This program was designed for engineers to travel abroad and see firsthand the effects of engineering decisions. My first week in South Africa, where I visited the city of Johannesburg, was very eye-opening for me in this way. Although apartheid was abolished in the country 30 years ago, the effects of it still remain with the help of the country’s infrastructure. Because of this there are areas with a majority white population with some of the nicest buildings I’ve ever seen, and a mile away there is a largely black informal settlement where people live in metal shacks. Engineering and policy decisions from the previous century are still affecting the lives of people today.

It is upsetting to see this kind of informal segregation persist in this country. However, despite their struggles, South Africans have built a sense of community around the need to fend for themselves. The current political party in power is the same as Nelson Mandela, but the public has lost hope in their leaders after continuous corruption. That has impacted their attitude towards survival. If they have to live in shacks, they will build them themselves. If they have to live without basic government services such as electricity, then they will work together to move forward. I really admire South Africans for their persistence, strength, and love despite all they’ve been through.

I still have another week and another city to experience in this country, Cape Town. While this city is supposed to be quite different from Johannesburg, I expect that the people and their attitudes will be quite similar. They have had to overcome the lasting effects of apartheid and government decisions as well. I believe us as Americans can learn a lot from this country. The people understand past mistakes and work together to overcome them. In my experience, Americans tend to turn away from our past and work alone. These attitudes won’t work forever. Instead, let’s take a minute to appreciate the work and perseverance of South Africans, and ask ourselves what we can take from them.