South Africa Student Blogger
Goodbye Shelly NU, Hello - ??
Student Blogger Shelly - who came to South Africa on the Northwestern University/Medill School of Journalism study abroad ticket - has departed Africa’s shores for other parts, and SA Logue would like to thank her for her work, and wish her good luck.
View all of Shelly’s posts: Shelly NU.
What this means, of course, is that SA Logue now has a vacancy in its Student Blogger department. Applications welcome!
Date: June 27th, 2006 |
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My South African Top Ten (10-6)
As I wrap up my last week at The Star, I am already trying to figure out the fastest way to come back to this country. I can’t believe my time here is over, and, as always, it flew by way too fast. As I look back on the past few months it’s not so easy to pick out the top ten highlights of my first trip to South Africa - but here goes…
Date: June 12th, 2006 |
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A Day in Soweto
As the white van turns left off of the M12 into Soweto, South Africa’s largest township, an awkward silence falls over the group of American tourists.
“So Joe, what is it that your government is doing to improve the lives of everybody in your country?” Joe Motsogi, owner of JMT Tours and Safaris, asks himself on his headset.
For Joe - who points out that the government is spending millions of rand on various housing and development projects at every stop - a tour is not only about the sights and sounds of Soweto, but about the future of his country.
Date: May 18th, 2006 |
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A trip to paradise? Not exactly…
After enjoying months without rain, our friends in Cape Town were convinced they lived in a paradise where the sun always shone - and they never ceased to remind us Joburg folk, suffering through a cold, graey winter, of this fact. Yet, as I checked the weather in The Star the morning of our flight to Cape Town, I was shocked to see a forecast of storm clouds and lightning. What terrible luck, I thought, as I placed my umbrella in my hiking backpack and jumped in the taxi to the airport.
Date: May 4th, 2006 |
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Taking Part in the South African Story
Snippets from my first three weeks at The Star newspaper:
Representative of the most privileged group in SA’s society, a white male gets passed over for a promotion he may have deserved. “It’s because of BEE,” he tells me, referring to Black Economic Empowerment, South Africa’s version of affirmative action. “But it’s worth it,” he slips in quickly. He may be disadvantaged now but he believes it is a sacrifice he must make to further his country’s future.
Date: April 25th, 2006 |
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My South African Top Ten (5-1)
Student blogger Shelly NU continues her countdown to number one…
5. Learning the meaning of “lobola” (bride price).
Taking a trip into Lesotho, we crossed the border, climbed a mountain and had a picnic. Along the way, our tour guide picked up some young friends that like to follow him around on his tours. When the boys and our tour guide started laughing and looking at me, I knew I had to ask for some translation. “He asked how many cows your father would want for you,” he told me and laughed again.
Date: June 13th, 2006 |
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Something Smells Fishy in Maputo…
The stench of fish hung in the air as we approached the Costa del Sol restaurant in Maputo, Mocambique. We were told to take a pink taxi up the coast and the driver would “know where to drop us” for a guaranteed-unique dining experience.
As soon as we stepped on to the sand at the famous fish market north of the capital, we were bombarded with promises of the best, most fresh fish. The pungent smell mixed with the sounds of shouting and chopping and I was a bit overwhelmed.
Date: June 9th, 2006 |
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Stuck in the Middle of the Zuma Trial!
Thousands of Jacob Zuma’s supporters came in busses from around the country. They were dressed in “100% Zuma” and “100% Zuluboy” t-shirts, ANC Youth League jerseys and even feathers and skins, reflecting traditional Zulu dress - and there I was, standing smack in the middle of the chaos.
People all around me shouted and chanted, danced and sang praises to Zuma, from four in the morning until sundown, filling the streets of downtown Johannesburg as they awaited the final verdict in their hero’s rape trial.
Date: May 10th, 2006 |
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Arrested on Freedom Day
Question: How many holidays can one country have in a month? Answer: In South Africa, the average is about one a week in April (not including my birthday of course, April 17th) - leading to numerous four and five day weekends, holiday traffic and loads of concerts and music festivals.
Last Thursday, on Freedom Day - which commemorates the first democratic elections held in South Africa (on 27 April 1994) - my friends and I joined over eight thousand people at the People’s Celebration Concert at the Joburg stadium.
Date: May 2nd, 2006 |
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Oppikoppi Easter Festival
Waking up at 9 am was already considered late for the hardcore beer-drinkers at the Oppikoppi Easter Festival. We walked from our tents to the outdoor bathrooms to brush our teeth as a group of people returned from playing a round of beer golf and began their morning braai of sausages and eggs. “Four!” shouted a drunk man as he swung his golf club at the beer can he had just drained.
Drinking made up just a fraction of the festivities during the weekend festival, where bands - mostly from South Africa - came together for three days to play rock and punk against the backdrop of the hills in Northam, Limpopo Province.
Date: April 22nd, 2006 |
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