From Switzerland to Joburg
“In our country the government gives us rules and we follow them. Maybe things would be better here if the same thing happened. You can’t blame the government for everything that goes wrong.”
TWO young women from Lucerne in Switzerland are staying with families here in the South of Johannesburg on an AFS International Cultural Learning Exchange programme.
Anna Lang and Saira Kreienbühl Vargas, both 17 years old, spent the day at Abbotts College for the college’s orientation day and the Comaro CHRONICLE popped by to chat with them.
Anna is attending Mondeor High School and Saira attends a school in Soweto, while they are living here.
Anna said, “I’ve stayed with the one family while I’ve been here and they live in Mondeor, so I’ve grown accustomed to making my way around Mondeor and close-by suburbs. When my parents first realised I was coming to Johannesburg they were very afraid for me and didn’t want me to come. I love it here, though, and I find the community warm and welcoming. Teenagers are so confident and I’ve made some good friends. I’ve also been lucky enough to visit Durban and Cape Town, as well as Pretoria and the Vaal.
“I love the pap and meat and vetkoek, very different to what I eat at home, but it’s delicious. At weekends we sometimes visit other families and go to church and I chill out with friends I’ve made. I use taxis to get around and enjoy meeting all the different cultures.”
Saira is staying with her music teacher who teaches at the school she attends in Soweto. “At first I stayed with a woman in a shack in Soweto. It was interesting and I had to wash all my clothing by hand as well as having to cook every day. Now I live in Florida.
“My favourite food is intoumbela (steamed bread) and chakalaka. I love the fact that everyone shares things here, even those who have hardly anything to their name. You don’t find this in Switzerland where everyone has a lot more money.
“I love the diversity of South African people and I’m not at all scared of living here. I honestly think I could move to SA one day,” added Saira.
When asked about the political situation in SA, both Anna and Saira, said, “In our country the government gives us rules and we follow them. Maybe things would be better here if the same thing happened. You can’t blame the government for everything that goes wrong.”
Both Anna and Saira enjoy Soweto and what it has to offer. “We’ve visited all the tourist destinations but have also spent time with friends there, experiencing the ‘real’ Soweto, so to speak,” they said.
Different strokes for different folks
“It’s very strange to us how most people have maids. We do everything ourselves in our country. Also not many people recycle here. In Lucerne we recycle almost everything. The transport system is very different too. At home we catch trains and buses everywhere. Here most residents have their own transport. We’ve caught taxis, though, and find the passengers very friendly and quite protective of us.”
At the end of the interview both said they missed their families but in some ways are quite sad to be going home in July. “We’ll miss so much about Johannesburg, the different life experiences and definitely all the friends we’ve made.”
