1993 School Magazine

Club with 17 members. in essence I am being hosted by both and have a better half whom I co-ordinate with. His name is Wichi (really Gustavo Federcio Wesselhoeft) and he is an eXchange student from Argentina. He couldn'I speak one work of English when he arrived, but got sent to the head- master for repeating the swear words the boys taught him. We get on just fine, sign language included and get into ITou- ble at school for talking too much. Tzaneen's population is under 10,000 people. (No-one told me before I came but that means white people. ) Within a 20 - 40 km radius we have a black population of over one million Tzaneen serves a greater rural district as well so it really is a hub of activity. I new over it in a helicopter last weekend courtesy of a Rotary pilot and it centres on a dam and suburbs and then an outer agricultural area - mainly pine limber, bananas (marijuana, I am sure) avocados, tomatoes and other fruit, coffee and tea. h is at the foot of the beautiful Drakensburg Mountain Range so we have spectacular views, a lovely climate, green cultivated rolling hills and lots of farms

most often can't justify their beliefs. Politics is a national pas- lime here, number one spectator sport and highly competitive. I think, unfortunately, I am going to be here during the Federal election. Basically, from both angles, the white and black population will NEVER get on together because their cultures, values, traditions, altitudes and life styles are so vastly different and contradictory. White man cannot rule a black country, but if an all-black government Tan this coun- try, South Africa might repeat Zimbabwe's history or even fall into total chaos. So there are not many solutions. They have suggested more self-governing slates like the Transkei and Bopotothuswana with segreuaied black and white slates. However, this presents huge infrasiruciual prob- Iems and somebody must lose on who gels a better share of which land and how to divide it etc My host sister and I play Netball, and we both managed 10 get into the Firsts. This netball team is serious SIuff because we are sponsored by a company and gel given Liniform, skirt, shirt, tracksuii, bag, socks, even granny's underwear! We pray before a game, train three limes a week, travel hours in buses 10 play, go out for pep talks and fellowship the night before a maich, are cheered and watched by all other 1st teams. 11 is so much fun. I have a great team of girls, so am lucky. I have lots of travelling opportunities but I enjoy Tzaneen soooo much that I miss it terribly when I go away. I have been o11 a wilderness hike 11/10ugh 011phanis River in Krugei' National Park (only one hour's drive away) and game view- ing. On a hike into the Rustenbero Game Reserve, I was just waiting foi' the coke bottle to di'op from the sky because it was just like the movie "The Gods must be Crazy". I went to the famed but overrated Sun City, Lost City and Valley of the Waves. I even went on this ridiculously sleep waterslide called "The Temple of Coui'age". I didn't see a Ihing but you inst drop vertically for about 1001neii'es at lookmfor We had a Ien day Easter holiday at Ram's Gale, a seaside Town on the coast of Najal (about two hours from Durban South), slaying in a lovely house righi on the beach. h is beautiful and isolated but just 5 km north is Martiale, a hap- perilng little place with myriads of young people. So naturally I had a ball here. I went on a three day neiball tour, then to Pretoria to see two rock concerts. (It's a big event from Tzaneen, a highlight or special treat in our life, so we really appreciate it. ) I have taken in dances, socials and fooly matches at the end of rugby week, a game farm, and Kruger Park. After the conference in May, I went on a Zambezi river tour 111king, canoeing, and boating in Zimbabwe with Rotary, an unbelievable opportunity. In July my host family took me fishing in Zambia and Tanzania and while watei' ratting to Zambezi and Victoria Falls. 01hei' friends took me to Zimbabwe so my life has been vei'y full I have not had time 10 feel homesick, and I will be bookino my ticket home only on the day I leave this couniry Kirstine Lauritz SIX MONTHS IN JAPAN The idea of a tall, blonde-haired Australian leadino the life of a Japanese schoolgirl for half a yeal' does, admittedIy, sound somewhat bizarre. However, fi'Qin April 10 October this year.

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Kirstine Lauritz (R) willI Rev. Kubay, Minister for Health & Welfare, Gazankulu Government Q , I stayed with my counsellors Rodney and Tracey Coopei' and three little children during the first week. They live a very privileged lifestyle on a family estate. About four related families live on different properties on this large banana plan- tallon. They employ about 200 black labourers who with their families total close to 1000. With government assistance, the Coopers provide them with education, health, and accommo- ianon. Oui of Iheir own resources and o00d will they also provide community halls, soccer fields, sports days, a contra- :eptives centi'e, and a creche. They stay out of the blacks' way when it comes to 11'adjtional justice, witchdocioring, and nulliple nTari'iage. So there is a lot of respect but not much Jndersianding between the two cultui'es. The whites definite- y have a better economic situation, i. e. 1st world, but at 4 nillion they make up about I of the population, yet provide Ibout 90% of the wealth, 100% taxes and services 10 the :ountry. Not only does the while population provide the eco- Tomic base of the country, but it has also established the sys- Gin of law and order. I is very unfortunate that the fai' greater majority of the black )opulaiion are vei'y uneducated. Many young adults have alled to pass Grade 10. Sadly, they get into trouble with the aw, and their political ignorance leads them 10 follow blindly viih little real Lindersianding. We have KR political activists n our school but the boys are just trying to be trendy because ,J **a'

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