A few headliners

There is a mini-bus strike going on.  To clarify: mini-buses are large taxis that take people down Main Rd. all the way to downtown CT, and you can stop and get off anywhere along the route.  The problem is, a lot of these mini-buses are in awful shape... some don't have floors, doors, etc. and the government is trying to implement the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRS) as a new form of transportation.  Second problem, the mini-bus drivers are all from the surrounding townships and it is their one source of income.  Also, they provide transportation from the townships in the morning to downtown, and a lot of people living in the township depend on them for a ride to work everyday.  It's sort of a fuzzy situation because there are rumors going around that the actual reason for the new implementation of public transport is basically just to try and make the city look better for the world cup in 2010.  And although the government is saying that this is not the reason and that it is for safety purposes, etc.  the fact is that they are putting thousands of people out of work and out of transportation out of the townships.  Third problem, the strike is becoming violent.  Various mini-bus drivers have threatened to physically pull people out of regular taxis and have said they will take further action if their demands aren't met.

Elections are this year, and it is really cool to be able to be here while they are going on.  In a country with so much history and struggle, it is enlightening to witness the turning of an era.  After the US elections, especially.  (SA had a black president years before the US ever did, yet they came out of apartheid only 15 years ago... interesting) Notorious ANC president Jacob Zuma is running for the presidency, and in turn, causing a lot of political scandal.  He is in the process of being convicted of rape of a family friend, known by Zuma to be HIV positive.  Zuma admitted to having unprotected sex with her but claimed that he took a shower afterwards to avoid the risk of getting AIDS.  It is political figures like this that make a country go to the pits (take president Robert Mugabe, for example) and Zuma (among other ANC activists) is famous for holding an ignorant point of view to the AIDS crisis in South Africa.  He has been quoted saying that there is no AIDS problem in South Africa, but it is the fault of the medications and aid that other global health organizations provides to the people that actually end up killing them, not the virus itself (what do you think about that, mom?).  Surprisingly though, he still maintains a lot of supporters within the townships and ANC followers.  We'll see what the outcome turns out to be.

On a lighter note, our house is positioned on the same block as a primary school... and I swear, they are always having recess.  I am woken up at 7:30 every morning with screaming and playing, and still right now (12:49pm) they are STILL outside shouting and yelling.  Don't get me wrong, I love the children, but just not at 7:30am singing Queen's "We Will Rock You".  

I still have not chosen a service project.  I have signed up for volunteering with the kids at the TB/HIV hospital, which would be rewarding in many ways, but ideally I would just love to work with teaching children and furthering education.  I am also on the waiting list to work on a horse farm that provides therapeutic horseback rides to people with disabilities-- which would be AWESOME.  

Well, off to take a surfing lesson!! Miss and love you all, thanks for reading!