South African History

Since I landed in Africa it has been a whirlwind of events.  Our group of 55 boarded a buss and drove into Johannesburg to a local hotel in which we hunkered down for the night.  The 10 hour time difference made it difficult to sleep in past five (but i cant complain).  The following day we embarked on a tour of Soweto (a part of Johannesburg where the blacks were exiled during the segregation during the 1900's). Although there were many poor areas i was surprised of the lack of beggars instead of being bombarded by desperate people pleading for money we were constantly greeted my smiling faces yelling "Welcome, Welcome!"  The people there seemed so optimistic, like despite there impoverished circumstance they still hold to some hidden hope that through time they may better their lives.  At the end of the tour we stopped at the apartheid museum.  The apartheid is the racist rule of the government over the south africans up until Nelson Mandelas take over in the 1990's. I was disgusted by the white mans total disregard for the native blacks.  I was also inspired by the story of nelson mandela, he is truly an inspiring man with vision 100 times greater than anything i have ever dreamed of.   I am in awe of his sacrifice for his people, his country, and ultimately humanity.  A modern legend who dedicated his life to  a cause he believed in and never did he faulter.