South African Women’s Cultural Exchange

December 28, 2002 – January 12, 2002

Our Journey Notes

January 12, 2003

We missed a few days because of our schedule…but soon you will hear the stories of our great adventure…the women from the United States, Canada, and Syria are on their way home. We had a security challenge and refueling…but we made the long trip home…after we had gotten up and out by 6.am., caught the plane to Jo’Berg, a bus tour (short) of Jo’berg, Soweto with lunch at another famous Shabeen. The trip back home was longer…perhaps because of the refueling stop…what made it easier was our community of women…
we came together, many of us strangers, and over the days found sisters. As they say in South Africa, our family is larger because you have come our way.

We will be gathering photos and stories from each so that we can share the whole story as best as possible.

By now you might know our word…funicular. If not, stayed tuned.
Thank you for your prayers.

Peace

Monday afternoon we visited a township. And we travelled through a vast area where over 500,000 people exist in shacks and boxes...as far as the eye could see...there were areas where there were very small houses (and you should see the tiny houses the govt is building in the areas around Polokwane). It seems that the blacks were not allowed to own property even if they had paid rent for decades...when the change came...it brought home ownership. We went to a "Sports Bar"....this was a home where a family lived for a long time and when the Mother died the son bought the house and he and his wife turned it into a Sports Bar because they have a house elsewhere. We were scheduled to have dinner in this place...and when they opened the doors to greet us it was like a New York hideway...simply but nicely decorated...clever use of windows, in and out...and it was comfortabe. The food is always good and when I eat meals prepared by our guests I have no "hit". Back to our quarters...and we all crashed.

Tuesday morning we were to visit Table Mtn but there were gale force winds so our visit was cancelled or maybe postponed until this morning. It was good to have a little break...some of us went into the Green Market in the city area of Cape Town...and it is like being in a Star Wars scene where all the characters are...people dancing on the streets or playing music...all kinds, shapes...and the market is immense with beautiful fabrics and beadwork...some bought drums...some paintings...there is a festive atmosphere here and after some of our experiences it was welcomed.

In the afternoon we went to Robben Island. Speak of miracles. Here are boat loads of tourists visitng the place where so many were imprisoned for their beliefs...and now the rest of the world flocks there. The tours are conducted by ex-political prisoners. We visited the lime quarry and the hole in the wall in the cliff that was called the University. They had a saying : Each one, teach one. The more educated prisoners would teach the ones without...by writing with sticks on the floor.

Last night we had dinner cooked once again by one of the SA Sisters and the Tour Guide...beans and rice and chicken with just the right herbs and spices.

Today, we will meet at 9am to see if we go to The Winelands or try Table Mtn again.

The weather has been excellent. It rained last night. The sun is fierce and there are many red necks and noses and shoulders.

Thanks for your continued good thoughts and prayers. This is an amazing journey and we feel your support and love.

Peace from Cape Town

Dear All: We are at Cape Point at the very southern point of the Cape...we have been touring the Cape Town area today, stopped for lunch in a village called Simon's Stop. The residential areas are stunning. We are with a new bus and guide...and if you want an idea of how pleased we are...we have a toilet on this bus as well. The weather is beautiful...and we are all very tired. We took a funicular (aka incline) to get to this point...which precedes the light house. We are on our way to a township where we will gather for dinner and a short get together before we all fall on our face. The area where we are staying is almost on the waterfront in Cape Town and is very nice...we had a nice breakfast and the hotel has a lovely pool on a terrace by the dining room. Oh, oh, we are off to meet the bus and down the coastline. Everyone is well... a little bronchitis, some traveling ailments...it is different from the areas in which we started. I could not see all of the stars last night...and we could where we stayed in the beginning.
Thanks for everyone's prayers and good wishes. Please know that we continue the singing and our journey...wishing everyone love and peace.

Update from Cape Town:

We left our country quarters this morning and rode through the vast and verdent African countryside. Sometimes corn fields stretch from horizon to horizon...and silos sometimes twenty deep. There is such a vast difference between the have and the have nots...and yet these South Africans whom we have met have a great joy and a marvelous open heart...we made good time and reached Jo'berg in time to unload all of our luggage and check in, got through security and boarded like clockwork. The flight lasted two hours and our first sight of Cape Town is at night and all of the lights are blazing. It is an immense city and we all look forward to discovering it together. And of course, we have been singing...on the bus, in the bus to board the plane .

We have a full itinerary and the two most significant stops for me will be Robben Island Tuesday and the Townships on Thursday. The Thursday visit will last from 10 until 10 with singing and dancing and township jazz...and of course a meal.

We are well...all together...and grateful.

Peace and love to all our families and friends. We appreciate your prayers.

We left Kruger National Park in Mpumalonga yesterday at 7 am – and the animals came out to say good-bye – many giraffes, a family of wart hogs, some elephants and many zebra. For the first time we really felt the intensity of the African sun – we journeyed to the township of Matsula and at the gate were a dozen or so women dancing and singing. They wore their cultural clothes – they were singing for us! They came on the bus singing and dancing – then got in the back of a pickup truck and escorted us into the village – we stopped at the Silulu Art Centre – both the building and their art are stunning – you’ll love the pictures.

We visitied a Sangoma and a couple of us had the bones thrown and read – after which more singing and dancing.

Then we made our way up the mountain to a great retreat center – it overlooks the valley where you see sugarcane and mango fields forever. We are enjoying great fresh fruit.

So – we are on the road today working our way back to Jo’berg – we leave for Cape Town at 6 PM tonight – so we may have another late night. Everyone is well – somewhat tired and happy.

We keep trying to think of what we will say when asked about this beautiful trip – we experience such love and abundance each day.

Everyone sends love!

Happy New Year from South Africa. Love to all of you. I already have so many stories to tell.

Love,

Mom aka Grandma aka Caronanne

The days have been packed with one adventure after another, full of amazing experiences. I am overwhelmed with the reception that we’ve had from the South African people. Even people working in the field that we’ve passed in our bus have stopped to wave enthusiastically, as we go by. We have been treated to fabulous meals and have seen things that I never could have imagined. And it is only Day Four! Love to all at home (or "the other side" as my African sister Mary says)

Mary

Celebrating New years with one uravi (barbecue) after another! Today has been such a relaxing, warm, sharing experience. Right now we are in Matlakala’s beautiful home singing, sipping, splashing (in a pool) and sharing. We are so eager for the rest of our adventure. Tomorrow to Kruger!

Love,

Nancy

Happy New Years to my friends and loved ones. I miss you so much and ask for your continued prayers for the safety of the group I’m traveling with. Please be blessed now and always.

Yours in love,

Carolyn Renée

Hi Friends –

I have been so warmly welcomed and cared for – It’s a very soul opening experience especially the singing and laughter.

Peace and love,

Katherine Stillman

Hi everyone,

I’m having a blast. I will have lots of stories to tell. I’m sending lots of love. Happy New Year!

Love,

Mom … Viki

The gods must be crazy – here we are in South Africa on New Years and soon my birthday. My vegan daughter wouldn’t be happy with the chicken feet, stomach lining and goat to eat, but the corn mush is tasty. Tribal dances now include tennis rackets and visors, but the open hearted enthusiastic welcome songs and dances are ancient and moving. Peace making takes on a new meaning in my life as I see the importance of economic partnerships as well as our songs rising together – not that that part isn’t awesome! Anyway, I’m learning a lot! And I send my love and thanks to my friends and family and wishes for peace and happiness in the new year.

Love,

Laura Light

Happy New Year!!

What a wonderful way to begin a new year. I am full of hope, peace and joy. The people of South Africa are loving, caring, open. I feel so welcomed here. The days have ben full of wonder. May the feeling last forever!

Peace,

JoAnn Ferris

Dear Ones,

Too many impressions coming too fast for me to be able to process it all in a paragraph. Home seems – and is – far away and yet you are all with me and in me – I like your company. May 2003 be good to all of you. Much love all around, please pass it on. I am well, by the way.

Nade

Note from the group: We are on to Kruger early in the morning – if we find a fax we will send – if not, you will hear from us either from Johannesburg or Capetown.

It’s the last day of 2002, and we all awoke with some anticipation of tonight’s gala dinner-dance to be held in our honor. We also have a little worry as well – they have told us that this affair will begin at 6 PM tonite and continue until 6 tomorrow morning! We are all feeling the effects of our long journey and the time change, so we wonder how we’ll manage to dance all night!? I suppose we should push till we drop – and make our families proud! More on this at another time. And speaking of time, we are operating here on "African time". Things seem to have a life and clock of their own – and always it seems that "10 minutes" turns into 2 hours. The plans we make all take longer than we think. I guess you might expect that when traveling with nearly 50 women.

The highlight of yesterday was a visit to the village of Matlala. This is the place where Matlakala Bopape was born – she is the host who invited this whole trip into being. This was a traditional village with the wildest and warmest welcome imaginable. Their custom is to gather at the home where guests are coming – all the neighbors, all the children and men – the women wear their finest dresses and headdresses – the men dress in our casual fashion and sit together.

The large yard was set for us with tables and chairs – plus a table with gorgeous beaded art – this home had prepared a typical South African meal for us and I wish I could name everything – the women from the village kept arriving in their splendid dresses – children in tow. Outside the fenced yard, the children gathered – soon we gathered with them playing and taking pictures. Their bright eyes and smiling faces depict the people we have met – especially the women and children. Beads, dancing, drumming – talking with words, gestures and looks – they welcomed us with their open hearts.

From here we visited a traditional healer and listened and watched as she threw the stones, bones and shells - …and on to the community center/house for the village counselors to explain to us their community structure.

I hope you get the idea of what is going on with us on this journey with our sisters in South Africa – the journey is rich – details and stories will follow both as notes during our trip and after our return.

We are off to bring in the New Year with our new friends in a grand celebration.

We are in countdown mode. Our plan is to either fax or email notes to our web sister in the states who will post here for friends and family. Our method will depend on technical availability.