Dasia Washington '24 and Tay Maxwell '24 were part of a Guilford College team traveling to South Africa this month. Dasia and Tay posted here about their trip.
July 21, 2023
Tay: Our last day in South Africa was one of the most inspirational days of my life, We did a few things to wrap up our time here. Earlier in the trip we met There, a rescue elephant. I wanted to capture the connection lion I made with three and her two children so I decided to get a tattoo on my arm of her to always remember our time with them. Earlier in the day we met the staff at African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership, a group that Guilford hopes to partner with. Getting to learn how how this organization promotes healthy farming and fertilizer use for Africa’s farmers made me want to stay and start helping in any way I could. I’m excited to see where these partnerships will lead in the future.
Our next stop of the day was Soweto, a township of Johannesburg, where Nelson Mandela once lived. It's also where and Hector Pieterson, a 12-year-old South African schoolboy, was shot and killed in 1976 during the Soweto uprising. The photo of another student carrying Hector's lifeless body appeared in many newspapers outside of South Africa and helped the rest of the world see the brutality of apartheid. The Hector Pieterson Museum is located in Soweto just two blocks from where he was fatally killed. This museum shows so many heart-wrenching moments during the uprising that killed at least 176 black teachers and students, but probably many more.
This trip has made a lifelong impact on me, helping me understand South Africa's complicated and brutal history. I'm bringing home so many memories of this lovely country and have made so many lifelong friends. I am honored I got to be a part of this life changing experience.
Dasia: I’m back from South Africa. On our last day in the country, we visited the Hector Pieterson Museum. I can’t get past the image burned into my mind of the photograph of Hector being carried away from the student protest against the apartheid government, his body limp in the arms of the boy -a little boy- who found him, with his big sister wailing in agony walking alongside them.
Hector was 13 and one of his shoes was missing. I wonder if they ever found his shoe.
It’s interesting how a heavy disdain for humanity can coexist in me with such a strong sense of love. It’s heartbreaking when people show you the cruelty that humans are capable of, but this trip was a reminder of the hope that comes with people reminding you of the capacity we have for kindness.
Someone once told me to spend my money on experiences rather than things. When I'm on my deathbed, they said, it won’t be the things I didn’t buy that I will regret but rather the places I didn’t go and experiences that I didn’t live. It’s not even the where and the what that matters, but the who. Your company is what makes your experience.
On my 16-hour flight -- 16! -- one of the movies I watched was Akeelah and the Bee which I hadn't seen since I was a kid. There was this quote that Dr. Larabee made Akeelah read throughout the movie that sums up my experience on the trip to South Africa with the people that I went with:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? ... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
This trip’s purpose has been with the sheer intent of seeking and giving opportunity, learning, and uplifting each other. At one of our first breakfasts in South Africa I was telling everyone how I felt about travel and opportunities like this one. Before I went on my first study abroad trip a year ago to Europe, I felt opportunities and experiences like these were not for people like me.
Traveling the world and creating space for my voice and experiencing success like this is for different people. I came up with all the excuses: These trips are for people with more money, different childhoods, more time. I’m not smart enough. I’m not talented enough. What I have to say isn’t important. But over the last year, with the support of people who care about me, they’ve helped me see how wrong I was.
As cheesy as it sounds, I want people who feel like I felt to know that they are wrong, that we are all just as worthy to be in higher places and doing things to enrich us, to know that we can enrich the world and have something valuable to offer. Sometimes (a lot of times) we just need support and help.
I want you to know I’m here to help in whatever ways I can. Nobody can do it alone so please don’t be afraid to ask for help or support because you deserve to be here traveling and taking up space and succeeding in whatever ways feels right for you.
I’m so excited for the way that President Kyle Farmbry is approaching the community at Guilford, both on campus, domestically and community and internationally. Good things are coming -- for Guilford and the people of South Africa -- and I'm excited to be part of them.
July 19, 2023
Tay: Waking up and knowing that we had to leave Thohohyandou where the University of
Venda is located was bittersweet but knowing we were leaving with great partnerships for the
future warms my heart. After breakfast we drove to Kruger National Park. Kruger was created more than 130 years ago because of the declining animal population in South Africa, and they needed a place where the animals could be protected from hunters and poachers.
Kruger is about 7,500 square miles, which is double the size of Puerto Rico. Kruger has many different animals. South Africans have a special name for some of those animals. The Big 5 are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and the African buffalo. They hey earned that lable becaus they aare viewed as the most dangerous to hunt. Did you know the African Buffalo can slow it's heart rate after beeing shot? That way it can circle back around and hunt YOU while you are tracking it. Kruger is a place that I'll never forget.
Dasia: Guys, we saw monkeys today… and elephants and antelope and and hippos and stuff but MONKEYS. They were so cute digging through our trash and snatching crackers from another member of Guilford's delegation here.
But in all seriousness, even though it was a long drive through the Kruger National Park (it’s absolutely humongous, a seven-hour drive from one end to the other) it was so worth it. I used binoculars today… next I’ll be wearing camo and cargos, watch out! I will never get tired of seeing elephants, they are so big in person, I’ve been surprised that they’re so calm around humans for the most part.
I also love looking at the landscapes. Remember how in children’s books about different places in the world, the pictures of African safaris would always have those leaning trees that looked a very specific way? Yeah it’s accurate, which has been entirely too pleasing to me.
Anywho, a monkey just stole my french fry so I gotta run.
July 15, 2023
Tay: We drove almost six hours north to the University of Venda today. It’s a beautiful campus with lush plants and flowers. We were greeted by many faculty and staff, who made us feel so special and welcome. The people at Venda reminded me of Guilford because that’s how we treat our guests.
Hearing all the different types of programs the university has made me think what programs I would enjoy if I were an exchange student here. We got to hear from Tharian van der Walt who is in the Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Management, Commerce, and Law. She spoke about Venda’s Criminal Justice program. Being a Criminal Justice major myself, was excited to hear about the classes they offered like introduction to law, sociology English communication skills, criminal law, victimology, criminal procedure, law of evidence.
These classes are similar to Guilford’s, but I would love to take some police-based classes in South Africa to compare the different style of policing.
Dasia: Today was such an informative day. Everything surrounding our focus of this trip — examining education (particularly higher education) and possible partnerships surrounding educational initiatives — has been very exploratory with few concrete decisions. Since we’re all passionate and eager for change — not just at Guilford, but South Africa and the rest of the world — we want that change and answers on how to get there as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.
As we’ve worked with President Farmby to help forge these international relationships and share our own knowledge and perspectives, I’ve come to recognize this as a slow and complex process. Guilford and two large South African universities 8,200 miles apart want to work together. We need to take many steps before we start running.
Today was refreshing though. We visited the University of Venda and got to hear a lot of clear information from the faculty and gained some much-needed insight into their educational landscape from both faculty and students.
Today seemed like a fruitful and concrete step forward and I’m excited to see what more we can learn and share as we move forward.
PS: Venda is an agricultural-need university which means we got to see some pigs today. In case nobody’s ever told you (because I was certainly left out of the memo) Charlotte’s Web is an entirely inaccurate representation of how HUGE and growly pigs are.
July 13, 2023
Tay: The University of Pretoria’s art museum was an experience I will never forget. This was my first visit-ever trip to an art gallery. I expected more sculptures and the art having meanings of old African artists. I could not have been more wrong. Walking in we viewed the “Through The Lens” exhibit, which helped me better understand the concepts of xenophobia.
Another exhibit that caught my eye was a Renaissance-style painting with the traditional white individuals. What made the painting special was that this modern-day version also included black people. This made me reflect on how African Americans were not represented in many aspects of life (including art) but are now.
Dasia: Touristy day today, but I have no shame - it was awesome sauce.
I started the day with no energy because the previous two days were super exhausting, but I’m so glad I made it out of bed.
My friend and colleague that attended University Impact’s bootcamp with me (a social impact bootcamp) was able to join us today, which was a pleasure.
We started the day with University of Pretoria’s art museum, which was fascinating and beautiful. My favorite piece, believe it or not, was a painting of a naked woman ripping open the flesh on her chest (it was symbolic!).
We spent much of the rest of the day exploring a private reserve (lions and tigers and bears; oh my!), shopping in local markets, and just spending time together before a dinner meeting with colleagues.
And while we did see lions and tigers (a baby one!) we actually didn’t see any bears. We did get to see some elephants up close and personal. By close I mean I rubbed her belly, which was the highlight of my entire 20 years thus far.
July 12, 2023
Tay: What would you expect while visiting Johannesburg's Apartheid Museum. As an American I never learned about the horrors that happened here but one quote at the museum really stuck with me: "When Europeans came, they had the Bible, and we had the land. Now we have the Bible, and they have our land.” This museum has so many artifacts to learn from. Learning how South African politician Hendrik Verwoerd developed and applied the policy of apartheid. The effect he caused on families here saddens me. Knowing that apartheid did not end until almost 30 years ago the effects of it are still hurting the people who live here. Watching the videos of Chris Hani who was an advocate for apartheid's end and being assassinated at his home upsets me deeply. The stories in the museum need to be seen, heard and learned by all South Africans -- Americans, too.
Dasia: I couldn’t make it/ through any of the halls/ without my throat closing,/ my eyes watering, my heart sinking/ to my stomach/ in physical manifestations of grief.
still I read each plaque/ with nauseating fervor,/ each story is overwhelming,/ more so than the last/ and as the amount of pictures/ and testimony grow,/ so does my anger at the world./ How can we exist/ amid such flippant cruelty,/ which is nothing more than fear/ cowering behind violence./ We are left clinging/ onto hope like a lifeline,/ as though it alone/ can save us.
July 11, 2023
Tay: I am a Criminal Justice major and I’m so excited about this trip to South Africa. I’ve never been there so the opportunity to go and help build relations with some of the colleges there is something I can’t wait for. I’m looking forward to helping develop plans to lift this program off its feet and benefit not just Guilford but colleges in South Africa. I’m looking forward to a great experience. Thanks for following us here.
Dasia: I'm really look forward to this to South Africa. It's going to be a wonderful opportunity to bond with colleagues as well as an opportunity to learn more about educational inequity in a part of the world I didn’t grow up in. A constant goal of mine is to search for ways to be a part of a solution, but I think my main objective over the next 10 days will be to develop as much of a deeper understanding of systemic workings surrounding education in South Africa as possible and to see how they correlate with my current perspectives in the United States and globally. Thanks for checking in over the next few days.