Umngane

65 Days in the Rainbow Nation

JULY 28, 2014 / REISTHEBAULT /“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention ofarriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather toskid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totallyworn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!'” —Hunter S. Thompson

PIETERMARITZBURG — As a college freshman, I really liked mydorm room. It was a good size, I had great roommates, but I wasready to live alone. The day I moved out, however, I didn’t wantto leave. I was looking at the old bunk bed, my desk and mydrawers and I was sad. I didn’t want to let go of all the fun I’dhad there.Here’s the point: I don’t think I’ve felt more at home in SouthAfrica than I have the past few days. Perhaps it’s early onsetnostalgia or something, but it feels like, after 60 some days, I’vereally become part of the country.So please reader, allow me to indulge in my urge to recap theselast two months.We arrived in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa two exhaustedAmericans on May 28. We met Mike Cuthbert — then the actingGeneral Manager at the PMB Y — for the first time in person atthe Durban airport.Mike and his wife Pauline deserve the utmost credit forwelcoming me and Emily with a kindness that helped ustransition from panicked travelers to comfortable members of the

A summer of service, exploration and friendship in SouthAfrica

staff.Our initial three week stint in PMB brought many firsts. We hadour first encounter with street kids. Most of them were youngerthan me but their time on the street had hardened and aged them.Many inhaled glue, some abused alcohol or other drugs. But afew were working, fighting tooth and nail for a chance at collegeor technical school. For a more permanent escape than drugscould ever bring. Never in my life have I been more humbled andfelt so fortunate to have a good home and a good school.Those weeks brought our first computer lessons and, with them, alarger purpose to our being here. We had never seen 16-year oldswho didn’t know how to turn on a computer. This was somethingwe could change and Emily and I threw ourselves into it.It was also the first time we met our hiking-guide-turned-friendIan. He led us up the treacherous and wild DrakensbergMountains. It was one of the most grueling things I’ve ever done.We battled blisters and wind that would literally blow us over.But those mountains are damn beautiful.We had adventures and a lot of fun, but in PMB and in Durbanwe were also witness to the widespread inequality that plaguesthe country.While our time in Cape Town brought more of those three things,the weeks we spent there were decidedly different from the rest ofour trip. Cape Town is certainly a different side of South Africa.It’s big, modern and fast-paced. Also, you can’t take a bad picturethere. Walk outside and you either have the mountains or theocean as a backdrop.We met a lot of people at the hostels there. They were travelersmostly, like us, who just wanted to see the city and have a bit offun. That we did. Cape Town certainly is one of the world’s mostincredible cities.We returned to PMB July 12 and found that a little bit hadchanged. Having successfully hired a long term General Manager,Mike returned to his position at the Y’s national office. The newGM Clinton George is a young guy with a history at the YMCAand other nonprofits. We arrived on his first day and in these lasttwo weeks, he has made his presence and attitude felt. He and hiswife Allison have been open, honest and gracious and, in doingso, have won the trust and respect of the Y staff. With their faithand dedication, I have no doubt that the Y is in good hands.Since our return to PMB, Emily and I have worked to make alasting impression on the computer lab and the computer classes.We developed a curriculum for our successor and we did a lot tobrighten the room. The YMCA South Africa logo and YMCA USAlogo are now displayed side by side on the previously blank walls

— a symbol of our time here and of future partnership. TheYMCA’s four pillars are scrawled above the logos because, hey,who can argue with those values?

(https://umnganeymca.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/img_4301.jpg)It’s kind of like my roommates and I leaving some of the year’smementos in the ceiling (only less vandalism-y) — even if no oneknows where it came from, we can leave knowing we made theroom a better place.So, I’ll be gone in two days. I’m headed to that travel purgatorythat accompanies long journeys. The time in between SouthAfrica and home will give me plenty of time to think (and todigest some rubbery airplane food). And, like my first collegehome, I won’t forget what happened here.

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3 thoughts on “65 Days in theRainbow Nation”

1. marybstrasselJULY 28, 2014 AT 1:07 PMYou won’t be the same after this summer. Bravo!

REPLY EDIT2. rthebault

JULY 28, 2014 AT 1:09 PMI really enjoyed reading this article and the thoughts youexpressed therein.See you soon.Love,Dad

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REPLY EDIT3. Catherine Duchon

JULY 28, 2014 AT 2:19 PMLove the quote! And, of course, all of the work you are doingwith the Y and all of the adventures you are having too!FYI: 3 days, 10 hours, 11 minutes until the plane touches downin Chicago!Can’t wait for the first hand stories and photos.

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