Marist College South Africa Spring Attachment offered Spring 2008

Hello all, the Marist study abroad short term spring attachment trip to South Africa has been approved to be offered during the spring 2008 semester. Courses offered for this program will be POSC260: Comparative Politics of Africa, HIST297 ST: Modern South Africa, and CSCU292: South African Culture. In the event that you have any questions or would like more details please feel free to contact the program director, Eddie Summers at 845-575-3239 or Jerre Thorton at 845-575-3330.

Reflection on the South African experience.

Forthcoming this weekend will be a brief reflection by Professor Eddie Summers on the South African experience. He will discuss the politics of policy in South Africa and the need for greater support both financially and socially for developing countries.

Pictures

More pictures from our adventures in South Africa. Some display the beauty of South Africa, while others show how most Black South Africans live on a daily basis. These pictures were taken to show the large disparities that exist in South Africa but also to bring attention to the issue of poverty more broadly as it relates to developing Countries. Some of the photos are extremely shocking, especially given that South Africa is one of the most developed nations on the continent of Africa yet it still faces many social inequalities.

Shocking billboard--- the benefits associated with being of a lighter complexion seems not only to exist in the United States but also in South Africa.



The market-- Vendors are celebrating their culture through music.


Soweto Township



A traditional Zulu lunch


Township of Langa


Beautiful view from the mountain in Cape Town



Helping teach the youth of Langa---Evan (standing), Matt, Megan (white Shirt), Eddie Summers (blue sweater), and Marissa (far right corner)

More Pictures

Here's more pictures from our trip to South Africa.

Pictures of family in the village of Vrygrond






Heal the Hood's community work---using Hip Hop as a tool to prevent crime and youth violence.


Students in the township of Langa singing their school's song
\

Students in Langa


The darker side of a developing country---- townships/informal housing

AIDS/HIV Policy in RSA paper excerpt

Introduction

HIV/AIDS policy has received criticism from all sides and remains a contested subject in South Africa. There is no debate regarding the poignancy of the matter, rather, it lies in the epistemological stance of those who control policy making in the country and the direction policy is to head in the future. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has reached inconceivable levels. To understand how and why South Africa has fallen into this dire state is to examine the political conditions that allow for it.

Further into the paper--a talk about government and the disease.

The problems that surround the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa seem endless. It is inaccurate to use politics and policy as the sole measure of the conditions of epidemic because they are much further reaching. South Africa is a country that is still embedded in an ideological shift from past to present. Many of the social conditions that were prescribed by the apartheid government have been shaken from a legal standpoint, however, much of the same conditions exist in a social context. It will take more time to completely eradicate the apartheid ideologies of the past for the social reality of the future in South Africa. “Some apartheid-era politicians celebrate AIDS as a disease that would decimate the Black population, while scientists developed chemical and biological weapons for use on black political leaders” (Butler 604). One of the major hurdles to over come is this racist attribute of HIV/AIDS however conquering may be easier said than done for the many reasons indicated.

The government has not set forth a position that allows for the proper culmination of both the medical science approach and the behavioral approach. Absent from a great deal of the publications of HIV/AIDS research in Africa is how to correctly address the problem. It is self evident that the current policies are inefficient and less than effective but there is no evidence that suggests that a switch to the medical science approach will be the correct method of action. The research conducted has yielded to the more scientific approach but it is through experience in the country that demands a more dynamic advance on the problem of HIV/AIDS. It is simply not enough to forge ahead with anti-retroviral drugs and expect them to “cure” South Africa of its problems. The social behaviors themselves must change but they must not do so at the expense of the individual. Political leaders such as Mbeki and Tshabalala-Msimang should consider admitting their failures and allow for a blending of both ideological perspectives. It required a South African Constitutional Court ruling to insure the use of anti-retroviral drugs in facilities that are capable of administering the drugs. The benefits of ARVs are unquestionable and the legislative branch should not serve as the government implementation device.

The effects of HIV/AIDS will be hard felt in South Africa. The death caused by HIV/AIDS has created millions of orphaned children and the numbers are expected to climb in the continent as a whole. Other debilitating socio-economic effects will soon be felt:

“While broadly in agreement about the factors likely to reduce growth – a higher death rate among the economically active, a decrease in the capital and human resources available for production and investment, a fall in the rate of savings, declining disposable incomes, and reduced domestic consumption – economist do no agree about the likely magnitudes. (Butler 608)

Given these imperative problems associated with an unchecked epidemic, how HIV/AIDS will play politically in the upcoming Presidential elections has yet to be seen. There is great pressure from both internal and international sources to address the problem in a more passable manner.

“This pressure is complimented by on going international forces, ranging from calls for the South African government to express political commitment to fighting the epidemic to developments at the World Trade Organization meeting in September 2003. These developments expanded the opportunities for poor countries facing health problems to access cheaper drugs through the parallel importation of generic drugs.” (Willan 115)

In a book called, The End of Poverty: Economic possibility for Our Time by Jeffery D. Sachs, Sachs assesses the conditions of disease in Africa from first hand experience. He questions the link between the disease and poverty; whether poverty is a result of HIV/AIDS or HIV/AIDS is the cause poverty. Sachs questions how much the ‘rich world’ should invest in the ‘poor world’s’ health institutions. And he asks why the disparity in life expectancy between the two worlds? It is questions such as these that need to be answered in order to adequately deal with the epidemic. However, it is most important to draw attention to the issue and elevate the political commitment HIV/AIDS research and development. In the chapter entitled The Voiceless Dying he recalls a phone call with Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland. She said,

“If you want to get someone’s attention about the health crisis in Africa, ‘show them the money.’ Help them to understand the economic costs of the disease pandemic, as well as the economics of disease control. Above all, propose practical solutions based on rigorous emphasis on economic costs and benefits” (Sachs 203).

The experience of being in a country where disease, poverty, unemployment, malnutrition and unequal access to every and all resources places a greater demand for action in the mind of the visitor. HIV/AIDS is certainly a growing concern for the country of South Africa and solutions must be derived before the severity of the situation is completely realized. “The only certainty is that HIV/AIDS is an unmitigated tragedy and a developmental disaster throughout Africa…” (Sachs 200).

Excerpt was taken from Joel Van Wagenen's paper on AIDS/HIV policy in the Republic of South Africa.

Packing and travel day back to NYC

Hello all, today we will be traveling back to the United States. Stay tuned for an update on Sunday of pictures and a reflection from Eddie Summers. In another week or so we will also post reflections from the students and their research papers.

Soweto and the Apartheid Museum

Today's journey started with a bus tour of Jo-Burg. We got the opportunity to see both the very rich suburbs to the decaying urban city center. This experience was enlightening to observe and we could easily "classify" or "stereotype" the central city of Jo-burg as being similar to our experience in Durban. Nonetheless, this experience was profound in understanding the great divide that still exist in South Africa, very much based off of one's socio-economic status. However, it would be irresponsible if we did not mention the country's history of race relations as being another key factor in the economic divide between individuals in South Africa.

After touring Jo-Burg, we visited the famous township of Soweto, home to Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Desmond Tutu, to name a few and the place of a major 1976 protest against the apartheid government . While visiting Soweto we toured the homes of the very affluent and the homes of individuals who live in shacks and hostiles. This experience continues to re-affirm what we've experienced and thought about the townships in Cape Town, the need for economic empowerment, education, skills training, and housing. Following our tour of Soweto, we had lunch at a home, which has been converted into a restaurant. The food was of traditional South African cuisine, including pop, curry, rice, etc. While this meal was delightful, the importance of the visit to this home was to show us the growth of the informal job sector. This restaurant serves as the primary revenue stream for the home owner and her staff.

While in Soweto we had the opportunity to visit the Hector Pieterson's memorial. Hector was one of the first kids killed during the 1976 protest against the apartheid government. The protest was in response to the demand for all students to have Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. The protest was a significant milestone in South Africa's struggle for equality and the right to be treated like a human being. We ended the day at the apartheid museum. This museum documents the road to freedom and equality for black South Africans. This museum also document the untold story of women's activism during the struggle for equality. Th museum was profound and a critical site which should be viewed be anyone who visits South Africa.

Township of Soweto








Apartheid Museum

Johannesburg & Pretoria

Today started out with an early flight from Durban to Johannesburg. Our flight was 45 minutes long, however, after getting our luggage and checking into the hotel we did not start out day until 1:00pm. When we stepped off the plane we were welcomed by the surprisingly cold temperature. After we checked into the hotel we got a little taste of home by having lunch at Subway. After finishing up our good ole American flavored subway sandwiches, we headed to the Voortrekker Monument, our first stop on our tour of Pretoria. The monument represented the Afrikaans, which is a mix of the Dutch, French, and Germans history in South Africa and their battle with the British and the Zulu. Although the monument represented the darker times in South Africa’s history, the building and monument remains because President Nelson Mandela thought it was an important part of South Africa’s history that must be told, known, and forgiven. After visiting the monument we continued our educational driving tour to Church Square, the Kruger house and the Union buildings. The Kruger house was a gift from the former President Stephen Paul Kruger to South Africa. Kruger held office from 1883-1902. This gift to South Africa is now utilized as a museum and a major part of Pretoria’s economy. Today, while a short day, was an important education trip both by seeing Pretoria and experiencing the Johannesburg afternoon traffic.



Jo-Burg





Voortrekker Monument

Back to Durban, UShaka and some Reflection time

We finished our Safari portion of the trip in Hluhluwe and began the drive back to Durban. The beach that our hotel sits on in Durban is gorgeous, however today was overcast so plans changed. Half of the group went to the Aquarium, where the other half had an easy day at the hotel. The trip has been jam packed with great events, so it was nice to relax, watch a movie, and order room service. We reminisced about the past events on the trip and what we were longing for back at home. Friends, family, pets, favorite food, and simply driving a car were at the top of most lists.

At the Aquarium we first got to see a dolphin show in which our fearless leader, Edward Summers, fell in love with a dolphin named Gambit and got the chance of a lifetime to kiss his true love haha -J. He also was able to address the crowd about his emotions after having realized that his true love would not turn into a princess after having kissed it. Two of our fellow students were also selected at the show and had the pleasure of experiencing the dolphin shower, which is basically them getting doused with water by dolphins. Much to their chagrin they did not get the opportunity to address the crowd about their emotions or represent Marist to the fullest. The dolphins also sang and danced for all the audience. Afterwards we saw a seal show which turned out to be a skit involving a prisoner, imprisoned due to poaching, a cop, a seal, a restaurant waiter, sardines, sushi, and tequila. An interesting production, but nothing compared to the dolphin show. We also were able to see penguins, sharks, sting rays and much, much more. Besides being a scenic trip, we learned much about sea life. Some of the interesting facts we learned include: that mother seals can smell their pups out from other pups and that penguins live an average of 37 years in captivity. One of the best parts about our day was the walk back from Ushaka; we walked along the beach and watched the sunset. However, what really completed the day was our spontaneous expedition into the Indian Ocean. Now, we have yet another flight, destination: Joburg.

ZuluNyala Heritage Safari Lodge & St. Lucia

Our first night at the Safari Lodge has reacquainted us with the sounds of frogs, crickets and cows. Not too far off from the lodge there is a herd of cattle and they are just the type to insist on making their noises heard through the night. Most of us have sworn to make steak out of a few of them but the night was enjoyable none-the-less. Following our breakfast, we took an hour and half trip down to the St. Lucia Estuary where we were welcomed with a boat tour of the region. On our way down, we saw many people selling fruit and statues. As we passed, it became apparent that there were not only adults doing the selling but many children as well. A labor strike has continued to progress over the time we have been in South Africa and consequently, many of the schools were closed. This is probably the cause of all the children out selling goods the last few days and has offered yet another interesting contrast.

The captain of the boat was a cheeky fellow that managed to throw jokes in to our tour of St. Lucia as frequently as possible. One such joke was his offer for swimming lessons that would literally cost an arm and a leg. This may have been because of the many different animals that were swimming around the estuary such as hippopotamus, crocodiles, a variety of sharks (who never made their presence known) and king fisher hawk. The trip was rather relaxing and pleasant.

After we made it back to shore, we had a late lunch at a seafood restaurant where a few of us enjoyed crocodile steak and crocodile pizza. It was an experience that offered all of us a bit of South African cuisine that we haven’t had before. After our long ride back, we had dinner at the lodge and got to watch Zulu dancers in front of a fire. The dancers were both powerful and nimble. The dance really symbolized who the Zulu people were and had a component of the dance that resembled a fight scene while singing in Zulu. Everything about the dance spoke of tradition and of times past and present and was an excellent way to end our evening.
.

Marist: Mother Africa--Safari and the great outdoors!

Hello all, today the group embarked on a journey from Durban to Hluhluwe National Park, where we had the opportunity to go on a safari. However, due to being out in Hluhluwe away from modern civilization, we will not be able to post many pictures until wednesday morning but we've compensate for not posting pictures today with a great deal of detail and humor about our adventures today. If anyone is offended in anyone we apologize-- this is not meant to offend anyone but to bring humor to the students adventures.

National Geographic has nothing compared to what our fresh safari eyes saw today. We did not see all of the “Big Five” (Elephant, Water Buffalo, Leopard, Rhino, Lion), but we were up close and personal to some pretty prolific life species. While some usually associate the Giraffe with the logo of ‘Toys R Us’, there is a fine line between being a company’s mascot from being in striking distance of your hunter green 4x4 sports utility vehicle. The day was hot in the African bush, but our heads were protected by a strong canvas covering our four wheel chariot. The rugged terrain that we conquered today in our journey sprawled an amazing 1800 hectares of land that held an abundance of luscious flora and fauna along with your occasional cacti. We set out on our expedition at 1400 hours with the almighty sun still baking the flaky red African soil. Can you picture it?

The trekkers made their way over the treacherous landscape avoiding deaths grasp at every turn in search of gold, diamonds, and adventure. They knew their time in the park would be brief so we took in the sights as if they were oxygen and we basked in the beauty that is Hluhluwe National Park. This convoy of fearless Americans from the prestigious higher educational institution known as Marist College started out traveling together where they first encountered some disgruntled Wart Hogs and their offspring. The journeymen later cautiously approached a gorge teeming with hungry, hungry Hippos. The girth of these giant beasts was comparable to a 2008 Ford F-150 and there was no doubt that these creatures had the strength of a Hemi engine.

At times the fearless were distracted not by impressive mammalian, but by the perilous pathways that they were forced to voyage through. Though they were equipped with Goodyear tires as pillows on the relentless terrain and the king size Sleepy’s Mattresses of off-road vehicles, their tour was anything but dreamy and at several times throughout the expedition they found themselves at the mercy of fresh African mud (the worst kind). A literal fork in the road led to the convoy parting paths and from this moment on the two vehicles would now have two different tales to pass down to future generations.

To the brave there was a minor disappointment with the lack of big cat predators and Mufasa. However, the various species of prey were certainly roaming the bush in great numbers. They were all impressed by the sheer speed and agility of the playful Impala and Nyala. One group of the heroic went toe to toe with one of nature’s “Big Five”. At what seemed to be an arms length away the group held their ground in the face of danger when confronted by a magnificent white Rhinoceros with an abnormally large horn. The great beast lingered in their presence for quite some time before growing bored with the awestruck group and their immeasurable amounts ‘Sony Cybershot 2100’ photos. Meanwhile over yonder, the other squadron was busy climbing Giraffe as if they were nothing more than a painter’s step stool. These were not the only beautiful beasts that were viewed on this momentous day with others making a cameo appearance such as the majestic Zebra, the bewildered Wildebeest, and Chuck Norris in the critically acclaimed film ‘Dodgeball.’

As the sun went down the brave men & women decided to head back after a long day on safari in Mother Africa. However, she did not want it to be such a simple ending for them and decided to entrap their trucks in mud as sticky as Maple syrup on your Sunday morning short-stack. While one group was able to maneuver their vehicle through a rough patch and escape imminent danger, the other group did not fair as well. They were forced to toss aside concern for their material possessions such as beloved denim stitching of Levi jeans and over priced earth toned UGZ boots while they pushed the rear of their immobilized 4x4 to relieve it of the earth’s kung fu grip. They rode back feeling fulfilled and overzealous with joy. A few philosophic passengers reminisced to themselves the old Sicilian proverb, “You can take the person out of the USA but you can’t take the USA out of the individual (we all bring parts of ourselves with us while learning and understanding different cultures).” This saying certainly applied to the day’s happenings and the mud that covered their exhausted bodies could never hide their elation for what Mother Nature had allowed them to witness.