For me at seventeen , it was my first interaction with kids of a different race. Thinking back today, it is almost impossible to relate back to that time. More especially when I consider that my friends today are from every ethnic group and numerous nationalities.
Two experiences from that trip always stick out in my mind. The first was something a game park ranger at the Kruger National Park said to us. After an entire day, traipsing around on foot with hime, tracking elephant dung and lions, we headed back to camp at sunset. As we got out of our vehicle, we noticed some loud America tourists taking pictures us holding hands. A bunch of kids of mixed ethnicity, holding hands was illegal back then.
“This is what we are striving for!” one of our English facilitators remarked.
“No,” our very Afrikaans guide Johan said, “The day we are striving for, is the day when no one notices.”
As a teenager that was one of the most profound things I had ever heard. It stays with me to this day and I strive to achieve that level of thinking in my life. The day we are striving for is when it ceases to be a novelty, when a person is a person and we are not arguing about rugby quotas and BEE.
The second experience on the trip, that stuck out for me on that trip was a facilitator, Jill, who was telling us about her trips to the US. She had attended several sporting events and political rallies and she commented on how patriotic the Americans were. How the held there hands over there hearts and sang their anthem with tears rolling down their faces.
“That is the day we are striving for!” she commented. At the time, I can honestly say, looking at the old Suid Afrikaanse flag, that I felt no sense of loyalty, zero sense of pride. My friends and I commented on how we could never see that day happening in a hundred years.
But fortunately, I was wrong. In 1995 when South Africa faced off the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final, I remember sitting in a crowded lounge surrounded by raucous varsity mates. I remember Nelson Mandela coming out to his seat with Francois Pienaar’s No. 6 Springbok jersey. Tear welled in my eyes. Our saw our new flag flying proud and I cried as the anthem was sung. I realised that that was the day. The day when we could hold our hands over our hearts and sing with pride.
And here we are again, 12 years later (can you believe) in a World Cup final. I can't even contain my excitement. Today, I choke up every time our anthem is sung. I see our boys singing, hands on mighty chests and I beam with pride. What a time we live in? What a time?
I want to say: "bring it home boys, bring it home" - but you know? They already have.
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Comments
October 19, 2007 - 18:25 — Dolce
Aw Fluts
I think someone should send them this link....
October 19, 2007 - 13:57 — Spoegs
Flutter - The Lemonade Game
This is pretty amazing - I went on Edutrain too. What's happened to the whole initiative? Have you kept in toch with any of the people that you went with? What was your highest score on the lemonade game?
October 19, 2007 - 14:06 — Flutter
Spoegs...
I went on the 10th Edutrain and we travelled around the 'Transvaal'. We didn't play the lemonade game sadly (what was it?) Which one did you go on and where?
Small world, ain't it. Did keep in touch with a few people when I got to varsity but then lost touch. I have googles several people but no luck. Not sure what happened to the initiative but I figured when the new government took over, they felt their work was done.
October 20, 2007 - 10:41 — nossie
Fluts
Its really sad that one looses touch with people from our past but then again, we have all moved on and if you ever met any of them again, you'de probably spend an hour doing the "when we were..." thing and after that having nothing much to talk about.
Try this link to find friends...
fiind friends
October 19, 2007 - 14:29 — Spoegs
Lemonade Game
Was a simple computer game where you had to sell lemonade into the market. You had to adjust variables such as lemon content sugar content etc based on the temperature and the prices that other competitors were selling the stuff into the market at. You competed to see who generated the highest profit.
October 19, 2007 - 14:35 — Flutter
Jeez Spoegs...
That was very different to the games we played. Our focus was social issues, then the environment and politics. We did watch some Clem Santer videos (the economic guru of the era) but that was it. I guess they were responding to different things depending on the socio-economic and political climate in SA at the time. Makes sense I guess.
October 19, 2007 - 14:40 — Spoegs
Social Issues
Ja we also concentrated on the social issues etc. Real eye opener was the refugee camps on the Moz/RSA/Kruger Park Border. Speaking of Clem I still have to ask him how his (and his teams) scenario planning techniques never foresaw the copper price increase and Anglo pulled out of Zambia just before the price went through the roof.
October 19, 2007 - 14:47 — Spoegs
Fluts - KC's Hair?
I see that KC's doing something with her hair - is it the hair on her head or other hair. If its other hair do you think she'll post pictures?
October 19, 2007 - 14:52 — Flutter
Those mission stations
Were horrendous. Now instead on Moz, its Zim. Eish!
KC's hair? Have no idea but she will most likely post pics.
I bought a giant top hat today, in the colours of the SA flag - very festive... and it coveres my hair..
October 19, 2007 - 14:59 — Spoegs
I bought beer in green bottles!
I reckon it the best way you can support the boks - green bottles!!!
October 19, 2007 - 15:16 — Flutter
Spoegs
That's a mighty fine idea and sounds like you have already started.
I got this hat to go with my green bottles..
October 20, 2007 - 10:42 — nossie
Fluts
Put the hat on THEN send the photo!!
October 19, 2007 - 15:25 — Spoegs
Now thats a hat
Not so good for keeping the sun off your face but atleast your head won't get cold and everyone will know who you're supporting!
October 19, 2007 - 15:27 — Flutter
Ja Spoegs
An if things get really out of hand I can just pull it downover my face :-)
October 19, 2007 - 15:31 — Spoegs
Water colllecting
Ja and if your taps fail you can also collect water in the hat.
October 19, 2007 - 15:55 — Flutter
Mostly Spoegs...
I'm gonna be hiding my Windhoeks up there. Plus, it's gonna be hot tomorrow. Very, very hot.
October 19, 2007 - 15:58 — Spoegs
I hear you.
Hot and sweaty baby, hot and sweaty
October 19, 2007 - 16:03 — Spoegs
Flutter - One Last Question
Must duck now, but I was wandering - do you get belly button fluff? If so what colour is it usually?
Have a great weekend
Spoegs
October 19, 2007 - 16:11 — Flutter
Spoegs...
I can honesty say, no one's every asked me that before. You are the first!
No, sadly, I am not blessed with belly button fluff. Think I should take the matter up with Belly Button Fairy. But thank you for asking.
Enjoy the rugby and have a good weekend.
PS: See if you can get Arbie to talk to us, ok?!
October 19, 2007 - 14:09 — Spoegs
Flutter
Can't remember the number but the Route was Lebowagomo, Citrus farming area up north, Kruger Park etc. Went in 1991.
October 19, 2007 - 14:13 — Flutter
Hey Spoegs...
We did the same route! I did it in '89 and my bro was lucky enough do it in '90. Awesome experience wasn't it?
Have you managed to keep in touch with people?
October 19, 2007 - 14:17 — Spoegs
Flutter - Not really
Not kept in touch with anyone. Some of the people who were on the train were either kids of influential people or have pursued quite public careers so sometimes hear of either them of their folks on the net, news or business articles etc. One of the girls on the train appears in an advert on TV from time to time - Not really keeping in touch though.
October 19, 2007 - 14:22 — Spoegs
Experience was great though
In response to your initial question the experience was great though. Thinking back it was quite a thing for black and white kids to be sharing facilities and stuff, although I can't really remember it being an issue for us on the train. You just did stuff - like played the lemonade game and stuff. Glad I'm sticking to my aim for the day of using the word stuff a lot.
October 19, 2007 - 14:25 — Flutter
Spoegs..
Pretty much the same, alot of the kids in my group where influential people's kids (from rather exclusive private schools). I think your trip was sponsored by Richards Bay Minerals??
October 19, 2007 - 14:25 — Spoegs
Can't remember
It was definitely one of the mining houses though.
October 19, 2007 - 14:28 — Flutter
Would be interesting to see...
how many leaders they helped produce. It certainly shaped my future in a big way. No coming from the private school background though - I did feel like a bit of an outsider on the trip initially and it was interesting to see the racial divides when we chose cabin quarters. But in the end - everything changed... well for most everyone. We had some die hard right wingers..
October 19, 2007 - 13:44 — marijayn
wow fluts...
...this is so beautiful!
you brought tears to my eyes too man!
October 19, 2007 - 14:08 — Flutter
Marijayn...
It brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
I drove around the city centre at lunch and amazing how many people are kitted out in sprinbok colours. Such an awesome atmostphere everywhere. Quite something...
October 19, 2007 - 12:31 — kachasu
lovely flutter
really extraordinary.
moving.
i still can't quite shake the Lucky Dube cloud, but this made me feel pretty ok. or maybe that's the pills kicking in?
October 19, 2007 - 12:38 — Flutter
KC...
Ja, I know it's mixed emotions today. Some 'clever' buggers have called on supporters to ban the World Cup to draw attention to the crime in SA. I am not really sure 44 million angry supporters is the way to achieve that.
I just wish our government officials would fucking wake up already! It's getting out of hand. We have such a wonderful country with unlimited potential. Hell we managed a polical transformation without violence - this should be a cinge. I thought when Tokyo's wife was hijacked - someone would do something but alas I am not sure what is going to be enough .
October 19, 2007 - 12:24 — Vapour
Flutts
you are something else, *Mwah*
October 19, 2007 - 12:32 — Flutter
Vaps...
Is that a compliment? ;-)
*mmmwwhaaa!*
October 19, 2007 - 12:21 — Semisweet
Flutter
Reading this has given me 'chicken-flesh' or 'goose-bumps' or whatever you wanna call it.
My heart swells with pride as well.
Good luck to the Bokke.
October 19, 2007 - 12:33 — Flutter
Ja, ain't it just wonderful...
32 hours and counting....
October 19, 2007 - 11:20 — Dusty Muffin
Flutts
You got me all choked up now too.
Lovely post, thank you.
October 19, 2007 - 11:24 — Flutter
Thanks Dust...
I think today should be a public holiday or something. I am watching my colleagues in a meeting talking about rugby instead of the project at hand.. hee hee..
I think I am going to have a beer at lunch... just to get in the mood you understand.
October 19, 2007 - 11:27 — Dusty Muffin
BAD GIRL!
I should join you.
Too much work
*sigh*
October 19, 2007 - 11:29 — Flutter
Hey Dust...
I haven't forgotten about meeting round 'the common'. Its just so windy these days. Nothing stopping us from doing a coffee or something sometime?
October 19, 2007 - 11:34 — Dusty Muffin
Flutts
Coffee's good. But exercise is critical: summer's on its way, and this bod needs to lose its insulation before exposure to the general public!
October 19, 2007 - 11:38 — Flutter
Dusty...
I have enough blubber to last me through a winter in the Arctic. Eish!
Mail me : flutteronblogmark@yahoo.co.uk
2 comments:
Hello Mark. I got a lump in my throat when I read this particular blog entry about EduTrain. I was also on one of those trains and that experience drove me to do what I do today. I am currently wanting to trace all the EduTrain alumni i can...in an attempt to see what can be done about offering a similar experience to young people in SA, and perhaps elsewhere. Are you still in touch with some of your friends from those days? If so could you share their contact details. Happy to have a skype call sometime. My username is LeaEsterhuizen. Look forward to hearing from you.
I see this is an old post and hope to connect. I was one of the founders of Edutrain and a facilitator on the first and second one. I do have videos and photos of the trip and will be setting up a group on facebook where people can share their experiences.
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