We're Doing Fine

Here's a link to a great article about South Africa.

A few of my favorite quotes from the article:

• "We are fine. We are cool. We know we live in the most beautiful country in the world inhabited by warm and vibrant people."

• "There are more people here with smiles on their faces than any country I have ever been to! Young people are returning in droves with skills and a positive attitude. Collectively we bumble along and stuff many things up while letting off a hell of a lot of steam."

• "The standard deviation of our emotions are set at MAX."

• "We also have passionate debates about the future of SA. Helped of course by red wine, which you must taste again because it is getting better every year."

• "These are the birth pangs of a new and unpredictable democracy. So buckle up and enjoy the ride and contribute. That is the message I convey to South Africans."

• "It is not for nothing that SA has the highest ratio of repeat visitors of all long-haul destinations. So, Jeff, how can I help you stop stressing out about us?"

A Week in the Life

Here’s my weekly routine here in Cape Town!

Monday:

8-11: Sociology, History, and Xhosa lectures

11-2: Lunch + homework

2-5: SHAWCO! This is a huge volunteering organization with many projects - I’m involved in one called Little Moon. We help 1st-3rd graders learn to read English.

we also play games with the kids :)

5:30-7: CIEE Seminar. About 20 of my fellow CIEE program members and I discuss our experiences with Quinton, our program director.

Tuesday:

8-11: Sociology, History, and Xhosa lectures

11-5: Do homework, run errands, and explore Cape Town!

5:30-7: African Dance class!

7-9: Indoor soccer with a group of locals!

Wednesday:

8-11: Sociology lecture, Sociology “tut” (tutorial, aka discussion section), and Xhosa lecture

11-12: Break – get coffee, due some reading, try (and fail) to find an open computer in the library (it’s quite a trek to campus, and I don’t really like to haul my laptop up the hill).

12-1: History tut

11: Do homework, run errands, and explore Cape Town!

Thursday:

8-11: Sociology, History, and Xhosa lectures

11-5: Do homework, run errands, and explore Cape Town!

5:30-7: African Dance class!

Friday:

8-11: Sociology, History, and Xhosa lectures

11: Explore Cape Town!

Weekends:

Explore Cape Town, do homework, go to church.

I realize the phrase “explore Cape Town” is very vague! I’ve done lots of touristy things so far, but that’s a post for another day.

For now, I’m busy getting ready to head to Kenya for spring break! Woohoo!