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A little birdy told me... :-)

By bogon002 on January 28, 2013 8:23 PM | No Comments
A little birdy told me
that in order to be free
I had to be bound

A little birdy told me
that, the love I could find 
behind that place called nowhere
of course, could be found

A little birdy told me 
that the fear I feel 
was only false evidence
appearing real

A little birdy told me
community was built 
because of bondage, and freedom
because of the power of love
because of the need to search and find
because of fear and the unspeakable joy of overcoming it ... 

A little birdy told me. 






Re-Entry & Adjustment

By bogon002 on January 28, 2013 8:12 PM | No Comments
It's been a week since we returned, since I woke up in the United States. Part of me hasn't yet arrived from South Africa, and the part that has is being swept up in the whirlwind that is my last semester of college. 
I dreamt about Cape Town and our cohort for 5 days straight and could barely wake up without feeling some wave of emotion about what happened when I was in South Africa. I don't cry as much, but I do ache to be back. 
What I do notice is that, I've calmed down. I have relaxed, I am not rushing to be in 100 places doing 1000 things for the sake of some abstract definition of success or another. Why? Because of Educo, because of our Circles, because of Delft. I like to think it is because I have had the opportunity to sit in a place of witness and have no choice but to be grateful for life, to be responsible for keeping the things that are important, important. 
It's still hard though--i'm not perfect and I find myself getting lost, or losing touch with the grounding that South Africa granted me on so many levels. But, I am reminded that it was not just me, I changed with a group of amazing people and I have the chance to be accountable for what I have learned. It's a ridiculously comforting thought. 

Forgiveness

By bogon002 on January 28, 2013 7:58 PM | No Comments

Until arriving in South Africa, I had not given the idea of forgiveness the serious thought that it deserved. It wasn't until we had our tour of the District 6 museum that I wrestled with this notion. I was silent for most of the day, and into the evening, when we had our Circle--then I began to say out loud what had been slow cooking in my head. How could a man like Joe--the tour guide for our group and a previous inhabitant of the once flourishing and diverse District 6, forgive the very people who had stolen his home and the homes of those who came both before and after him? With what grace was he managing to do so? Under what circumstances did he arrive at such a conclusion? 

These questions settled into answers that I wasn't able to communicate, to comprehend without considering the profound concept of Ubuntu and Community that informs the Black South African's psyche. I am because we are; I am because we are. This dictates that my humanity is based, integrally, on the humanity of those around me. This would mean, when others around me succeed, I am inadvertently succeeding. The same applies when they fail, are hurt and are poor or live under any other inherently bad circumstances. I can conclude that those who inflicted harm on Africans in this nation were severely damaged humans because of the damage they did to their fellow humans, in the name of .... whatever. 
But, furthermore and riding on the strong, self reflective and inwardly healing sings of forgiveness, this means that If I forgive, then I am forgiven. When one is healed, chooses healing, then all can benefit from that as well ... always considering the interconnected premise of Ubuntu and community. 
So, I have to forgive, when I'm confronted with racism, when it hurts, when I'm confused, when I'm participating and at the brunt, when I am too annoyed to do so ... because Joe forgave, because the Community I wish to see in my lifetime is so intensively dependent on a constant state of forgiveness. 


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CAPE TOWWN!! Here we coomme!

By bogon002 on December 28, 2012 2:32 PM | 1 Comment
My name is Charlene Bogonko, I'm a student at the University of Minnesota. 
This is my first time to South Africa and I have been dreaming about traveling to this country since I can remember. My love affair began when my mother introduced me to South African music in 1999 and I have been smitten ever since. 
There are so many things I wish to experience and learn from this trip, some of my deepest desires easily come to mind. 
1. I wish to connect with myself through the concept/ideal/understanding of Ubuntu. Ever since I heard of this concept, I have been in awe of it's capacity for the human condition. I want to learn more. 
2. I wish to connect with others that I would usually not connect with. Whether because of racial division, or economic division...or whatever prejudice/difference--I don't want that to matter. I want to learn how not to attach past actions and violences or offenses to specific people, and to forgive despite. 
3. I wish to enjoy myself, simply put. I'm not sure what that will mean yet, but I'm excited to find out. 

So, all that being said, Cape Town here I come!!! 
:-) 
-Char
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