Got to Ikamva at 9 this morning to meet with Monica and a driver to scope out all the sites that needed drip irrigation systems and hot houses set in place. Last night was the first time it had stormed since I got here, and when I woke up it was cloudy. Umbrella? Nah…
I love the walk to Ikamva. Well, maybe love is too strong a word, but I readily enjoy the 30 minute walk there: go a little down Orange street where it turns to Mill street, left on Buitenkant st, take it all the way past the hipster internet café, house with a white dog that always seems to be waiting for me, the many textile shops, the discount clothes stores I still need to go to (pants for 35R! That’s like $5!), pass the “day time hospital” with beggars all sitting on the stoop, City Hall is on my left, and then take a right onto Darling st – pass the Cape Town Sewing Shop, cross the corner where I keep getting honked at or almost run over because I forget to look right before left, this turns it into Sir Lowry st., more stores that kind of remind me of dollar stores that are currently filled with South African memorabilia and international flags for the World Cup, a venue called “Liquid” which I’m pretty sure is a gentlemen’s club, past the Good Hope Centre that has an entrance called “Dromedaris” on it, under the bridge, and I get to the gate where Ikamva and some other businesses are behind (including a casting office, and a gallery that always has pretty people posing in front of it). Up one flight of stairs, and I get buzzed in.
Monica, Loza (the driver), and I head out – first make a couple of stops at the Rainbow Centre and one of the Senior Centres (can’t remember the name…). It’s cute, I think Monica’s taken quite a liking to me and holds me by the hand as she introduces me as “her engineer that will work her gardens” to the seniors. A few had met me already and hugged me when I re-introduced myself (I have a terrible, terrible memory… especially when it comes to meeting like 60 people in one day). I chit chat with Monica and Loza during the drives – they’re both from Eastern Cape. During their summer (December), they pack up their families and take the 24 hour drive back home. The infrastructure is apparently a lot better in Cape Town and a lot of Eastern Capers do this routine, hence them taking up a large presence in the townships. I honestly hadn’t really thought about it, but both (and I’m guessing many of the other workers at Ikamva) live in the townships themselves as well… in the shacks among the other people that they’re helping. It makes sense now to have the Ikamva workers be the township residents as well… provide them with a paying opportunity and a way to improve the lifestyle of those around them and their own.
Next stop: Health & Nutrition Centre which will need both a drip irrigation system and a hot house. I wanted to seem prepared, so I came with some white papers, a pen, and a measuring tape (borrowed from Helen… which I was not to lose b/c it was her husband’s). Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing. I, uh, got out the car, “surveyed” the land, whipped out my paper and pen and made a drafty sketch of the layout of the garden in relation to the building and playground next door. I had read online yesterday that a hot house should be placed in an area with the most sun, so south or southeast of a building. I spent the next 10 minutes trying to figure out which way was north… looking at my shadow and being like “ok… so that’ssss….wwwessst…?... yes. So thennn… THAT’S…north…. But wait… the building’s there…. Ugh. Let’s start over”. It was ridiculous. After the 10 minutes, I indicated to Monica and the gardener of the site that the hot house should be placed over THERE b/c that’s south… or at least southeast… maybe. To which the gardener said “no, the sun rises over THERE”. Bam. Credibility gone. Ha. I suck. I ended up feeling defeated and forgot to take measurements b/c of it.
On to the other 2 sites that would require drip irrigation systems. This time, I got my professional self in order (somewhat) and measured out the gardens, how far apart the paths were, and where the water source was. I later spent like an hour drawing up these sketches in Powerpoint (seemed like the best program to use…) to be able to present SOMEthing to Helen tomorrow…
At one point during our drives, Monica pointed out one area of a township called Mitchell’s Plains, and how this is the area where also white people live and it’s for those that have money and can afford nicer homes. I look over, and yes, the houses are nicer… they’re made of brick, and most are painted bright colors. However, many still have shacks extended off of them and no personal space, no private yards. Monica asks if this is what houses look like in America. I say “kind of, yes… but our houses are not as colorful as here in South Africa…” I think she’s satisfied with that answer. I don’t know if I am.
We drop Monica off, and Lazo asks if he can stop to get something to eat real quick – absolutely, no problem… it’s 1:30 and I haven’t had lunch yet either… can I get some too? We’re getting some “vetkoek”, which literally means “fat cake”, haha. It’s a ball of fried dough. Pretty delicious for not even being filled with anything. We get 7 of them for the people back in the office and 2 hard boiled eggs. While we’re waiting, Lazo teaches me some Xhosa:
Molo – hello
Gunjani -- how are you? (actually, Monica taught me these this morning)
Dilipi – good (I probably don’t have these words right at all… but this is what it sounded like at the time.)
Babye – bye (…apparently the same as in English)
We get back to the office and I make use of the internet to check my email whilst drawing up those ridiculous sketches. A bunch of couchsurfers responded to my request of doing touristy things in Cape Town soon, so that’s exciting. Hopefully I’ll meet up with them soon. Oh! Last night, went with Sean to the Waterfront and then met up with some couchsurfers in Long st. at Mr. Pickwick’s – which specializes in MILKSHAKES (*heaven*). Saturday Sean’s having a “beerpong party” with some of his friends, so that’ll be fun. They’re going down. Hopefully.
No comments:
Post a Comment