The little things...

What seemed interesting and amusing at first has turned into pure frustration. Oh the little differences between a third world country and a first world one that can really deplete one's sense of humor!

Everyday I am astonished at the lack of sensitivity and kindness that exists in a city like this, whether it's driving down the road or enquiring about parcel over the phone...people could honestly care less! "Jo'burgers" are driven by money and things, it's all about squashing the underdogs and stepping on their heads to climb up to the top. You can never make enough money here to be happy....everything must be extravagant and have some foreign label attached...everyone must know YOU have made it and they have not.

Maybe its a vibe that can be found in any massive major city, maybe I'm just a small town Canadian girl that's been thrown head first into the big city unprepared for the greed that comes with it...who knows. Regardless, it's deeply frustrating....

What gets to me the most is the lack of kindness...it's very rare you have someone give you the right of way on the road, and very VERY rare that you encounter someone at a store or on the street that wants to help you out. Everyone is so paranoid of trusting the wrong person that their noses are rather thrown in the air with no eye contact and no conversation. Sadly, I'm being forced to become one of these people as well....

What one takes for granted in a country such as Canada (stability, random acts of kindness, etc.) comes back to your memory pretty quick when dealing with a cold, slow city like this.

The sad thing is, you can't really blame the people here for keeping to themselves...it's really just an outside front to an internal fear everyone has in their guts of becoming another daily statistic.

The problems of Africa and a crime-ridden city such as Johannesburg are not easily solvable...in fact I'd say they are impossible. No one wants to give their money to an organization that they know is ultimately corrupt and dishonest. No one wants to be the person to take a chance with that beggar on the side of the street by rolling down their window and passing them their change...no one wants to get hurt. So what is the answer? It's all so frustrating and upsetting...I almost wish I could be that ignorant Canadian university student again that thought the organizations of this world were out to change things for the better believing with all of my heart that people are inherently good. It's hard not to lose that faith in a concrete jungle like this...