Image from: http://www.cojohannesburg.org/ (I didn't have my camera handy but it looked pretty much just like this)
I have arrived. I landed 4 days ago but wasn't able to find internet until now. I will be able to keep my posts regular from now on. I landed at 4:30PM and was greeted by Stanley, Apinda, and Yan of "Behind the Mask" the NGO I am working with. By the time I got through the airport the sun had already set below the horizon. It is winter here in South Africa and that means shorter days. The sky was orange and purple as we drove down the highway. The flora was tall grasses and small trees. The Highways of Johannesburg are familiar: billboards, big boxes, and highway signs. I was reminded of Florida except we were on the wrong side of the road. We drove past a large fort. Stanely told me that this fort was a prison for native Africans during the apartheid. The apartheid was a system of legalized racial segregation enforced by the National Party (NP) South African government between 1948 and 1994. Stanley said that Nelson Mandela was held here for part of his 27 year detention. Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and leader and leader of the African National Congress and its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. It is amazing to think that racial segregation has existed here less than fifteen years ago I have a lot to learn about South Africa's history and current condition.
After dropping Apinda off at her home we arrived at the commune I where I am staying. We met by Godfrey the commune's care taker. Doris and I are the only ones staying in the main house right now and we each have our own rooms. The beds are comfortable, the water pressure is strong and the lights work, no internet though. I am writing this entry at 8:17PM eastern standard time I think that means that it is around 1:00AM here. I went to bed at 8:30PM (South Africa Time) I am not sure what to do with the rest of my night...
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