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Saturday 26 January 2008
I arrived in South Africa on Tuesday the 22nd, making it about 4 days of being here. To begin my adventure I brought my bags to my new place which is in a fenced in stretch of dorms called Academia. I live on the third floor which is great for getting a breeze since none of the dorms have air-conditioning of any kind.
The set up in my place is four sections sharing a common area with each part having two bed rooms, two baths, and one kitchen. It's pretty sweet having my one place that I can hide out in from time to time. It took awhile for me to get my kitchen sharing person/roommate. She came yesterday.. it's a nice girl named Leigh who's from South Korea. I really have not got the chance to hang out with her, and while she will never be a Sarah or Chrissy, she will do fine.
The organization I am here with sent 50 American students so there is no lack of a touch of home. But, being that I got here later then them I missed the click formation. It's ok, however, as I have found some pretty cool Germans and other Europeans mainly who I have been hanging out with. It's funny they say I'm not like the other American girls because I act older, it's true!But there are some really great people here, and I have no problem getting along with just about everyone I have met.
Orientation for us international students (there's about 300-400 in all) has been keeping me busy since I arrived. It began by a tour of campus, which happens to be just as amazing as the pictures suggest. All of the departments are broke into separate buildings, and while mine is the ugliest on campus, I still can't wait for things to start up. Also with orientation there have been many lectures helping us to understand everything from cultural shock to safety to where we can go on trips with different groups and companies! It will be a lot easier to get around than I thought… I can even go into surrounding countries to do things like rafting and camping. (If anyone ever wants to visit it will be nothing short of an adventure)!
Stellenbosch the town is just about a 15 min. walk from my dorm and is amazing in every way. It's basically little coffee shops, a mall, little tents where locals sell their African crafts, and people walking around in rugby clothes!! I have gone there many times already just getting lost and exploring all the different shops and meeting fun people. There is definitely not going to be much time where I don't have anything to do.
As far as the night life... there is a Braai (BBQ) every single night!! And that is no exaggeration! Basically the social thing to do here is to have a Braai where everyone brings some meat and you just chill out and talk and drink beer or wine. I have been to 3 already, and that's with declining at times for a lack of sleep. It is basically insane. And on top of there are tons of bars and clubs in town that people go out to afterward. Honestly I can't keep up with this lifestyle, though, and often choose to go to my room and pass out in my hotttt room.
Umm here are some other points about Stellenbosch and South Africa:
·The guys walk around campus barefoot
·Every sign is in Afrikaans!!
·Rugby is everywhere!
·"when life gives you lemons eat them with a pinch of salt and a dash of tequila"
·The world knows more about the US then people from the US (I spent 2 hours talking about politics with three German guys one night and it was amazing!)
·The awkward turtle is done in South Africa!!
·They also say "really" when something is unbelievable
·The country is still very segregated. Communities are very much by race, and while it's huge it's also still very heavily talked about. Some Afrikaners (white Africans) explained to me that they joke about it all the time, and how "colored" people are stereotyped as likely to steal. It's crazy!
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