SA: Case Closed

25 december

Its been about three weeks now since I've been back. And I've been telling myself that I need to finish posting things to my SA blog and make a last post. I haven't necessarily been procrasinating...just holding off. Not wanting to officially close the chapter. I mean obvisouly I've been home long enough to see that its over..but ending the blog is kind of like really closing the case. I wanted to write a last blog to sum up the things that I learned during my experience. Although I didn't write about every detail of my experience, I can say that every positive, negative, frustrating or enjoyable event made my time overseas defintely worthwhile.There was a lot I wanted to blog about race relations in SA, BEE, the educational system, the music, and so much more. One thing I do want to point out. I like the outdoors more than I thought. For those who know me, I've never considered myself an "outdoors person." But the beach, the mountains...it was all so beautiful there. I really miss looking out my window at the beach.

But as I was writing this last post some things that came to my head mostly of what I was able to get out of my experience, and also year since the end is coming soon to 2011. So just wanted to wrap it up with some things that I noticed, considered, and learned. This experience will forever be a very crucial time in my life, where I was able to grow and learn. I hope you enjoyed everything that was posted. I appreciate all those who followed me along on this journey. I am grateful. 

1. To have an opporunity to trave, outside my comfort zone defintely showed me that I have a comfort zone when it comes to interaction with people  that I stick to
2. I'm always thinking of things I want to ask...but I don't always ask those questions
3. I can't change things that have happened in my past relationships. I have to accept them as things that HAD happened and needed to happen in order for me to learn something
4. Everything happens for a reason—I use to say this so much that I don't think I knew why I said it. I had come to a point where I didn't believe in this saying anymore. It was defintely a testing time. And I realized though, that although I cannot always see it in front of me things do happen for a reason. And when I learn a lesson, I need to nuture that lesson and try not to forget, or I may end up in a circular motion, experiencing the same challenges over and over
5. Love cannot be purely an emotin/feeling. Needs some mind to it and defintely a strong heart
6. Sometimes when I listen to my heart, I end up hurt. I still dont know if I prefer the hurt or if thinking 'what if' is easier. It's defintely less painful I think
7. Everyones has a story, and we can never fully understand it all. And I don't think we have to in order appreciate it as their own
8. There is a difference between tolerance and acceptance
9. I love differences in people (cultures, languages, skin, hair, food). I don't think downplaying differences in others is the way to go. Yes I agree we are all one race, but I we can accept that without diminishing the importance of differences between us either
10. I need to forgive myself more
11. When you love someone at their worst...that really means something
12. Fake, cruel, selfish people are everywhere, that doesn't mean I should let them make me into a fake, cruel or selfish person
13. Sometimes people just smell bad. Hygiene is very important
14. Almost everything is easier said than done...especially from an outside perspective or from a distance
15. When you hold in years and years of feelings/emotions...it comes out at some point, and it comes out randomly and with strength
16. A walk on the beach really does calm things down
17. Flattery is just hot air
18. Trusting people is hard for me because i'm scared of history repeating itsself from past family experiences...I'm working on it
19. Being older and watching childrens movies is not the same...wish I could watch them through a child's eyes again
20. I really really like ethiopian food
21. Being black is hard everywhere you go...even in Africa (didn't expect this)
22. It's easy to look and someone elses life and say 'why did they do that? Why did they stay? I would never do that. I would have letf'...when its personal, you start making excuses for yourself
23. Still trying to figure out if I prefer attachment or detachment--either way is an extreme
24. I'm definitely a dancer at heart. Rhythmn is in me :]
25. “Heartache is a sign that the heart is working”..i agree
26. Cadbury chocolate is a piece of heaven..Sorry Hershey's you've been beat
27. When bad things happen to us...time doesn't stop or rewind as much as we wish it could
28. From observaton...social network sites seem to be destroying people's lives...I'm drastically minimizing my interactions this coming year
29. Everything isn't black or white; bad or good. Especially people, we are all things considered good or bad at a certain time
    
    
    Thanks again for all who are still reading! :]

28 November

Wrote my last exam today. It's been a crazy couple days. With people leaving and wanting to see everyone but still needing to study its been hard to focus. But I made it through and I'm finally done with finals. Going home in 3 days. Seems unreal. To go back. It's not that I don't miss home, or miss my family like crazy. It's just that I feel like I'm leaving parts of myself here. Like I was able to be more me here. Where the burden of others expectations aren't always hanging over my head. But everything must come to and end. And I will be forever greateful for the opporunity to experience everything I did. 

Exams

19 november

Today I wrote my frist exam (yes on a Saturday). I had to wake up extra early becase I needed to catch a taxi and sometimes those things are so unreliable so I wanted to make sure I was on time. I could barely sleep because I was scared I would be late. But I ended up getting a taxi just in time. When I got on campus I had to walk an extra 10-25 just to get to the place I was suppose to take the test, which was the Sports Venue.

Luckily a girl from one of my classes walked me to campus yesterday to show me because I wasn't paying attention on the campus tour.

So you go there and its basically a gym, but with rooms. It's hard to explain. So there's a piece of paper telling you which room you will write in. All the desks are set up in straight rows and they check your id before you walk in. So I got a seat and hten the guy explains how much time we have and all the basics. They had out a scantron sheet, which we fill out. Then he hands out the exam and there's a sheet at the back that we have to sign to say that we are the person taking the test and all that. Then in the middle of the exam they walk around and collect it, and check ids. And you have to stay in the exam at leat 1 hour. You aren't allowed to leave before the one hour mark.

Someone told me that they once had someone take an exam for them. I don't know how they did it with the whole checking id thing. But I guess there's always a way to beat the system.

The exam was 3 long essay questions and 20 multiple choice questions. It wasn't htat bad, but the worst part is actually writing the exam. It takes so long. And my fingers always get cramped. And I feel like my pinky will fall off (yes literally).

But I got through it and it wasn't that bad. I know I did well. So one down and two more to go. The other two are my harder classes, International Marketing and Organizational Behavior.

South Africa 2011 Census: Stand up and be counted!

The census count had started in early October. The first time an enumerator came to the door it was a Saturday morning (like 9ish). Since she woke me out of my sleep and then continued to ask way to many questions for what I could handle at that time I told her I wasn't going to fill out the sheet, that she should come back. But I knew I wasn't going to be there that day. Anyway then I thought about it later and I knew I should I have taken the census because I mean when would I be able to say I participated in a South African census again? But I thought that they wouldn't come back.

Someone did end up coming back last week sometime. And since I was cooking at the time, she sat with me in the kitchen and asked me questions that were on the census. Glad I got to participate in the SA Census.

Here is the SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE you can check out.
and a article I found explaining a bit about the SA census...read more

Cape Town (Spring Break)

The week of Spring Break I headed to Cape Town with 4 other people. It was quite an experience. The distance between PE and Cape Town is about 465 miles (approx 9 hours). On the way there, we made a few stops and spent the night when we thought we needed. Below are the basic places we hit. Since we were driving we were able to veer from our original schedule a bit. In Cape Town we were able to do everything we wanted except for visiting Robben Island (the prison which Nelson Mandela served his longest sentence in). They had technical difficulties for two days and we couldn't wait another day to go, since we had to head back. Overall though the trip to great and very memorable. I think I took over 1,000 pictures. Enjoy some of them below!

*Jeffrey's Bay

*Knsya (Waterfront)

*Wilderness

*Outdtshoorn (Ostrish Farm); Cango Caves

*Hermanus (Whale Watching)

*Pengunis

*Cape town (Simons Bay, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Long Street)

*Stellenbosch (Wine Tasting)

Kynsa

Snakes are scary looking

Their legs are white because they poop on themselves to keep their legs cool

They were hungry!

Beautiful things...well from a distance anyways

Heading straight into cape town

wine tasting

Fresh pasta made right in front of us

kid moment

dealing with monkeys on campus

This is definetly a TIA (This is Africa) moment. We got an e-mail on this. It was my amusement for the day.

Though it does make complete sense considering the campus is on a nature reserve.

Accent

I don’t think a day goes by that someone asks me where I’m from because of my American accent. I was talking to a girl I know from Nambia and one of the girls with her told me that she had seen me on the mini-bus before. She told me that they had been laughing on the bus at my ‘accent’ because they thought that I was a South African trying to have a Black-American accent. She said specificully a South African from Jo-berg. I had to laugh because it’s just crazy all the pre-judgements we all make and don’t even know someone. I didn’t take what she told me personally, it just reminded me of how many times I’ve also probably done the same thing. As for the acent thing? I guess I have to accept that I'm in another country and that realistically I do have an accent to them. Oh well c’est la vie :]

Also, I just realized how hard it actually is to keep a blog up. Especially since there is so much I always want to say, but I seem to have to condense it. Anyways I went to Cape Town for 9 days for the Spring Break. I will blog on it and post some pictures later in the week. 

It's Relative

I think I’ve come to see that pain and suffering is relative. Your own problems always seem to be magnified when you look at them through your own eyes only. Not saying that all personal problems need to be looked at from a holistic view, but sometimes when you look at them that way, your own problems seem to be smaller. I’ve had plenty of discussions with different people while I’ve been here. Hearing their stories and how they grew up, their goals and visions, and their challenges. I just listen. I’ve become a better listener I think. Because to speak about my challenges back in the US don’t even seem like challenges compared to what some people have gone through or are going through. And it’s not like I can provide any type of solution. Sometimes hearing and trying to understand the stories is all that can be done. A response is sometimes not what people need or want to hear. Sometimes people just want to talk and express themselves, have someone hear their story without any added commentary.  I know I’ve been around people who always have a response to something, even when one isn’t asked. And I know I’ve done it myself before...providing advice when the other person wasn’t really looking for one. I’m conscious of that now. At the same time I don't want to be one of those people that ays "I went abroad, saw all the struggling children and now I feel better about my life back in America." There's nothing wrong with that but personally I'm not looking at people's lives here as a way for me to feel better about my life back in the states. I'm grateful for what I have back in the states and I shouldn't have to elevate my life compared to people here to realize that. So to my family, friends, and those who make a difference in my life if you don't know it already, i love you all.

What being abroad has shown me so far:

1. The human race is very similar. Even all the way across the world, I still see the same  basic types behavior, emotions...
2. Non verbal expression is stronger than any words spoken. How we appear can be very offensive to other people, especially in social settings. 
3. When in rome act as the romans do
1. but don’t lose yourself in the process
4. Learn from the locals
5. Don’t be defensive about little things...its another country with a different culture
6. Money comes an goes--but mostly goes
7. People let you down
8. There are moments where it seems like no one understands--then there are times where you barely have to explain yourself
9. Love can come easy
10. A smile is the same everywhere
11. Don’t impose on others culture, learn instead and accept it, cause seriously its theirs and not yours and you don’t need to try and change it
12. A walk on the beach brings peace to the body
13. There isn’t a simple solution to everyones problems
1. i can’t always help someone out

Enkutatash--Ethiopian New Year

12 September

“The Julian calendar is still used in Ethiopia, hence, New Year is celebrated on 11th September, the 12th for Leap Years. The festival coincides with the end of the rainy season in spring. Gifts of flowers are usually exchanged, as well as cards and gifts.”

I celebrated the Ethiopian New Year with some people that I had met about a month ago. The Ethiopian food was a mixture of meat, vegetables, and a injera which described as "sourdough pancake-like bread." And the food was spicy which I loved the most. One time I ate with them we ate from one big platter with our hands, but this time we each got our own plate. Besides eating for yourself, you get fed and have to feed everyone in the circle. It was quite an experience. But I enjoyed it, it was something very new to me. Afterwards one of the girls made Ethiopian coffee, but I only took a sip because its said to be really strong, and plus I'm not a fan of coffee at all. We also listened to Ethiopian music, got to see some traditional dancing and of course listened to them speak Amharic, their mother tongue. So I get to celebrate two New Year's this year...no complaints to that!

E. Coli Breakout

So thankfully I don't drink out the tap anyway, I just found out that there has been confirmed E. Coli found in a Port Elizabeth Hospital.

Read about it here.

I've noticed that I got on the internet less and less each day. One reason being I have to pay by the Gigabyte so I don't like wasting it and two, I'm getting use to not being so readily available on social network sites and phones.

But I wanted to dedicate this post to my my dad since it was his birthday yesterday (11 september). I got to talk to him, but only for like 2 minutes on the phone. For some reason he when he calls with the calling card, it's hard for him to hear me. So bonne anniversaire to him!

Also, in remembrance of  the 10th year since 9/11. It's one of those things that I along with many others can never forget. Remembering exactly where I was that day and what I was doing.

Blattodea (Cockroach)

If there's one thing I hate, its bugs. All types. Anything that creeps and crawls. And what will I be dealing with the most while I'm here?...

Cockroaches.

Just saying the name gives me chills. I've never seen so many cockroaches in my life. We saw one in our kitchen one day and I killed it quickly but after that we got bug spray the next day. And just today one was in my room. I wanted to scream, but didn't want to scare the roommates, so I went into kill mode. I thought to myself 'its about to go dooown'(Kevin Hart voice). I grabbed both insect killers I had bought (multi-insect and crawling insect) and literally drowned the cockroach in it. Then I was too scared to pick it up even though it was dead. I tried pulling it out with the broom and didn't succeed. Ended up actually pushing it back into the crevice where it came from. So I hope it's really dead or I'm screwed. Because if it has a family thats looking for him/her, they could be angry.

So of course after that I had to read up on cockroaches in SA and how to prevent/get rid of them. So I guess it's not easy to get rid of them since they crawl into tight spaces and they are nocturnal. Great. So they only come out at night and they know how to maneuver in tight places. I don't think I will be able to get use to this.

I will be DEEP cleaning my room tomorrow and buying more bug spray. And I will also be talking to off campus accomdation to see about getting the apartment sprayed. If they won't do it, I'll find a local company. I don't feel like living with those creepy crawlers while I am here.

21 Years Young

I was really bummed about not being home for my birthday at first, but it all turned out nice. I went to get my hair done in the morning, which was only R250 (approx $39). My roommates surprised me with a restaurant voucher and a whole thing of cheesecake, which I have come to love while I’ve been here. Also got a home cooked pasta meal which was great. We then had a mini party before going out with a group of international students. So no worries, I brought in 21right, South Africa style. There was another guy from Germany whose birthday was on Saturday so we all celebrated together. 

Happy Birthday Sisi!

It's my little sisters 2nd birthday today. I can't lie I've been homesick today, wishing I could be at home. I can't believe she's 2 already, I'm still remembering her at about 1, before the talking back started. She's a feisty one. So I dedicate this post to her so we can look back on it one day together.

Cleaner's Strike

We had talked about the cleaner's strike one day in my organizational management class, but it didn't really hit me until we got a e-mail from one of the senior managers at the school.

It reads:
"Update National Strike:

 

Unfortunately the National Cleaning Industry Strike is in full force, with no immediate signs of a resolution.

 

The majority of the full time contract staff have not been at work over the past week.

 

Where possible, casual labour has been supplied by the Contract Service Providers – however these casuals are often intimidated and do not return to work, making it almost impossible to skill and equip these staff.

 

I realize that the situation is very frustrating to all users, staff and students. My team is just as frustrated and as a support department we are trying to ensure that a basic service is being provided, but as the provision of Cleaning Services across all campuses is totally outsourced our hands are tied.

 

If there are essential areas that are receiving no service at all (this does not include your tea cups not being washed) please feel free to email me the details, but please be reasonable and bare the above in mind."

So this strike has been going on for quite awhile now, but it is getting more serious. So the average cleaner gets about R2400 (approx $375) a month. They are asking for an increase to R4200 (approx $656) a month. It is hard to live off of the what they get paid now, and the article I was reading was saying how many take out loans to pay for basic things because they cannot afford it. We were talking in class about how it seems to make perfect sense to increase the wage for the employers. We talked about it from different angles though, and mostly about how they can increase the wage for the employers but many people will get laid off. But also how at the same time, no one can live off of what they get paid now. I have attached a link below for further infomation. 

So this is not only affecting the university but many other places, since cleanliness is desired almost everywhere.

Contract Workers: We've had Enough

Offline?

I have been trying to get a library card to the public library here in PE, but its a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. First when I went they told me that I needed to  bring my passport and my proof and residence. Now normally I just don't walk around with those two things. So I went back today and had everything they needed, ready to check out some books...BUT they were "offline." I asked her what that meant because the bank told me that same thing once but I never understood it. Basically it means their internet is down, something with the server. So I was thinking okay I'll come back in a few hours, or maybe the next day....NO, she told me to come back in 12 day...12 business days! She said they had to order a new port or something like that and have it shipped. I think I seriously gave her a staleface look --> -___- (for those who don't know what that is). So for the next two weeks no one can check out books from the public library. But she said it may be sooner than that, I just have to keep calling and checking.

So by the time I make it back to the library to get books, I'll be super geeked :]

Sabbath

I was finally able to find a contact person who could provide me with church information of SDA services (Seventh Day Adventist). I went to the service today and it was quite an experience. I would say that there was about 80 of us total, give or take. Today was also YWA, with a Serving Women theme. The service was set to last the whole day, basically 9-1230 then 3-about 5 p.m. I only stayed for the first half. They did praise time, then Sabbath school for the whole group, then we split up into two different Sabbath school teachings. Then we got back together as a group for a presentation on what ‘Serving Women’ meant. They sang the hymns in Xhosa, but they did have the English translation on the screen. The English translation was British English so it was still somewhat different. SO everyone in that place could sing--like REALLY sing. I felt like I was sitting in a room with professional gospel singers lol, but seriously. And then when they made announcements the lady was saying when and where people who are part of the choir should meet. And I was thinking to myself “Everyone must be in the choir then.” They sang with ease and even harmonized. I bet I was the only one who couldn’t sing in there. I will not be going to any choir practices just an FYI. But it was really nice and everyone was really welcoming though and I enjoyed myself and the message was nice. Another things I noticed--I was the only girl wearing dress pants in there. All the other girls were wearing skirts and dresses. I definitely stood out. And it didn't help that they made me stand up and introduce myself. 

I use to work with a lady at JD who was from PE, and although I knew I wanted to go to SA for my study abroad, my interest was definitely increased when she talked about it. Anyway I got to finally meet her mom here. We went out for lunch and it was very lovely. She talked to me about the city and growing up here and places to go (and not go). So the day was really nice. 

I’m still trying to fight this cold I have, but I can’t seem to kick it. Hopefully the weather improves soon. 

15 Things Everyone Needs You To Do

Found this today. Thought I would share.

• Notice without critiquing.
• Appreciate without comparing.
• Listen without interruption.
• Question without objection.
• Challenge without mocking.
• Consider without doubting.
• Discuss without criticizing.
• Smile without hesitation.
• Give without expectation.
• Comfort without lying.
• Guide without misleading.
• Forgive without resentment.
• Rest without judgment.

Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness,
to pull another hand into the light.
-Norman B. Rice

Women's Day-SA

The turbulent 1950s- Women as defiant activists   <~~ Read some of this if you have a chance

"We were singing the song, which says 'Verwoerd the black people will kill you and we do not want Bantu Education' (Verwoerd, batho ba bantsho ba tlo go bolaya and gape ga re batle Bantu Education). And the song was saying: "If you strike a woman, you strike a rock' (Wathint'zBafazi, waThint'IMbokodo')"--Dorothy Masenya, parcipated in the 1956 March to Pretoria

Having never been exposed to South African history except for parts of the Apartheird Movement and Nelson Mandela, I was surprised at how much women in South Africa have done for the country and for the world. Taking this day to really educate myself on what I can get from reading, and talking to those I come in counter with. I think this day is just so lovely.

Happy Women's Day :]

Purpose

My purpose in SA? I’ve been thinking about this for awhile now. There are so many things that come to mind. Am I here to change one persons life? A group? Help someone out? Learn a skill or lesson that will help me in the future? I guess it could be all that and more or none of the above. But really I don’t think I’m here to affect or do anything for SA parse. I think I’m suppose to let SA do something for me. Follow me for a little bit. 

I think i am suppose to let SA, everything from the people,the culture, the beautiful outdoors work its way through me--do what it wants with me.  To learn how to let go and embrace. Not meant to impose anything on anybody or anything. Somewhat like a spong--to be able to take everything in, marinate on it, let it soak in, not rush anything. Possibly prepare me for something--something here in SA maybe, something back at home, something 10 years from now. This season in my life is meant for something. Something I may see in my lifetime, or maybe not. It’s kind of overwhelming to think about...to try and grasp the ideas of purpose...the concept of why I’m here. I can’t give a concrete answer to my purpose but all I know is that I will make the most of it while I am here. I won’t look back on this experience with any “shoulda, coulda, wouldas.” Maybe I’m being to vague, maybe I’m suppose to give a clear cut answer. Maybe I’m looking at the question from the wrong angle? Maybe I’ve said too much, or too little. But with all that put aside I will just ‘let it be’ and live, and allow myself to grow in a this new direction. 

“To thoroughly understand the world, to explain it, to despise it, may be the thing great thinkers do. But I'm only interested in being able to love the world, not to despise it, not to hate it and me, to be able to look upon it and me and all beings with love and admiration and great respect." Siddartha