The Future South African Rugby Team

Friday began bright and early after a whopping three hours of sleep the night before. I finally got to skype with The Ocho, which was well worth the expense (slight inside joke) and sleep lost. I woke up early to run before the day began and the heat set in. A lack of sleep never bothered me anyhow. We had a rugby practice with the UCT rugby coach, which- let me tell you- was hilarious, considering the fact that we could barely cognitively understand how the drills were to be run, let alone actually attempt to complete them. It was quite fun, in any case. Most of the time I was simply laughing hysterically and, although that may not go hand-in-hand with rugby, it surely adds to a good team spirit.

Then a big group of us took a mini bus to the beach called Camps Bay. Camps Bay is a combination of Santa Monica, Miami, and a dream. It is incredibely beautiful and lined with shops and restaurants. It is also incredibly white. Driving into Camps Bay is somewhat like leaving KFC to go to Wolfgang Puck’s (I would have said Dunkins, but I know, in the East, that is an elite establishment). It was somewhat disturbing to me to see the all-too clear cut difference between the world of the wealthy and that of the impoverished. Mostly, however, it is the feeling of total contentment that I find very interesting. I have heard many times while I have been here, “These are the way things are”. It is interesting to come from America, where injustice causes marches, boycotts, and continuous resentment, to a place where it seems as though people have come to accept the fact that resources in the country are completely unequal in distribution. Perhaps I am interpreting what I see completely erroneously. I will let you know as I observe more.

We toured long street Friday night, a boulevard of shops during the day and bars and clubs during the night. The roads are filled with young socialites roaming up and down, looking for the best place to dance, drink, or simply mingle and enjoy the warm night air. It is not cheap. Each bar/club has a cover fee and then drinks cost money. Yet, in South Africa, everything is still relatively cheap. Our largest cover charge was 30 rand, roughly 4.5 dollars. It is a place to gain exposure to the local culture and learn from South Africans who, in a loosened state, drop their stereotypes and social barriers.