Living in one place and settling into a regular pattern of activity has its virtues. Since moving to Johannesburg, I’ve been able to eat regular, healthy meals, sleep eight hours a day, and work out several times a week. I also have a pretty regular teaching schedule and have allotted time to work on my film and various other projects, like this blog. I’ve even set up religious study sessions and am beginning to take Zulu lessons. This arrangement has allowed me to make a good deal of progress with my students and I have been able to complete many projects. But, the predictable way of life is not perfect, at least not for me.

I often miss the excitement of travel and the many variables of a more fast-paced life. Before moving to Joburg, my life was far from predicable. At college, there was always something new going on and the idea of having regular sleep or time for “slow and steady” development was out of the question. After college, I traveled for several months and then, when I first moved to South Africa in September, I spent over a month traveling and visiting the field bands around the country.

So, I have some mixed feelings about my new “normal” life. But, I’ve managed to plan a few trips over the coming months that should hopefully balance the competing interests of the fixed lifestyle I seem to need and the adventurous lifestyle I love. The first of my excursions came a few weeks ago when my parents came to South Africa to visit me.

It was really exciting to have them here. It’s rare that you get to show your folks a place that is intimately familiar to you, but which they have never seen before. My goal for the trip was to show them the absolute highlights of the country and it turned out to be one of the greatest trips of my life and a very special experience for my parents as well. They are already planning to come back in October!

The trip really did put things in perspective for me and gave me a sincere appreciation for the unique and inspiring qualities of this incredible country. The adventure took us around the country, from the game reserves of Mpumalanga, to bustling heart of Soweto, the haunting mountains of the Karoo, and the magnificent coasts of Cape Town.

I tried to balance the trip between natural wonders, cultural highlights, and “down-to-earth” South African experiences. To see the extreme luxury of some of the world’s most sumptuous game lodges without also experiencing the extreme poverty of some of the townships, would be a one-sided approach to touring South Africa. Likewise, a visit to the high-strung economic capital of Johannesburg without a trip to the laid-back and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, would create an incomplete picture of the country.

This balanced approach really made the trip special and it was very refreshing for me to get out of Joburg for a bit and appreciate South Africa as a whole.

Please check out the slide show I’ve put together from the trip. I tried to cover a good amount of detail in my captions, but feel free to send me a message if you have any comments or questions.

Posted By: james @ 3:23 pm
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by James Collins

After spending so much time with Sello and Boy at their homes, I figured it was time to invite them to my place for a few days. They have been kind enough to let me into their lives, so why not let them into mine? They eagerly accepted my invitation and were excited to see my apartment and watch some videos I had been telling them about. They also asked if they could bring their friend Happy, another drummer from the band, with them and I, of course, accepted, bringing our drum party to four.

They stayed for two nights and we had an amazing time. We did a lot of drumming (on pads and shoes and magazines and whatever else we could find), wrote a new drum feature for their band and watched plenty of videos. They seemed to enjoy everything and I’m sure they learned a lot from the experience. They were also some of the best house guests I’ve ever had. I couldn’t believe it when they started mopping the floors and thoroughly cleaning the bathroom. They were respectful and just a lot of fun to have around. However, I did make the mistake of telling them they could eat as much as they wanted. I have never seen sandwiches stacked so high!

I also learned a lot from them. I regard Sello and Boy as friends and I don’t really associate terms like “disadvantaged” or “impoverished” with them. Those words seem so cold to me. I view them simply as capable young men who perhaps haven’t had many opportunities. But, some of the things they said really gave me pause.

At one point, Boy asked me how many meals I eat a day. I answered (at least three) and asked him the same question, only to find out that he can generally only afford to eat once a day. I also found out that Sello’s family can’t afford to get him a passport for the upcoming Field Band tour to Norway. The cost is around $25. They live on next to nothing, yet they don’t seem at all like “poor African children” or whatever other term might apply. They carry themselves with pride and that is something I really respect.

There were also plenty of funny “cultural” moments during their stay. For instance, they thought it was hilarious that I would want to drink my tea cold (iced tea). They also asked me if we have Coca Cola in America and were fascinated by Listerine. I also had this silly idea that they probably didn’t shower that much (a terrible stereotype based on the conditions of where they live). But, it seemed like they spent half their time showering and bathing!. They even asked me at one point why I didn’t shower so much.

I could go on, but perhaps it’s best to let a video do the talking. I turned my camera on just before they left and they decided to give a little Cribs-style tour of my apartment. I’ve also included some of our drumming and a very nice message they had for me at the end.

Click here to email James with your questions or comments

The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

Posted By: james @ 11:24 am
Filed under: James, Thoughts, Videos

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by James Collins

Before I came to South Africa, I sent a very naïve email to the CEO of the Field Band Foundation enquiring about the nature of their “facilities” in the townships. The reply I got back simply said, “Hi Jimmy…We have no facilities in the townships. Field Bands = fields I’m afraid.” Though this fact became clear to me when I began working with the bands in September, I suppose it never really hit home until a few days ago…

I was teaching in Cullinan and had just finished my usual warm-ups with the drummers. We started working on a new drum solo, but after a few minutes, I heard something hit the ground next to me. I looked briefly at what seemed like a small piece of glass lying there and turned back to continue my lesson, only to find a cluster of very shocked faces staring at me. Boy then screamed “ICE ROCK!!” and within seconds they were all gone.

I stood there for a moment trying to make sense of what had just happened. Where did they go? Had there been some sort of cultural misunderstanding? Or perhaps there was some danger I wasn’t seeing? Then another piece of “glass” hit the ground. Then a few more fell and it finally hit me that “ice rock” = hail!

I looked back at the field band truck and saw some kids frantically trying to get the instruments packed away. Only a few brave souls had stayed behind to save the instruments; the rest had fled for shelter. I listened for a moment to the surreal sound of hail beating against the drums and then ran to help.

I managed to find a hat and a plastic bag to put on my head. Others found umbrellas and most notably, Sello and Boy were shielding themselves with a set of plastic chairs they had found by the truck. Meanwhile, four kids had formed a pseudo assembly line inside the truck, trying to get everything in before it was too late. Then all hell broke loose outside as heavy rain and some very serious lightening began to mix with the hail.

The “assembly line” didn’t prove to be very effective and those of us standing outside of the truck wound up getting completely soaked as we waited to pass the instruments inside. It was a total mess. But, somehow, the initial shock and panic gradually turned to laughter and smiles as we stopped caring about the weather and began to enjoy this very strange experience we were having together. The hail had mostly given way to torrential rain by that point and everyone had already gotten so wet that it seemed pointless to worry about it. The instruments would have to wait until the assembly line was ready for them. And finally, after a few more soggy minutes, everything was safely inside the truck.

With our mission accomplished, a bunch of kids jumped into my car and I turned on the heater at full blast to the delight of more than a few shivering bodies. Then I drove them home and made the hour-long journey back to my apartment in Johannesburg feeling like I had just stepped out of a swimming pool. Yes, Field Bands most definitely = fields.

The hail begins and a few remain to save the instruments.

The assembly line forms inside the truck.

A very wet marimba makes its way into the truck.

Sello and Boy shield themselves with plastic chairs.

Panic gives way to laughter.

How did my camera survive all this?

Click here to email James with your questions or comments

The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

Posted By: james @ 4:35 pm
Filed under: Current events, James, Photos

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by James Collins

*Additional footage by Shani Van Straaten

I met Sello and Boy when I first visited the Cullinan field band a little over a month ago. I was excited to see the band because I had heard they had some talented drummers. As much as I love working with beginners, my favorite lessons are always with the more advanced players. They tend to pick things up very quickly and really appreciate what I have to offer.

Cullinan is a small rural town outside of Pretoria. It has much less crime than the urban townships and is actually quite peaceful and clean, though, like most of South Africa, is not without its problems. For example, drug abuse is major issue in the schools.

It took me almost an hour and a half to get to Cullinan from Johannesburg on my first visit. When I arrived in town, a guy named Peter greeted me and led me to the school where the band rehearses. As we were pulling up to the field, he casually mentioned that the band’s truck driver had recently quit and that they didn’t have any instruments for rehearsal. I almost jumped out of my seat, thinking to myself, “I drove all the way up here to teach these kids and no one cared to mention that they don’t even have instruments!” But, I kept my cool and asked if there were some way to get the instrument truck to the school. Peter told me they were trying to find a new driver, but until then they would have to rehearse without instruments…

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Posted By: james @ 10:14 am
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by James Collins

Wow… It’s hard to describe what an incredible experience this was. I was honestly blown away. For some reason, I had pictured the National Workshop as a rather serious affair with lots of practicing and note-taking and all that sort of thing. Though there was certainly a lot of hard work and an incredible amount of dedication on the part of the participants, it was, more than anything, a week of fun, friendship and creativity for everyone involved. This was one of the most inspiring and invigorating things I’ve seen in a long time.

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Posted By: james @ 3:57 pm
Filed under: Current events, James, Videos

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by James Collins

After over a month on the road, I’ve finally completed my journey through South Africa. It was truly a special experience and my understanding and appreciation of this country have grown enormously. South Africa is an incredibly varied and beautiful country, both in terms of its people and geography.

Rather than elaborate with more writing, I’ve put together a slide show to narrate the trip. Hopefully you will get a sense of the beauty of South Africa and of the success of the Field Band Foundation. I don’t have many photos here detailing the conditions of the townships where the bands rehearse, but bear in mind that these kids live in poverty and have to deal with conditions at home and in their communities that most Americans would find appalling.

Click here to email James with your questions or comments

The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

Posted By: james @ 11:21 am
Filed under: Current events, James, Photos

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by James Collins

Aside from the National Championships, I haven’t gotten to see many performances from the bands I’ve been working with. The field bands are often hired to play at weddings, parades, sporting events and other community functions, but I’ve spent most of my time at rehearsals in the schoolyards. Recently, however, I’ve been lucky to catch a few shows and it’s been great to see how much of an impact the bands can have on their communities. I loved seeing the way the kids express themselves in a performance setting and I’m excited now about how I can help them to improve further.

Here is a clip from a performance I attended in Port Elizabeth. The band marched for the reopening of a major road that had recently undergone some renovations. One piece they played really got the crowd going. There are certain songs in South Africa that just seem to get everyone singing and dancing.

This next clip is from a performance in Stellenbosch (just outside of Cape Town). Assembling the steel drums and marimbas from two field bands in the area, they call this group the “jazz band”. The performance was for a school board event announcing the opening of several new focus schools in the community.

Click here to email James with your questions or comments

The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

Posted By: james @ 12:52 pm
Filed under: Current events, James, Videos

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by James Collins

I’ve been on the road now for almost three weeks and it has been a truly amazing experience. From the gnarled baobab trees of Musina on the Zimbabwean border, to the diamond mines of Kimberley in the heartland and the towering cliffs of Cape Town on the Atlantic coast, I’ve managed to cover quite a bit of ground. I’ve seen more than a few breathtaking sights and I’ve met some wonderful new friends along the way. Working with the field bands in their communities has been a very special experience and my appreciation and understanding of this country are constantly growing. But, by far the most important thing I’ve gained from this journey has been a love for teaching.

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Posted By: james @ 11:52 am
Filed under: Current events, James, Videos

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by James Collins

I’ve decided to leave Johannesburg for the time being to explore South Africa from the open road. I’ve had a great time in Joburg so far, but I’d like to see more of the country before deciding where to base myself for the rest of the year. I plan to visit as many field bands as possible along the way, and if all goes well, I will cover most of the country in just one month.

I’m excited to visit the bands and to meet the tutors and see how they work with the kids. From what I’ve seen so far, each band is very distinctive. Some run on a tight schedule, while others are pretty loose. Some try to experiment with their performances, while others choose to “go with the flow”. Some place a strong focus on teaching life skills, while others stick more closely to the music. There are a lot of different teaching styles and approaches in use and I’m hoping to learn from the different bands and see what works best. I think my teaching will benefit greatly from the experience. I’m also looking forward to meeting some teachers from the Norwegian Peace Corps who are working with the field bands in Limpopo (a province in the northeast). Some of them have been here for over a year, so I’m sure I can learn quite a bit from them.

I’ll be sure to send some updates and hopefully a few videos from the road. Thanks for all your recent comments! Keep them coming and let me know if you would like to see anything in particular on the blog.

Click here to email James with your questions or comments

The views and information presented are the Fulbright grantee’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

Posted By: james @ 3:41 pm
Filed under: Current events, James, Photos

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by James Collins

I’ve grown to like Johannesburg over the last month. I’ve gotten to know its quirks and charms. I’ve learned about the different neighborhoods and how shacks can be minutes from mansions. I’ve been to many of the malls, where the upper and middle classes mingle, and I’ve been to several of the townships, where the Field Band Foundation comes to life. I’ve become used to frequent power outages and broken robots (the South African term for traffic lights). I even managed to purchase and register a car here, which is a true accomplishment (involving six trips to the licensing office). There are moments when I’m reminded of Los Angeles or even Mexico City as I drive through the various neighborhoods tucked away in my car. But, Jozi, as it is affectionately called, is definitely unique.

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Posted By: james @ 3:41 pm
Filed under: James, Photos, Thoughts

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