Playing in the Park

 

              By now, in our second day at Isilimela Comprehensive School, during the lunch period, you would find our students in a loud hive of energy in Ms. Mimi’s art room, eating with Isilimela Hands for a Bridge and the many others who congregate regularly in that space in the midday—talking, eating, shouting, standing, and then, a group of Isilimela learners teaching a Roosevelt student, or a Roosevelt student teaching Isilimela learners a dance, a shake, an elaborate set of moves.
              Students had a longer chunk of time with their mamas last night and so met up in the small park by Mama Viola’s to play soccer and fall in love with the little ones who came to them there, curious and unflappable. One student said it was the best time of her life, in that little park. I really don’t know what’s involved, but I know in past trips too, intersections with family and children together with the Seattle gang has always been reported as deliriously joyous.
              Before they would go home yesterday, students were already feeling the highs of their start here; today, moods were still high though experiencing the jagged demands of their jetlagged bodies in the South African heat. And students getting their hair touched was a shared, curious experience.
              They performed in the hall before Isilimela classes in two separate assemblies, singing, introducing themselves one by one, performing skits of a day in the life of Roosevelt High School and Seattle, and celebrating Mr. Magidman’s birthday with the whole school: they were lively and enthusiastic and draw repeated cheers. The Q&A afterwards is always interesting, both for what questions reveal of life here and for what our students choose to represent in answers. The first assembly was followed by a series of historical questions about America in various eras. Someone wondered if we trusted our president. How is our infrastructure in America. How many languages do you speak. Tell us about religion where you’re from. What sports do you play. Two questions evoked audible gasps and a tumult of reaction from the audience: a) do you wear school uniforms, and b) what time is it in Seattle right now.
              Someone wanted to know whether or not it was safe in America. One of our students said Seattle is mostly safe as long as avoid certain areas. Some Bellville homestay families in the past have expressed a shocked curiosity about staying in Langa. Were it to happen again, I’m sure our students will think back to the delirious joy of a neighborhood park.