Did I already post this?

Emily here.  Ever since watching The Color of Friendship, I've wanted to travel to South Africa.  Yeah, I'm serious.  The movie sparked my interest on Apartheid and the current situation of the country, and I have finally visited.

            We docked near V&A Waterfront, probably the fanciest area in South Africa.  Walking into the mall, the group I was with experienced reverse culture-shock because we hadn't been in a true Western-style retail area for so long.  And, of course, we were coming from Ghana, which is more like the "Africa" that most people think of.  This area of Cape Town was like any ritzy area you'd find in the states, and nicer than most places I've seen.  Another interesting phenomenon was that nobody was pressuring us to buy anything.  People didn't come up to me and put a bracelet on my wrist, call me a friend, and demand money, which was what I became accustomed to in Ghana.  I think it was this, combined with the sheer familiarity, that made my first steps into Cape Town feel like home.

            Of course, I know all about South Africa's problems from the news and my classes, so I had been feeling a little guilty about how much I was enjoying my time.  I did a lot of the normal touristy things: I hiked Table Mountain, swam with penguins, went to Biscuit Mill Farmer's Market, visited Robben Island and the District 6 Museum, walked around the University of Cape Town, and shopped for things I didn't need.  So there I was in South Africa, being a white tourist.  Awesome.  That's not exactly what I wanted. 

            In an attempt to actually learn something, I decided to go on a township homestay.  We went to Tambo, which is about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town.  You've all seen the pictures of ad hoc towns made of shelters with tin roofs; it's what people think of when they think of Apartheid housing for Black South Africans.  Well that didn't disappear with the end of Apartheid.  But it turned out that that's not what Tambo Township was like at all.  The place I stayed had running water and electricity, and I had a queen size bed (I shared with someone else).  Mama Beauty, my host-mom, and her sister Cynthia, were incredibly welcoming.  I felt instantly comfortable and safe.  I even got to play with some kids who came to visit, which was a lot of fun.  My homestay experience was amazing, but I know that Tambo Township is very well off compared to most others, and again, I felt a pang of guilt. 

            So I really don't know how I feel about the place.  I had an amazing time and loved every minute of it, but there's a reason for that: it's similar to home.  And the reason it's similar to home is because white people made it that way.  I'm conflicted and I don't know if I should be.  The end?