First Week in PE

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I've been here for a week now, exploring the city, and getting settled and ready to start classes on the 11th. Today I was supposed to register, but found out that the few classes I had preselected back home are not being offered this year. I'm now waiting to hear back from someone in the sociology department whether there will be any similar classes offered.

Yesterday a group of international students took a hike on campus. NMMU is located on a 280 acre nature reserve where all sorts of wildlife live including zebras, monkeys, and a few kinds poisonous snakes. Unfortunately we didn't see any zebras or snakes, but we did see a young tortes and some springbok. Apparently most of the monkeys hang out on campus where they can find plenty food and they're seen as a problem. After the hike we took a tour of a nearby township where we visited a community project and a museum. As we were leaving the project, all the local children were getting out of school and waiving to us. A few of them wanted their pictures taken, or asked for money.

It's been a busy week, but I'm pretty well settled in now. It took a while to get everything set up (it can take up to a whole day just to get a bank account set up) but now I'm just waiting on my classes. A few of us had planned to make a trip up to Cape Town this weekend, but we've decided to wait until we get a four day weekend, we hear there are quite a few throughout the year. Instead we'll have a beach party and BBQ (locals call it a braai) on Saturday, and probably spend the rest of our time exploring the night life, hanging out by the pool, making friends, etc. We've already found a couple good places to go dancing, and there are a few other places I heard are fun to meet locals.

The area that we live in seems to be quite a nice area, depending on who you ask. Most of the houses are gated and have high walls with spikes, barbed wire or electric fences on top. We live in a place called Annie's Cove, in little two room cottages. The entrance is also gated and security is quite tight. Because of this, it is a popular place for international students as well as locals. I've heard that many international schools will not send their students to study here unless they are guaranteed living accommodations at Annie's Cove. I really don't know what to think about all the hype. I know the crime rate is high, but everyone is so incredibly friendly that it's hard to believe. We are constantly being told not to take the mini buses, not to walk anywhere by ourselves, never to go to the town center, or the buss stop, or the townships. So many people here seem to live their lives in fear and its hard to know whether the threat is real or just perceived. The racial divide here is also quite obvious and I've already witnessed a few interactions between blacks and whites that made me feel quite uncomfortable. This, however, is precisely why I chose South Africa. It's an intriguing place to study sociology. Thats all for now...

xoxo

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Photos

Annie's Cove Gate
This is the type of security you see all over the place.

Cute Little Guy
I'm sure he didn't appreciate the ranger delaying him so we could all take pictures.

The Preschool at the Project
This little boy wouldn't take his nap.

Another One of the Preschool Boys
Amanda let him hold her camera and he cried when she took it back. :(

Comments

[Jessica]

Cool stuff man
The picture you took of your living quarters is pretty and I'm glad you're having a good time. Just be careful.

[Joey]

bummed
It saddens me to hear you did not see a zebra, like i said I am expecting something in the mail that is zebra shaped from you. that is all. Be safe have fun, enjoy all that beauty, me kris and nate w. have been snowboarding like crazy its been amazing, maybe next year when you get back we can all do a tahoe trip. TAKE CARE!

[Ruth]

Ruth says hello
Hey Britt, Its so exciting! I'd like to see more pictures of course, I am a little jealous of your adventures :) It seems to me that some of the hype about safety might just be them trying to protect you all and of course when you first arrive in a country it is best to take everyones safety advice. I think after some time you'll get a better feel about what is safe or not, and if you live in fear bad things are more likely to happen anyway. Travelling with a buddy is always good news. Hope you can find some classes you want, although the education you receive from just living there will be worthwhile. Love and Hugs, Ruth

[Dianna]

there you are
wow, you're already there. I'm so glad you got to go. I think all the security and barbed wire would make me a little worried, you know, why would they put in all the effort? anyways, you look beatiful in your picture. Can't wait to see some more of your adventure

[Adrian]

Britta! I was googling pictures of PE and I found this! I miss the place terribly, I had so much fun out there, hope you are as well, it was great meeting you and hope to hear fro you soon