Well, the trip to collect the luggage at the airport ended in frustration. David’s bag is lost, and he has no clothes except those on his back. After considerable consternation, we’ve given up on the bag being found. Now, on to getting David a new wardrobe.
A trip to the shopping mall resulted in new shorts that say “The Sharks” and several new shirts, some socks, and briefs that turn out to be bikini style even though the package said otherwise. You will be spared the photo of David wearing the “briefs”, but here is one showing him returning two shirts for a different size at Mr. Price. I’m thinking David could be a “poster man” for Mr. Price. What do you think?
Yesterday, we went to the Missionvale campus where I’m speaking today. It is located right in the township and is a beacon of hope in an area of poverty and some despair. The head of the campus, Dr. Iona Wannenburg, gave us a tour, and my colleague, Anette Knight, helped orient me to my office for the duration of our stay.
I’m reminded of my previous visit to this campus in 1999 when Martha Casazza and I attended the event where Thabo Mbeki’s presidential acceptance speech was broadcast in the large stadium here. Martha and I arrived then to hear the speech and found ourselves to be the only white people in a venue of over 1000 others. As we entered, we saw no empty seats, but soon many rose to greet us warmly and welcomed us to seats they made vacant for us. It was very moving, and standing in this place again, I am full of emotion.
David is now driving the car and is much calmer and more comfortable doing it than I. In his words, “It’s hard to relax while driving on the other side.” I’m forever grateful that he’s here with me giving me support and helping me relax as I prepare to give my first presentation later today.
I will be speaking in a venue that holds about 100 people. I’m ready, excited, and a bit nervous as always before speaking to large groups. I really prefer informal engagement with smaller groups, but that is coming later this week and in the weeks ahead. The next posting will describe what happened later today.
Hi…and it’s now my turn.
Notwithstanding Sharon’s angst, she knocked them over with her presentation today that was attended by administrative staff and faculty members. Her topic, Teaching and Learning, was quite appropriate for me as I learned how well versed she is in that area.
South Africa is very interesting as I feel there is an underlying tension among the population. Whites represent 25% while Blacks and Colored (“Others”) represent 75% of the population. Whites live in houses guarded and protected with fences and electric wires while many of the Others live in shacks without plumbing and electricity. Crime is rampant.
In fact I didn’t lose my luggage, it was stolen. When we checked in for our plane to Port Elizabeth, the agent failed to give us a copy of the claim check for my suitcase. My fishing poles did arrive! In replaying scene in my mind many times after I was told “I didn’t check a blue bag” at the Port Elizabeth airport, I realized when we were leaving the baggage checkin clerk, a bell was ringing in my head telling me something was wrong. But the chime was soft and I was more focused in running to the gate to catch our plane than stopping to listen to the tune and tempo of the song.
What I know (believe) happened was that the check in clerk realized we were anxious about missing our plane and anticipated we would not inspect the number of claim checks he did give us…and he was right. He only gave us three checks, not four. What he didn’t know was that my shirts were not ironed, the laces on my shoes were tattered, the ribbing on my Jockey underwear was becoming undone, the tennis sun hats had not been washed for two years and had absorbed sweat from 73 winning matches and 55 losing matches, and there were big holes in the pockets of my pants, but not all was for naught as the first thing I did after sleeping 12 hours was embarked upon a new activity for me…shopping.
I’ve been to Mr. Price, Ackerman and Pick n Pay twice already. Once to buy and once to return. Mr. Price makes Walmart and Target look like Brooks Brothers. What is marked as “Medium” is really a small or I lost two sizes on the airplane over here along with my luggage. I’ve already purchased two different sets of briefs. One resembles a bikini and feels like I’m naked and the other a girdle that straps me in. Tomorrow is another shopping day and hopefully this adventure will be over.
But all in all, am having a delightful time and even am becoming proficient in driving on the wrong side of the road.
