Friday, April 20, 2007

The Body

Last weekend I spent in Kgapane at my Principal's, Mrs. Rangwato's house. It is always a welcome change staying there as she has running water and cable TV which means I get to relax in luxury.

I think that sometimes I will never get used to certain aspects that are acceptable in this context. For example, I was enjoying a bath one morning when there was a knock on the door. I answered affirmatively that I was in the bath. Unexpectedly to me, this didn't mean much and Maggie, Mrs. Rangwato's niece, came prancing in explaining that she needed to grab the detergent from the cupboard. So I sat naked in the tub in front of a girl I had known less than a day feeling ultimately uncomfortable.

Yet, should I have felt this way? I suppose my cultural upbringing has taught me to be embarrassed by nudity. Yet, here it is much different. If you are among women it seems there is no hesitancy to be naked or bathe. There is much less shame and self-consciousness over the body. People in the rural areas are much less concerned over their weight. Women are expected to look like women, like themselves, not like an image on TV or in a magazine.

I suppose that I like this idea, that a woman here, no matter what her size, can be considered beautiful. I like that women are not ashamed to sit topless outside when it is hot or that women accept each other without embarrassment. I hope this is one aspect that the influence of western culture does not change.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Taste of America

Jenny and I with our first good margaritas in a year and a half

Meagan, Jillian, and Jenny
Meagan and I with our first Dr. Pepper in a year and a half (don't ask how much we had to pay)

Climbing up Table Mountain


The Gorge
At the top....exhausted but accomplished

The cable car back down

Robben Island

Meagan
Southern Right Whale
Nelson Mandela's former cell

Chapman's Peak Road


Jillian, Jenny, Me, Meagan

Jenny contemplating the world

Visiting the Penguins

Meagin and Jenny
Me getting chased by a penguin


Meagan and Penguins
Jillian and Penguins
Me and Penguins

Cape Town and the Aquarium

Meagan
Jenny and I

Woman weaving tapestry
Eel
Star Fish

Visiting Wilderness

Meagan and Jillian in the waterfall
Jellyfish
Jillian, Me, and Meagan Canoeing

Wine Tasting in Stellenbosch

Meagan and Jillian
Meagan at the Berry Farm
Drinking coffee at the berry farm
Meagan tasting wine and smelling the roses

Wine Tasting in Franschoek

Wine Bottles



Jillian, Me, and Meagan on our vineyard tour