NOT the Embassy

We got in last night around 6pm as the sun was setting. All our luggage arrived and we found our driver. On the way to Pretoria from Johannesburg, it was really strange having the driver on the right hand side of the car and being on the left side of the road. It was a little confusing even though I wasn't driving. Our driver took us to the University of Pretoria campus where we tried to get into several gates, all without success. On one hand, it's nice to know campus security is so good and on the other we just really wanted to get in. A few gate guards even told our driver to take us to the US Embassy but he didn't give up on us and eventually we made it to the Tuksdorp Apartments gate and our home for the next four months. The lady in charge of the apartments, Lindique, was really hospitable and drove us to the shopping center up the street where we got groceries and had dinner. Our apartments are a little primitive looking, but are quaint and wonderful nonetheless (I'll post pictures later). No heater and it's 54F at noon right now. It's supposed to get up to 62 and Lindique, said July is South Africa's coldest month.

Today Brooke, Madison (two other OU students studying at UP), and I walked around today and got new SIM cards for our phones. A lady at the Virgin Mobile store told us not to "loan" our phones to anyone who asks. She said people will come up to you on the street, ask to see your phone, and run off with it. We're at a coffee shop now, using the wifi. There are two other American girls here and they said it's the only hotspot for blocks. I think I know where I'm going to be spending my online time from now on. Later, we plan on going grocery and supply shopping and possibly getting a wifi USB stick thing. Thankfully this is a big city and everything is within walking distance. Have you seen Invictus with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon about the Rugby World Cup in 1995 South Africa? Remember the presidential residence? Yeah, that's like a mile away from the University. It's on the list (of things to do, places to see, etc.).

It's weird to think apartheid has only been over for 16 years. Evidence of its existence still remains but many black South Africans, it seems, have done pretty well for themselves in those years. When we drove out of the gated parking lot for the grocery store last night (everything is gated here), Lindique paid a guard for the exit. She said that paying wasn't necessary but they do so anyway because many blacks still need employment and do so any way they can. At the airport, there were several blacks to help us load our luggage into the care. Unfortunately, Madison was the only one with cash and only had enough for the driver. When I talked to my friend Mark before leaving, he said that at the square up the street from Tuksdorp there are blacks who will stand around parking lots and bike racks offering to guard the respective modes of transportation for the period of time you are gone. On the other hand, there are blacks who we've run into that own their own businesses. Those who are fortunate, however, are much less than those who have no jobs or who offer to guard cars for small hand outs every day. Being here now makes me think this may have been what the US was a hundred years ago or what inner cities are like now at home. My personal opinion is that the remnants of slavery in the US are that of poverty seen in the black population now. The same can be said here in apartheid in that many blacks remain unemployed or self-employed. And I have yet to see the townships.

The demographics of South Africa are 79% black, 9% white, 9% colored (mixed race (and yes, that is politically correct here)), and 3% Asian or Indian. That is evident here in Pretoria walking around on the street. But everyone is so friendly. People in the US may think racial tensions are still high here, but I would already disagree. I don't think my opinions will change in the coming months. We've already ran into so many nice people willing to help and to offer a smile. I feel like I'm really going to love South Africa and I look forward to getting to know it and its people better. Oh, and I guess I could go north into Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique while I'm at it.

See you next time I have internett access.