Seeking a better solution?

As I’m sure I have mentioned before, Masinyusane (pronounced Maa-sin-you-son-nay), primary objective is to better the lives of the New Brighton community through education.  So there are tons of things happening- my grade 10 program is just a drop in the bucket- and one of them came all together this week.  And, of course, me being the annoying devil’s advocate, challenging questioner that I am, have been struggling nit picking. Again..

So real quick- the education system here- township and town schools alike- are completely dependent on standardize tests.  Matric year, or 12^th grade, is CRAZY hectic, as your life is basically dependent on your Matric marks.  Now on paper, education is free and equal, but just like at home, I would guess that a family would rather send their student to an Edina district rather than a North East Minneapolis school.  Same here-  Because of a million financial loopholes, the township schools are by no means offering the same quality of education that the town schools do.  As I have vented about before- school just doesn’t happen at the school that I work at on a regular occasion.  And when it does happen, we offer a whole lot skimpier course than some of the more privileged schools.  Ok- you get my point-  we are at a disadvantage here.

Sooo back the my original train of thought:  One of the programs that Masinyusane works at is finding the top learners from all over New Brighton, Zwide, Kwasakale and helping the get through the hurdles of applying for college, scholarships, financial aid, housing, etc.  So we’ve been doing such.  Out of 20,000 or so kids, we found 128 that have scored the minimum requirements to apply for college.  Ok- let’s just pause here- that’s like 1% of students from the township have even the smallest hope for going to college.  They largely don’t have proper teachers, or course work, or books, or full bellies to study on.  The fact that they have made it this far blows my mind.. 

Ok I digress-  Anyway, so these students are pretty great, self-motivated, dynamic people.  So we got them all in one room, and helped them fill out the necessary forms, and tried to make their applications as strong as they can be.  The financial aid man was there hollering, trying to create the situation that they will have to go through at some official interview.  “Why isn’t your mother working?”  “Where is your father?”  “How many people live at your house?”  “Why doesn’t somebody get a job and pay for you?”  AHHHHHHHHHHH.

So then the next thing was a career assessment.  This is where Danika the challenger/endless questioner comes in.  So they take this test which prescribes for them what field of study would suit them.  So my -7 times changing my major/personal journey/figure it out as I go/take what sounds interesting- sort of path would never fly.  They take these tests which look at the their Matric scores, and what classes their high schools have offered, and generates their career path.  Ok, well I’m being harsh here.  I’m sure there is some famous dead psychologist somewhere that believed that this is the best way to help students from varying backgrounds equal their playing field.  And I’m sure that some of the University level coursework at a much higher standard than Lwandlekazi, for example.. And sure, some of them would drop out because they can’t cope.  But what happens to the student who should make a great doctor, who ends up as a mechanic because that what some career aptitude test told him he would be.  WHEN HE WAS 18!!  Or I guess the other way as well, what about the student who wants to be an artist, but they have scored marks in accounting.  Like WHAT.  Yahh yahh, it takes all kinds to make this world function.  But I guess I just like the idea of taking risks, and making mistakes, and making it work.

**I’m sure my dad is screaming at the computer as he reads this.  We need tradesmen.  We all can’t be doctors and lawyers. Yah I agree- but it makes me so irate that 128 learners who have spent their whole lives overcoming these endless struggles are now being told what they should do, based on what opportunities they have had thus far.  I know every system is in place for a reason- this particular one to help learners cope, to open career paths, and I suppose to fill a need for some understaffed fields.  But it still seems like there could be improvements to the establishment.  Somewhere.

 

Heritage day

First of all- sorry for the lack of updates.  Days just keep passing and the blog just keeps getting shuffled to the back of the list.

This week has been a holiday from school, which I absolutely needed to catch my breath.  Tuesday was a public holiday, Heritage Day, and I was very interested in what celebrations would look like.

At Masinyusane, I was lucky enough to help some grade 11 students implement a festival celebrating their Heritage.  I was a weary of instigating ANOTHER day of school where little learning took place, but I was excited that some of the students were passionate about this project, so in the end, I encouraged them to proceed.

It turned out to be quite the success!  We all filed into the assembly hall down the street from school wearing traditional garb. (I of course wore plaid)..  The community was invited, and the procession started only 2 hours after it was scheduled to start!! I was prepared for much more of a delay.  Each class was responsible for a different skit; many preformed song or dance.  It always kills me how musically talented these people are, and what’s more is the fact that everything is far more participatory than an American assembly.  So while the grade 9 started singing a song, the whole hall joined in, and when the hall joined in, the people outside joined in, and when the people outside joined in, the people down the block came to see what was happening.   I was happy that all of this talent drowned out the sound of my voice attempting to get involved J

Here is one of the dances, a gumboot dance, that the students worked very hard on.

We also invited a local Reverend to speak who was deeply involved in the struggle for freedom.  The majority of his rally was in Xhosa, but from what I gathered, he was saying that God didn’t make a mistake when he made the Xhosa man black.  He didn’t make a mistake when they were oppressed, and he certainly didn’t make a mistake when they were liberated.  He spoke about the need to celebrate their history, the good and the bad, and be proud of who they are.  It’s hard to put into words how empowering of a speaker he was, but it was dead silent when he spoke, except for a whole lot of “Amens!” exclaimed in agreement.

Most of these students are mine doing a dramatic performance about struggling to get water (I think). 

That night, I went to hang out with a crowd of friends of the other side of the train tracks, and the festivities were quite different.  To them, it wasn’t Heritage Day, it was National Braai Day.  (Braaing is like barbequing- but on a much bigger fire, and a whole lot less rushed).  There was no song and dance, no speech about our history.  In fact, lots of the people there didn’t realize what public holiday it was.  But there was a lot of meat, beer, and conversation!  I am still always thrown by the different lives that are coexisting here- sometimes it’s very hard to reconcile, and know exactly where I fit in in this jumble of a “rainbow nation.”  Am a suposto be working to bridge this gap?  Am I suposto recognize that this is absolutely an issue that needs to be addressed in my own country?  Am I suposto accept that this is what the road to rebuilding looks like?  I don’t know…But I’m happy to be here; wearing my plaid, eating my meat, celebrating in Black struggle and perseverance.

Fit Fit

So to combat the assured 20 lbs. that Cadbury, Nando’s, McDonalds, and Black Label graced me with last year, I’m trying to stay fit. But holy, it’s more difficult in the real world!  I sit at a computer, and get delivered scrumptious treats from all the old church women.  And its rude to turn down cultural experiences, right? Well, I only brought 2 pairs of pants, and I CANT rip them this year…..

I am now a member of Gale Force, the Port Elizabeth Ultimate Frisbee team.  I am a starter!  Granted, it’s because of my X chromosome, not my natural ability, but I’m getting better.  The team is quite young, and the game is quite confusing, but every week gets a bit better every week.  The best way I can describe it is it’s a combination of soccer and netball, but with a Frisbee.  Lots of running.

I also ran the Color Run last week!  Well, running is a relative term.  We ran about 1 k, and panted the rest. J But it was fun none the less. First time in Africa, and it comes to PE!  Basically every few hundred yards, the volunteers throw paint at you.  Took a few good scrubs, but I am white again.

 Here we are post race

 

I also joined a fancy gym here.  Think Jersey Shore for the men, and Hollywood for the girls.  Every bicep in there is the size of a tree trunk, and there was actually a woman running on the treadmill in high heels.   Even the Zumba has a bit of an African stomp to it.

Just another set of my “ice burg” cultural experiences J