i knew things would get busier eventually

Now that I’m already in the middle of my second week of classes I realized that the days are getting busier which is why I haven’t updated this in a week! First of all, I finally found out on Friday which seminars I’ll be in for my Comm classes. For “Writing and Editing” I will be in a seminar called “Sex, Soaps, and Social Change” and for “Media in SA” I will be in a seminar on “Branding”. I’m really excited for both of them, they both sound really interesting although I’m a little bummed that they’re both taught by Americans. I mean, I come to South Africa and take classes with an American? Oh well. I’m also just glad to have my schedule finalized too. Now I can truly start getting into a routine.

Let’s see, the second half of last week. Wednesday was fairly uneventful although I finally had my first real lecture, as in we didn’t go over the syllabus or sign up for seminars but were actually taught something. I’m liking my classes so far although I’m sincerely hoping that some of the comm. classes don’t overlap with stuff I’ve already learned, that thought initially brought on when I saw a quote by Walter Lippmann on the slide show. That night was our first UCT Choir for Africa rehearsal which I hoped would be a very new experience and it didn’t disappoint. Many of the girls were abroad students but some girls and almost all the guys were African students. What was most unique for me, beyond the music, was that we began learning the song in solfege something I haven’t done since high school (wooo Select). Also, most students here are trained in opera which adds a very different sound to the choir that I’m not used it. The song was beautiful though and I’m looking forward to getting to know the others and the music.

Quinn, one of my housemates, was lucky enough to celebrate her 21st birthday on Thursday. Which means that our entire house, uncharacteristic of me I know, obviously went out on Wednesday night not too long after I got back from choir (don’t judge me, 21st birthdays are exception enough to go out on a weekday). We went to Cybar in Rondebosch which was very smoky but fun music and I knew some people there so we had fun dancing and being silly.

Luckily I only had one lecture on Thursday at 12 so I got to sleep in a bit too. And after that lecture I grabbed lunch with some friends and while we ate in Jammie Plaza we were entertained by an a capella group consisting of 7 guys, they sang a couple songs most notably “Lean on Me” and “Viva la Vida” (awww 'fellas). That night we went to the Fat Cactus, a mexican restaurant in Mowbray, where everyone has raved about their margaritas. We went to a club after that which was fun albeit weird to be out the second night in a row on a weekday so I was first to be ready to go home.

After my only lecture on Friday I found a nice tree and read for a while before going home to grab food before rugby!! We saw the Stormers (Cape Town) play the Reds (Australia) and we kicked their ass, it was great. We were in the very first row and since I had people explaining even more of the rules to me, I understood what was going on and we all got really into it. The racial disparities that everyone talks about were so clear, especially after we’d seen the soccer game a few weeks ago. There our group made up the only whites in the stands versus when we blended into the crowd at rugby. When we got back, a few people had gone to a concert in Stellenbosch and me, Allie, and eventually Faith ended up having a deep conversation about race and how different things are in Cape Town versus Stellenbosch. The main identities here are either black, white, or colored, the last of which has taken getting used to hearing but I still feel weird saying it. Stellenbosch is primarily white Afrikaans speakers whereas Cape Town has a lot of diversity. It was interesting how talking about it with Allie we’re seeing it from a more objective perspective but once Faith joined us, the conversation swung in a particular direction. I find the politics of race fascinating and it was so interesting hearing her take on things.

Thankfully the weekend was nice and relaxing. I spent a lot of Saturday at Cocoa Wah-Wah getting food with my housemates and then uploading pictures and catching up with some people from back home. Then a group of us went to Muizenburg beach on Sunday. It wasn’t too hot and there was a breeze so we were able to enjoy hanging out on the beach. There was even a surfing competition going on so we got to see some of that. Taking the train there was so easy and cheap too, I was pleasantly surprised. On the train there we had a small band come on and sit in the seats right behind us. They were really good and entertaining which made the ride there go by quickly. And before we left the beach we got ice cream at Sinnfull which I’d heard good things about. It was definitely yummy but I like Marcel’s fro-yo better heehee.

Classes have been getting busier these past few days. My two Comm lectures were funny on Monday because they both talked about the Oscars which I’d almost completely forgotten about. In class, professors talking about America so much, it’s so entertaining hearing it from their perspectives. I’ve had both my seminar classes now and I think they’re going to be fun, it’s so much more application in class than we do in the states. In “Branding” we’re going to be learning a little theory but then focusing the majority of the class on actually creating a brand for local companies. Then in “Sex, Soaps, and Social Change” (I’m going to have to figure out how to abbreviate that) we’re going to spend the semester creating our own melodramas.

Tuesday night I went to the Cancer Association to sit in on their committee meeting for the Relay For Life of Athlon which is set for March 6-7. I thought I was mainly going to listen and observe, especially since it’s so soon and I assume a lot of the planning stages are way past. Well I ended up there for 3 hours helping with all manner of things. They were all so excited to hear that I’ve been involved in 6 Relays before, for most of them this is their first Relay. Unfortunately though I just found out today that the home stay we’re doing says Saturday and Sunday on the schedule but we’re leaving for the township on Friday night. So now I have to tell them I can’t go. It stinks for them – and me, I was so excited – but luckily there’s another Relay that I can hopefully go to later in the month. Good thing I went to the association on Wednesday and made some phone calls for them so I feel like I helped a bit now that I can’t go. I was totally in my element there too, it was great! The woman I’m helping, Avril, overheard one of my conversations and said that they sounded like they were being so nice and it was probably because they could hear my American accent. Who knew that would help?

We (CIEE) heard from a speaker on Wednesday night we talked about the political situation in South Africa, especially important with the upcoming election. I know the basics (and love that one of the party’s has a logo so similar to Obama’s) but I was hoping this would fill in a lot of the blanks. The speaker had a pretty monotonous voice and the room was warm so I didn’t pay as much attention as I had wanted but when something he said jumped out at me I wrote it down. The political system here is just like in Israel where the people vote for the party. The politics are even more intense than in the states too, especially now that one of the main party’s had a group break off from it to go more moderate and they’re gaining more and more support. I thought it was really interesting that he said freedom of speech here is only second to America which is fantastic. There also are many dynamics with regards to women in the parties and of course, the obvious racial influences. It’s going to be interesting hearing more about the election as it gets closer.

After the talk I went to our second African Choir rehearsal. I have mixed feelings about it but I loved learning the national anthem. There are 4 or so languages in it and I think that’s beautiful although it would be even cooler if it had all 11 languages spoken in South Africa. I guess that would be a lot though. I’m going to give it a few more rehearsals but I’m hoping it gets better especially as we get to know other people in the group. I'm also excited because I finally signed up for volunteer programs. One goes to a hospital where we get to play with kids who have TB and the other is an HIV/AIDS organization that raises awareness and such. I'm helping 2 hours a week at each, so 4 hours a week. I could've totally been a contingent brother this semester minus going to mandatory events.

Now it’s Thursday already. After my classes I went to Cocoa Wah-Wah with Mel for a lunch date since it’s been a while since we got to really hang out and talk. It was her first time there so we got a cookie which I have a lot of left sitting next to me as I type this. This weekend we’re going to Stellenbosch on Saturday for wine tasting and then we’re going to a concert on Sunday at Kirstenbosch which is known for its beautiful gardens. It’s crazy that February is almost over – although I’m really glad it’ll be March soon so I can get more airtime haha. And it's so insane to think about but it’s been a month since I got on that British Airways plane that carried me to this other world.

I miss you all so much and I hope everything been going well back home. Happy birthday again, daddy! I hope you had a great day yesterday.

Til the next time,
Sarah

P.S. Yes, I know I'm finally listed as a berg student blogger. I still don't have a login or password for it though. Hopefully soon.