Johannesburg

I'm in Johannesburg. Jo-burg as it's commonly known. It's a MUCH bigger city compared to Cape Town and it has a more "African" feel. I'll have to get back to you on exactly what I mean by that. I'm feeling as if I like Jo-burg a bit better because it reminds me of New York (big city) and it has energy! I like the energy here. It's winter here so the physical beauty (trees, landscape) is non-existent compared to Cape Town. Any land you see in the distance if not covered with homes looks like the dump and it is since this town was founded when gold was found. Due to new mining techniques, they're currently "re-mining" the land in order to scrape out every bit of gold. For every 50 tons of land/dirt they "re-mine" they get a gram of gold. The architecture is lovely and again, same as Cape Town, there are "townships" (ghettos, slums, shanty towns however you want to describe) as far as the eye can see. We were told 5 million people live in Soweto (South West Township). About 8 million live in NYC geez! I'm trying to imagine what most of NYC would be like if everyone were jobless and poor. We did a short walking tour to see just how poor the conditions are in the worst part of Soweto. Why is it that nothing is surprising me? Eleven year old girl carries her baby brother on her back. Five year old girl dressed in cotton capris, a long sleeved t-shirt and sandals; holds my hand as we walk along, shivering. (Did I tell you it's winter here?! They forecast called for snow yesterday. It would have been the first time in 1986.) And yet, I'm completely unfazed. Please don't think I'm not caring. Maybe I'm numb. But maybe, as the tour guide described it, the people who live there don't think about how bad they have it. They just live the best that they can. Although our guide told us taking pictures is allowed, our guts wouldn't let us do it. We did take a photo with all of the children that followed us around. It's on Jelecia's camera and I'll try to load it up and get it on here. One boy tried to share a sad story with Jelecia and then proceeded to beg for money. The guide warned us NOT to give the children money because then they won't go to school the next day. They'll stay on the streets (dirt path) and beg any tourists who come by for money. Well, I'm sure with time and space I'll be able to better wrap my head around all of this. For now it's just go, go, go, go and see the next museum, Bishop Tutu's house, Mandela's house, the Apartheid Museum, the US Embassy (that's a maybe right now) and then we're off to Botswana in two days!!!! Safari animals and 90 degree weather here I come!!!!!
Update on my health...
I'm feeling MUCH better! (Scarlet Fever - rash and step throat) The worst part, honestly, was the upset tummy from the penicillin. (No pain just UNPLEASANT!) I'm still on the penicillin and just started my malaria pills. I'm trying to juggle when I'm taking everything so as not to interrupt effectiveness. My rashy spots are getting a bit itchy but manageable.