Last few days...

I’m enjoying a day off from classes and excursions today. It was nice to sleep in for the first time in two and a half weeks. Today I had planned on climbing Table Mountain, however the clouds are quite dark over it today so hopefully I’ll be able to squeeze that in before I depart on Friday. 

It’s difficult for me to believe that I’ll be leaving South Africa in a matter of days. Many students are looking for ways to extend their stays here. I, however, am expected to start my summer employment on Monday, so unfortunately, staying a couple of extra days, weeks, or months isn’t in the cards at this time. 

Our last week in South Africa has been devoted to processing everything we have learned over the past weeks. When I explain what I’ve been able to experience in SA so far, it appears that I’ve done quite a bit, but deep down inside I feel as though I’ve barely scratched the surface in terms of truly understanding the depth of the pandemic. I’ve gotten a fair taste of how Apartheid and healthcare crisis have contributed to the spread of AIDS, but one major component of the pandemic, culture, I feel has still been unaddressed. The unfortunate part understanding the cultural component of HIV is that it can only really be done by having an extended stay in a township. 

Stigma is an enormous issue surrounding HIV/AIDS. Clinics are now offering tests after midnight so that there is a greater degree of confidentiality. The JL Zwane Community Center is often referred to as the “AIDS Church” simply because it is one of the few establishments that has done a great deal to reach out to those infected. As you can imagine, the notion of stigma shows up in so many levels of the pandemic, whether it’s the government not actively addressing the issue, schools not implementing any sort of sexual education in the school systems, people being afraid to be tested because the suspicions that will be raised if anyone finds out that they requested testing. All of these notions contribute to the stigma surrounding the issue and it’s incredibly sad. 

As I’ve been reflecting on my experiences here, I’m finding that re-entering the US will probably be more difficult than adjusting to the culture of South Africa. After being here, I’ve begun to realize how incredibly insensitive I have been to the fact that the vast majority of the world only dreams of enjoying the things that I take for granted on a daily basis. In the US, even the poorest of the poor do not live in nearly as horrible conditions as those in the townships. Though it isn’t available to all, we have a number of medical professionals that have access to endless amounts of medications. In Africa, only two lines of ARVs are available to everyone, meaning once immunity has been built along those two, the person basically waits to die. In the US we have three lines of ARVs, which greatly extends the equality of life for people who are living with HIV/AIDS. I think a lot of people look at a problem like HIV/AIDS and don’t see any way where they can be helpful because it is such a large problem. Obviously monetary donations are needed the most simply to keep the programs running, but furthermore not being wasteful when it comes to food (we’re currently in a global food crisis) and limiting the amount of red meat you consume will greatly improve conditions for those abroad. Because so much food is consumed by the US, developing countries often do not receive a lot of foods that are vital to proper nutrition, especially when it comes to protein. 

All in all, I’m still very much in a reflective state of understanding how I will take this experience and incorporate the lessons into my everyday life in the US. The greater portion of this class has been gaining an education of the current affairs of SA, but I still don’t know that I particularly improved the situation I was in besides being more informed. I still feel like a lot I have left here is unfinished and it’s sort of an unsatisfying feeling. When I sit down to blog, it’s difficult to really put what I’ve experienced into words, but I know that this will be an imperative part of helping raise awareness to this cause. 

Thanks for reading!

P.S. My instructor has posted a ton of pictures from SA. Feel free to view them at www.aaroninsouthafrica.blogspot.com