Amanda Wittkopp

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• Posted Lived experience lives on. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  You know, my thoughts were all jumbled up in South Africa. Then I started getting my bearings and making a bit of sense of things. And then I flew back to America. The cycle begins anew... To say that "coming home" provides the warm, fuzzy feeling you perhaps assume it will is to be just damn naive. Sure, it was an easier plane ride back than on the way to S. Africa. And reuniting with Danny was the best. But (not to be a Debbie Downer) not everything is unicorns barfing rainbows (thanks, Nate). For instance, I have to take...
• Posted Gratitude. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  I woke up this morning realizing that this is it. We leave tonight. If I get out of bed, the day will launch into fast forward. Hence, why I am currently still in bed as we speak. I have a good deal of thoughts running through my head that I can't possibly begin to make sense of or even make into complete sentences. So let's just talk about recent events, reflect a little, and try to bring this experience to a satisfying close... Yesterday we had our last class on the UCT campus. We discussed the US's role in Apartheid...
• Posted Come together. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  A relatively eventless day with a most monumental feeling. Yesterday's day off was treated as such. I read out in the sunshine for hours and ran an errand to the grocery store. Bitchin'. The evening's events were where it was at. Our house transformed into Glam Central when most all of the ladies (I say "most," meaning "except me") got all dolled up to play hostess. As the African winds have proven, they are unpredictably STRONG. And most everyone switched to sweats before most of our braai guests arrived... but not before a solid amount of photos had been taken,...
• Posted Enough is enough? to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  A common concern expressed in our talking circle last night was the feeling of not doing enough for MaAfrika Tikkun. Myself being one of those individuals. At our final visit with the organization, their director, Anthea, expressed her gratitude for all that we had done. I felt that we hadn't earned the acclaim. 20 hours of random work coupled with our presence during site visits? Was it really enough? I felt the Schindler complex of "I could've done more." So Courtney interjects by saying that the people of Delft were surviving and thriving long before we arrived. We have no...
• Posted Take it in. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  The past two days looked something like this on our agenda: Monday -- 9am MaAfrika Tikkun 2pm Class Tuesday -- 9am MaAfrika Tikkun 2pm Class Excitement, right? I know. I'm the one who two days ago committed via blog that I was going to hammer out these couple days as best as possible... despite the uneventfulness of the schedule. But as this trip has shown me and continues to show me, never trust the mundane. Expected the unexpected. (ouch, cliché) So here we are. Latter part of Tuesday. Mind officially blown for the 470,000th time. I have experienced a sort...
• Posted To infinity... and beyond! to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  Hey, have I mentioned how beautiful this country is? I did? Well too bad, because this country is freakin' gorgeous!! Just when I thought we had done all the touring and sight-seeing that Cape Town and the surrounding area could offer, we saw more. Oh, so...so much more.. Our day began with a long drive around the Cape Peninsula. The low-lying fog gave the hillside and ocean an eerie sort of effect. I was completely taken by the steep rocks rising up around us as we weaved through the narrow roads. It was a solid drive that took at least...
• Posted "Capitalism Barf-a-thon." to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  Ah yes.. the well-deserved break. 'Tis upon us. Yesterday and today have provided us with the opportunities to explore, discover and freakin' relax. The visit to Table Mountain exceeded our expectations and our minds were blown. I was mega proud of those in our group that conquered their fears and made it all the way in the cable car up Table Mountain. Once there, it was pure amazement. Oh sure, we've all been high enough that we see some scenery. But not this, man, not this.. This is life-pondering, enlightenment type stuff. You can see Cape Town from every side....
• Posted Resiliency. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  So I was about to launch into a diatribe on the past two days until I read Kirstin's last blog entitled "Reality Check." If I may, I would love to refer you to that fabulously written account of Tue and Wed. Then, I invite you to come back and join me right here for the add-ons from my own experience. Thanks! And I'll see you in a few.... Oh, you're back! I missed you. No really, I did. So I've gotta toss humor aside for the moment, as well as my usual courtesy of language censorship. For that, I apologize...
• Posted To my friends and family. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  Hey guys, This day was rough. Emotionally, mentally and physically. Earlier in the day, I had so many things to say to you. Tonight (well, 12:03am) I can't do it. For that I apologize. We're all going through things here, very immediately, that are challenging us, angering us, and causing us to question. This is very good. It is also very difficult. I am blessed that these people are here with me. I am blessed to be here. I am even blessed to be experiencing the confusion and frustration. Just know that what is going on here is changing us,...
• Posted Lights camera actuality... to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  Kiarra McCain & Amanda Wittkopp January 4, 2011 "Lights camera actuality..." Lights camera actuality... Flashing lights contrasting the beam of sun. No body noticed. No body seen the souls behind the lens smiling with scars No body seen the sores in front of their hearts bandaged with hellos. No body seen Lights camera actuality.... Focusing on the forgotten, forgetting to forget. No body went deeper then brown eyes, no body seen pass the hospitality. Confronting this community with cameras was chaotic. Snapping shots for frames, Capturing human frames, leaving their souls behind, leaving their stories behind Seems inhumane But we...
• Posted "If we both prick our fingers, what do we see?" to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  Today gave me a lot of food for thought. Enough that I'm having trouble even starting this blog entry. So maybe I'll give you the canned "what we did today" version, and perhaps later I can organize my thoughts and get back to you. This morning our group went back to the City Center to visit some historic sites. We began at the District Six Museum. It commemorates the expulsion of thousands of non-white South Africans from the heart of Cape Town to outer areas (townships) of the city. Our guide was a gentleman who was born in the city...
• Posted Pest control. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  This one's a bit random, but here you go. So we've had our fair share of random little bugs creeping into the house. Flies, ants, whatever. But you want to keep the door open, so what can you do? Then, a couple nights ago, we had a mouse friend give Emily the stare-down and then bolt out the front door. He hasn't been seen since.. Yesterday I heard a whole new one. This story is now about fifth-hand, mind you, but I'll try telling it. Baboons. No, we haven't seen any yet, but a few people got to hear how...
• Posted Bright lights, big city. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And what a time it was. But let's back up... We started our NYE in classic tourist style: the double-decker bus tour. That's right. But hey, it's the most comfortable I've been taking pictures yet. We got the full tour of Cape Town, even part way up Table Mountain. This city is breathtaking. Without knowing its history, you would still be in awe. We stopped off at Hout Bay, the "see and be seen" area of Cape Town (at least according to my audio tour guide). The houses and resorts made me think of Miami, but even...
• Posted Taking off the training wheels. to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  Today I woke to a bright, beautiful African sun! The temp was around 77 degrees and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. And the view from the street in front of our house of Devil's Peak?.... amazing. Everyone got a good night's sleep last night and are starting to feel caught up. Our potential plans to go up Table Mtn fell through due to the high winds. Sounds like we'll just have to make another go later in the trip. So the alternative was a little excursion to the market and then the beach. Nate has been encouraging...
• Posted And......... We've Arrived! (mostly) to EDHD 3100 - South Africa: Tracing the Footsteps of Social Change 2010/11
  So it may have taken 2 days of travel and a day to get connected to the internet, but I have arrived and can finally communicate! The trip over went without a major hitch, aside from waaay cramped seats and the inability to sleep pretty much at all. Unfortunately for 4 members of the group, things weren't so smooth and they're arriving tomorrow. Total travel time for me was over 24 hours. Once the second group arrived at the airport, we headed to our housing. We're all situated amongst 3 houses with some single and some double rooms. I ended...