15 horas de viaje, repartidas entre vuelos y embarques, sirvieron para empezar a digerir una experiencia que nos marcará, seguro, de por vida.
En nuestro corazón están los niños de Woodstock. Con ellos hemos compartido juegos y capturas de saltamontes, mientras aprendíamos que la verdadera felicidad no está en cacharros de última generación que nos atontan y nos aíslan.
Tenemos un sitio también para Amos, Skeezo y la maravillosa gente de Velokhaya - Khayelitsha. Ojalá, dentro de muy poco, podamos disfrutar de uno de vosotros disputando una etapa en la Vuelta a España, o representando a Sudáfrica en las próximas Olimpiadas. Aunque para nosotros, ya sois los vencedores.
A Mark y a Liall, por su estupendo trabajo y sus estupendas ideas.
A las historias de Ahmed y Daniel.
Tampoco olvidaremos la sensación de ver atardecer desde lo alto de la Table Mountain, la cerveza que nos tomamos a nuestra llegada en Signal Hill, ver surfear a Luis en Muizemberg, nadar con pingüinos, comernos una hamburguesa Sweet Petunia en el Royal. Bailar dub step en The Assembly. Los animados balcones de Long Street cada noche. Viajar en camionetas al grito de "KeipTiaun, KeipTiaun!". Disfrutar de nuevas constelaciones. El agua de los sumideros girando al revés. Las siluetas de las grúas del puerto… los cantos de los niños a la salida del colegio.
Nos quedamos con lugares, con personas y con un sentimiento de plenitud enorme, porque tenemos la sensación de que sirve para algo nuestro trabajo.
Deseamos volver, tan pronto como podamos, para compartir de nuevo momentos con vosotros.
Gracias infinitas a Luis Sanchez Alba a.k.a. Rasta, por enriquecer nuestro viaje. Por haber aportado como el que más. Por tus Black Labels. Y porque una aventura como ésta "No te la firmamos, ¡Te la dedicamos!"
Y por último, gracias a Ricky Lee Gordon. Nuestro anfitrión. El boss. Gracias Ricky por abrirnos tu casa como si fuera la nuestra y darnos la oportunidad de formar parte de algo tan bonito como Write On Africa y A Word Of Art, haciéndonos comprender que pequeños actos pueden generar grandes cambios.
Todos, absolutamente Todos, compartimos el mismo Sol y las mismas raíces.
Nos volveremos a ver.
WITH TEARS IN OUR EYES
With tears in our eyes and a deep feeling of emptiness, we packed our bags, got on Ricky's backie for the last time, and headed to Spain.
Fifteen hour trip, divided between flights and boarding rooms, helped us start to digest an experience that will surely mark us for life.
The children of Woodstock are in our heart. With them we shared games, caught grasshoppers and learned that true happiness doesn't depend on last generation gadgets that hypnotize and isolate us.
We also have a place in our heart for Amos, Skeezo and the wonderful people from Velokhaya -Khayelitsha. Hopefully, very soon, we will enjoy watching one of you racing on the Vuelta a España, or representing South Africa in the next Olympic Games. Although in our eyes you are already the winners.
We won't be able to forget...
Juma and Willard's smile and the availability (we will always have an appointment with you guys, when and wherever you want). Anthia's joy. Nights out with Danna and the girls. Mr.Fuzzy's flow, Linsey Levendall's style. Dinner with Ree & company at her wonderful private insane asylum. The beautiful couple Xanele and Jeremy. All artists with whom we've shared the I ART SA.
Mark and Liall, for their great work and ideas.
Ahmed and Daniel's stories.
Nor will we forget what we felt while watching the sunset from the top of Table Mountain, or the refreshing beer we had at Signal Hill when we arrived in Cape Town. Seeing Luis surf in Muizemberg Beach, swimming with penguins in Boulders Beach, eating a Sweet Petunia burger at the Royal. Dancing Dub Step at The Assembly or watching the balconies full of life every night at Long Street. Traveling in vans to the cry of "CapeTown, Cape Town!". Enjoying new constellations. The water turning backwards as it disappeared down the toilet. Staring at the silhouettes of the cranes from the port... listening to the children's songs after school.
We keep in our memory many places, people and a incredible feeling of fulfillment, because we feel that what we do makes sense.
We want to come back, as soon as we can, to spend time with you again.
Infinite thanks to Luis Sanchez Alba a.k.a. Rasta, for enriching our journey. For contributing more than anyone. For your Black Labels. And because with an adventure like this, we don't sign it for you, we dedicate it to you.
And finally, thanks to Ricky Lee Gordon. Our host. The boss. Ricky, thank you for opening your home as if it were our own, and for giving us the opportunity to be part of something as big as Write on Africa and /A Word Of Art, and for teaching us that small things can create big changes.
All of us, everyone shares the same sun and the same roots.
We will see you again.