Ms. Joya Barnett
Craven County

“Are We There Yet? (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Finally here, by all initial appearances, this looks like a typical urban scene with the normal hustle and bustle of city life. Then it began to snow at just 13 degrees Celsius. Our tour guide is a lady named “Snowy Day.” Sharing the same birthday as Michael Jackson but 3 years younger, she was born on one of the 4 snow days Jo’burg (as the locals call it) has seen in almost 60 years. Born in the time of apartheid, Snowy will be our guide for the next 3 days and is already quite the character and comedian. Just on the 30-minute drive from the airport, she filled us with many pages of rich history and cultural norms of the area. I can’t possibly share them all in this short blog, but just to name a few:

• Don’t ask for ketchup; ask for tomato sauce
• Don’t ask for a napkin or you’ll receive an odd look and a baby diaper
• Traffic lights are called robots
• South Africa has 12 languages, including sign language
• The airport was named after O. R. Tambo. He was a political leader and activist who went into exile when Nelson Mandela, a lifelong friend, fellow activist, and law firm partner, was imprisoned. Tambo died just before his efforts at bringing an end to apartheid separateness came to fruition. 

In one of our training sessions for the Global Teachers – Southern Africa program, a professor who’d spent some time here said that eastern and southern Africa have some of the best Chinese food. So when in Rome, eat Chinese. A group of thirteen of us finished our day with dinner at a restaurant named “Tang”. Our waiter was amazing! His sense of humor and hospitality were second to none! Knowing we were out of our comfort and culture zones, he answered SO many questions and gave menu suggestions. He even ended our time with a special occasion dessert complete with the following: a chocolate lava cake with a caramel center, vanilla gelato, a fruit assortment that included fresh passionfruit, and let’s not forget the smoky ambience created by dry ice and yes, fireworks. Go ahead, read that last part again. It totally had fireworks!!!

Finally in South Africa, by way of Germany and 2 days of travel. Totally worth it! To be on the actual soil of places I’ve only heard or read about. To be around people who are different in their thinking and speaking, and still laugh and shed tears, all on the first official day… I cannot wait to share what I have seen and heard today with my students and tie in musical concepts with history and culture from another place. Thank you to the Simple Gifts Fund Award, which made this possible for me. Along with almost 400 kindergarten through fifth grade students in a small town, I say “thank you” for opening up the world and its experiences to students who may have no idea just how big the world is outside of their neighborhood. Thank you for making it possible for me, as their teacher, to be the one that inspires them to become globally invested individuals by sharing with them this personal, real-life experience.”

Mr. Daniel Rishworth
Sampson County

“After a false start due to weather, we finally got underway from Raleigh for Global NC’s Global Teachers—Southern Africa 2026 program! For many of us, it would be our first time on the African continent, and we are all excited to learn and grow as teachers, as well as broaden our knowledge of different cultures. Luckily, there were no issues getting across the planet, and after almost sixteen hours, we touched down in Johannesburg uneventfully. On the way to our accommodation for the next few days, our tour guide Daryl gave us a brief history of Johannesburg. Johannesburg is home to one of the largest financial centers in Africa and has a history of resource extraction. It is a city where hundreds of cultures and languages coexist and a place where those seeking better economic opportunities come to improve the lives of themselves and their families. Darryl has seen it firsthand, as he is a longtime resident of Johannesburg. He understands the reputation that the city can have but also the beauty in the communities and the cultures here. I cannot wait to learn more about the city and its past, present, and future from him and use this knowledge to help my own community. 

The parallels between Johannesburg and North Carolina are clear. We have similar goals and similar challenges. We are both beautiful melting pots of cultures. More specifically for teachers, we all share one thing in common. We are looking to give our students the education they need to be successful. Both our group and I have so much to learn from our colleagues and their schools in Southern Africa and so much to bring home to our classrooms and students. I cannot wait to see how the classrooms and teachers in Johannesburg educate their students and be resources for their communities.  

While we got to the hotel late and did not see much of the city on the way there, I am excited and truly grateful for the experience ahead and to learn from our fellow teachers in South Africa. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how education varies across different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and countries. The things that we learn here will help our students in North Carolina grow and excel even more and have a better understanding of the world around them. To do our best, however, we need to refuel and recharge! I had a quick meal with some of my fellow program participants, and after I am done writing this, I will go to bed. I have not seen a pillow and blanket in over twenty-four hours after all! 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sampson County Teacher of the Year Award and fellow Global Teacher Dr. Jamie King for this opportunity. I would also like to thank my colleagues at Union High School for honoring me with Teacher of the Year.”

Ms. August Howerton
Kannapolis City Schools

“Our first full day in Johannesburg, South Africa, and all I can say is WOW!! 

What an incredible start to this journey. We spent the day exploring Nelson Mandela Square, visiting shops, taking in the sights, and meeting some truly amazing people. One thing that immediately stood out to me was the warmth and kindness of everyone that we encountered. Whether it was the hotel staff, workers within the mall, or friendly faces willing to talk around the hotel lobby, the connections that were formed were once in a lifetime. The people here are constantly smiling, eager to share their stories, and happy to recommend some of their favorite local foods to taste. The atmosphere is positive, welcoming, and genuinely heartwarming. Around every corner, you’ll find a friendly face and a sense of community that is hard to put into words.

As educators, we often talk about the importance of relationships and connection, and today was a powerful reminder that those values transcend borders and cultures. Learning about a place through its people has been a gift.

We wrapped up the evening at a wonderful local steakhouse, and let me tell you, the food here is incredible! Every dish was packed with flavor, making for the perfect ending to an unforgettable first day.

I am beyond excited to continue this program across Southern Africa with Global NC. I look forward to experiencing more of the country’s rich cultures, visiting schools, taking on new adventures, and learning from educators and communities and the people of South Africa along the way.

A special thank you to the Hayes Charitable Trust Award for making this opportunity possible. I am grateful for the chance to learn, grow, and bring back a wealth of knowledge and experiences to share with my students, colleagues, and community. Our program is just getting started, and if today is any indication, it’s going to be an unforgettable one!”