DAY FOUR - FROM DURBAN TO GRAHAMSTOWN THROUGH QUNU
ZUZANNA WALISZEWSKA:
Grahamstown was
another stop in our journey. Before getting there we had to spent the whole day
in our van. However, we had a great opportunity to observe landscapes and “the
change of vegetation”. What’s more we had enough time to revise all of the
songs that we knew (and we knew them a lot!). The time spent in van wasn’t a
wasted time. Although it was quite tiring to sit there for ten hours, we could
enjoy beautiful landscapes, and I must admit, I was having fun singing with boys. Although “singing” is
a big word for the sound that was going out from my throat. That day we could try of our first Wimpy
breakfast that unfortunately didn’t impress us. At the end of the day, we
arrived to Grahamstown. This time we were sleeping with hosts. Me and Agata were
warmly welcomed by Chris and Liz de Wet. It was an extraordinary experience, to
stay in the house of South African family and to dine with them. During the
dinner with Chris and Liz, we talked about our university and life in Poland.
For me, sharing some knowledge about my
own country made me feel proud about my own country. Luckily, Liz abandoned the
idea of preparing for us traditional South African dinner, so that we could
enjoy some chicken and salad (“oh, chicken, I’ve missed you so much”).
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| From Durban to Grahamstown |
ILONA KARNIŁO:
The next day we had another long drive. One of the
stops along the way to Grahamstown, was Nelson Mandela’s Museum. What I best
remember from that day is that we found it hilarious that Michał’s host is an
Afrikaans teacher and her wife an attorney. Logically for us – first they were
going to test Michał’s Afrikaans and then, if he fails, put him to jail. In the
evening, as we reached Grahamstown, professor took us to our hosts. I was very
stressed, as I’ve never been in such situation – I’ve never slept at someone I
don’t know. As we entered the house, it turned out that our host, a professor
of philosophy, has invited some other professors to have a supper with us. The
questions they were asking were quite difficult. At least I was there with
Adrian, who was very talkative and could answer every question related to
history.
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| From Durban to Grahamstown |
MICHAŁ MARCINIAK:
It was time to leave Durban but first
we had to put our stickers on the car. It was challenging but ,in the end it, the result was not so
bad. We are on the way to Grahamstown. The landscape somehow still reminds me
of Poland. We stopped for breakfast at Wimpy. As it turned out later, it was
the worst breakfast we had when it comes to quick service restaurants. The only
thing that I liked there was frozen lemonade. Along the way we see a lot of
cattle. The landscape changed, we see a lot of red soil and its erosion. After
long hours spent in the car we reached our destination. This is the first night
when we stay with the hosts. I'm staying with Lynette and Torquil. We ate
dinner together, we talked a little about Poland and about Grahamstown and then
I went to bed. When I entered my room I've noticed a big spider on the wall. I
asked Lynette about it but she said I have nothing to worry about and that
these spiders are the part of the house. I fell asleep even though I was not so
relaxed.
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| From Durban to Grahamstown |
AGATA LEŚNOWOLSKA:
According to our brave driver, it was our longest drive. But that was fine because we drove through the
beautiful Transkei. Interesting things about Transkei seen from car’s window include:
every little town having its own golf course, people selling golf balls next to
the road, impressive amount of cattle, sheep and goats just casually crossing
the road or eating next to it. The interesting thing about Transkei except for
its beauty and golfing is of course its history as an ‘independent’ state.
Mthatha was
also a place where we had our first waentjie trouble.
Of course I
cannot forget about the Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu. I still have
problems with defining what that place was. It wasn’t a museum because there
was no real exhibition. Youth Centre? As I’m not a very sociable youth, I don’t
know how different youth centers should look like, but from the lack of any
kind of youth there I assume it doesn’t qualify as that as well. I think it was
supposed to be a place where one can go and see and feel the environment Nelson
Mandela grew up in. I love places like this but the Centre in Qunu lacked the
feeling. I think it would be nice to just walk around these Qunu fields (kind
of heritage walk) instead of looking at a blue tractor from a viewing platform.
People in South Africa really adore Mandela so the unpopularity of the Qunu
Youth and Heritage Centre really baffles me.
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| Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu |
ADRIAN PTASZYŃSKI - Philosophy and Brandy
Unfortunately, we have to move on west along the coast
to live up to the schedule. We say a pretty goodbye to our host in the morning,
some nice words along with the set of souvenirs spelling out ''I've been to
Poland/Someone from Poland visited me'' so that she can brag about this
doubtful privilege when her friends come to ''kuier''. I distinctly remember
being amazed every time I looked out of the car window, and not being able to
believe how beautiful the country really is – and how fast and utterly the
vegetation and the landscape changes. The unbelievably fairy-talish, endless
green fields of the Transkei constantly make me wonder what is behind the hill
and I am dying to check it. The museum of Mandela along the way is quite poorly
developed, and it loses out on much of its potential, plus I hate worshiping
individuals of ambiguous morality as almost gods. We finally reach Grahamstown
and are divided – for the first time – between different hosts. Ours is Marius
Vermaak, a Philosophy professor, but apparently also a Posh Evening Party
professor. We have a wonderful time and I have a very sophisticated brandy
along with some quality philosophy discussion with Marius before bed.
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| From Durban to Grahamstown |
