to the Jo-burg cathedral. Passing through Braamfotein (a large business
neighborhood) there was not a person in sight. Then I crossed into ellensport
(or some name like that) and all the sudden there were people in the street. It
was a real neighborhood with kids playing soccer in the road to cars being
washed in the street. Walking along I had this strange sensation, and then it
came to me: I am a minority here. I was the only white guy around. I have still
been coming to terms with the whole racial situation here. It was only about
12-13 yrs ago here that apartheid came to an end. I am still trying to put my
mind around that systematic evil and the effects of it. Anyways, I made my way
to the cathedral and then back through joubert park on my way to the church I
am staying at. I only later learn that I had walked through some of the most
dangerous areas around here. One lady told me she personally saw two stabbings
there in the middle of a crowd. (sorry if you are reading this mom and dad.)
Another guy from the DRC told me that walking through that area someone made
him give them his shoes and cellphone. It’s not a race thing, it’s a brand
thing. Thank god I wasn’t wearing my Nikes. I will be more careful in selecting where I walk next time.
Lesson learned.
Reliving my days in France, I went to go buy the cheapest
pair of jeans that I could. I am convinced that the pants change size the
moment after you leave the fitting room. I made the mistake of buying low-rise
jeans. They fit well. These hip hugging pants, however warm they might make me,
tend to have a revealing factor of 11 whenever I sit down. Yes, these pants
prior vocation were that of a plumber. It’s still cold here but the weather is
beginning to turn. I am heading off to cape town for two weeks on Thursday.
Ciao for now.
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1 comment:
It's interesting how we somehow always seem to avoid those sorts of situations when we are unaware of them. It's happened a lot in my life, and it's always like you knew that there was something scary about what you were doing, but you always knew somehow that no matter what, things would be ok in the end. In a way, I've always felt some sense of true security in the most dangerous moments in remote lands. That's just me, tho. (I think it might be a "there is a God" moment, and I think that's why I'm sharing it with you. ;))
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