Day 3 in Pretoria

Today was our second day of class at the University of Pretoria. A group of us decided to walk there, which meant a 40 minute walk, including walking up a fairly significant hill for 20 minutes.

We had a lecture on the issues facing schools in post-apartheid America, and one on the economic and political geography of South Africa. The second lecture was a little brutal. Basically we went over a number of studies of where the main economic/industrial areas of the country have been over the past 40 years. Interesting, but the professor was using highly technical terms that often went right over our heads.

Our museum in the afternoon was the National Cultural Museum, on the other side of Pretoria City Hall. Pretty interesting exhibits. And Paul, I found a bust of Nelson Mandela.... but it was a pretty important work of art, and the museum wouldn't let me take it. Sorry dude. Dann Dunn, our South African tour guide/driver says I should just buy you a T-shirt. He told me he owns a few and he actually wears them instead of suits when he needs to dress up, though I'm going to put that in the same category as when he told us he is half Scottish - by which he meant his lower half is Scottish.

Tomorrow is more class and I think the Voertrekker Monument in the afternoon, which should be really interesting. It's a monument to the Afrikaaner victory over the Zulu, I think. It's another interesting aspect of a country that still deals with the effects of apartheid on a daily basis.

To anybody who's been keeping an eye on the news, you might have heard about violence and riots in Johannesburg. This is actually part of a new xenophobic aspect of South Africa. They're facing a similar situation to the US in which large numbers of people are immigrating to this country. Unemployment is estimated as high as 50% here, and many South Africans blame the newcomers for taking good jobs which has resulted in violence towards anyone seen as a foreigner. However, we're safe from the violence as we aren't taking jobs and are actually contributing to the economy.

The trip has been very interesting so far. All of the people who we've heard speak grew up in apartheid, so it provides a unique perspective on the history we're studying. We've encountered a number of people from each of the racial categories set up by the apartheid government, and each has a very different perspective and view of the new and old South Africa. Especially interesting was the Afrikaan professor who taught us the history of South Africa until 1900. Talking about how colonial times has influenced a number of the problems facing South Africa today, she told us that everyone would be better off if they just let the past go. So basically, after spending two hours chronicling the history of her country, she told us it didn't matter. She also said a few other things people found fairly offensive, which was eye-opening as well.

I'm uploading photos right now, so you should be able to see them on the Flickr site shortly. Be sure to check out the picture of my shark bite wound.