Discovering Jozi: The Journey Begins!

“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.” ~Pauline R. Kezer

Discovering Jozi: The Journey Begins!

Much has been written about how moving can be one of life’s most stressful transitions. Although my husband Gary has spent a 30+ year career at IBM—which many have joked stands for “I’ve Been Moved”—we in fact have bucked the odds and have been moved only once in his tenure. So it seemed only appropriate that when Gary was finally asked to move for his job, that we did it in a big and rather dramatic way—all the way from the quiet, green leafy suburbs of Westchester County, to the concrete frenzy of Tokyo, Japan!

Now I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit to having my share of angst when Gary first came home one December evening in 1997 and told me about the new position being offered to him in Tokyo. Wanting to remain open-minded and supportive of his career, I responded (with a few tears in my eyes!), “Gee, couldn’t you just go to work in London or Paris? Japan is so far and I will never be able to communicate or get around!” The kids, then 8 and 11 years old, initially reacted with concerns more reflective of their own age and stage in life. Jamie cried that she would miss the opportunity to have the beloved Mrs. Kumar as her fourth grade teacher, and wondered how she would possibly learn to ride a bike without weekends cruising through the IBM parking lot. Josh worried about getting access to ESPN on TV and tracking the progress of the Knicks, Giants and Yankees. But for the most part, both were eager to go!

And so, we all followed their lead, took a leap of faith, believing that this experience would be incredibly cool (at a minimum!), and dove in with abandon, making the most out of our two years there. Through that experience we all learned an invaluable lesson about change; it can be stressful and sometimes even scary; but if you embrace it with enthusiasm and openness it can be an incredibly positive force in your life. The following quote perfectly captures this sentiment: “Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.”

Now, some 12 years after returning from that adventure in Japan, (and yes, Jamie did learn to ride a bike, and Josh continues to be a rabid sports junkie!) Gary and I are once again leaving our roots and embracing change. This time we are stretching even further, from our home in Goldens Bridge, New York—all the way to the suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. Again, IBM has provided us with an incredible opportunity, creating a new and challenging role for Gary as Chairman of Africa. And with my own passion for Africa, this time the news of our move was greeted without tears or angst, but instead with a genuine excitement over the chance to live in a country that I love and where I have focused my own work efforts for the last 6 years around The Gift of Hope. How lucky could we be?! After 32 years of marriage—when many couples find themselves diverging in their interests and often traveling down very different paths—Gary and I find our interests, work and passions converging around this amazing continent and, in particular, the people of South Africa. Once again, change, despite its inherent challenges, has proven to be a blessing for us, and we hope will be a source of great personal growth in the years ahead.

So here we are in Johannesburg, which locals affectionately refer to as Joburg or Jozi. Jozi is a city with a real cosmopolitan vibe, where the sun shines almost daily, and everyone we meet greets us with a friendly smile and a warm welcome. The northern suburbs are green and leafy, filled with large, beautiful homes, wonderful shops, and delicious restaurants. Saturday mornings begin at the local organic market, a blend of garden fresh produce, artisanal breads and cheeses, and all kinds of delicious prepared foods. Add an array of hand-made crafts and some live music, and it’s a formula for great fun!

But this is only a fraction of the portrait of a city that continues to be plagued by serious socioeconomic problems. Although Joburg is the financial engine of South Africa and perhaps even the continent, it is characterized by enormous disparities between rich and poor, black and white, those living in the northern suburbs and those in the heart of the city. There is high crime and poverty, ongoing inequality of opportunity, high rates of HIV/AIDS, and many other issues which are the legacy of years of an oppressive apartheid regime. While much progress has been made, much remains to be done. I hope to provide some insights into these challenges, as well as the positive change that is happening.

I hope you will join me on this adventure, which is my 2012 Journey of Hope. For me that hope exists on many levels. It is partially self-serving, as Gary and I search for adventure, personal growth and fulfillment, and connection to the people and cultures of Africa. But far more importantly, our hope is for the African people and their progress—for a strengthened health care system, a growing, vibrant and more inclusive economy, improved education and race relations, and so much more. This kind of change does not happen overnight, but hopefully we will have the opportunity to witness positive change and share it with you.

While I hope to actively engage with the Joburg community, my personal passion will frequently take me to Durban—a one-hour plane ride from Joburg—where I will expand my efforts around the Gift of Hope and other McCord Hospital projects. I look forward to sharing stories about the special children and women being supported through this program and to conveying to all of the many generous donors the hope you are bringing to the lives of those infected and affected with HIV. These stories should affirm the tremendous value of your support and inspire more people to become a part of this effort and join me in this Journey of Hope.