History made alive at The Distict 6 Museum

Yesterday I took the boys to visit the Distict 6 Museum. 

We joined a friend and her children and wondered through the exhibits of days gone by. This is a museum of rich history and great pain. It is also a museum that speaks of hope . It is a voice, a small voice, for some of those who suffered at the iron fist of the Apartheid Government. It is a place for our children and our childrens children to learn of our past so that they might not forget and more than that, that these kinds of wickedness might be exposed and seen for what they were and are. District 6 is one of the places in South Africa where people were forcibly removed in 1960. 

The museum sets about explaining that story.

So we wandered and talked and read - there is a lot to read- of the busy business streets where people worked in the hustle and bustle of all that work offers. This was a very rich community with a diverse rich culture. We read about the gangs that operated, even then in the residential areas. Set on harm and fighting each other. We saw countless, worn and preserved photograph , set in their time and telling a story. Beautifully rich black and white photos of real people in a very real place. We saw the barber and hairdressers ; the washer house with its piles of laundry ; the music halls and more. 

The people who lived near to their work were forced to move many, many km from there work. There was no working transport system for them to get to work after they had been moved, and so for many people, they lost their livelihood and /or had to spend most of their budget on getting to and from work. Most did not own a car or bike. One swift, harsh swirl of a pen on paper, set into motion a law that destroyed peoples lives. 

As we walked through this beautiful old church, we talked to the children, trying to give them somehow a glimpse of times gone by. For my friend, this was a very real walk, for it was her family that had experienced the forced removals under the Group Areas Act and so it was her past we were 'looking' at.  

The museum is very beautifully put together and I loved the artistic flair  of the place. Over tea we sat and chatted about our country. It was a good chat and an encouragement to me. I said these words to her...." I really can't quite get a grasp on this part of history yet. I wish I knew more. Not having grown up here I don't know much of the history. WE were NEVER taught this at school.  to which she replied," Neither were we my friend, neither were we." so, we set out together to learn and share. we did not cry this time as we have before, over this sad and tormented past that lives today in the lives of those we might pass in the street ; meet as we shop and even know personally. Apartheid is gone but the wounds are carried. I am glad for museums where the story can be told. 

We ended our visit and stepped out into the bright sun. Back into the real world and back to our busy lives. But a part of the story from the museum walked with us as we talked and read some more about Distict 6.

What is Science all about after all?

Today was the first day of this short weeks holiday. I am not too sure who decides how long and when our school holidays are exactly but I am pretty sure that it is someone who does not actually have children at school. So, we are given a week to rest up before the last hectic term hurtles towards up. Needles to say, we are making the best of it.  

Today we set off bright and early to the Science Center.   This was a project funded and supported by MTN in the past which meant that their center of science was situated in a shopping center in the middle of suburbia. Now that MTN withdrew their financial support the science center was forced to close down. We were extremely saddened by this move.

The new Cape Town Science Center has opened its doors. You can find it on Main Road in Observatory. It has a trendy address and a far better location in my opinion. Now children from all over Cape Town can access the center with ease. The new premises are bright and big and have potential for growth and development. 

Much of the same science 'stuff' has traveled from the old to the new. So we had fun with the building materials ; the kinetic music maker ; the brain wave measure r; the train ; wave simulator; multi mirror triangle and much , much more.

The great thing about the science center is that it caters for all ages. We can visit it as a family and there is something for all of the children. The center also has workshops that it runs which are free.

While we visited London a few years ago, we visited the Natural History Museum. They have a science floor which is quite spectacular. I remember taking James and Thomas there when they were just 4 and 2 and we had a great deal of fun. Our local Science center is nothing quite like that. We dont have the funds for it. But it is good. The children have a great deal that they can learn about what science is and there are loads of fun things to stretch those brain muscles. I loved the fact that today lots of children were enjoying the center who were obviously from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We often hear via the media that South Africa really desperately needs to up our Science and Maths school marks. Well, I think that the Science Center is contributing in a healthy way to the attitude of children towards Science. 

The Cape Town Science Center Rocks!

How deaf are you really?

Last night we decided to make the trip into the Waterfront in Cape Town to meet Doug for a meal. It is the holidays after all. On the way there Jethro fell into a deep sleep. I carried him to the meeting place and fell onto a nearby bench to wait for Doug to arrive. Two young adults were seated next to me. They were chatting between themselves and I was half resting Jethro,s head against my arm as it flopped down, drawn by gravity and half watching the people of the Cape as they went about Friday evening business. I guess the Waterfront is fairly noisy but I had not noticed this aspect of it before. I guess I am a little deaf in one ear. Anyway, the one young Adult turns to me and says these words..... " your phone is ringing" . ............. Really. she must be mistaken. Not my phone. I did not hear it - I did not hear it at all. Not a beep. I rummaged through my overflowing hand bag and found the said phone and .... yes 2 missed calls. Which begs the question. How deaf am I really?