Class is king. Monday February 13 - Thursday February 16

The weeks are getting busier now that I have class! 

Monday I woke up very early since I passed out immediately after getting home from shark cage diving the night before. I spent my morning cleaning up my room and other boring stuff. Had lunch with friends, drawing is getting less painful, etc. etc.

Tuesday was Valentine’s Day, and I had a great homemade dinner with a group of my international friends a couple blocks over. I learned how to make legit fettuccini pasta! 

Wednesday I went grocery shopping after class and finally found vegetarian food! I got my fake chicken, braai sausages, and Sheppard’s pie. Nom nom nom. I also found….wait for it…frozen waffles! It’s the simple things that make me happy sometimes…

Thursday I had class forever. We got to go outside to discuss the readings we were assigned that week. Outside of the theology building, we sat in between a palm tree and the biggest pine tree I have ever seen in my entire life. Every one of its branches was the size of a Christmas tree.

JAWS! Sunday February 12, 2012

And, you know, the thing about a shark... he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... 

 

Guess what I did today?! Got into a cage. With sharks.

I made it out with all limbs, fingers, and toes intact, no worries.

We began the day early, at 6 am we left the front gates and were shuttled off into the hazy morning.  I was so excited! We arrived at the Great White House where I enjoyed a large breakfast of scrambled eggs and cheese, fresh bread, yogurt, muesli, and orange juice! Yum! As I was eating, I was really hoping I’d keep all these contents in my stomach. Seasickness has always been a problem for me… 

So we heard a quick spiel about the sharks we’d be seeing, how people kill way more sharks than sharks do people, etc. We were warned that we may not even see any sharks on our trip, and that the water may be too hazy to make out anything beneath the surface. The crew we were going out with has been featured on National Geographic’s Shark Week! It’s getting real…

So we went out on the boat for about a twenty minutes before we stopped. “I see one!” one of the crew members shouted. I was too seasick to turn around to see the great white coming up alongside the left side of the boat. No, I don’t know if that’s “starboard” or "seaboard" (is this even the right word??). So please bear with me when I say left and right. We continued on for another ten minutes before stopping.

They explained to us how they release fish oils and blood into the water to attract the sharks with some scent. They don’t feed the sharks anything because they do not want the sharks to get dependent on humans feeding them. At the same time the scents were being released, the cage was removed from the deck and locked down on the left side of the boat. The cage was large, with enough room to fit seven people arm-to-arm across and about two people wide. There was a large gap in the front, about a foot wide, right in front of our faces. Why would that be ok? 

There were two pieces of bait that went along with the scents. On the right, there was a plywood baby-seal shaped decoy. The crew told us that this decoy didn’t have a long life expectancy. Would the shark leap out of the water to go after it and snap the rope?! I was hoping I could see that happen. On the left, there were a bunch of fish bits all roped together that were dragged through the water to attract the shark to the surface. This proved to be most interesting to the sharks, and I got to see a couple leap out a bit!

We were all given wetsuits and I changed into mine, not without wobbling back and forth in the cabin and nearly completely losing my balance. Just thinking about it now is making me dizzy. I quickly sat back down and stared at the shore until I could muster the energy to stumble to the left side where I held on the railing above those in the cage to take pictures.

Every group that went in couldn’t always see directly in front of them since the cage and their goggles blocked their views. To make up for this, there was a crew member shouting at them, “Down right!” or “Down left!” to tell them to hold their breath and pull themselves underwater to see the shark. His voice was so deep and demanding that I felt like I was on some battlefield where I had to get down to avoid some bullets.

Three groups later, I was ready to get in. Once I got in, I was ready to get right back out! The water was cold and it suddenly became very real to me that there were great white sharks only feet away from me in the water. I admit, I did scream. I didn’t get any clear pictures with my underwater camera, but I did get to see a shark underwater! It was only the side fin, but it was enough for me. I was in the middle, but those on the left got the best view! The sharks really went after the bait, and when I was in the cage, one of them slammed up against it and rattled the whole thing. I screamed again. When I was climbing back out of the cage, I was a bit scared a shark would jump back out of the water trying to get the bait and get me instead. 

I was in the cage for that - and I felt it! The whole cage rattled and I nearly got hit by a great big gray fin!

DUN DUN DUN DUN

On our way back to sure, we passed THE seal island! And seal island it was! Everywhere you looked on the craggy rock structure was literally covered in seals, big and small. We were told that in the fall, when the babies started getting more mature and able to swim out into the channel, the area would be filled with sharks looking for an easy snack.

What an incredible experience! I’m really glad I can say I’ve gone cage diving with great white sharks now. We were told that ten different great whites appeared on our trip, averaging about 10 feet in length. I purchased the DVD of the best footage. I’m excited to watch it later, though I’m sure I look like a grumpy little seasick girl.

Lazy Saturday February 11, 2012

I just slept a lot today. Airtime is catching up to me with this cell phone thing. I forget I don’t have unlimited text anymore… 

At night, I went with my friend Kristen and some other Americans from AIFS to one of the residences here. The res was so cool! It was about the size of Des and Alumni at home, if they were attached by more rooms and were about 3 stories taller. In the middle, they had a statue of the Eiffel Tower and a large green where they kept pet rabbits and ducks. 

The res was hosting a braai and I got to meet some locals. I spoke to one Afrikaner for a bit. He told me how he was born and raised on a farm and is putting himself through college. He said he hadn’t spoken English in a while, and I was surprised to hear this. I knew a lot of classes were held in Afrikaans, but I guess it just didn’t register with me that some people know both languages but regularly only speak one. And one I don’t understand! 

I made it an early night since I have to wake up at 5 am tomorrow for one of the greatest adventures of my life.

An Act at the Poetry Reading at Amazink: Sister, do you know who you are?

The girls from Kayamandi signing me a song in isiXhosa

Amazink in Kayamandi! Friday February 10, 2012

What a great day!! I had class today from 9 – 10 am, but it only lasted a half hour. I’m taking it mainstream courses are pretty chilled here. Once the professor has presented the information they have for that day, the class is over. I don’t hate it.

After class, I went out to lunch with a group of my friends. The group consisted of one Dutch, two Germans, an Austrian, and an American. How international can we get?! My friend tried to give me directions to get there, but me being me, I got all turned around and ended up three blocks over. Thank God I found good friends here, because they waited a half hour after one pm for me to find them. Teheh. Maybe I should still bring a map with me everywhere I go…

I came to find out the restaurant was on Dorp Street, where I had class yesterday, so I should have been able to find it fine if I knew the street name. Oh well. For lunch, the rest of the crew had a plate of assorted meats including springbok and warthog (ew). I had a delicious pizza with spinach, feta, mushrooms, and avo. I finally got some money by paying in credit card. The group reimbursed me in cash. 

After lunch, we made it over to the mall where the boys looked at wetsuits and I looked at dresses and bounced around the cute stores. They had a fun time mocking me since every other sentence that came out of my mouth began with "I love..." "this store, that dress, these earings, those people, this country, this mall..." you get the picture.

I didn’t have plans for the night yet, so I was totally excited when I learned from my friends Evelyn and Christian that they were attending a poetry reading at Kayamandi in the evening. We weren’t sure what to expect, but we were under the impression that the children of the township would be presenting their work.

We were shuttled over to Kayamandi in university vans where we arrived at Amazink Live, a restaurant where live performances were held. There were no children allowed inside, as alcohol was served, and the poetry was read by both novices and renown poets alike.

Outside, a group of three girls from the township were running up and down the steps, getting shooed out of the venue a couple times. They explained to me that they thought one of their fathers was inside, so they wanted to look for him. And they wanted to know what’s going on. And they had to use the bathroom. And they wanted sodas. Typical little girls. I took my camera out to take a couple pictures of the sky and the mountains (I can’t get enough!!) and immediately they swarmed me. “Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me!”

They all spoke English as well as isiXhosa. I explained to them that I only knew how to say “Hello” “What is your name” and “run, run!” from a popular folk song. They knew the song too, and they giggled when I sang “balaka, balaka!” I asked them if they could teach me another song, and the three began a chorus. My knees provided an alternative to bongo drums as they sang. I didn’t understand a word of it, but I caught the whole thing on video. I couldn't figure out how to get it here, so it'll be on the post above.

After that, I ushered them all into the building so they could use the restroom without getting kicked out again. They all scrambled to wash their hands after, and I was impressed by their hygiene. At home babysitting, little girls only remember to wash their hands half the time! You have to note, too, that these girls live in a township where very few people have running water in their homes and where toilets are a walk down the road away. After I brought them back outside, they all asked me for Coca Colas. Not wanting to give kids soda, I asked if they wanted bottles of water. “No! We get enough water! We want Coke!” “Please…?” I said. “Please! Coke! Coke!” I went back inside and spent R36 on three cans of soda and presented it to them. They thanked me and said they had to go home. It was time for the show to begin anyway!

Everybody loves Coca Cola!

The poetry reading was a truly moving experience. People spoke in eloquent words about touchy subjects like racism, personal identity, and life. The whole house was full of clapping after every performance.

The tables were all painted with scenes inspired by Kayamandi, which means "a nice place to live"

First Week of Classes: Tuesday February 7, 2012 - Thursday February 9, 2012

Tuesday February 7, 2012

I had my first practical today for Biome Ecology. This isn’t like a lab at home, though. It’s just a longer class period in which we are lead by student teachers or teacher’s assistants who go through activities with us that pertain to the material we’re covering in class that week. Since it was the first week, and the first week of classes for the third-years I’m in class with, we did a “time management” exercise. Thankfully, it didn’t last the full three hours. It was interesting to hear the tips the South Africans gave for performing better in school. Taking your vitamins and exercising regularly were mentioned more than prioritizing your time!

After class, I went out exploring town with my friend Tiffany. There are so many cute shops selling everything from pastries and lunch and coffee to souvenirs and clothing. I get out of class pretty early most days so I’ll be spending a lot of time downtown seeing what there is to see and talking to the locals. I’m explorative and friendly like that. 

We stopped at a store selling Indian clothing and other trinkets, called “Gypsy”. The woman working there has lived all her life in Stellenbosch and decided to open an Indian store just because it seemed like it would sell well in the college city. I was hoping for some interesting story of how she lived in India for a year and moved back here with this newfound love….well, not everything is a storybook. I bought some awesome patchwork crazy pants I love.

At night, I went to the local bar and hangout Bohemia. Every Tuesday night the acoustic performer I aforementioned has a set. So I listened to more Nirvana, Radiohead, and even Lynard Skynard. It’s crazy how everyone in South Africa knows all the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”, but it makes sense since I hear it playing probably at least once a week when I walk through bars. American music is really world-known!

Wednesday February 8, 2012

First day of Human Rights and Peacemaking! And we have class outside! Woooo! 

Things I’ve learned today: Mandela was imprisoned for 26 years of his life. Yet he has only been free for the past 22, this coming Saturday being the anniversary of his freedom. It’s amazing to see a country come so far in such a short time.

I learned a good amount of South African history today as well, and I’m really glad I joined the class. It will give me a greater perspective into the country I’ll be spending the next 5 months in.

 

Thursday February 9, 2012

Thursdays are going to be my busiest days with class! I had Global Health: HIV/AIDS at 9 am in one of the movie theatres in the student center. Yes, the student center here has movie theatres! We will be working in groups of about 8 with a NGO (non-governmental organization) to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in some way. We will be divided into groups and each group given R1,000 to spend in a way the group, along with the partner they will receive, will determine how to spend.

After that class, I have a two hour break before I have to go to Public Theology in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Theology is a good twenty minute walk away, down Dorp Street. Dorp is pretty heavy populated with tourist stores that sell assorted African crafts, small clothing and accessory boutiques where local designers sell their goods, and restaurants. My favorite.

Public Theology looks like a fun class, but sitting still for three hours with only two breaks is going to get to me. It’s really based on discussion. Each class, we have about two lengthy readings assigned to us to do at home before. Then, in class a student will present that topic to the rest of us for the first hour of class. My topic will be Theology, Human Rights, and Human Dignity. I won’t presenting until after spring break, though, and by then we’ll have another professor. 

After finally getting done with class at 5 pm today, I ran into a couple friends and we went down to the athletic fields to watch the soccer team practice and kick the ball around ourselves. This is the closest I’ll ever get to going to the gym…haha. The fields are at the base of the mountain here in Stellenbosch and so when I finally make it to hike the mountain, I’ll begin here.

First Day of Classes! Monday February 6, 2012

It must have been the hottest day of the year. If we had television and they talked in terms of Fahrenheit here, it was positively over 100. So. Hot. And to top it off, it was the first day of classes.

At noon (I don’t have class until noon on Mondays!!), I began with my first mainstream class, Biome Ecology. This means that instead of attending class with international students, as I will in my other 4 classes, I’m in a class with about 50 South African students and a handful of other Americans from my program. 

I left my room ½ an hour before class just so I wouldn’t get lost! It only took me about ten minutes to walk there, but I was proud of my navigational skills. Ok. It was just straight and then right. But still. I think I’ll even be able to do it without a map next time!

The class was very introductory, I learned that we would have a number of professors teaching the course and that it would meet 4x/week, for up to an hour each time, but on Tuesdays for up to three. Classes end when the professor is done with the information they have prepared for that day, so I see many early dismissals in my future!  Powerpoints will be up on WebCT, which is essentially the same thing as Blackboard, so it’s pretty straightforward. Most mainstream courses are taught in a combination of English and Afrikaans, but science is luckily an exception. 

After Biome Ecology, I made my way downtown in the heat to buy some paper and binders to use for classes. The walk felt like the longest thing ever. Obviously I decided to buy jugs of orange juice and powdered laundry detergent too….my arms were pretty tired by the time I got back! All in all, the walk couldn’t have been more than ½ mile both ways, but in the heat I felt it.

At lunch, I ran into some friends and stopped to get a falafel sandwich for R30 – about $3.80. That was a meal  that came with fries as well! I’m loving what a deal food is here, and I’m finding more vegetarian options for myself.

I had drawing from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. And I hated, or strongly disliked, every minute of it. Our professor is very nice and encouraging, but I’ve never drawn. I need to have an art class for a core requirement (sigh) and I saved it for study abroad. I’m going to give it a shot, but sitting on a stool for three hours drawing things like “excitement” and “darkness” and “bewildered” only in the form of lines is a bit nerve-racking. We also had to draw a picture of someone at home, so I drew Tanya. I drew Tanya based on the drawing she has of herself someone else drew. Oops. Then I drew my friend Katharina sitting across from me. They looked nearly identical except for the hair. You can see my problem. Hopefully next week will get better. For homework, we have to draw an egg cracked open. I’ll save that for next Monday at 4:00 pm…

Cape of Good Hope & Boulder's Beach! Saturday February 4, 2012

Today AIFS took us on excursions to Boulder’s Beach as well as to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope! The Cape of Good Hope is a place I’ve wanted to visit for as long as I can remember, since I did a report on Vasco da Gama in elementary school. It’s such an incredible feeling to know I finally made it there, that I’ve checked something off my bucket list. (Truth: I've been writing a bucket list of things kinda AFTER I do them. Or after I know I will be doing them. I know that's not how it works, but, I'm 20. We'll work on the real "bucket list" later. But I really want to go to Thailand...)

The day started off early as we loaded onto the Travel bus, the same bus we took to the beach earlier in the week. I guess we decided to go to Cape Point first, but our driver had some other plans in mind, and since bus drivers usually don’t get much control over where they drive, we let him decide which destination was first. So that meant: Penguin Morning!

Boulders, as the pamphlet I received explains, is “nestled in a sheltered cove between Simon’s Town and Cape Point. It has become world famous for its thriving colony of African penguins and magnificent wind sheltered, safe beaches. The birds wander freely in a sheltered environment. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 2,200 in recent years. This is partly due to the reduction in commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay, which has increased the supply of pilchards and anchovy, which form part of the penguins’ diet. Bordered mainly be indigenous bush above the high-water mark on the one side and the clear waters of False Bay on the other, the area comprises a number of small sheltered bays, partially enclosed by granite boulders that are 540 million years old.”

When we arrived at Boulder's Beach, I expected to be walking on a platform far away from the actual beach with a view of the penguins from about 200 feet away. The group of us strolled down the boardwalk, looking around at the sand dunes and bushes surrounding it in the hopes of seeing a penguin. Then we saw one! Sitting right around the corner in the wooden walkway under the walkway. Mr. Grumpy Penguin, I called him, because he had squinty eyes and he was by himself.

I must have taken at least a dozen pictures of this one penguin, not knowing I’d see hundreds on the beach around the next bend!

Welp, OK then! Advice taken!

Momma penguin & baby penguins. Awh how cute!

Here's a good one of the penguin colony!

Some people sailboating (My captions are really creative, I know.)

After seeing the penguins from the boardwalk, we strolled around the local vendors where I bought two small penguin carvings for R100. Such a cute keepsake!

Next, we drove around the corner to Foxy Beach. I couldn’t believe my eyes when we got there! Right next to people lounging in the sun and children splashing in the waves were over a dozen penguins just laying out on rocks and swimming by the shore! Honestly, I didn’t know it was legal to get that close to penguins. There were many signs posted around the boardwalk telling visitors not to touch penguins, and this rule was clearly observed by everyone, as hard as it was to resist trying to cuddle with the cute little black and white birds.

One of the best moments of my life!

Close enough to hug...so tempting!

They didn't mind people at all!

We had lunch at a nice restaurant with an ocean view, and I got one of the most delicious pizzas I have ever had! It was topped with mushrooms, feta, white asparagus, tomatoes, and peppadews. Peppadews are these interesting little vegetables that are smaller than cherry tomatoes but just as red and shaped like mini red peppers. The pizza here is very different from pizza at home. The crust is very thin and there is very little sauce. It’s almost like a pizza cracker covered in delicious toppings. I finished the whole thing and a chocolate banana milkshake as well. Honestly, it's been tricky being a vegetarian in a country that loves meat so much. Best meal since I’ve gotten here, hands down.

Nom nom nom!

After leaving the beach (I know I’m going to be making plans to come back!!), we drove to Cape Point. On the drive over, we saw a baboon! This baboon was just walking across the mountain road and traffic was halted in order for a woman in orange to shoo him away. A baboon!!

Once we got to the point, we saw so many baboons! They were running around, jumping on top of cars, looking out for food. There were more people in orange vests and long sticks designated to scare the baboons away from people and garbage cans.

We hiked to the top of Cape Point to stand at the Cape Point Lighthouse. It was a long hike, but totally worth the view I got on top!

a

Can you find me?

Is this real life?

Cape Point!

On the way up, I got the opportunity to get fairly close to a baboon and take his picture. Suddenly, though, he looked at me and screamed, “MAAA!!!!!!!” I froze before I backed up slowly awaaaayyyy from that baboon. Trust me, I’ll always remember the look on his face as he screamed. It was a bit of a frightful experience. Didn't get the picture.

After hiking, I walked around the area and took some photos of ostriches and eland standing in the grasslands.

Eland!

Ostriches

Baboon

I want to know what species of lizard this is!

More momma & baby time in the wild!

Baboons sure love people garbage!

I made sure the group got a chance to go to the Cape of Good Hope after we left Cape Point. I needed a picture with that sign! Ever since I knew I would be coming to South Africa, I’ve had a picture of the sign as my computer background. I was so proud of my family when I saw that they had made it to the Cape of Good Hope as well. Now it's my turn! And now the Cape is still my background, but this time with me in it as well!

Here's a special tribute to my Great Aunt Bobbie & Uncle Alan - who made it to the Cape only a few months before me! RIP Aunt Bobbie <3