learning and professional development of social workers is important, and that social workers are key resources in addressing the needs and challenges of society. Specifically, her role will be undertaking research work in the area of child protection. A National Surveillance Study on child abuse, neglect and exploitation commenced in 2008 and is the umbrella study she will be contributing to. An immediate outcome of this particular study is to develop policies and strategies for child care protection, hence, her responsibilities will include will include participatory stakeholder liaison in provinces, research data management and analysis, report writing, amongst others.


I have completed my core course requirements as of April 15, 2010 so the practicum in South Africa is the final step in completing my Masters'. Not only does this trip signify an educational milestone, but it represents the manifestation of a dream I have had for many, many years. Ever since I returned from India (2001), I have stated quite blatantly that I wanted to go and work in Africa. I spent four years in Europe since then (2004-2008), still holding on tightly to this vision. Now, nine years later....I'M actually GOING!


This blog will likely be a mixture of reflection of my time in Africa in both a professional and personal capacity and I hope you do enjoy following along.

With a big smile and an open heart,
Brianna