Class in session

Today was the first day of classes. It wasn’t a normal beautiful day in PE though. It literally rained all day so getting around was not so much fun. 

The classes I have registered for for the semester include: business ethics, organizational management, media ethics and international marketing. I might swap out the media ethics but I’m waiting on some e-mails from UNI. 

So my first class, business ethics, was scheduled to start at 1045--or so I thought. I went to the classroom had my notebook out and pen ready to take notes. Even said hi to the people sitting next to me who were from Botswana. I didn’t think twice when both told me their majors were in industrial psychology. So the professor comes and is introducing himself to the class, he puts up the syllabus and the course title is...organisational psychology. (If you notice our z’s are their s’s). Great, what a start. So I get up to leave and he’s says “young lady you can’t leave the lecture now.” I was embarrassed but after I told him I was in the wrong class he enjoyed meeting me for the short time and I left. When I had registered for classes last week the online module browser had said that this was the correct time and place. I went to the international office where I had to wait like 45 minutes to talk to one of the coordinators. So it happened that they had switched the time and place of the class sometime between last week and now. Luckily I hadn’t missed the class since it was later that afternoon. 

So I grabbed myself a caramel latte, caramel donut, and a caramel muffin (yes I love caramel) and surfed the net for a little bit after I got the NMMU Wi-FI on my laptop. I also looked at my other courses to see if there were changes, and there were a couple, so I was glad I had looked into it. I also went and signed up for the organizations (or societies as they call them here) that I am interested in being a part of.

I finally did make it to my business ethics course. I think there might have been about 60 students in there. I guess most people didn’t go to class because of the rain. Not going to class for rain? I told the guy next to me that we went to class in 10 inches of snow or more but he sad that he didn’t believe me, lol. I guess it is hard kind of hard to imagine if  one has never seen snow before. She didn’t lecture but instead gave a background of herself and also went through the syllabus. And yes we already have an assignment. 

My next class was at the 2nd avenue campus, so I went home and ate then walked about 20 minutes to get there. I found some Maggi Noodles similar to Ramen Noodles so I’m saved--I can have something to eat that is quick and easy. 

My next class was organisational management. We were only about 12 of us in the class, with the teacher referencing people not coming because of the weather. I also had another UNI Business student in the class with me. She lectured and gave an assignment already. Since there is another lecture during the day on Wednesday I will go to that one instead so I don’t have to worry about catching a cab/bus in the evening. The professor drove both myself and the other UNI student home. She said that walking after dark was not safe. Seems like those words have been drilled in us since day one. Which is fine, I’m not taking any risks. I’ve heard some crazy stories. The class was really interesting though and we talked about Wal-Mart in South Africa (I’ll have to go into that another time maybe) and other local businesses. She went on a tanget to talk about some of the university initiatives their new campaign called  “For a Better U.” Watch this video--> http://youtu.be/5iIFqHMOE1g to see how the school choir helped market the university. I think that the approach was really nice and it was cool to see that they did it at the local mall which I’ve been to a couple times. 

So the day didn’t go as smoothly as I had thought it would, but it I have made a conscious decision not to get so worked up about things while I’m here. My dad said I look prettier and it must be because of less stress. Less stress and I’ve gotten a minimum of 8 hours of sleep 90 percent of the time since I’ve been here so I probably look a lot less tired. But he could just be saying that because well he’s my dad, but either way I think more sleep makes a difference :] Don't get me wrong I have those times where it seems like the slow-pace everyone moves in works my nerves, but there is nothing I can do about it so I just go with it. That's why I always have a book to read for moments like that (which seem to be so many). All the Europeans here keep saying "Africa time" is too slow for them. And to tell you the truth its a lot slower with almost everything: the check out at the grocery, the people at the cafes, people walking, etc etc. But I think I'll enjoy this atmosphere while I can, before I have to go back to the the turbo speed lifestyle that most of us live in.

I’m excited for the course so far though, especially since they are all things are interested in. I’ll see what the rest of the week holds. 

A few people or a group of people can often skew the image of a group. This was really prevalent to me today. 

Chill

Last night I couldn't sleep well because I had a feeling of homesickness, but I think it's because I'm still adjusting. If I can get through August I think I'll be good...I'm super sad I'm missing my sisters birthday so I think that's on my conscious.

Anyways, today was a relaxed day. I went on campus tour and saw where most of my classes would be at. The campus isn't huge but its kind of spread out because its on a nature reserve. Then I got my student ID so I can use the library and the computer labs now. I was talking to this German guy about philosophical things since that is one of his three majors back home. So that was interesting.

Then we spent like 3 hours on the beach...just chilling and watching the waves, the surfers, and the kids playing around the place.

And tomorrow I have nothing on my schedule, so I'll probably go to the library and get some books and then go to the beach the rest of the day.

Life is good.

Click Click

20 July

First off today was the first day that my roommates and I decided to cook dinner and eat in the house instead of going out. We made pasta with a cheese/garlic sauce and broccoli (for them not me). Also had some rolls on the side and ate dried mangoes. It was good though to just stay in the house and talk about the events of the day.  

Today was our city tour. We went with a group of about 60 I think. The tour guide Bradley was the same guy that was at the weekend get-away with us giving us a history lesson. And today was no different. The day was filled with so much information I don’t know how I can retell it to its full extent because it really had me experiencing a lot of emotions. Just a brief background of Bradley and the company he is with in case anyone is interested. He and a partner started Djembe Heritage Initiatives in order to help South Africans express their identity through heritage awareness and tourism; to understand everyones shared heritage. 

So we started off the tour close to the campus where everything is upscale, clean with lots of shops, etc etc. The area we are in, Summerstrand, Humewood are usually where more affluent people live, just to give you an idea of where we are located. We are near the beach and things are pretty calm around here (except for the noisy buses of course). The tour consisted of us traveling farther deeper into areas of Port Elizabeth that many don’t necessarily get to see. 

During the Apartheid movement the government split everyone up by race: white, colored and black. And during the tour it was really easy to see the distinctions between how each group lived. Many times it could still be seen even today on how the living arrangement were based on color or sometimes just who could afford them. The colored and black intermingled many of the times of course, since it was hard to distinguish people in those two categories at times. 

We slowly traveled more into the areas they called townships or our city ghettos as an equivalent. We got to see how education varied from large fenced in schools with private gardens to small building with no windows; housing slowly changed from up-scale to mere tin housing; malls turned into outside markets with second hand items; dogs on leashes to multiple dogs just roaming around the area; no children outdoors to whole groups of children standing around, walking home from school etc. It was all quite sobering I would have to say.

 At times I took in all the stories of pain in struggle personally as if those people he spoke of were my own aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers/sisters; other times I seemed to distance myself like it was all textbook material with no emotion in order to try and remain in a box where I still think most people are basically good. It was hard though, hearing about all the pain and subjugation that occurred. I don’t think I can listen to things like that without emotion, I mean after all they are all my people. When we went to the Red Museum in one of the black townships they had a museum displaying both the Apartheid movement and Civil Rights Movement side-by-side. It was all so much to take in all at once. I didn’t know if I was angry, sad, hurt, forgiving or numb--I just couldn’t get it all together in my mind. It all came so fast and there was not much time to marinate. 

We stopped several times in the black townships, one to see an artist who lived there and sold her beautiful work. She was a former NMMU student that Bradley knew. We also stopped to see a woman named Mama (I can’t remember the whole name) who fed  the local children and families food out of her own shack which was barely standing. Lastly we had stopped at the Red Museum. Every time we stopped the children would come--running, smiling, dancing, asking questions, wanting to take pictures, etc. Some asked for money, some were shy and stayed off to the side, while some were ready to show off their chris brown move.They are all so beautiful and full of life, like for real, the kids were the source of calmness for us all I think. I mean first when we were driving through the townships most of us got quiet and real serious, but the kids with their smiles even amongst their living conditions kind of relieved everyone in a way I think, to see them still able to laugh and joke given all other things. 

Which brings me to something I thought about a lot during the ride. How everyone around me got so excited and ready to snap a picture of everything in the townships. The people, their homes, etc. It just seems excessive. I took some of the children who said they wanted their picture taken but everything else was from a distance. I couldn’t bring myself to take pictures of people’s homes and their way of living as if they were on display. I would feel like I was being invaded if I lived poorly and I had people at all times coming through and taking pictures. It just makes me feel some sort of way. I read somewhere about how sometimes foreigners during the past wold go to these countries and take these pictures, not as a way to educate or learn but just make another dollar. Just seems like another form of exploitation to me, but like I said that’s my personal opinion.

He also showed many areas where black/colored had done for themselves what the government had been promising since early years of apartheid. Building schools and business for themselves and doing it all well. 

1994 was the official year that apartheid was over. It's only been 16 years. I was just thinking like omg thats like not that long ago at all. All the experiences are fresh. An interesting thought.  

At dinner I talked to my roommates about some of my reactions to the day and they in turn talked about their thoughts. I appreciate their willingness to talk and share even though we did not necessarily agree on some points; talking about it is a good start. The question was posed again today--What is your purpose in SA? I guess I’m still trying to really figure this out. I thought I had it, but now I’m not so sure. 

Registering for Classes

I didn't have to be on campus until 10 today but I still woke up at 06:00. Seems like I'm an even earlier riser since I've been here. It's all this sleep I've been getting. Seems like I'm stressing less also. So I woke up did some reading for about an hour then just took my time getting ready for the day.

I went to the internet cafe nearby and had breakfast and then got a taxi with 4 other Americans to head to campus.

Registering for classes was very hard. I mean I'm use to doing it online where you know everything right away and can make changes on site. But here it's all paper, and then even then its not 100 percent guaranteed. I won't be able to take two of the courses that were approved by the CBA so I'm trying to figure all that out and hope for the best. So some classes have like 3 meeting times that you have to go to the first week, but it doesn't stay like that the whole time, its left to the professors preference and how many students take the class on what times stay. And then there was a whole bunch of other stuff like what campus, what time (they won't let us take evening classes because it gets dark), whether its full-time or part-tim ad blah blah blah. But hey that is life and I have the rest of the week to try and work it out.

I also caught a cab with 2 other American girls to a mall about 20 minutes away so I could finally buy bedding. So glad I got sheets and a comforter now. The little things like that really do make a difference. I also got a phone, so I am officially part of the SA network.

I got to Skype with my parents so I was happy. I'm use to talking to them everyday most of the time if not every other day so I appreciate those little moments we have together. I wish they could come visit me here, but that would be a hassle. But I told them we will come visit one day in the future.

So I'm here sharing lasagna with one of my roommates and just relaxing. Tomorrow is a early morning with a campus tour so I'll probably go to sleep early. Everyone is going to do Karaoke for one of the Norwegian girls, but I'm full and probably will curl up with a book. Plus I got the weekend for all that.

And I haven't forgotten about the pictures...they just take SUPER long to upload to the blog. I may try and just put them on Facebook sometime.

Bye for now!

Monkeys are Friends

18 July (Monday)

Happy Birthday Madiba! It was the first thing that was on the TV when I turned it on this morning. Today is also a day of service where everyone is encouraged to spend 67 minutes doing something for the community. 67 because that is how long he was in jail for. Crazy huh?

So I didn’t sleep well at all. It was COLD. And since I haven’t bought any sheets or comforters yet I used the blanket I brought from home, which luckily is pretty warm. I went to bed super early like 08:30 and woke up at 02:00, couldn’t fall asleep until like 04:30 and woke up again at like 07:00. 

My roommates and I called a cab to get to campus which was R40. Orientation consisted of a lot of presentations and an introduction to the entire staff including the International Students head-honcho. We talked about what we would do all week etc, etc. 

We ate lunch at a place on campus and I had chicken and chips (fries) and it was alright I was hungry so I could have ate anything. After that I went to the International office to check on the status of my luggage. And...it finally got here! I was so happy and relived. So they brought it on campus and then they took me to my place of residence so I could drop it off. 

I went back on campus for the Welcome Dinner they had arranged for International students. The sandwich was somewhat like a sloppy joe but with vegetables in it, and the bun was friend and kind of sweet. I ate the first one really quick but by the time I started the second one, I could feel how heavy the oil was, so I stopped eating it. Shortly after my roommates, 2 other German students, and myself walked home in order to get an idea of how far it was on foot. It took about 45 minutes. We are hoping to get bicycles so we don’t have to spend money on a taxi every morning. 

I was able to unpack and get everything organized. I got a outlet adaptor so I could charge my laptop. It felt so good to have all my things and finally get comfortable. Talked to my parents for a little bit but my phone card expired so our conversation was cut short. Tomorrow I’ll register for classes so hopefully that goes well. 

FYI--I miss everyone, hope everyone is well! When I get my internet stick, I’ll be able to Skype :]

Oh yea I forgot...there’s monkeys on campus, little ones and they just run around and get into things. Some people were scared but I like them. They’re pretty cute,I kind of want a pet monkey now. I don’t think my parents would go for that though!

Moved In

17 July (Sunday)

  

Home sweet home...kind of. I got to see the place I will be staying for the next 5 months. It’s a little far from campus but the place is really nice. I have two roommates both German. The rooms are a nice size, we have a living room with a TV and a dining area. I share the bathroom with just one of the other girls, since one room has its own bathroom. Still haven’t got my luggage so getting a little bit nervous about that. 

I was able to Friends, which is a restaurant about 5 minutes walk, where I got to use the wireless for a little bit. I had to buy a smoothie but it wasn’t that expensive. Since I hadn’t charged my laptop for awhile I couldn’t use it for too long. 

I also went to Pick-N-Pay which is the grocery store and just picked up a few items: cereal, bread, milk and sugar. I can tell it’s going to take awhile to get use to the food options here. 

I FINALLY got to talk to my parents. I was getting sad that I hadn’t had a chance to speak to them yet. I miss them already, especially the little ones. I talked to them for awhile and felt better and I was able to sleep then. Tomorrow is the start of the official orientation and Madiba Day better known as Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Can you believe he will be 93 years old? I think that’s so wonderful. Hopefully tomorrow goes well. Bonne nuit!