This has been on the to-do list for as long as I can think back right now. Which is until just before lunch today, in case you were wondering. So it's been a long time coming.
It's been a crazy few months. It really has. I don't remember ever being this busy for such an extended period of time. Almost every part of the busyness was doing stuff that I enjoyed, so that's always a plus. I guess I'll give you a summary of what this blogless portion of my life has been like:
1. I started a new blog. For my media class. It's called www.africonvoluted.wordpress.com. You should check it out. In fact, my most recent post was one I wanted to post on here, but I had a certain number of posts I had to do on that one, so this one was neglected - http://africonvoluted.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/how-to-speak-south-african/. Consider it evidence of my expertise on South African culture.
2. I went to Canada over the holiday. I stayed with a family friend. I couldn't find a job, because I arrived just after the Christmas hiring season, so that was disappointing. But I got to see many a friend, and eat many a delicious meal, and see many a movie, and have many a merry day. My family was all together for about two weeks, which was very exciting.
It's one of the weirdest feelings to return to places you haven't been to in a while. That sounds like such an obvious statement, but I can't get over it. Going to my church, stepping into my highschool, walking by our old house, even stepping into a Chapters or a Shoppers Drug Mart - so weird. Everything is so familiar and thick with memories, but things aren't the same. They just aren't. Time is such a funny thing.
I realised over this trip how much I love Canada, and how it really will never be replaced in my mind. I don't know if I've been trying to do that, but I know now that I can't. Your homeland is your homeland, no matter what you do.
3. I moved into a new place. I'm living in a residence now, called Groote Schuur Flats (pronounced HH-roet-e Sk-ooo-r... Kind of. Ask me sometime and I'll say it for you.) I live in a flat with another girl. Apparently it's really rare for youngsters like me to get into this res, so I'm very grateful. Because it's amazing! I have a HUGE room, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. I'm extremely close to campus. I am a 20 second walk from at least 10 fast food places, two coffee shops, two grocery stores, two pharmacies, and a book store. And it's a lot safer for me to be outside at night, because it's on the Main Road and is a busy area. Wooo.
4. The first semester of my second year at the University of Cape Town has come and (almost) gone. I took four classes, even though I only need to take three. But hey, might as well do this university thing with conviction.
Writing and Editing in the Media, Religion and Society, Applied Ethics (a philosophy course) and Italian.
I enjoyed all of them. The religion one was a little dry, the media lectures were at 8am, and Italian was 7 times a week. But I enjoyed them all. I've finished all but the religion exam on Thursday. And don't worry, considering I did the other three subjects' exams all within two days, doing one exam seems like a piece of cake now :).
5. I've learned a lot about responsibility this semester. Namely that I'm not very responsible by nature. Growing up is tiring and stretching.
6. Friends are incredible. I have an awesome group of friends here, which sucks during exam period - every evening is an awkward, trying to be helpful to each other but really wanting to not study but knowing that breaks are important but thinking you're probably just using that as an excuse to procrastinate, moment. But I love it. It's not really an issue to complain about.
7. I'm the Secretary for the Student Y campus ministry I'm a part of. Being on the committee has been a challenge at times, but such a joy all the time. I've learned a lot about myself, about working on a team, and I've sort of solidified a lot of self-knowledge of which I'd been in denial (dislike of organising things, fear of criticism, etc.).
I also lead a Bible study with my friend Netéske in my flat every week, which is amazing. We have been going through the book of Mark and learning many things. The Bible is so much deeper than I ever could have imagined. Mind-blowing.
8. I've finished five jars of peanut butter so far, I believe.
9. I haven't been buying meat to cook at home at all this semester. I eat it at other people's houses, and sometimes at restaurants, but on average I'd say I eat meat about once every 2 days? Just trying to be a bit more sustainable. And learn how to cook more creatively.
10. I still have no idea what I want to do once my degree is finished. I'm halfway through now, and I'm feeling an urge to travel to some new exciting place. Don't ask me where that is though, or what I would do there. We'll let the pages turn when we finish reading them.
That's all that comes to mind right now. I'm disappointed the Sens didn't make it further in the playoffs. I'm going to Tanzania for this 5-week holiday between semesters, which is fortunate, since winter just hit here like an unwelcome in-law. I'm reading Dostoevsky for fun. I still like writing poetry more than doing most other things.
I'm 20 years old, and I'm grateful, content, and excited about life.
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Here and There
Before I get into things... Happy birthday, Ross! Hopefully by later tonight I will have posted something lovely on your Facebook wall, which will explain all of my feelings in greater depth. But I think we should all enjoy getting older! Because that means we're normal. Getting younger should be reserved for Benjamin Button. Otherwise, the ageing process is a good sign.
Okay, so I've been doing the school thing for about six weeks now. I'm a week away from my short vacation, during which I will be in Tanzania. I'll probably spend the ten days telling everyone there about my time here, but I've come to understand that I'll be answering questions the rest of my life, so I might as well get used to it now.
Right. School.
So, as I said briefly last time, I'm doing courses in religion, history, philosophy, and media. I'm trying to fullly enjoy the fact that I'm not taking any math or science or anything like that. I like all of my courses. I like discussing things, and thinking about things, and writing about things. The thinking and writing I'm realizing (or "realising", I should say... Still getting used to being this British) are going to be thoroughly poured on top of me for this degree, so I probably won't think of them quite as fondly in a little while. But I'll try to remind myself that I liked that at some point.
My goal is to do well in school. Seems silly, but hear me out. Degrees in the Humanities get trashed a little bit amongst UCT students, except of course by the Humanities students. A Bachelor of Arts or Social Sciences is easier than a degree in Engineering, I'll be the first to admit. To pass in a BA program isn't too difficult. It will teach you to think critically and to put your thoughts into words, but it won't require all of your intellectual stamina to be on call. At least, not in my opinion. However, to do better than a pass, to do well, to excel, that's a little trickier. So, that's what I'm aiming for. A 52% is not going to be good enough. I'll let you know how that plays out. So far, I've had a huge range of marks from the little assignments I've handed in, and the future will tell how much work I'm going to need to put into this.
I've become a part of Church-on-Main. If you're concerned for my theological soundness or anything, their website is http://churchonmain.org.za/, check it out :). I've been adopted into the community, and I've actually been quite inspired in my travels at how the Church is seeking the same God. I feel like I haven't missed a beat in my walk with God, despite having jumped across the ocean. Cool stuff.
So I'm finding my rhythm. I'm starting to actually recognise people on campus, which is exciting. It's still a little weird. I feel like any day I'm going to go back to normal life, and this will have just been an interesting break. But I don't think that's the case. The adventure just won't stop. It gives me great joy, laughing in the face of the exchange students who will be returning home in a few weeks. Sucks to be them.
Granted, I do miss Canadian things. Actually, I'll give you a list of things I miss/missed about home:
SNOW, Tim Horton's, perogies, sour cream, BAGELS, pasta sauce, Kraft Dinner, a variety of McFlurry flavours, Dairy Queen, Canadian political references, country music, being able to walk around at night by myself and be safe, beavertails, POUTINE, good and not really expensive cheese!, mandarin oranges, frozen pizza, GOOD SUGARY CEREALS, the first sweet inhale of spring, unlimited bandwidth, free WiFi at random public places, Mr Clean, George Stroumboulopoulos, and A&W. Oh, and some of you people.
Okay, so I've been doing the school thing for about six weeks now. I'm a week away from my short vacation, during which I will be in Tanzania. I'll probably spend the ten days telling everyone there about my time here, but I've come to understand that I'll be answering questions the rest of my life, so I might as well get used to it now.
Right. School.
So, as I said briefly last time, I'm doing courses in religion, history, philosophy, and media. I'm trying to fullly enjoy the fact that I'm not taking any math or science or anything like that. I like all of my courses. I like discussing things, and thinking about things, and writing about things. The thinking and writing I'm realizing (or "realising", I should say... Still getting used to being this British) are going to be thoroughly poured on top of me for this degree, so I probably won't think of them quite as fondly in a little while. But I'll try to remind myself that I liked that at some point.
My goal is to do well in school. Seems silly, but hear me out. Degrees in the Humanities get trashed a little bit amongst UCT students, except of course by the Humanities students. A Bachelor of Arts or Social Sciences is easier than a degree in Engineering, I'll be the first to admit. To pass in a BA program isn't too difficult. It will teach you to think critically and to put your thoughts into words, but it won't require all of your intellectual stamina to be on call. At least, not in my opinion. However, to do better than a pass, to do well, to excel, that's a little trickier. So, that's what I'm aiming for. A 52% is not going to be good enough. I'll let you know how that plays out. So far, I've had a huge range of marks from the little assignments I've handed in, and the future will tell how much work I'm going to need to put into this.
I've become a part of Church-on-Main. If you're concerned for my theological soundness or anything, their website is http://churchonmain.org.za/, check it out :). I've been adopted into the community, and I've actually been quite inspired in my travels at how the Church is seeking the same God. I feel like I haven't missed a beat in my walk with God, despite having jumped across the ocean. Cool stuff.
So I'm finding my rhythm. I'm starting to actually recognise people on campus, which is exciting. It's still a little weird. I feel like any day I'm going to go back to normal life, and this will have just been an interesting break. But I don't think that's the case. The adventure just won't stop. It gives me great joy, laughing in the face of the exchange students who will be returning home in a few weeks. Sucks to be them.
Granted, I do miss Canadian things. Actually, I'll give you a list of things I miss/missed about home:
SNOW, Tim Horton's, perogies, sour cream, BAGELS, pasta sauce, Kraft Dinner, a variety of McFlurry flavours, Dairy Queen, Canadian political references, country music, being able to walk around at night by myself and be safe, beavertails, POUTINE, good and not really expensive cheese!, mandarin oranges, frozen pizza, GOOD SUGARY CEREALS, the first sweet inhale of spring, unlimited bandwidth, free WiFi at random public places, Mr Clean, George Stroumboulopoulos, and A&W. Oh, and some of you people.
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