meaning brown on the outside, but white on the inside. Apparently this is because I only speak English (not Zulu, Xhosa, etc) ... should be offended? (joke) :)
Today was my first day at the HRC, and it was wonderful. The organization is run almost completely by interns, so I met some really cool people who are law students/ young attorneys here in KZN (Kwa Zulu Natal). They taught me how to take complaints (via phone and via walk ins), when to refer them to other agencies, when to reject them, and when to pursue them.
The work is difficult. This country has only been independant for 12 years, and the remnants of aparthied remain strong. It has affected both public and private institutions, women, children, racial groups, people with disabilities... This is what makes the work of the HRC so valuable. Some of the stories are so sad: a girl injures her leg at school, but doesn't have enough money for a taxi to take her to the hospital. The school does nothing to aid her, and her mother is forced to carry her to school 5K in a wheelbarrow. The school's inaction infringes on the girl's right to education. Thus, HRC will intervene providing proper medical testing, access to a wheel chair, etc.
One of my co-workers explained to me that the HRC is involved in almost every story or controversy reported in the newspaper. On the one hand, it is overwhelming. On the other hand, it is inspiring.
On a lighter note -- I'm going to learn to take the bus tomorrow. Durban is a big bustling city (2 million + depending on whether one counts the suburbs) -- so public transport here will prove an adventure for sure.
Furthermore, I've learned that South Africans find the American affinity for peanut butter puzzling. Perhaps it's because they don't have Jiff here... Skippy and "Yum Yums" is just not the same.
Finally, traffic lights are not traffic lights here: they're robots. Call one a traffic light, and you're a coconut for sure!