Posted July 13th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
13.07.2008
Art and Empowerment

That is the name of the course I am creating. This Friday in Khayelitsha will be my first own teaching experience ever. (the leadership training – which will by the way start next weekend again- was a great experience and training together with Anasuya) I will have 50 students, age 15 from all different Townships around Cape town. I will be teaching them about art and revolution, african history of art, resistance art, propaganda, technical drawing, logo and identity, community art, photography. I am very excited about this great opportunity and will soon let you know a lot more about it!

please keep on checking out my flickr account for new pictures here

there is so much art on the streets here…this is just around the corner from our house..

Posted June 29th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
29.06.2008
a Muslim introduction

I met my new friend Habiba at Landmark Education. She grew up in the Muslim Community of Cape Town. A new day, a new experience here in Cape Town. Understanding the history of this country is not easy! whites/blacks/coloreds…and each of those groups are divided into several groups. The Muslim community used to be sent to ‘colored areas’ during the Apartheid. Not all colored people are Muslim. And to make it even more interesting: not all Muslims are one….there are those with an Indian background and those with an Arabic background. Habiba speaks Arabic. Her first language is English. Most ‘colored people’ speak Afrikaans. For Habiba, this was the language of the oppressor…she still refuses to speak it!

Yesterday i was part of a Muslim fundraiser for a feeding scheme for 4000 orphans in the black townships. 300 Muslim women (no man allowed! otherwise the women would not be able to dance) gathered in a hall next to the mosque. Their head scarfs in all happy colors made me feel as if I stepped into a beautiful field of flowers. I was the only not-Muslim in the audience. It was a great experience. The community was very welcoming. I was really happily surprised by this community. Most of them are not living in a lot of wealth either, but they care for the people in their country. White South Africans can learn something from their Muslim neighbours!

Posted June 22nd, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
21.06.2008
Shit = Fun
Landmark Advanced course. Jep powerful! You know what I really get? Dealing with the shit in my life is fun, really fun. Dealing with everything in the past that just sits there and wants to be hided away….oeh….opening up, and sharing this with others….it is just so exciting! A few years ago I would have been so afraid of judgements (what will people think about me when I tell them about the bitch I was being?) and now?… I actually really do not care what kind of story you create around my actions. I know I am here in this world to empower others, as many as I can (so if you do not take my word as it is, that’s up to you). And what I will be in that? open, honest, direct and a girl that’s having FUN and enjoying life!

Posted June 1st, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
01.06.2008
The situation now…

It seems to be quiet. Saturday, we (Anasuya, our visitor from The Netherlands Reinier and me) drove to Khayelitsha and didn’t experience any abnormal situation.

Lots of churches have opened their doors, refugees camps have been created at different places in/around the city. We drove past a Church in Observatory and saw lots of refugees standing in the garden. There was confusion in their eyes. Or was it fear I could see? Refugees on a hunger strike, demanding a better place to sleep. Aid gets commented (by aid-workers): why does this South African society wake up and get into action at this Xenophobic crisis moment, but does not do anything for its own community on a daily base. Do they know how many of their own, South African people need participation, integration, action, sharing and care????!!!!!

We organized a compassion diner for our 3 Zimbabwean friends this week. They are fine! The fireplace in our new house in Woodstock works well. Thank god, because the evenings start being very cold.

For the Dutch-speaking readers: I have started an online public conversation with Petra Kroon, the Founder of ‘Goedgeefs’, a Dutch organization that forms an intermedium between Dutch Corporations, who want to work on their CSI (Corporate Social Investment – or Dutch: MVO – Maatschappelijk Verantwoord Ondernemen) and projects in South Africa. Petra has a big passion for South Africa, lives in Amsterdam, is a very creative and intelligent woman with lots of great ideas and actions! We had a inspiring meeting, a few weeks ago in The Netherlands, after our online correspondence the past months. You can find our online conversation, along with more information about Petra and her organization at the Goedgeefs website; http://www.goedgeefs.nl/#/weblog/

Enjoy!

Posted May 26th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
26.05.2008
xenophobia
Sad. Sad. Sad. During Apartheid lots of South Africans were welcomed in neighbouring countries…15 years democracy and now? black brothers chasing black brothers away. Thousands of refugees on the street. The violence has been in the Townships and mainly towards foreign (black) shop owners. I know that the media has been showing you all some dramatic photographs…..and NO the situation is NOT ok, but we are OK! I will keep you all up to date. Yesterday we wanted to drive to town to donate blankets and clothes, but we didn’t have to drive any further then our own street….a man from Sudan spends his nights together with wife and 2 children in front of the church. Why does the church not open her doors?
to be continued…

Posted May 23rd, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
23.05.2008
Landmark

Wouw some good weeks behind me! The momentum is up.
2 weekends ago I did the Landmark Forum. Education for life, they call it. And YES I agree. The forum is all about completing things in your own past, challenging your self, sharing, communication, life. 100 participants. The most interesting thing? People from all different backgrounds listening to each other. Experiencing new social challenges/experiences. South Africa on its best!

I went back to my own childhood and figured out that I have created an image of Carel, my (sort of) Stephfather. As a little girl (he was in our life from around my 5th) I told myself that he is an unfriendly man (why? …yeah…asking a 5 year old…because he was not my father? because he is a bit older? because he doesn’t laugh all the time?) Anyways, as a teenager I made that ‘he’s unfriendly’-thought even stronger, it developed to: ‘he’s a dictator, he’s dominant, he is just not nice. This Landmark weekend I came to the conclusion that I’ve never given him the chance to just ‘be friendly’ or even ‘be himself’ . Only now I realize this.

Well….never too late! I gave Carel a call that very day. Mother’s day it was. “Ah you’re calling for your mum”, he told me while he picked up the phone. “Well”, I said, ‘I’m actually calling for you. And I told him what I’ve written down here above. I explained to him that I realized that our relationship could have been very different if I would have allowed him to be him. He was very surprised about what I was saying. At first he responded like “what do you want me to say?”. But after I explained that I didn’t expect any response, that I just needed to say the things….., he really liked it. And he actually said: wow…uhm…yeah, well maybe I also have to look back and we can have a longer chat about this later, because I do realize that the relationship with you has been very different and more difficult then the relation with your brother.

Last week, my mum send me an email. Saying that Carel really appreciated my phone call, that it means a lot to him and that it actually feels as if he has another daughter (he has one real daughter, Loes) now. That is HUGE.

Also that call I had a chance to speak to my mum and for the first time in my life could state the appreciation that I have for her, for the way she raised me and my brother, for who she is, tell her I love her.

Jep …and that all because of Landmark. Sharing, communicating, openness and honesty. And a new very important word for me: Integrity > being whole and complete. Each and every moment in life. Enjoying every second. Because? THIS IS IT. Stop chasing the carrot like a donkey. This is it, so better enjoy it. As Jord said before his dead: don’t wait for a cancer to start living.

I signed up for the advanced course the end of June. Jep, more to come…

interested? www.landmarkeducation.com (global institute…jep guys also in Amsterdam!) The words are not able to express the feelings you get out of it. Jep it is in your own experience and your own intention of what you want to get out of it…where you’ll get the most! Enjoy!

Posted May 14th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
14.05.2008
An Underwater World

Wouw! This Dutch Family living in Cape Town is amazing! Check their site out: www.scubafrique.co.za . And how lucky Anasuya and I have been…we received a free diving introduction. No Ocean to deep for us!
Sjon, wife Marijke and kids are all very passionate about what they are doing. They are totally dedicated to make your dive experience, one never to forget. Our first introduction with the underwater world was in their very professional dive centre here in Cape Town. After a video which explained us the basics of diving, a training in a public pool (haha on a very HOT capetonian day, wetsuits, heavy air tanks, while other visitors find some cooling in the water) and then THE REAL THING….the ocean. Cold. Windy. Slippery. Waves. Rocks. But we did it! Shells, fishes, and a whole forest of kelp!

Thinking of diving, in the beautiful underwater world of Cape Town? This is the place to go! www.scubafrique.co.za
For more pictures: check my photostream on flickr, click here
For the Dutch Hyvers: http://satroost.hyves.nl/

Posted May 6th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
06.05.2008
A new day in Africa

Jep I’m back. 2 intense weeks in The Netherlands. A beautiful funeral. Some amazing moments with friends, family. Some lovely spring sun! (sorry everybody whom I couldn’t see, my time was limited and the trip was so last minute..)
Yesterday I moved to our new place in Woodstock. Sharing a place with one of my high school best friend, Edith and her lover Henk and my amazing American work partner, Anasuya. The house is cute! pictures will come soon.. it feels like home.
The coming months Africa, for me personally
– with more balance! (architectural work-humanitarian projects-surf-sports-reading-exploring-fun-learning-travelling-friends-LOVE)
– with more updates (a new way… my photo stream at flickr!)
– with more focus
– with happiness, optimism, honesty and openness
– and with the intensity as always!
Cape Town here I am!

Posted April 29th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
29.04.2008
Soulmates

Please read this beautiful text of Elizabeth Gilbert from her book “Eat, Pray, Love” …

“People think a soulmate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. A true soulmate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that’s holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soulmate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soulmate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soulmates they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.”

This text helped me understand the situation between Peter and me. Eventhough our time together was amazing, we are not together anymore. Now I accept it. Thanks Peter, great time together…who knows our paths will cross again, one day.

Posted April 27th, 2008 in South Africa by Frérieke
27.04.2008
Jord to you..
Live life as if every day is the last.
Jord… 27 years and you left us..
…but you knew the secret of life
your optimism, happiness, joy, social awareness, sustainable energy activism, friendship
we will take it with us!