Next Stop, Homestays: Our first weekend with our new homestay families

Sunday June 17, 2012

            After spending two weeks together at the Le Horizon guesthouse located in an area of Wentworth called "the Bluff", it was time for each of us students to move in with our homestay family, with whom we will be spending the remaining six weeks of our time in South Africa.  Luckily, I felt no butterflies in my stomach upon moving in with a new family because Keith and Admay had so wonderfully organized a "meet and greet" dessert and tea the previous week during which almost all of us were able to meet our new "families" before leaving the comfort of our DukeEngage Durban group.  Friday was a relaxing night with a hearty meal of Nandos, a popular South African chicken restaurant.  The following morning included a trip to a local shopping center for groceries and a birthday present for a girl whose 21st birthday party I was to attend that evening with my homestay mother Jean.  Coincidentally, the 21-year-old girl was in fact my worksite director's, Ms. Field, daughter.  The party was held at the Bluff Golf Course and when you try to imagine this party think of those extravagant "sweet sixteen" parties shown on TV or a small high school prom.  It was great to be out with local residents of Wentworth, and I was particularly thrilled to be sitting at a table with two women who I knew from Assegai Primary school.  Meeting their husbands and children, two of whom were about my age, was quite a treat.  I got to further sample South African specialties including an extremely spicy chicken breyani (a dish of curried chicken and potatoes over rice), a macaroni and cheese specialty (much different than the Kraft Dinner we typically think of in the United States), gem squash, and a hot, traditional pudding and custard.  I was also introduced to some of the local music, referred to as "house music", much of which is sung in Zulu or Afrikaans.  After a late Saturday night, Jean and I rose early to go to church at 8:30am on Sunday.  Although I don't go to church regularly back home, I welcomed the opportunity to see what church was like in a country half-way around the world from my home.  The church I attended was a 75-year-old building that has been designated a "heritage site".  While the church was far away from those in the United States, the experience felt very similar to churches there, with the message of the day focusing on thoughtfulness before action so as to avoid any rash or sinful behavior.  I can already see that the homestay experience aspect of this program will be one of its most valuable because it allows students to truly become integrated into the Wentworth community and interact with those who live here every day.