"How was your trip?"

Whenever you return from a trip, everyone asks you: "so, how was your trip?," or "What was it like in Africa?" The easy answer is always "it was great" or "amazing," but that simple response does not capture the experience that I had in South Africa. It's going to be difficult to put into words and my description will not be able to capture reality, but here's my best attempt at answering the question that everyone will be asking...

My experience as an educator was different than my experience as a tourist, so I have to make that distinction.

Educator's Experience:
I've had the opportunity to travel quite a bit lately but I have never been into the schools and I want to incorporate this into future visits. It was refreshing to talk with fellow educators about their triumphs and struggles in the classroom and realize that no matter where you are, working with kids is challenging. We had the rare opportunity to visit an array of schools within the same city, which made me realize that I need to visit more schools in my own district as well. The inequalities that exist within South Africa are visible and it seems that progress is slow. Before we left, I fell in love with a quote by Nelson Mandela: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." As an educator, I know this quote is true. There is nothing more powerful than a good education, but so many people do not have access to one and it's criminal. This is true in South Africa, but it's also true in America. As my career as an educational leader emerges, I want to find a away to promote truly equal education for all children.

At Emafini Primary School, I had a workbook, chalk, chalkboard, and 45 learners in a class and I had to teach even though I didn't really know what I was teaching them. I taught students who were learning English as their second or third language and students from different academic levels who were all in the same class. They learned and they enjoyed what they were learning (I heard this later because they were talking about me in isiXhosa). As teachers in the United States, we have so many resources available to us that there is no excuse for not teaching our kids. I have an infinite supply of resources with multiple computers and internet access in my classroom. I have all the technology that a teacher could want; granted it doesn't always work properly, but I have it. I have 90 minutes during the school day to prepare for my lessons, grade papers, and do other work that needs to get done. I also have less students in a single class and far less in a given day. Why are we complaining so much? Good teachers are teaching around the world with the materials they have available... and they aren't complaining.

It's August and school is right around the corner. My goal for this upcoming school year is to bring the Xhosa spirit to Hoggard. We all need to work together for the benefit of the students. I want to remain positive throughout the school year. I have a difficult schedule for the fall semester, but I know that I can handle it. I will implement some techniques that were effective at Emafini and methods to help students who are struggling with their English comprehension. I want to create a community environment within my own classroom to ensure my students are collaborating for mutual success and not competing. I hope that I can pass this outlook along to my colleagues. I fear that the system has made many of us bitter and negative, but those attitudes are not what our students need. I am exciting about the upcoming school year and I hope that my Xhosa spirit still exists in October!

Tourist's Experience:
I will return to South Africa one day so that I am able to experience more of what the country has to offer. If you plan to go, my only advice is to not visit the U.S. Consulate. We got a safety briefing there which truly scared all of us, but I never felt unsafe during the trip. Port Elizabeth was a smaller city with a beautiful coastline. We were later told that no tourist ever spins so much time in PE, but I would strongly recommend going there.

Cape Town is what everyone told me that it would be: the most beautiful city. The geography of the city is so unique and I have never experienced anything like it. The coast was beautiful and almost reminded me of Maine or Northern California because of the huge rocks that were dotted along the beaches. Being at the V&A Waterfront felt similar to being at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. There were street performances, good food and shopping, and a very strong ocean smell. When you turn to your left (or right), you see the incredible Table Mountain which is so much bigger than you can imagine. You can hike up the mountain or take a cable car to the top. Unfortunately, it was closed for the winter, so this is something that I need to do when I come back.

Someone is wondering about the food and it was delicious. There was a strong English influence on the cuisine so I ate chips (French fries) with every meal, but their "ketchup" was different. We had a traditional English breakfast every morning: eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and baked beans. Something that was unique was that you could find such an array of meats. Besides from the basic pork, beef, and chicken, many restaurants had springbok and kudu on the menu. We were encouraged to eat warthog, but we never found a place that served it. South Africa is a destination that I would recommend if you are okay with being on a plane for 15 hours :)

Americans have many misconceptions about Africa. It's not a country... it's a huge continent that is very diverse. Within South Africa alone, there are 11 official languages. There are no lions or elephants roaming on the streets and I did not see any "tribal people." I didn't get malaria or Ebola.

I did see a nation that is still divided over a painful history that has many similarities with the struggle that America has gone through. I learned that living in a democracy is so much more than voting once every four years; it's about all the freedoms that we take for granted. South Africa has had a democracy for 20 years and they have made many accomplishments but they aren't "there" yet, although I don't think that America has figured it out yet either. I know that my two week experience in South Africa will change my professional and personal lives and I hope that other people get the chance to be transformed by a similar experience.

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