Cape Town/Robben Island

Hi! So today we traveled to Cape Town to visit Robben Island were Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 27 years I think? I don't remember the exact number of years but I'm sure it's around there somewhere. It was really cool because one of our tour guides was actually a prisoner there at one point during the apartheid. He had a really amazing story, from what I remember he was in charge of the weapons that the blacks would use because they used guerrilla warfare tactics. The police found out about him and arrested and tortured him until he told where the weapons were.  He didn't seem to care at all when he was telling us this story, I came to conclusion that he was proud of what he did for his country and he should be; not many people could handle what this man went through. One of the cool things we saw while on this tour was Nelson Mandela's cell. It was extremely small and didn't even have a bed! Where we were at in Cape Town was gorgeous. I took a lot of pictures but they don't do it justice. It is simply breathtaking. Later on in the trip we get to go to Table Mountain which overlooks the coast and I heard it is beautiful so I am very excited for that. A few things that I've learned in my short time here are:

1. South Africa is beautiful

2. Rugby if life; it brought white and black people together post-apartheid

3. We are extremely blessed to live in the United States

4. Accents are the coolest thing ever 

5. Speed limits tend not to exist here

6. "Colored" is an acceptable term to call someone who is dark skinned

7. Nelson Mandela's first name is not actually Nelson

8. 70% of  the country lives in tiny tin shacks 

9. Stores close at 18 (6 pm)

10. All the cars are TINY

I've also learned other things that I can't remember right now but the thing that has affected me the most so far are the townships that the majority of the country lives in. The government said that they would either build and enclose ONE bathroom for every FIVE houses or they would give each house their own bathroom but they would have to enclose it themselves. Naturally, the public chose to each have their own bathroom but not everyone was able to afford to enclose it. I don't understand what type of government could allow this? This country has extremely high taxes but it doesn't seem to do the people any good. It just boggles my mind and it makes me feel extremely blessed to live in the United States, recession or not. Someone out there has it much worse than we do in the States and I don't think many people realize that. I hope by me being here and volunteering with the children I will be able to make a difference in at least one of their lives.