Zulu village children dressed in traditional fashion. They were friendly and sweet
and in spite of their shyness seemed comfortable with us.
Journal entry Tuesday July 26, 1988
"...It has been my impression so far, looking into the faces of the native people here, that they are a happy people. Not that their lot in life is good but that they have a happy outlook."
In spite of the fact that their lives are hard in the extreme.
Previously mentioned was the fact that while in Africa we were privileged to meet people from all walks of life. They were uncommonly kind and have somehow succeeded in turning graciousness into an art form. I know there may be unkind, rude and indifferent people there as well as here - but I did not meet any.
Worker at the Swaziland Candle Factory which has been set up
to help the natives earn a living. The African women most always cover their
hair with a cloth. This headress is quite plain but most are very colorful and tied
in a variety of ways. I thought their mode of dress most attractive.
In this photo taken at Phill's company picnic - you can see the unspoken love
expressed here as one of Phill's co-workers is holding the sleeping
child of another worker.
I especially wanted to share this photo in spite of the small image of the boy. He is
wearing a straw hat, blue blazer and tie with shorts and knee socks. He is on his
way to school! This is the traditional garb for young school boys. The older boys
wear the same but with long pants. Photo taken in the town of Pietermaritzburg,
South Africa. Children there seemed polite, intelligent and comfortably
conversant with adults.
An authentic Swazi village kept at the National Swaziland Museum.
We arrived just as they were about to close but the native
guide insisted on giving us the complete explanation and tour and
seemed delighted to be able to do so.
The Swaziland open air market was filled with hand made
items. I had a field day! I did not feel it would be
appropriate to bargain with them to get the price down.
I had so much and they so little...and the prices
were already very low.
to help the natives earn a living. The African women most always cover their
hair with a cloth. This headress is quite plain but most are very colorful and tied
in a variety of ways. I thought their mode of dress most attractive.
In this photo taken at Phill's company picnic - you can see the unspoken loveexpressed here as one of Phill's co-workers is holding the sleeping
child of another worker.
I especially wanted to share this photo in spite of the small image of the boy. He iswearing a straw hat, blue blazer and tie with shorts and knee socks. He is on his
way to school! This is the traditional garb for young school boys. The older boys
wear the same but with long pants. Photo taken in the town of Pietermaritzburg,
South Africa. Children there seemed polite, intelligent and comfortably
conversant with adults.
An authentic Swazi village kept at the National Swaziland Museum.We arrived just as they were about to close but the native
guide insisted on giving us the complete explanation and tour and
seemed delighted to be able to do so.
The Swaziland open air market was filled with hand madeitems. I had a field day! I did not feel it would be
appropriate to bargain with them to get the price down.
I had so much and they so little...and the prices
were already very low.
When we were out away from the city we often saw women carrying items of all sorts on their heads. A huge bundle of sticks for firewood, bundles of laundry, even a 5 gallon jug of water. You know the liquid must slosh around as she walks - but it stayed right on her head. Amazing!
One day we were in a small town that consisted entirely of natives. The women had clothing and other wares spread out on a grassy area and seemed to be carrying on a busy trade. If they noticed us they didn't seem to mind our presence. I felt completely safe.
Another day we went to Gold Reef City and went down about a mile into a gold mine in an open elevator wearing hard hats with lamps on them. We were able to tour the mine and learned that a new language "Funigalo" was created so that the natives (who have among them more than 50 separate languages) could communicate with one another and with the mine bosses.
Phill's friends at Church, his co-workers and literally everyone with whom we came in contact bent over backward to make us feel welcome, at home and truly loved.
Considering all of the difficulties South Africa continues to experience I am, nevertheless, reminded of a quote from The Diary of Anne Frank:
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
- Anne Frank
Tomorrow: Londolozi
One day we were in a small town that consisted entirely of natives. The women had clothing and other wares spread out on a grassy area and seemed to be carrying on a busy trade. If they noticed us they didn't seem to mind our presence. I felt completely safe.
Another day we went to Gold Reef City and went down about a mile into a gold mine in an open elevator wearing hard hats with lamps on them. We were able to tour the mine and learned that a new language "Funigalo" was created so that the natives (who have among them more than 50 separate languages) could communicate with one another and with the mine bosses.
Phill's friends at Church, his co-workers and literally everyone with whom we came in contact bent over backward to make us feel welcome, at home and truly loved.
Considering all of the difficulties South Africa continues to experience I am, nevertheless, reminded of a quote from The Diary of Anne Frank:
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
- Anne Frank
Tomorrow: Londolozi
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