Strike South Africa Style and Weekend Happenings

Strike, Strike, Strike!!!

On Friday, a total of 495,000 people (two major unions- nurses and teachers but 245,00 of them were teachers) in South Africa went on strike this past Wednesday (www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-17/south-africa-nurses-teachers-snub-offer-will-strike.html).  It appears that the main issue is that people want a higher wage toward living expenses (ZAR 1000 or $165), which I understand and support.  The workers had a one-day strike August 10th (meaning they did a day strike to tell the government if their needs were not met then they would strike till they were), which was after a three-day weekend so students were out of school for 4 days.  However, there does not appear to be an end to the strike in the near future (the strike is indefinite because it appears that the government is not willing to give in on the demands anytime soon).  My friend Shan was doing research with a primary school in East London and was supposed to head to Durban next but the strike brought her back here because there was no work that could be done. 


One report said that the Government had made 40,00 study packs available for students and those that have Internet could download study materials.  The Government urged students to join study groups and have asked volunteers to run these groups. The newspaper headline the other day blared "Students teach themselves," with a picture of students writing on the board and teaching their fellow students.  Another article stated that as a past teacher, he understood the want of more money but he just wishes that when many teachers get back into the classroom that they will actually teach (sounds like what I saw last week).  There have been some instances of the strikers stopping children and intimidating them into not attending school.  I understand the need to strike and the need for more money (teachers don't do their job because of the money that is sure)  but it disappoints me that this strike, with no end in sight, hinders the education of so many students that are already struggling.  

The Weekend

On Friday night, Noelia and I headed to the campus bar/restaurant called the Drak and had a couple drinks and some decent food.  The place was packed and it is a favorite hangout for many of the students.  Very much like what you would find near or on many campuses around the U.S.  

Vaal River 

On Saturday, I again rented a car for one last day trip to a nearby town that I heard much about but had yet to visit.  Potch is great for college students because it is a city with a small town feel but it does get a bit boring after a while (it also reminds me of Oxford, OH).  Anyway, Noelia and I picked up the car early and were able to run a couple errands at the mall, the liquor store (she needed Amaretto to take home), and the post office.

A true campus shop-
offering everything and open 24 hrs

Around 1 we started the 45 minute drive to Parys (pronounced pârés).  Parys is situated on the Vaal River and is the oldest and largest meteorite impact site in the world.  They compare it to the Seine (but I would say a very, very African reminder or not at all), and people tend to head their on the weekends to get away (http://www.parys.info/).  My camera gave out right before we got to the town but I have a couple pics of the river (see pics).  Anyway, the little town is filled with antique shops (a ton), some cute little coffee houses /restaurants and a couple other stores (clothing, jewelry, outdoors, adventure).  It is very quaint and nice but a couple of the stores as well as the restaurants were closed by the time we got there at 2 (I am confused why they all close so early when they want to make money . . . bu oh well).   Nonetheless, we walked around the main street and stores for a couple hours and enjoyed the warm, wonderful weather we have had the past few days.  Before we knew it we had to head back and get ready for another goodbye dinner with just the three girls (Noelia left early this morning).  

Shop sign

It has been pretty quiet here at the house and in Potch this weekend (the Finnish boys are gone for a couple days Noelia left) so today Frieda, Matthew and I spent the day hanging out in the backyard enjoying the warm sun (I am very, very pale) and just relaxing.  It was a nice lazy Sunday for me since this is officially my last one before school begins a week from tomorrow (I will be getting ready for school a week from today Sunday)!

Fun Fact

I found out the other day, that the street that runs parallel to North-West is Oak Avenue which is a 6,84K (452 miles) lined with oak trees that were planted in 1910.  It is the longest avenue of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and is considered a national monument.  Who knew!