Well, it looks like they just cant get enough of me here in jo'burg. The client i'm here working for has requested i stay here an extra week for the project, and i agree. I think i'll return again around the middle of Oct giving me a whole week or so at home. i wish i would have taken my camera with me the last week or so, because i've pretty much been all over the place. but no one likes to look like a tourist i guess. .. well, at least not me. Since this is my 6th trip in less than a year and a half to South Africa, i've made lots of friends here and although i'm really not a social creature, i can't help but get to know and hang out with the people here.
Being in SA is very much different than being home back in Utah. For several obvious reasons. The thing i like most is the extreme differences that are prevalent every day here. so many different people from different places. races, colors, cultures and beliefs. Yes, that's what the states is all about, but here, it's so much more obvious. And i love it! Today i had a good portion of my day set aside away from work for the first time this trip to just to roam. I found a mall, and went there for lunch and then headed over to the LDS Temple here to eat on the lawn. I like Malls, its good people watching. .. good times. And as the sun sets here in the African sky here on the poorly kept grass, i can't help but think about how small the world really is, and how messed up it really is.
I've always been an open minded guy. I have some certain core beliefs that i would die for without a question, but at the same time, i love to learn what others believe and why. That's another reason why i love it here. It's very diverse. .. diversity is a two edged word, but in my current situation i view it as healthy. I think different perspectives are healthy for you. It will either make you question your true reasoning for believing in something or re-affirm it. Or in some cases, give you a different perspective to what you already believe or re-direct you to different beliefs.. .. not sure if this makes sense to you, but it does to me.
We silly humans always tend to make things more difficult than they really are. We (as humans) like making blanket statements, categorizing whole peoples, races, countries, beliefs and colors. Which when you break it down, just makes you look silly when you look at yourself and where you really fit in. Because no matter what you do or believe, you are an individual, and everyone you decide to look down upon and pass judgment is an individual also. ... Just like you. I believe it's built into you to be a good person, but boy it's hard to remain one. It takes a lot more effort to be a good person than a neutral person, and even less to be a bad person. Today, i past two different situations on the streets where i should have stopped and helped out. .. i didn't. i should have, no matter the fact that i'm in a foreign country and a minority. I did once, earlier on in the week, and it felt good. it was a simple situation, but it still felt good. But in that split second where you can make the decision for good, it's just too easily to decide to turn your head and ignore it, thinking that some 'other' good Samaritan will help out. .. weak. weak i say! ... and i regret not helping. ...
so. .. i'm going to try and kick myself harder when i get that feeling to help another. .. even if it's in an awkward situation. ... i will just put myself in whatever situation i find others that may need help .... and i'll be that help from now on, if i can. .. well, at least i'll try harder now. it seems like nothing right is easy nowadays.
:sigh:
be well eh?