Quaqua

16:00
I started a journey from Johannesburg to a small village called ‘Quaqua’. Three and a half hour we (Wayne and I) have driven through nothing more than hills, cows and two gas stations. No we’re here at the centre of Quaqua, I notice that I’m the only white person in town. It feels a bit strange the way people are staring at me, but that’s the way it goes: when you are different than the rest you get attention. I have to admit that being ‘the other’, gives me also a positive mood. Like the attention I got during my high school period, when I tried to be funny against the teachers. But in those days (I sound like a eighty years old man) I put a lot of effort in getting this attention and now I’m doing nothing particular (only being white)
16:30
From the centre of Quaqua, again, I am sitting in the car and we’re driving. I thought we already arrived at our destination, but apparently we’re still not there. I don’t mind because the view is really beautiful: hills, hills and hills.
16:45
We’re at the theatre and more than twenty kids are sitting in a circle. This time I will film the debate by myself. I’m curious about the possible differences between these village kids and the kids from Soweto. Do they love their life in Quaqua or do they want to go to the big city? What about the opportunities here? The following answer of one of them is really interesting: “yes there are more opportunities in Johannesburg, but here in Quaqua we can start our own opportunities, we can do this by our selves.”
17:30
We just finished our debate. It is beautiful to see that there are no differences at all between them and the kids from Johannesburg. They seem to be as open minded like the city kids. I noticed also the (sometimes) difficult relationships between them and their parents who grew up during the Apartheid. But the cause of this clash between them and their parents is not always the experience of Apartheid. Like in Holland or any other country, I think kids from this age often have the need to be different than their parents and to be someone else, an individual.
19:30
It’s really dark and we are driving on the road. I have to admit that I’m a little bit scared, because I know how desolate this area is. If something will happen with us here, they will find us maybe after a couple of years. We put some music on (South African trip hop, really good!!) and we give our opinions on the motions we discussed. During this journey back to Johannesburg, sometimes we’re quiet, have a personal conversation about our lives or we’re singing funny songs. When you’re sitting hours in a car next to each other, it gives a band.
23:00
I have arrived safely and I am drinking a glass of white wine. Not only the name ‘Quaqua’ is special, but also this entire day. It felt like a beautiful week.