Fitbit expert Kristin Gibson, Mother of Boys and resident of Costa Rica recounts her Sunday in South Africa

On Sunday and despite the jet lag, our CSC team joyfully boarded our small tour bus for a day in Soweto. I will sadly admit that I had no idea about the significance of Soweto on the people of South Africa! 

On our way the tour guide spoke to us about South African history and pointed out the area where Nelson Mandela used to live. He mentioned that his house was not opened to the public as his family was still using it. Our first stop on the way to Soweto was the Apartheid Museum. Our tour guide informed us that it could take us between 2-6 hours to view the museum, but we only had 2 hours and 15 minutes!!  I can honestly say that I had no idea what to expect.

Our tour guide purchased our tickets and randomly handed them out. You had to enter the museum based upon the color you had been assigned. I was non-white. Upon entering you saw replicas of identity cards that citizens were required to carry at all times. Initially our group was all together, but the more we walked through the outdoor area the more we split up. Why do I mention this? It is because for the next 2 hours I walked through the museum alone unable to believe what I was reading, hearing and seeing.  Needless to say, when I reached the half way point I only had 15 minutes before the bus left for Soweto!!  Luckily the tour guide had tag hit us the taxi signal for Soweto, but I didn't want to put my hand gestures to the test!

Sadly, I missed the whole part about South Africa gaining democracy and electing Nelson Mandela as their president. As I raced out of the museum I realized that I was not the only one short on time. As we all gathered back on the bus there was a clear consensus that we had needed more time to do the museum justice. That said we were all hungry and ready for our lunch in Soweto.

We arrived 30 minutes later in Soweto at our lunch destination. It was a buffet restaurant that seemed to be "the place" for tours to stop for lunch. It was between Bishop Desmond Tutu's 'Johannesburg' house and Nelson Mandela's house from before he was imprisoned for 20 years.  The tour guide stated that this was the only road in the world that two Nobel Peace Prize recipients had lived on!!  Our lunch had typical South African fare, some which I enjoyed and other that I was not brave enough to try 🙄

After lunch a stand outside caught my attention. It had very colorful bowls that I just had to see. A grandmother and her granddaughter explained that they were made out of wire.  They were beautiful and very intricately done. I decided to buy a couple as unique presents and keepsakes from my trip.

Next we went to Nelson Mandela's house followed by the memorial for Hector Pieterson. For those who don't know, Hector Pieterson was the first student who was killed by the police in what was supposed to be a peaceful student protest in 1976, known now as the Student Uprising.  Hector Pieterson was 12 years old when he was killed and the picture of him being carried to a nearby clinic made world news. Many say the worldwide attention from that picture is what caused nations to join in the fight to end apartheid.

We next traveled to the Freedom Charters monument. The charter was originally drafted by a group in 1954 with 10 fundamental rights. This charter was not adopted in South Africa until the fall of apartheid.  The monument really spoke to the right to vote with large Xs.

After leaving the Freedom Charter our tour came to an end. The tour guide was more than happy to answer all of our questions on the way back to our hotel. The day was full of new information and new experiences, but we were also quite tired with a full day ahead of us Monday when our real CSC assignment began.

#IBMCSC #CSCSA16