We broke off into groups and some of us went to work with the pre-primary grades while others went to the primary school to work with the middle and high school children. As we entered the classrooms, each of the students stood up to welcome us into their classes. They were excited to have visitors from the United States and they asked many questions, mostly about Hannah Montana. We also witnessed a debate amongst the 11th graders about their views of foreign aid for Africa. Many of the students had valid points behind their arguments; it was interesting to see how involved and in tune the students were with modern politics, not only South African but also America politics. We did not realize the impact our current election in the States had on the country of South Africa and the hope that it brought to this struggling nation.
After the debate we had lunch and mingled with a lot of the faculty. They were interested in what we had to say about South Africa and they had a good time talking about our accents. We noticed that the perception many of the students had about Americans was mostly based around what they see and hear in the media. We were asked many questions about celebrities and whether or not we ever met them. They think that Americans live this lavish lifestyle and they don’t realize that we are really just like South Africans in some ways.
Compared to other schools in South Africa, these students we believe are very lucky to have such a privileged schooling experience. After a tea and sandwich break, we got to split up and go into different classrooms. Steve and Mary got the opportunity to spend most of the day with the Physical Education Department, playing sports with the children all day and learning about the amazing athletic ability of the South African students. In each and every game that was played, Mary and Steve lost miserably to children of all ages and were picked on like they were back in middle school.
At three o clock we got the privilege to spend time in the college’s 3-6PM program, which brought in students that are refugees from all countries around Africa. The students were very interested in learning, and wanted to better themselves from the lives that they had left.
Overall, our experience at Sacred Heart College today was amazing. The feeling that the group received of love and care from the Marist Family abroad was extraordinary and greatly appreciated. It was also nice to see statues and pictures of St. Marcellin Champagnat everywhere and to be able to have the same Marist traditions, beliefs and values as the students, faculty, and administration at Sacred Heart. The Marist Brothers founded an education system based on concrete beliefs and it’s just wonderful to see the same ideals that we believe in being followed abroad in countries so far from our home.
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