December 26, 2006

• Topic: Things I’ve written

  From Feb. 17, 2004

  “If you want to solve a problem, you first have to know the
  problem. The problem of violent crime in South Africa, as it probably
  is in America and much of the world, runs hand in hand with the need to
  make education more practical, and to help people gain access to the
  opportunities for education and for work.

  The thing is, for me at least, is that once you see something
  broken, you know it needs to be fixed. But when the thing that is
  broken doesn’t directly effect you, you must experience it for
  yourself. Experience poverty, and you will want to do help those who
  cannot escape it. Experience hunger or thirst, as I am right now, and
  you’ll learn to appreciate what you have, and empathize with those who
  don’t.”

  I went through a life altering experience in S. Africa, and the experience has since faded from me.  Re-reading words I wrote, I see a person who was truly inspired, who had the amazing opportunity to live and work in a beautiful country, with beautiful people.  I laugh now at my realization that my students were not all criminals as I had been told, but were disadvantaged financially and socially in some way.  I had students who had been in gangs, who had robbed and knived, who had dropped out of school and become drug addicts.  And I heard these students talk about their desire to change, and to gain an education.

  That’s what my S. African experience did for me.  It made me want to help others, through real skills and soft ones.  Thinking about planning, time management, and perserverance, along with what I now teach, reading and writing. 

  I was watching Oprah’s S Africa special, on at 2am, and she had a line about how she fell in land with the landscape.  That certainly happened for me there.  Everywhere was majestic.  I was always minutes from beaches, mountains, modern comforts, and vibrant communities. 

  I can’t wait to be back there.  The question is, how soon

  • 2:27 am
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