Lifestyle Conflict

So I’ve been doing a bit of thinking recently---well actually since I arrived here. I don’t know what it is, but something about this city makes me very reflective and analytical about life and what is happening around me. Maybe because it’s a new place or maybe just the sight of Table Mountain every morning helps to put life into perspective, but I’ll share my thoughts with you nonetheless….

Cape Town is a very interesting and diverse city. The challenge of a rebuilding nation, especially one recently out of such segregation policies (ie-apartheid) is the disparity between those advancing quickly and those stuck in the past. The first world part of Cape Town is new and fresh and on the verge of so much. It’s actually just like any European city—people walking to work in business suits and fancy clothes to work on their social media, social responsibility, and new business plans incorporating many international partners. The coffee shops are full with such business people discussing new strategies, recent meetings, and how to better their company.

The other side of Cape Town—the third world, where over half of the population resides is very much stuck in a cycle of poverty. Truth be told, there are a lot of improvements and many community projects that are working to better the situation, but people still live in tin and wooden shacks. The people in this world have a vibrant lifestyle and a hearty hope for the future; but the community is ridden with poverty, crime, drugs, alcoholism, gangsterism, teenage pregnancy, high school dropouts, rape and murder.

This brings me to my own thoughts and observations….Recently I’ve been struggling with being ridiculously tired and worn down. I battle through engaging in my work from about 1pm on until the end of the day and when I get home and just want to go to bed. By the time 2pm rolls around and I’m about to head out to the township (the third world) I’m simply exhausted and want to take a nap. It’s actually kind of frustrating because here I am, doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do—marketing AND teaching in the townships and I just can’t seem to muster the life to do it every day.

And then it dawned on me—maybe it’s not the amount of sleep I’ve been getting every night—maybe it’s due to the inner conflict of these two worlds colliding on a daily basis and my inability to reconcile the two. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been wonderful to be here and to see and do many new things (reuniting with old friends, exploring Cape Town and beyond, etc), but I find it very hard to be a part of both worlds. As I was walking through the Old Biscuit Mill (a very white and European market with fresh breads, cheeses, olive oils, honey, fruits, juices, etc), I couldn’t help but think of those just down the road who still wonder everyday whether or not they will have enough food to feed their children for the next day, week, or even month. I think that part that was the most unsettling was the fact that most of the people milling around the Mill (sorry, couldn’t help myself) have never or will never go into a township out of fear. If there is no integration between the races, if the affluent white population continues to move forward on a global stage, but leaves the less wealthy black population behind, there will be a tipping point—the gap cannot grow larger. No, it must begin to shrink.

My immediate reaction is to be judgmental of the affluent population even though it feels comfortable to me. But a judgmental outsider won’t get anyone anywhere. This is simply another aspect of Cape Town culture. No matter how much I struggle to reconcile the 2 worlds, they are both a part of life and society in this city. The two worlds are both faces that represent Cape Town and the challenge now is close the gap—to bring these faces together into one. I have no idea how this will look or how to go about this mission of closing such a gargantuan gap, but I do know that it must be done. Maybe this new revelation will give me energy to go strong through my day. Maybe it is just an observation that will soon fade from memory. Or maybe this new found purpose is enough to bring life into my step all day long. Only time will tell…