This was one of my favorite days of the entire program!
For those who don't know, Durban is home to the largest population of Indian people outside of India itself. In the 17th century, the British sent Indians from India (where the British had colonized) to Durban where they were farming sugar cane. Ever since, there has been a huge Indian influence in Durban.
Our day started with a lecture by Ela Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter. What many people don't know is that Gandhi spent over 20 years in South Africa. Talking to her was amazing; she even told us childhood stories about time spent with her grandfather.
For lunch we headed to Patel's, the original bunny chow location. Bunny chow is the bread-bowl filled with curry, pictured above. It originated because during apartheid people of different races weren't allowed into restaurants owned by people of a different race, and so a bread bowl curry was a convenient way to pass food through the window of the shop and avoid the regulation.
After lunch we went to an Indian market and bought spices and skirts and bracelets and anything and everything we could get our hands on!
After lunch we went to Phoenix, the settlement where Gandhi used to live, and we got a tour of his house and the land.
Overall, it was a gorgeous day, and we learned a TON!