NELSON WINE ESTATE is hosting the 4th Annual Horse & Wine Fest at Nelson Wine Estate in Paarl on the 15 November 2009. Jack Kukard hopes to see you all for what promises to be a fun and exciting day in the Winelands. Please forward this info to everyone you know who would enjoy a relaxing day of good food, horses and great wine!
• 05Jun

  Reflection

  Category: Todd Skidmore  Posted by: Todd Skidmore at 7:36 am   No Comments

  We have been back for a while now and I have had time to reflect and review my pictures. I think the best of part of the trip was seeing first hand the progress this country has made from the apartheid years to now. It is a beautiful country with history to learn from, but more importantly a future to share. I think our class got somewhat of a peek under the tent as to what this country is doing for itself as it moves beyond an emerging country. The big coming out to the world, of course, will be next year at the 2010 World Cup.

  We did learn there is a lot more work to be done. HIV/AIDS, unemployment and housing are still very major issues that must be dealt with, and dealt with swiftly if South Africa is to move beyond an emerging nation. But fortunately, at the root of this country, is it’s people. The people are happy, freindly and want to change and appear willing to work hard for it. That is clearly the first step.

• 01Jun

  Forever Changed

  Category: Aisha Moffett, Uncategorized  Posted by: Aisha Moffett at 11:16 pm   No Comments

  My mother always told me, “Don’t judge a man until you walked a mile in his shoes.”  Well, I feel similarly about the country of South Africa.  You really can not talk about it or understand it until you have visited and immersed yourself in the culture.  I learned so very much from my visit to South Africa.  Below are some insights that I gained from the experience:

  Humility-  When I reflect on my visit to Robben island, once again I am moved by the level of peace and humility and unwavering forgiveness that not only Mandela displayed but also Sparks and his fellow ex-inmates.  They practice forgiveness and humility by giving daily tours so that their story would be heard.  I amazed at the spirit of Mandela that could not and would not be broken and still contains enough stamina at ninety plus years to continue hope in a healing nation.

  Blessings- Going into poverty stricken areas of the country and seeing the conditions that some people are forced to live in allowed me to see how blessed I am.  In the United States we live such a charmed existence and do not realize true poverty.  It amazed me that the sadness that I felt for those people was more about me and not about them.  The children were so happy and comfortable in their existence because that is all that they knew, and for them it was enough.

  Progress-  A misconception about Africa is that everything you experience will be third world.  Going into many of the companies I witnessed the progressiveness of many of the businesses.  The facilities, preparedness and presentation were on a level that you would not experience visiting most U.S. companies.  South Africans take so much pride in what they do and they are moving forward at a mind blowing pace.

  Openness- This country is not just about one people or language but many.  South Africa belongs to many and the rainbow is very alive.  You can not be close minded or remain ignorant with the variety of colors, faces, races and people that make South Africa the beautiful country it is.  When I tell people “South Africa was beautiful”  I am not just speaking about the scenery but the total experience.

  In retrospect, I am forever changed by the complexity of South Africa.  The cross culture of natural beauty, international business, and social diversity make South Africa and amazing place.  I sincerely appreciate this experience and I will forever hold a special place in my heart for South Africa.

• 01Jun

  Tuesday – M ….Where the sun always rises

  Category: Kim Weaver  Posted by: Kimberly Weaver at 8:56 pm   No Comments

   

  Just leaving Jo’burg and heading to Kruger Park. Wonderful evening at Old Joe’s Kaia.  The meals and discussions were wonderful.  There is a brutally honesty of South Africans.  Throughout the trip, I have been listening and learning of everyone’s prospective.  The stay was a nice retreat on our journey. It was a moment to stop and get to know each other better.  We ate, drank and sank. What a great evening.  The stars off the deck at Old Joe’s were unbelievable.  To think what we miss with the smog in Atlanta!

   

  I am thankful for some time to ponder the evening and our previous weeks’ visits.  The reality remains that there is a great divide in South Africa and it appears that the divide is getting bigger.  Regardless of who I speak to there is a hope but also a deep undertone of frustration as the journey of the Rainbow nation continues.  The looming issues of education and opportunity are reoccurring themes.  From the school and throughout the companies, the quest becomes what to do with a generation who were deprived of so much?  How do they live and survive?

• 01Jun

  Monday, 18 May 2009 Soweto

  Category: Kim Weaver  Posted by: Kimberly Weaver at 8:55 pm   No Comments

   

   

  Yesterday, we went to Soweto (Sunday).  I dreamed about one of the little girls I met.  It made me wonder how God can let places like that exist even though I believe that God is everywhere.  It always amazes me the resilient spirit of children – Angel, Angela and Precious – three sisters.  They were happy, energetic children until they asked for money.  It makes you wonder what type of system has been established that not only creates poverty but makes children beg for “school fees” and basic necessities. 

   

  Poverty is real globally and my prayer is we will work to find a solution.  I didn’t see parents, just children. We had the honor to speak with a grandmother in her home.  The grandmother reminded me of my own who I lost last year.  We talked about a grandmother’s love and that there is no other love like it!  I truly miss it.  I wish I could show my own grandmother my pics when I get home.

• 01Jun

  Sunday, 17 May 2009

  Category: Kim Weaver  Posted by: Kimberly Weaver at 8:53 pm   No Comments

   

  We are waiting outside of the Apartied Museum.   Due to it being a Sunday and winter, the Museum will not open for another hour.  We will venture inside about 10 a.m.  I am personally thankful for this short time to write in my journal and to mentally prepare myself for the visit.   Ever time I have the privilege to visit a living museum of people’s experiences, I always ask to be open to the lessons witnessed and learned.

   

  Yesterday, I got to go into a diamond mine.  We geared up like the miners.  The battery pack and oxygen pack were quite heavy L and painfulL.  It made me extremely empathetic to those who must work a 9 hour shift in the p.m.  I was also interesting to learn of the complexities of mine work-life. A gender divide exists and we got to see one of the few female miners.   There are also huge opportunities for promotions and education offered by the mining company.  I got to learn a great deal from one of the female supervisors during the tour.  The tribal affiliations are considerations when dividing groups of miners into work groups of four.  Families are no longer separated since the mines now provide family housing.  And ironic enough – we passed a condom box on our way out of the mine. The reality of HIV/AIDS is everywhere and the battle to stop the spread is ever present.

   

  Remarkable – back from the Apartied Museum – What can I say other than I wish we had more time. It was one of the most visually and emotionally impact-full tours that I have witnessed. It is amazing to me how people can come here and not visit this or Robben Island.  When I walked through the non-white door and saw the bars and the passport IDs that people were forced to carry, it reminded me of the days of slavery in the states and the Jim Crow laws.  The need to create the other will always exist in terms of arrogance and greed.  Watching the footage from the periods during Apartied and hearing the justification of the system makes one take pause to recognize an injustice to one is an injustice to all.  To see the board with the numerous charges that people were subjected to made me thankful that there are those in every generation who find the courage to fight and to bear witness to cruel injustices.  When will we as humans get tired of needing to create the “other”?  When will we get tired of domination and subordination?

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