Apartheid Museum

Friday morning's visit to the Apartheid Museum in southern Johannesburg was a heartrending, thought-provoking, moving look at South Africa's era of segregation and oppression. How ugly and dreadfully sad to see how this gorgeous country was once spoiled and degraded by man's inhumanity to man. I'm grateful to have visited here no matter my sorrow as I viewed the exhibits.

The beauty of this awful story is that hope emerges out of the abyss. "Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. Let freedom reign. God bless Africa." These are the famous words of Nelson Mandela in 1994 during his inauguration as president of the new South Africa.

And then this truly remarkable man set about creating a "collective imagination" that bought into in reconciliation, generosity and forgiveness. He believed and helped others understand that every citizen had been victimized by the policy of apartheid, and he led this divided country towards a true working democracy.

I am humbled and feel so privileged to be here to see "the world's first negotiated revolution" and its fledgling democracy at work!

Tuesday Arrival

After a long (um, very long) plane ride on South African Air, I arrived with several new friends :) in Johannesburg at the big, beautiful, modern, clean Oliver Tambo Airport. I made it through immigration easily, found my bag, and changed some USD for ZAR (South African Rand). The exchange rate is beyond my comprehension, and it's a little disconcerting to be carrying around so very many Rand!

We all gathered at the appointed spot and headed for the bus. A thirty-minute bus ride in the dark through Johannesburg took us to our upscale comfortable hotel. It's exciting and completely unreal to be in Africa, but I sure wish I could SEE it!



On another note, it seems that the country's soccer team is staying on our floor here at the Southern Sun Grayston. We hear they're playing Ghana tomorrow night.