After watching Invictus and reading Never Give Up, I feel that I have a better understanding of how South Africa got to be where it is today and how daily hardships are affecting communities there. An immense amount of thoughts and emotions are running through my head about the upcoming trip that it is difficult to sort through them and write them down. Following the resources that we were to investigate as well as some additional research of my own, I recognize that although Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, there is a deeper, more concerning level of society that is struggling. How will our work there influence their community? Will we have an impact at all? This semester, my leadership class read “To Hell With Good Intentions” by Ivan Illich. Due to this particular reading, I am having trouble convincing myself that what we are doing will make an impact and will help this community. What if what we are doing in the Guguletu community is actually doing more harm than good? Did we ask them if food parcels was something that they really needed? Maybe someone, somewhere, did that research and can answer that question because without asking the community members what they truly need, how are we really helping?
Although my excitement for this trip is overwhelming, every day that we get closer to the trip, I become increasingly nervous. My biggest concern and frustration with South Africa is the safety. Through my personal research and particular accounts that Kevin Winge describes, I am sickened by some of the statistics and events that occur on a daily basis. I realize that I am a smart, responsible person and we are in a program that will do all they can to keep us safe, but the knowledge that I have gained about the country continues to linger in the back of my mind.
Even with the concerns that I have, my excitement and wonderment of traveling to South Africa triumphs over any discouraging thoughts. In the beginning of Kevin Winge’s book, “Never Give Up,” he talks mainly about “coming in right.” It is a concept of leaving all of one’s assumptions and previous feelings about something behind and coming into the situation with an open mind and an open heart. I am considering carrying a small pocketbook with me so that I can document certain parts of our adventure that I feel are significant. Did “coming in right” affect the way I responded in these situations? Did I “come in right” at all? How did acting this way affect subsequent actions or responses?
Another thing that I am excited about is immersing myself into a completely new, unique culture and exploring their beliefs and “norms.” The people we will meet on this journey will stay with us forever and their influence on the trip will make our experiences different from anyone else’s. Who knows, maybe the relationship that we build here will lead to opportunities for our future and possibly a return to South Africa and Guguletu. HIV/AIDS is a continuous issue to South Africa. It hurts me to read about accounts that families and communities endure because of the effects of HIV/AIDS. As a student studying health care with a passion for nursing, the thought of possibly building a relationship with community and returning to practice my nursing skills is overwhelmingly bright.
Lastly, one of the main struggles that I am dealing with currently, is how I am going to pack for such an unpredictable city! This struggle is not a negative one at all, but an exciting one that builds on my curiosities about our adventures and obstacles we will have to overcome yet be somewhat prepared for. Being the nurse that I am studying to become, first aid/health is my big concern. We will be in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people, doing a lot of hiking and exploring of the landscape in underprivileged communities were first aid and health care is not available. Will we be prepared to deal with health issues? I am also the daughter of the gadget king and am concerned about the security of my electronics. With a new camera in hand, there is a hesitation for how much I will be able to bring it on some of the adventures we will be experiencing. With the pictures I will be able to take, how will I share them with the people back home without my laptop! Will these precious items survive the journey with me?
The two resources that we explored opened my eyes to many things surrounding South Africa and what the country has experienced. First, I am amazed at how one person could turn a country around. Nelson Mandela is an extraordinary person and I am excited to learn more about how he contributed to the developing country. I hope to discover some of his leadership qualities and perhaps incorporate them to the work we will be doing while staying there. Second, the resources discussed perspectives from both the negative and positive sides of South Africa. These resources have made me appreciate the promising assets that South Africa has to offer yet also making me aware of the hardships that the country and communities are dealing with on a daily basis. Will I even make a fraction of the impact that Nelson Mandela and Kevin Winge had on the community and country? Am I educated enough on the history of South Africa and the transition it took to get where they are today? Will that lack of knowledge impede my ability to practice appropriate leadership skills for each unique situation? Will I be prepared enough to adapt to changing environments and settings? How will my leadership skills be altered due to the experiences that we will have there?
