After the rural area, we came back to Durban to our Cato Manor homestays. We had one week of day-trips and lectures, which included a trip to the Albert Luthuli museum in Groutville (where we met Albertina Luthuli!), ISP prep clinics, The Durban Walk, a Race Workshop at UKZN Howard College Campus, a trip to a badly mananged Gandhi museum, a workshop at an organization called the Healing of Memories, a trip to a development organization called The Valley Trust, and lectures at ACCORD--The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes. In the interest of time, I won't elaborate on any of these--if you're curious about something feel free to ask me specifically in a message on my blog or via email to [email protected].

This week begun our focus study groups, where we have broken up into small groups to discuss Education, Gender, Reconciliation, or Development more specifically with specialized group leaders. I chose to do the development focus study with a self-proclaimed rural sociologist, economic historian, and citizen of "Southern Africa" named Blessing J Karumbidza (a native of Zimbabwe). We are meeting daily this week at the University of KwaZulu Natal Howard College Campus, which is a short 5 minute drive from the SIT program center and our homestay neighborhood. Today we reflected on our rural homestay experiences, and discussed the Positive, Potential, and Negative aspects of development in the community. On Thursday we will take a day trip to the Ndwedwe Magisterial District and surrounding areas to observe rural development issues "in the flesh".

On Saturday, I move out of my Cato Manor homestay, and into another homestay (location TBD) for a week-long NGO placement (NGO TBD as well). More on this next week.

Missing you all! Hope everything is well in the States.