Mike Rossmassler

Tuesday June 30th
Arrived in Cape Town after nearly 24 hours of flying (~17 hours in a plane). Picked up at the airport by John Gilmour and about 10 of the student teachers. They sang for us, which was very humbling and exciting. Then loaded all of the luggage onto a chartered bus, and drove past several townships where some of the students lived, to our bed and breakfast. Tended by 3 Afrikaaners, it's a beautiful collection of houses. We are generally put 2 to room. There are two rooms connected for me, I am bunking with Eugene, and in the other Sam and Matt. Had a couple of quick meetings about the house and the schedule for the next few days. I am in charge of putting together a cooking rotation. Still need to figure out how often people want to eat together. Will be a challenge, as there are a couple of veggies making life difficult ;) After dinner (delivered pizza), people spent time trying to get wireless internet working, and then playing uno. Helped Sasho and Subina develop TWA assessment forms. Reminded me quite a lot of developing playtest questionnaires. Will have to remember to go through some of the simple game design exercises for people who are interested. Sleep schedule still not entirely back to normal, still too much of a grad student to adapt quickly to new schedules. Just feels like getting up at odd hours. EEEpc was a great idea, really loving eeebuntu. Wish I had brought more board games. Apples to Apples seems to be a good idea. Something like settlers might be too involved, smaller icebreaker games would be great. Will try out Gloom in the near future. Learned molo (hello) and encose (thank you) in xhosa.

Wednesday July 1st,
Woke up at 7, mattress was too firm, woke up a couple of times with arms asleep from sleeping on it. Went on run with Sasho, looking for canals. Didn't find them, and ended up running around the nearby township. After crossing the railroad tracks, ended up running in a park, and stopping to talk to several people. Returned home, got wireless working, then everyone piled into the van and we drove to Table Mountain. Second day of great weather. Were short-cutted through the line and took the cable cars to the top of the mountain. The floor in the cabin rotated, which was a great way to take in the entirety of the view. At the top of the mountain, took a short walk around, and took several pictures. Met up with John Gilmour and several more LEAP student teachers. Learned a little more about life for the South Africa teachers, especially outside of school life. John told us a short history of Table Mountain, and then we broke up into small groups and discussed our personal histories. Was interesting to get a more complex view of people, and especially given how little time we have known each other. Walked around the plateau a bit more, then took cable car back down. Students sang on the ride down, which made the experience even better. We all piled back into the vans and drove to the shore. Put my feet into the water, which was not much colder than California water. Played football with some of the students, and a dog who could defend and dribble the ball. Had lunch, and everyone got back into the van. Rode with the student teachers on the way back, where they talked about the cars on the motorway, trying to decide which car students would likely buy once they are teachers, based upon personality. Returned home before everyone else, where the student teachers and I played mock cricket. Chopped peppers for dinner, which was vegetable soup. Had wrap-up impression meeting. Played some of Gloom, which people seemed to enjoy. Learned unxholo (sorry) in xhosa including the back-of-the mouth clicking sound necessary to pronounce both.

Thursday, July 2nd
Woke up early to run again, still couldn't find the canal. Arrived at LEAP 1 and 2 at 9, and went through an introduction / orientation process. Student choir sang, students did gumbooting (dancing with the boots used in the mines), an acappella group sang to us, and students danced to honor their ancestors. Then, the students brought out drums and taught everyone (all the TWA fellows, as well as all the others in attendance, more than 100) to play the drums. Took me awhile to learn the rhythm, but I think I did okay. Took a tour of the school with a number of students, including the computer lab, where the students are learning to program java, which looks exactly like the APCS test. Had a lunch which was prepared by one of the staff's grandmother, which was a delicious Indian meal. Sat with three of the students, who were extremely interested in how politics work in America, and despite their insistence that they were uninterested, had complex views on the local and national politics. One of the LEAPSA (LEAP student assistants) had mentioned a student who was interested in rap, and was developing a song in xhosa, which was very heavy on words with the three clicks in them. She convinced him to perform, which was astonishing. I don't know if he would have been interested in pursuing it without LEAP, but the ingenuity and creativity involved was amazing. Then, everyone got on the buses and we took a tour of Langa, one of the local townships, which was designated “black” by the apartheid government. It was a mixture of small homes which shared cinder block walls, to shacks built from scrap wood and salvaged doors. It was uncomfortable to feel like a tourist there, despite our accompanyment by the students who lived there, and John Gilmour, who has worked there for 20 years. I was struck by the fact that we stopped by a tourist van of the exact make and model we were riding in. I was reminded by the Minor Threat song “Guilty of Being White,” and definitely drew parallels to the race relations in America, and the disparity between where I lived in LA and the opportunities I had. I do see a number of parallels, like the people playing dominos on the street corner, which reminded me o f the complex down the street from me on Crenshaw blvd, or the ridealong I did in Compton. The complexity of the situation and life in TWA and South Africa really hit home for me when the students we had been touring with didn't ride back with us because we were already at their homes, particularly one woman who had been a little evasive about where she lives. We then returned home, and Karly and I cooked spaghetti with meatballs, and a salad with the jam-honey-red wine vinegar dressing. Cooked way too much food, but leftovers will be nice. After dinner, and post food coma, we had our debriefing session, which was very complex and emotion, because of people's reactions to the tour of Langa, The honesty and openness of the group are astounding after only two days.

Friday, July 3rd
Woke up, early run with Sasho, Karly and Annie. Ran around Pinelands. Every single house has a spiked fence and an armed security plaque. Went to LEAP school, and played football in the parking lot with a basketball. Took bus trip to the REALISTIC camp program, which is an intervention program for youths with substance abuse problems, and kids who are at high risk. Arriving at the camp, we saw baboons playing on the roof of the building. Opened the meeting with a chant + clap routine that everyone responded too. After hearing introductions from several of the “counsellors”, who are more like camp camp counsellors than rehabilitation counselors, meaning they work to get the students to make the changes for themselves, rather than forcing things on them. Broke into small groups with Subina, Steve, and two boys both named Siyambulela. One was in the program to learn how to take the information back to the community, but upon reflection, I suspect that he was an at-risk youth, and was simply acting out to cover it up. The other (younger) Siyambulela, who I had introduced myself to prior to the session starting was extremely open about his drug addiction, which he refered to as “'smoking drugs,” which I believe to have meant marijuana, or possibly crack. It was amazing to see that he had voluntarily entered this program with the hope that he could someday “make something of himself.” All of the students were there because in some fashion, they all wanted to change themselves. It was interesting to hear one of the counselors read a poem, which said “never Quit.” The spirit of perserverence in these men was impressive. Their struggles with drugs and alcohol made me feel a bit ashamed that mine were related to rebellion, rather than escape, and I shared this with them despite that. The concept of sharing everything has really infected me, and I wonder how possible it will be to maintain it. Following this, the older Siyambulela spoke to the entirety of the assembly, pretending first to only speak Xhosa, either to flirt with one of the LEAPSAs sitting next to him, who was to act as his translator, or to act out. I congratulated him, not realizing why he was doing that, which I should not have. After more singing and dancing, we said goodbye. Following that, we drove up to a point that overlooked the suburbs of Cape Town. One of the boys pointed out John's house, and because that was the wrong thing to do, John had him lead the LEAPSA choir's singing. After a little hemming and hawing, he did, which impressed me greatly, both that John respected the students to address them as equals, and that the students would respond as equals. We then drove to the nearby beach, where I got to put my feet into the Indian ocean, and even built a small, quick sandcastle, because it was too cold to go swimming. We had lunch, where we were mobbed by birds, who shit all over everyone. We then went to a waterfront district, which made me feel even more like a tourist than the previous day, as it seemed richer than the nice piers in SF. The majority of the waterfrot was a mall,, and since i'm not really a mall person, I was pretty nonplussed about spending time there. Had tea with Mona, and had some great conversation. She works as a sort of remedial math teacher for a KIP school, which is an acronym I don't remember now, but seems to have a tremendous effect in the community, and on the students that it produce. She mentioned that it would be nice to have me come and speak at their career day, which I would really love to do. Mentioned Sean P and Daniel P's math game to her, which she immediately asked for a copy of. Would really like to get that to her, and if possible, some of Participation Nation. We had dinner at an “English” pub, which was actually decent. Split fish and chips and bangers and mash with Karly. The bangers were wrapped in bacon, which actually was a nice touch. Already people know me as the bacon guy and the weird food guy. Lydia came to dinner with us, and I felt a little uncomfortable eating with her, as it felt like we were living in this opulence that I assumed she was unused to. I'll ask her about it next time I see her. I have the utmost respect for the LEAPSAs, as they seem to better understand themselves and their world that I do. Everyone then crowded into a shuttle, and we came home. Played some games of rummy with Amy Schoew, Amy Kelly, Karly, Matt and Annie. The best part was getting distracted by conversation, which seemed to function as a surrogate for the group decompressions. Then watched an episode of It's Always Sunny. Karly said she has the opportunity to go to Jo'burg, which she was conflicted about, as she was concerned about the safety, and the loneliness, as she really liked spending time with me, Annie and Emily. I told her I'd miss her as well, but that it was an amazing opportunity. It is selfish, but I do hope she doesn't go, as I do enjoy the time I spend with her, and the conversations we have. Seeing both AT and Sara leave for Jo'burg will be difficult as well, because I feel a tremendous amount of respect for them. Even though we are only three days into the program, this has already been a life changing event. My desire to teach “after industry” is no longer a desire, it is something that I must do, because I simply don't know how to do anything else. I'm actually tearing up as I write this, though that may also have something to do with the tremendous amount of emotions that I am feeling. I hope to take advantage of EA's generous offer to pay for higher education, to get teaching credentials. Teaching for Peter, and for Amit at SDSC, and what I have learned from Mark, Tracy and Peter is a phenomenal opportunity. We have the weekend off, which unsurprisingly will not be any relief from the sheer scope of the things that are going on. Very grateful for what Joy and Amy S are doing in the evenings, as the only frame of reference I have for this experience is the time I have spent in LA and Oakland. Even the knowledge that others are going through the same thing is quite a relief, and it is very touching to see the number of people who cry openly at the sessions. My ipod just came up with Go by H20, and the chorus seems even more relevant than ever. I love to relate my life to the music I listen to, since I place such stock in the feeling and the message that hardcore and straightedge try to convey. I'll try to link to the song later. I've always felt that I was on the fourth time in the song, but now I realize that i'm always going to be bouncing from step to step, and that once I get the the fourth time, I have to start again from the first. Have to get up at 8:30 tomorrow morning to do the grocery shopping, since I have assumed the duty of coordinating the cooking detail. Feels a lot like being a pack leader in Boy Scouts again. Sometimes I regret giving up on it, but without 759 and my Dad as the scout master, it really wasn't the same, and no badge will ever sum up the experiences I had with him and my friends there.