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.