Thursday and Friday: Pure South Africa.

I continually write about the two completely different worlds I constantly see right next to each other. Thursday we studied development for the poor in the amazing Warrick Junction. Lets see, it is a huge informal market that consists of a, as I call it, “food court” which serves some part of the cows head which are placed in bags on the sidewalk to thaw. It also has a long stretch of traditional healers, Sangomas, who sell herbs, dried animals and the likes. The most amazing thing about the market is that it was all planned. It’s definitely a highlight in Durban.

After spending Thursday talking and seeing the informal development, we moved to the first world. We went to the water front where there is a huge developmental revitalization project taking place. We saw newly built apartments with a canal moving along the buildings. Interestingly, the debate moved from the day before’s “where do we put the cow heads?” to “where do we put the huge lavish yachts.”

While my initial thoughts looked down upon the 1^st world development, I realized that both are important in the development of South Africa. A fancy water front doesn’t give you the impression that you are in Africa, but is that always the view of Africa you should think of? As South Africa continues to development, I can imagine there will be issues of it losing its African feel, which is an interesting question to think about and one that I struggle with.

I head to the rural on Saturday and i am ready for the experience. I will not have internet access for about two weeks. Talk to you then.