rhodes

Last Saturday morning I took myself on a little hike up to Rhodes Memorial. Wanted a bit of quiet time by myself to take this hike, but unfortunately I soon found out that it was a very popular tourist destination so I was most certainly not alone on this excursion (do not fret my dear parents!).

To enter into this great escape you simply catch a Jammie to the main campus a then you see the latter below right on the side of the street. It crosses over a fence into this not-so-forbidden forest to enter into the part of campus that is almost like a nature reserve in itself. It's UCT's own Bridge to Terabithia.

It is then a short hike--no more than ten minutes--up to the memorial site. It's incredible too because as you continue up Table Mountain/Devil's Peak you can't even see Rhodes at all, then suddenly it appears out almost out of nowhere.

Alas, I stumbled upon this perfection. When I first arrived there were a slew of angsty tourists so that did not make for suitable photo opportunities. 

And this cheesin' is for the ma and pops!

Thus, I had to wait a good while and be attentive to sneak photos when no one walked by.

The view from base of the memorial.

And the view from the top.

And quite clearly, the most epic of all of the scenery is this statue of a horseman, a work called Energy. The scene does drama on its own.

Almost managed to not get anyone in this one :(

Lovely day roaming off campus. Next goal is to make it up here at sunrise! We shall see haha.

lessons - session 11

Fishhoek

1. The Y Formal last night, soooo much fun! Pictures to come soon. Finally got to sokkie (a type of Afrikaans dance similar to swing dancing) but I can't say that I did it well.

2. The guys at the Y have been gracious enough to let me be a part of the organizing committee for the next orphan outreach next week (though I didn't really ask to join, just was told to show up to a meeting). There is nothing more welcoming than putting someone to work (but really!),

3. The large insects who find their way into our flat have built an army and I think they are planning something. I used to live in harmony with the smaller ones but today a leaper showed up and I don't think I can handle that.

4. Braai it on (South African puns).

5. Feeling like this is the first weekend in the past 2 months that I haven't had anything strenuous academic things to work on. Feels good.

6. Realized that saying goodbye to this country will mean saying goodbye to the roomie. Choosing not to keep track of time.

7. Currently writing this post in Cocoa Wah Wah (this cafe is to me as Central Perk is to Friends). Just hanging around watching people do their own people-watching. Can't get any better than this.

heritage

Tuesday was a South African public holiday, Heritage Day. And as I learned from the most recent public holiday (Women's Day), these holidays are enough to have the day off! It was almost detrimental in a sense because the day didn't feel like a random break in the week as much as it felt like an actual weekend, so going back to school the next day was tragic.

Nevertheless, Heritage Day is a day to celebrate all types of Heritage. There certainly isn't just one type of South African, so this day does well to welcome in all sorts of culture. My program had a braai that afternoon and it was so great to get to see everyone. It's so strange because though we all live together I actually don't get to see them quite as much. Good to chill with my Interstudy family enjoying some braai necessities: chicken, sausage, and lamb! Good stuff right there.

Later on that night some of our dear friends (from the Y) invited us over for dinner! Theoretically we were going to eat some local dishes, but spaghetti found its way onto the menu. Who said we can't celebrate Italians instead eh? And not gonna lie, dinner was just perfect enough. 

This is the fantastic Xacvier, aka "X." Love this girl so much.

And here is the roomie with Mosa on the right. There is so much sass in that one.

Brought some desserts with me, some chocolate cake and some banana bread because no celebration is complete without forms of chocolate and bread of course.

Though dinner was fantastic, we decided to complain about not having any traditional meals so Mosa brought out a fried snack from her culture, Mopane Worms. Welp. Can't say I was brave enough to try this one.  

This was honestly such a good night filled with so much food, laughter, insults, making friends with their neighbors, and teaching each other how to dance sokkie. When I first met Mosa several weeks ago I told her I was from America and she turned around and walked away. She then turned back and said we couldn't be friends because I'd end up leaving and breaking her heart. Welp, these guys are doing the same to me. Can't even begin to say how grateful I am to have made so many great relationships out here.

lessons - session 10

1. This past week was so good and necessary. The relationships I've made here are more than I could ever ask for, I am growing so much and I am so content.

2. Let the record reflect that on Friday, September 13th (ooh, creepy?) I had my first milk tart (or "melktert" in Afrikaans, it is a SA dessert). We sat in a cold, dark room (power had gone out) and feasted like queens.

3. On the list of 'things to bring' for the Ignite overnight camp they listed torches. Later found that 'torches' are what they call flashlights.

4. The second you walk into a gathering someone goes to prepare tea, coffee, and another usually has biscuits to share. Our local friends asked us what Americans serve when we get together and it's saddening to think the first option is most frequently soda (though I don't even drink soda). I've had a tea addiction throughout college already, and I can honestly say I have had at least one cup of tea (usually 2-3 everyday) since the day I first arrived here.

5. Ironically enough, I am going to miss being called out and referred to as "America." It has a nice ring to it.

6. Here the letter "z" is pronounced as "zed." For instance, if someone were to describe an instance and say "We have to do x, y, z," they would literally say "We have to do x, y, zed. Confused me a bit in my stats class when we'd use z as a variable in optimization problems and I literally thought my lecturer was referring to a Latin or Greek term I had never heard of before.

7.  Prayers for all of you with all of the Colorado flooding, especially for all of you in Boulder! Stay safe friends.

stellies and great stories

During the end of spring vac Sonora and I ventured out into the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek, and Paarl with a tour group of several of Germans, a French man, and a Japanese mother and daughter. So much fun getting out of Cape Town and having a little adventure to end vacation!

 

Best part of this day was this chick below, love me some Sonora! She is too great for words.

While roaming around one of the main stores in Stellenbosch we also made friends with one of the coolest kids in town working at a local chocolate shop. She is a second year student studying at the Univ. of Stellenbosch and easily one of the most humorous and chill girls I've ever met. We didn't even get her name, but this girl is like a hidden gem in town. Told her manager she needed a raise after speaking to her for a good ten minutes. Until we meet again awesome stranger!

One of the most memorable stops was to what is currently known as the Drakenstein Correctional Facility, formerly known as the Victor Verster Prison, the very place where Mandela took his first few steps as a free man after being imprisoned for a total of twenty-seven years. 

In my media class just a couple weeks ago we watched footage of Madiba taking the walk down this very path with a large crowd overwhelming him on each side. Crazy imagining all the history that took place the very place you stand. 

Small towns, history (still in the making), and the beautiful countryside, can't get any better.

lessons - session 9

One of UCT's Jammie Thursdays a while back on the Jammie steps. Go tigers?

1. Right about the time this post is scheduled to be published I will be away at Ignite Student Missions Conference with the Student Y. I'm sure more about that will come in time!

2. Whenever I introduce my name to people I am told of its origins--at home I am told it originates from the Spanish but here it is either Afrikaans or Indian. And they've all got different ways of pronouncing it, several of my friends enjoy saying my name in the most dramatic ways possible.

3. Finally got to journey to Stellenbosch, Francshhoek, and see a bit of Paarl at the end of last weekend. So quaint!

4. South Africans use the word "hectic" with the same frequency that we say "crazy."

5. Getting excited for the rest of the month, there are some awesome events coming up this month!

6. As many of my local friends talk about plans for the next year it is so weird to think I won't be here to see their hopes become a reality. I've got two more months to experience life with some of the most genuine people I have ever met. Leaving will surely be bittersweet, but right now I am trying to step away from counting down the days.

7. Hope all of my DU family is off to a great start! First-years better be sure to reserve some space for some good old Sonia-loving when I return!

integration in education

The University of Cape Town is a beautiful institution, and easily has the most diverse population I've ever seen. I don't even know the statistics, and I'm sure I would wikipedia that, but you will see such a stunning richness in color that it cannot easily be described with words. Dark, medium, light brown; pale; albino (yes, even albino blacks). It has most everyone...except for a strong body of Latin Americans, who knew.

Yet, even with such a diversity race still has an impact on the student body. I have heard that the university  communicated a strong liberal view for freedom back in the day under the apartheid regine. The white South Africans wanted an integrated schooling system where color did not dictate whether or not a student received an education from their institution.

And, now, twenty years later they have made tremendous achievements. Inside the classroom integration works out just well;  and racial barriers do not seem to exist much. It's really an eye-opening experience sitting in a class of 200-400 students and hear each nuances in accent. That's when you know that this place, quite literally, brings together people from all over the world into an environment where students can really learn from one another's unique experiencesr. These voices greet one another and participate in class discussions without racial boundaries. 

I'm glad that I did wait to share this post as my first thoughts about the racial/social sphere were not as optimistic. Especially in my first week and a half of classes, I was a little bit disheartened at what I saw. Though within the classroom it seemed to work out fine, it seemed as though the second students left a lecture hall there was a natural bee-line to friends (naturally). But it seemed like, for the most part, each cluster of students always shared the same skin tone. And this was not just a black versus white thing; it was almost as though even the shades of light brown versus dark brown versus olive tones primarily congregated as one; it wasn't as much a clear racial division as much as a clear division in color. And this observation does seem justified as it relates to the very nature of apartheid--that coloureds were kept separate from blacks in the same manner as whites. So, historically speaking, this may be just one of the unfortunate results of a discriminatory system that is still so new in its healing process.

Fortunately, in these last several of weeks I have been able to finally see the social integration so many of these students already demonstrate inside the classroom. Though there remains a general distinction between social groups and color,. it is not far-fetched for different colors to be intermingled by any means. Social integration is not out of the ordinary, but one would think there would be a little bit more dispersion with such greatness in diversity. But honestly, can't say that the US is much different. Perhaps it is just more visible here because there is a fair representation of many races and colors.

On the other hand, I chatted with a second-year female student from Cameroon (though studying at UCT full time) about life and we stumbled upon race as many of my conversations always seem to lead. She told me of an article that was published in the UCT student newspaper, Varsity, that got a lot of controversy upon its publishing. It was an interest piece where a student wanted to evaluate the perception of race by surveying the dominant races of campus (white, black, coloured, biracial, Asiaties, and Indians) to find their dating preferences when it comes to race. The question was somewhere along the lines of 'which race would you prefer to date most if you could?' Whites won the vote and overall preferred to date within their own race. It was among "indian and blacks [that] were the only groups that found members of their own race unattractive. They, and East Asians were ranked lowest." My friend gave me a bit of the statistics of the survey, and blacks were the lowest preference at a mere 8% of 'desirability.' 

I'll point out that the survey methods of the author's  were not sound (surveyed 60 students within the six racial groups, five of each gender) so it certainly lacked academic merit. Again, it was merely an article in a student newspaper. Still, I was told this article made quite a stir...it was even discussed over their local news stations, with many general citizens upset about the piece. I wonder if they were more angry about publishing the question in itself, or the results that came out of it. 

Still, the girl who told me this story was very clearly hurt to think she belongs to a race less desirable by other races, and, even more, less desired by those of her own race. How do you let a girl know her worth is greater than a statistic? Mmm. These are the kinds of things that aren't as often discussed when it comes to color. 

I suppose it's a bit of a blessing being a black American in Africa because many of the people I meet are so willing to confide such controversial topics because there is a sense of trust. In the opposite side, however, I have many black SA speak to me in one of the native languages. I've learned to just go with it so that's always a bit fun. Then you have the not so pleasant experiences; a while back I was also introduced to a local contact through some American friends I had met. I noticed he was a bit puzzled at first when I went to meet him; he later explained that when he was told there was an American girl who would come and see him, he was not expecting me to be black... and there seemed to be a bit of disappointment. And then I think back during the first week when I had a few American students walk up to me and ask for directions, but that one is always just simply awkward and funny at the same time. And yesterday, even after spending an hour chatting with an American girl I asked her where she was from and she mentioned her state, then quickly explained that it was in America-- I am fairly certain I still have an American accent, but I guess I'll let you all be the judge of that when I return.

Either way, it's unique being here because my experience is very different from the perspective of many of my friends, but it is a good experience nonetheless.

lessons - session 8

1. One of the worst part of school is that test grades (and term grades) are posted for all to see, no anonymity with ID numbers or any of those graceful concepts like back home. Your name and score are up for public knowledge.

2. Got a not so fun eye infection the first few days of vac. Don't fall asleep in your contacts dear friends.

3. Remember how I thought I mastered the Xhosa click for the letter "X," well I guess I've been clicking the letter "Q" instead. I need some real lessons.

4. I have had a secret desire to bury my worn-out toms somewhere in the shores of South Africa, but when I had the chance I could not let them go. I think they're here to stay.

5. Had the privilege of seeing the Cape Town Youth Choir perform, they are one of the best youth choirs in the world.

6. So thankful for the bit of quiet this past week; I've gotten to have some great  one-on-one conversations with so many people who have become a huge part of this trip.

7. Today I got walk down the street where Mandela was first released from prison after 27 years. History can have a way of moving you.

camp's bay

Yesterday I was finally able to freely spend a day on South African sand at a beach called Camp's Bay. I have clearly gone on excursions to several shores before this, but this was my first time getting to soak it all in with no agenda to maintain. Got a group together with the roomie and Sonora, Ian, and our local friend Kirsten.

It was a bit of an adventure in itself to maneuver public transportation to the beach but we made it to Camp's Bay in due time. We aimed to first grab a quick bite with hopes of eating out on the shore. Not surprisingly enough we kept coming across all of the more expensive luxury dining facilities but found a reasonable establishment that let us order our meals to-go without having to wait all too long.

And I'll justify that face as a repond to the cold water.

                 

After a good amount of time enjoying the shore, we sought to sit for tea, coffee, and treats as early evening hit. The best part about it is that it was at a restaurant called the Grand Cafe, one of the most peculiar places I have ever been to. It was a restaurant that also doubled as a bed and breakfast of some sort, but we're sure it actually houses mafia bosses and pimp daddies. Sketchy finds for the win.

After our day in Camp's Bay Sonora, Ian, and I finished off the night hanging out at Janelle's (remember her, my Canadian friend from a recent blog post) to watch Invictus, the movie depicting the story of Mandela's tactics to bring the South African people together post-apartheid. Janelle lent me Mandela's autobiography in Long Walk to Freedom, I'll make this one a goal.

This day was altogether perfect. So many laughs with so many great people, I am more than content.

lily bloom

Lily bloom--or in Afrikaans, Lillie bloem--is the name of the child home center that the Student Y partners with every semester for an outreach I've seen them refer to as "Orfun." The center is a home for children, some of them are orphans while others have been placed there as their parents may not have the time nor resource to support their kids.

On an absolutely beautiful Saturday morning a couple weekends ago we got to take the kids to a museum that mixed natural history with a planetarium. Each of us some twenty volunteers were placed with a child between the ages of eight and twelve. When we arrived at Lillie bloem to pick the kiddos we were partnered up. Well, "partnered," not because we were assigned a particular child, instead the kids each picked us! They would sort of walk through the gate and grab your hand (or jump on you in some cases) and you knew you'd met your match. The girl I partnered up with was twelve years old and was quite the feisty character. There was a boy her age that she teased throughout the day calling him "little eyes!" because his eyes would squint when he'd laugh. She'd then go on to give him a nice punch whenever he was close enough. Sounds like someone has a crush, atta girl. 

The ride to the museum was memorable, we can sat with each of our kiddos and they had us sing some of their favorite songs including Rihanna's "Diamond" and Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man," and, of course, a little bit of the Biebs. These little ladies knew just about every word, showing me up every time.

Friends in the comvee before arriving at Lillie bloem.

We began our day sitting outside of the museum with some activities planned: a skit of the Good Samaritan (played by yours truly haha), a quick snack of biscuits, and whipped out some old school praise songs like Father Abraham. If any of the kids were timid at the start of the day, they certainly had been broken in at this point. We then were able to enter into the museum and spend the day with our respective child. We strolled around the museum (making great effort to keep up with my little one) for about an hour then headed to a different section for a show in the planetarium. I probably enjoyed the museum a bit more than I should have, but I think all of us college-aged folk seemed to agree that there not eight planets. It was almost painful to listen to the emcee try to explain dwarf planets--and I digress. Once we finished the show we headed to a park outside where we sat atop some steps and had lunch together.

It was such a joy knowing that though our day was so simple it was one that meant the world to them. Again, it is a bit difficult realizing the lack of permanence in these kids' lives. I saw this most clearly when we first jumped into the van after meeting the children, and watched as my roommate's partner (who was much younger and smaller than many others) hop onto her lap and tell her that Nichelle would be her mom for the day...

I don't have many answers, but after seeing the smiles on these faces at the end of the day, I've decided that these things should not justify a decision to sit back and let these opportunities pass.

lessons - session 7

The view from my bus stop every morning

1. Today marks two months here in the Mother City, I am blessed.

2. I has been raining on and off since Wednesday. I will be so sad if spring delays itself this month!

3. If you order a 'burger,' the default is a 'burger' made of chicken. In order to get a burger made of beef, you actually have to ask for beef.

4. Once again, I am beginning to regret that almost all of the music I own is 'sleepy time' songs. Doesn't do me any good when trying to write papers.

5. One of the boys that I tutor tried to teach me how to say certain commands in Xhosa so that I could get a hold of students when they are rambunctious. Yet, he also taught me how to say "I am giving birth right now." Love these kids more every week.

6. I have been trying to actively be thankful for my health everyday; in Colorado my allergies/asthma easily takes a toll overall so I was a bit wary about the possibility of getting seriously ill so far from home. Yet, I haven't needed to take allergy medication, inhaler, nebulizer, etc. I sneezed the other day and it was probably the first time in weeks, so this is a big deal hha. So really, I am so thankful!

7. A good amount of my Interstudy friends are headed out to Botswana this week for vac (Spring Break). Hope you guys enjoy your adventure!