Since I arrived in South Africa I have been spending 3 days per week working as an intern for an organization called the Legal Resources Centre. The LRC is a human rights law firm with a long history of defending marginalized South Africans who do not have access to legal representation. The organization was started in the 1970s by a small group of attorneys who wanted to use the law to challenge and bring down the system of apartheid. One of the LRC’s first cases successfully challenged pass laws in court (pass laws were apartheid-era laws that restricted movement of all non-whites in and out of cities and other “non white” areas of South Africa). From there, the LRC lawyers litigated other racist laws that helped dismantle the apartheid system, which was finally terminated between 1990-1994.

South Africa has a very difficult history, much of which is amazingly recent. Working at the LRC has allowed me to learn about it from people who were directly involved in the struggle. Needless to say, it’s been a fascinating place to work.

The LRC’s supporters include many prominent South Africans—one of the founders was the first Chief Justice of the SA Supreme Court, and at an LRC lecture last week the guest list included top members of the South African and international legal community, elected officials, and a Nobel Prize winner.

One of the most inspiring people I have had the pleasure to meet is George Bizos. George has been practicing law in South Africa since 1954 and has been one of Nelson Mandela’s lawyers for most of his career. He was famously part of the defense team in the 1964 Rivonia Trial, which was the trial in which Mandela was sentenced to life in prison for anti-apartheid acts (he was released in 1990 after serving 27 years).

George is now 81 years old but can still be found most days working at the LRC. I was asked to interview him for future LRC newsletters and reports and I happily sat down to chat with him yesterday. We talked for nearly 2 hours about his long career. While we talked, I kept gazing over his should at a portrait of him which was obviously drawn by a child. After our formal interview was over he showed me around his office and explained the history of the drawing to me. It’s a story worth sharing. Enjoy.

Scenes from around the house.

Today we drove to a restaurant on the outskirts of town in Gabor’s parents’ 1970 Mercedes. It is one sweet ride.

I have noticed that South Africans are more apt to use very formal language in emails. I am learning some new frequently-used vocab and getting used to the writing style. But sometimes I get emails that make me laugh out loud.

This gem from today is too good not to share.

My fellow intern sent out an email with parking instructions for an event tomorrow and included her phone number in case there were any problems. This is a reply she received from an attorney:

Dear Busani

Thank you for the courtesy of your note under reply and the arrangements it conveys.

I trust it will not be necessary to use the telephone numbers you have sent but appreciate the reassurance they offer.

Sincerely,

HSC

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HA!

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Last year, when I met up with Gabor in Thailand for an all-expenses-paid trip awarded by his company, my parents’ friend remarked that I had ‘fallen into a tub of butter.’ That has been one of my favorite phrases ever since.

This weekend’s trip to Cape Town assured me that I am still very much in that tub.

Gabor had a conference on Thursday & Friday, which meant that his work put us up in a gorgeous hotel in a room far larger and nicer than my house in LA.

He spent the day in meetings, I cashed in on a free massage and had beers along the waterfront. No complaints here.

Our room looked out over the new waterfront soccer stadium being built for the 2010 World Cup.

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After the conference we took off with friends/colleagues and spent Friday & Saturday nights staying in a friend’s apartment in Camps Bay, which is Cape Town’s nicest neighborhood.

You know you’re in for a treat when this is the view from the parking lot.

The view from the apartment was just as lovely.

Ayanda, Sibu, Gabor, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

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Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and it rained steadily all weekend. But we still managed to have a good time eating the world’s best fish and chips, listening to live music, dancing to 80s music, and drinking Africa’s best tea and coffee.

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Tub of butter.

I’m off to Cape Town for a 4 day weekend.

Having enjoyed time in Seattle, Vancouver, and now Cape Town all in the span of one month, I have realized that I must be inadvertently organizing my life so that I can frequently touch down in the world’s most beautiful cities. When I first went to Cape Town nearly two years ago I was blown away by what a beautiful city it is…the water, the mountains, the city tucked into bays and coves…it’s a special place indeed. I suspect I will not be disappointed this time around, and nor will you when you come for a visit.

Saturday night was my opportunity to host a big American style Halloween party. Everyone came through with impressive costumes and we celebrated Halloween in style…but more importantly, we recognized my mom’s birthday!

Mom, enjoy these birthday greetings from some new wild and wonderful South African amigos. Happy birthday to you!

Spooky the cat and I went hadida hunting in the back yard today. We tracked one but never brought it down. We had a good time nonetheless.

When I get tired of gazing out from my desk to the pedestrians and busses in Gandhi Square, I simply look to the left and admire these acrobatic daredevils who hang from the 18 story building across the street. While I work at my computer typing up documents and doing research, these guys are balancing on thin pieces of metal and building a skyscraper with their bare hands. Wowza.

Next time you find yourself suffering through an awkward silence at work, on an airplane, or on a date, you can pull up these bits of trivia about my new home.

Did you know that…

• There are about 4 million people in Johannesburg and 44 million people in South Africa.
• The currency is the Rand (currently trading at about 7.5 Rand to the Dollar).
• South Africa has 11 official languages:  English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu. Fortunately for me, English is the universal language and the language of business.
• Johannesburg’s latitude is 26 degrees South. It’s latitude equivalent in the Northern Hemisphere is Miami.  Cape Town’s northern equivalent is Los Angeles (latitude: 34 degrees).
• Johannesburg is one of very few major cities in the world not built on a body of water. Why is Joburg located here? Gold.
• When you visit South Africa, you hear a lot about the Big Five. It’s every safari-goers goal to see the Big Five. The Big Five are: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and black rhinoceros.
• The South African flag is the only national flag in the world with six colors and without a seal or brocade.

I got an internship at a very cool human rights law organization in Johannesburg. I’ll be working here 3 days a week while I wait for my work permit to be processed and look for a full time job.

This is the view from my desk. I look out over Gandhi Square, a major bus hub in downtown Joburg. From my 8th floor perch I watch an endless stream of busses and the constant scurry of people on the streets below. My new city is exciting and dynamic, I am very much enjoying becoming acquainted with it.

Are you curious about where I live and what I see when I wake up every morning? Want to know what color my walls and floors are? Then check out this tour of my new home in Johannesburg.

It’s a wonderful house built in the 1920s. Gabor bought it almost 3 years ago. There is lots of room for visitors like you, so come check it out for yourself!

New friends & dance partners!

As captured at Saturday’s welcome party.

I’m here!

Delta and KLM deposited me and my worldly belongings safely to Joburg on Wednesday (a marked improvement from my last trip down here). Jet lag has been beating me up but I am settling in nonetheless.

Some highlights thus far:

-A lovely airport reunion, complete with flowers!

-A very fun welcome party complete with cool people, good conversation, and great dancing late into the night. This was just the reminder I needed that although I left a ton a wonderful folks behind, I also have many many new ones to meet.

-My first left-side-of-the-road driving lesson was yesterday. It was nerve-racking and at times terrifying, but it went off without a hitch. I am a bit apprehensive about the solo trip I have to take downtown tomorrow, but I guess the only way I’ll get comfortable is by joining the masses driving along Joburg’s streets. Watch out.

-After quite a few attempts to get my cell phone set up—which included the cell phone company directing me to buy prepaid minutes from the makeup & perfume shop across the way rather than from them—I finally have a local number.  You can reach me any time at: + 27 (72) 258-2623

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The settling in process has begun, it’s still hard to believe that I am actually living here but I’m off to a good start on this wild adventure.

Coming soon….a house tour!

Is there a more lovely city than Vancouver, BC? I think not.

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It was the perfect place from which to say farewell to the lovely Northwest.

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Next stop?

Joburg!