David and Debbie Milner.
Denver - Colorado - USA
Anna Milner and Cristina Beasley
New York - USA
15 November 2005
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I met the Milners and Cristina at their apartment in Loaders Street and we set out on our Winelands/Kayamandi experience.
David, Debbie, Cristina and Anna in front of Table Mountain as seen from the Bo-Kaap area
We drove to the Afrikaans language Monument in Paarl where I took the above photo of Anna and Cristina nextt to a king Protea
The foursome in front of the monument
Apologies for the poor exposure.
We travelled on to Kayamandi and visited Nosandile's creche where the following photos were taken.
Click here to view a
video of the group enjoying some young children dancing at the Isibane
Sempumulelo (light at the end of the tunnel) creche
Note: Only watch this 5mb file
video if you have a broadband connection
We left Kayamandi and went on a short tour of Stellenbosch where we visited the Greegage restaurant for a quick healthy lunch.
We returned to Kayamandi and visited Lily at her "Once upon a stove" home.
The foursome at Lily's home with the magnificent view from Kayamandi in the background
Click here to view a
video of some of the members of the Masakhane dance group practising at the
Ikamva Lethu Centre
Note: Only watch this 5mb file video if you have a broadband connection
We visited Nosandile at her home
A happy group photo in front of Nosandile's shack home.
Drinking holy water in the Water Church
Joining in a church service in Zone J
Click here to view a
video of the foursome at a church service in Zone J
Note: Only watch this 5mb file
video if you have a broadband connection
Anna and Cristina as seen through the shack corridors in Kayamandi
The Milners and Cristina were an amazing foursome to travel with. Everyone had something concrete to add to the tour and it resulted in all enjoying themselves immensely. That certainly included me and for this alone I want to thank all in a very BIG way.
This foursome simply went with the flow, trusted the situation and with their great sense of human kindness and consideration coming through so strongly we had a fabulous time together in Kayamandi and the Winelands. What an amazing and memorable journey this truly was.
Dave Debbie, Anna and
Cristina,
A HUGE THANK YOU FROM ME FOR THE
GREAT JOURNEY THAT WE HAD TOGETHER IN THE WINELANDS & KAYAMANDI
Received: 30 Novemebr 2005
Dear Selwyn,
I want to send you a HUGE THANK YOU right back from all of us! Our
day with you was definitely a HIGHLIGHT of our trip. Not only did we
come away with many wonderful memories of the people of Kayamandi and
their inspiring stories, but we also learned so much about the
history of South Africa that gave us a foundation for trying to
understand how townships could even come to be. It was an incredible
learning experience and gave meaning to our whole trip. I seriously
don't think we could have appreciated the complexity of South Africa
if we hadn't gone on our tour with you, so thank you, thank you!!
You whetted our appetites to learn more about the history of the
different races and ethnic groups that make up South Africa, and Dave
and I have both read a few books already on that subject. We intend
to rent the movies you recommended, and if you have any books that
you think are especially insightful about South Africa, we would love
your recommendations for reading, as well.
We truly appreciated hearing your perspective on sociopolitical
issues (especially since we share many of your feelings!). We also
have a great deal of respect for the work that you are doing in
Kayamandi. It seems that the work you are doing is very generative -
that is, the kids are getting opportunities to make their lives
better in the present -- learning to dance and perform, cleaning up
their environment, applying themselves in school -- but that learning
will also help them in the future. They are learning that their
worlds can be bigger than the township, that they can have an impact
on their lives and not just be subject to the whims of fate and
poverty, and that their options can increase exponentially with hard
work and applying themselves. And, of course, this is true for the
adults like Lily and Nosandile, as well. We will welcome
opportunities to support your endeavors, so please feel free to let
us know of ways we can contribute.
Thank you also for putting the pictures on your website - what a
great idea! I especially loved the little videos that you took! You
truly are a tour guide who does it out of love, and we are so glad
that we found you. If I ever have any friends who plan to visit
South Africa, I will definitely recommend you to them.
Sincerely,
Debbie
P.S. Another thank you for giving me the route to take and the
sights to see along the way to Cape Point. The driving was a little
hairy for me, especially on the Chapman's Peak drive, but your
recommendations were much appreciated.
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