Click here to view our Picture GalleryJan. 18th -Jo'burg South Africa
Cheers from South Africa!
Yesterday we met with the Honey Badger Club at the Johannesburg Zoo. There are two main zoos in South Africa...one in Pretoria the (national zoo funded by the government) and one in Jo'burg (that of the Honey Badger Club). The Jo'burg Zoo along with a park nearby were founded by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and his famous dog Jock. The zoo was intended to be for "all people for all time". Which meant that even during the injustices of apartheid the zoo and park were an area where people from different racial and religious background could mingle freely.
The Jo'burg zoo was incredible!! Extremely well maintained...large habitat spaces for the animals! We met with the educational coordinator, Martin, and a member of the Honey Badger Club, Edwin. Martin and Edwin took us all around the zoo...including a behind the scenes look at the gorilla enclosure!!
Last night we attended Lisa's brothers orchestra rehearsal and then watched the movie "Jock"...a film about the famous canine Jock and his human friend Sir Percy.
Today we went to three museums. The first museum described the imprisonments that occurred throughout South Africa's history and also the new Human Rights Court/Constitution.
The Human Rights Court was incredible! All the architecture of the building represented symbolic aspects of South Africa's history. The lobby was made to look as though one was sitting under a giant tree...to symbolise how African elders often sat under the shade of trees to depart wisdom. Inside the courtroom there was a window about 3 feet in width that ran the entire length of the wall behind the justices' chairs. This window represents the "transparency" of the new government...the idea that those inside the court can see out and those outside can see in...truly exhibiting a government intended for the people.
We also got to see the original hand-written drafts of the South African Constitution...which was adopted only about ten years ago. This was particularly impacting. Coming from the United States, constitutions tend to seem like these large intangible documents ...so distant...written centuries ago. And, here we were standing there in front of this new document...it made the whole governmental process seem closer...seem living...and real. These were real people who drafted this constitution, just like you and I, ...not some elusive figure from the aged pages of a history textbook...they had rough drafts, like students in schools, they had disagreements...and compromises...and the final product is arguably one of the most well thought out constitutions in the world.
On a lighter note, the next museum we went to was the "World of Beer"...the South African Brewery (SAB) museum...SAB just bought Miller apparently. It was an interesting tour with a well laid-out museum. They offered us free beer on many occasions throughout the tour...but no worries, we said no. They thought we were very strange though to refuse free alcohol.
The last museum we went to was the Museum of Africa. The exhibit we spent the most time in was about the Treason Trials. We also liked the illusion quilt exhibit...it had nice benches too!
The thing we found most impacting in all of the museums was the open invitation for public reflection and commentary. Neither of us had seen anything like that before in U.S. museums.
For example...
- There were little books hanging from many of the exhibits where visitors could write comments. These books became part of the exhibit since you could read the impressions from tens of other visitors.
- There was also a place to record audio-tapes describing your reflections on the museum. Some of these audio-tapes would be chosen to become part of the exhibit.
- You could also write a comment that might be chosen by one of the Court Justices to be engraved on the museum wall.
Johannesburg is very large ...much like New York or Boston...and in many ways much like any city in the United States. But, in other ways it is distinctly "Africa". For instance, market-style architecture and stores are mixed with sky-scrapers...Woman carrying boxes on top of their heads and also girls in tight jeans with cell phones. Etc.
This afternoon we walked down to the park/lake by their house. Peta's departing words for us were: "act like you know what you are doing." Well...
We brought bread with us to feed to the geese by the lake. And, at first there were just one or two innocent looking geese quacking happily. So, we gave them little bits of bread. And, they were just SO happy with the bread ...that we just had to give them more little bits...and than a few larger chunks. And, then suddenly...as though a descending army...tens of geese, ducks, and other birds came swimming agressively towards us...some waddling on shore. They just wouldn't accept no for an answer...so we gave them a little more...BIG mistake...there were literally about 60 geese and birds around us at this point...Circling in ...closer and closer. We had flash-backs to the movie "Birds"...and we started walking away...they followed. So, we literally started running...and they started jogging...we have never seen birds waddle with such direction and purpose before! We had to really pick up the pace...dashing to the interior of the park...they followed us for about 50 yards...this whole multi-species flock! An old man on a bench started laughing at us ... and people looked alarmed. We were able to dodge into a restaurant out of sight ...clutching our bread. We heard the quacks in the background. We were out of breath...peering at our aggressor from over the edge of a shrub. Finally, they seemed to tire and we walked carefully back out into the park...and they actually spotted us again! And, started trotting over! We grabbed our bread and ran...this time managing to lose them. After checking for all of are limbs and food products we walked into town.
Our last ...and less dramatic...adventure ...was going to the movies. We saw Ocean's 12. The theater was just like the theaters back home...except that they gave you assigned seat numbers...and the seats were more comfortable.
And, now we are back at the house. It is 10:50pm...and raining hard outside...rain in Africa comes on suddenly. In the mornings and throughout the night we can hear tons of birds and animals outside...and the air here smells good...fresh and like flowers.
And, that's all we have to say about that.
Good night!
Sincerely,
Jess & Lindsey
P.S. While typing this post...Jessica accidently swallowed a small insect that decided to fly into her mouth and down her throat! She is very regretful both for the insect's life (which we assume is surely lost) and the discomfort in her throat that sent her convulsing to the bedroom in search of a beverage and made Lindsey histerically laugh!
Yesterday we met with the Honey Badger Club at the Johannesburg Zoo. There are two main zoos in South Africa...one in Pretoria the (national zoo funded by the government) and one in Jo'burg (that of the Honey Badger Club). The Jo'burg Zoo along with a park nearby were founded by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and his famous dog Jock. The zoo was intended to be for "all people for all time". Which meant that even during the injustices of apartheid the zoo and park were an area where people from different racial and religious background could mingle freely.
The Jo'burg zoo was incredible!! Extremely well maintained...large habitat spaces for the animals! We met with the educational coordinator, Martin, and a member of the Honey Badger Club, Edwin. Martin and Edwin took us all around the zoo...including a behind the scenes look at the gorilla enclosure!!
Last night we attended Lisa's brothers orchestra rehearsal and then watched the movie "Jock"...a film about the famous canine Jock and his human friend Sir Percy.
Today we went to three museums. The first museum described the imprisonments that occurred throughout South Africa's history and also the new Human Rights Court/Constitution.
The Human Rights Court was incredible! All the architecture of the building represented symbolic aspects of South Africa's history. The lobby was made to look as though one was sitting under a giant tree...to symbolise how African elders often sat under the shade of trees to depart wisdom. Inside the courtroom there was a window about 3 feet in width that ran the entire length of the wall behind the justices' chairs. This window represents the "transparency" of the new government...the idea that those inside the court can see out and those outside can see in...truly exhibiting a government intended for the people.
We also got to see the original hand-written drafts of the South African Constitution...which was adopted only about ten years ago. This was particularly impacting. Coming from the United States, constitutions tend to seem like these large intangible documents ...so distant...written centuries ago. And, here we were standing there in front of this new document...it made the whole governmental process seem closer...seem living...and real. These were real people who drafted this constitution, just like you and I, ...not some elusive figure from the aged pages of a history textbook...they had rough drafts, like students in schools, they had disagreements...and compromises...and the final product is arguably one of the most well thought out constitutions in the world.
On a lighter note, the next museum we went to was the "World of Beer"...the South African Brewery (SAB) museum...SAB just bought Miller apparently. It was an interesting tour with a well laid-out museum. They offered us free beer on many occasions throughout the tour...but no worries, we said no. They thought we were very strange though to refuse free alcohol.
The last museum we went to was the Museum of Africa. The exhibit we spent the most time in was about the Treason Trials. We also liked the illusion quilt exhibit...it had nice benches too!
The thing we found most impacting in all of the museums was the open invitation for public reflection and commentary. Neither of us had seen anything like that before in U.S. museums.
For example...
- There were little books hanging from many of the exhibits where visitors could write comments. These books became part of the exhibit since you could read the impressions from tens of other visitors.
- There was also a place to record audio-tapes describing your reflections on the museum. Some of these audio-tapes would be chosen to become part of the exhibit.
- You could also write a comment that might be chosen by one of the Court Justices to be engraved on the museum wall.
Johannesburg is very large ...much like New York or Boston...and in many ways much like any city in the United States. But, in other ways it is distinctly "Africa". For instance, market-style architecture and stores are mixed with sky-scrapers...Woman carrying boxes on top of their heads and also girls in tight jeans with cell phones. Etc.
This afternoon we walked down to the park/lake by their house. Peta's departing words for us were: "act like you know what you are doing." Well...
We brought bread with us to feed to the geese by the lake. And, at first there were just one or two innocent looking geese quacking happily. So, we gave them little bits of bread. And, they were just SO happy with the bread ...that we just had to give them more little bits...and than a few larger chunks. And, then suddenly...as though a descending army...tens of geese, ducks, and other birds came swimming agressively towards us...some waddling on shore. They just wouldn't accept no for an answer...so we gave them a little more...BIG mistake...there were literally about 60 geese and birds around us at this point...Circling in ...closer and closer. We had flash-backs to the movie "Birds"...and we started walking away...they followed. So, we literally started running...and they started jogging...we have never seen birds waddle with such direction and purpose before! We had to really pick up the pace...dashing to the interior of the park...they followed us for about 50 yards...this whole multi-species flock! An old man on a bench started laughing at us ... and people looked alarmed. We were able to dodge into a restaurant out of sight ...clutching our bread. We heard the quacks in the background. We were out of breath...peering at our aggressor from over the edge of a shrub. Finally, they seemed to tire and we walked carefully back out into the park...and they actually spotted us again! And, started trotting over! We grabbed our bread and ran...this time managing to lose them. After checking for all of are limbs and food products we walked into town.
Our last ...and less dramatic...adventure ...was going to the movies. We saw Ocean's 12. The theater was just like the theaters back home...except that they gave you assigned seat numbers...and the seats were more comfortable.
And, now we are back at the house. It is 10:50pm...and raining hard outside...rain in Africa comes on suddenly. In the mornings and throughout the night we can hear tons of birds and animals outside...and the air here smells good...fresh and like flowers.
And, that's all we have to say about that.
Good night!
Sincerely,
Jess & Lindsey
P.S. While typing this post...Jessica accidently swallowed a small insect that decided to fly into her mouth and down her throat! She is very regretful both for the insect's life (which we assume is surely lost) and the discomfort in her throat that sent her convulsing to the bedroom in search of a beverage and made Lindsey histerically laugh!
