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Published: February 13th 2008
friends
here are some ppl i've met from america, germany, sweden, and ghanaWow, it has been too long since I wrote, I'm not sure what to say!
Classes first I guess.
I finally got a schedule and everything figured out which is quite a relief.
I am taking a history of the last 6 billion years course. An a history of the western world in the 20th century. An English course called Travel and Translation:Writing Africa. And a Beginning Afrikaans course.
Unfortunately I have at least 2 classes every day of the week. Some of the Americans here have like 2 days off a week, I'm not sure how that works out?
Tuesdays are real long- yesterday was rough. From 8-1 we had Kayamandi. After learning about what we would be doing there and stuff we went around 9 to the township and I met the teacher I will be working with. I am helping at a pre-primary school. It is me and a girl from Ireland in this class. There are about 40 4-6 year olds in one square room that is about 100 degrees. The kids in Kayamandi speak Xhosa which is a clicking language...so basically there is no hope for me understanding it lol. All the different clicks with your
tourist trap
with some friends at cape point tongue mean different things. The language barrier is definitely difficult. The kids ran around screaming and played outside for a few hours and then we sang head, and shoulders, knees and toes....and that was there day at school. Rather unproductive. It is kind of frustrating but thats how they do things.
So..back to my classes. Well I have learned all about dinosaurs, astroids killing them, originating from apes, mutilation & evolution...and it is quite a bore. I can't really believe that they teach this as fact. Everyone just sits there and takes notes. At first I was shocked, like does everyone really believe this? But I guess so. And South Africa is one of the places where most of the fossils and stuff was found. So anyway, I have talked to some Christians here too and I guess it is pretty normal? I'm not really sure but it's definitely quite different than what I hear in my lectures @ Liberty.
A big highlight has been discussing politics/religion/beliefs with everyone though. Not just the South Africans but all of the international students. I talked to my friend from Germany for 3 hours about US politics, Europe, religion, you name it. It
which way?
where do ya wanna go? top of cape point was so fun. He is a real smart, funny kid and I really enjoyed the conversation despite the fact that I am not knowledgeable enough to be able to say things like I want to. I know things in my head, I know things that are right and things that are wrong but it is hard to put it in words and explain it someone else when what you are telling them sounds like total bogus. It is all a part of how you were raised, what your parents taught you, what your school taught you, what your country taught you. So interesting though...I mean he was telling me about why Europeans hate us so much and stuff. And how you would be slaughtered if you every, ever said in Germany that you were proud of your country or proud to be a German. He was talking about like candidates running for election and stuff...you could never say you had pride in your country and he was laughing because America is so totally opposite. Flying the stars and stripes everywhere...Also we talked about how they think Americans and weird or whatever because we are so religious. Religion is basically unheard
crest colored
this was the craziest/ whitest sand/ most turquoise/ unimaginable beach i have ever seen! it was pretty much amazing of in Europe. I was talking about different morals and beliefs and he looked at me like I was an alien.....he was like, "do you know all of that stuff is really fun and great?" (about sex, drugs, etc.) He pities me for missing out on so much! haha...but I love him, he is awesome and so fun to talk to. He just looks at me with a thick accent and says, "wow, you and me come from total opposite backgrounds." It's true though. As we were staring at the breath taking dark sky splattered in stars with the mountains in the background, I couldn't help but be totally amazed and blown away at the fact that 95% of everyone I talk to just can't get their selves to believe in God. I'm like....really guys? Look around! But it is so fun talking and we have agreed to disagree I guess.
Everyday, everything I see I'm like "Wow, God is good..." but then I feel sad for a minute because He has created all of this for us yet many of us are running around, cursing his name, and looking desperately for something or someone to tell us we are
awkward
here is my awkward pose. it was pretty windy, can ya tell? loved? The answer is right there but everyone looks right past it.
I got my hands on a few copies of Blue Like Jazz and I was more excited than I can explain. I was like a kid in a candy store hanging out in the Christian bookstore! I was like oh good book! oh another, oh i love this! I wanted to buy them all but I can't...because I have most of them at home. Books are too heavy to travel with! But I met a couple guys that I wanted to read Blue like Jazz and I'm reading again for the 3rd time to make sure I want them to read it. Haha....today D. Miller was talking about Seattle, the Bible, cigarettes, and chocolate....and I felt good. It took me to my happy place 😊 haha. His writing is awesomely interesting to me.
Speaking of reading though...I had my first English course today. The professor looked at his list of names and said, "A deVries from America?" And I was like yup (i fit in pretty well around here until i open my mouth) But I told him my grandpa is from Holland and he asked how we
toes
this was very different sand. so soft and squishy and non-grainy pronounce my name at home and when I said it the whole class laughed at me lol. I was like I know we say it wrong but Americans don't know how to say it right. So ya, that was pretty funny. But then he told us about a book we are gonna start reading and when class was ending he was like "ya, just have that book finished for next week" ....i was like ummmm it's 300 pages!!! So that is bad news but I will get it done, hopefully.
Oh, last thing for now, my Afrikaans class. I really like it even though it is 2 1/2 hours long! We had our first meeting yesterday and we already learned how to say quite a bit! We got Afrikaans names and mine is Elmien. We learned how to introduce people and stuff like that. My teacher was like....no food or drink is allowed in the classroom....but alcohol is. And I was like, oh no where is she going with this. And then she looked around and said, aren't you guys going to ask me about Valentine's day? Thursday we have class and it's Valentine's Day and all the other classes
AMAZING!
tell me this is beautiful! had asked if they could have a party. So then a older guy in my class says, "just tell me what you want and I can get it all" he works at a....wine/alcohol making place (don't know what its called) and he offered to bring everything. So the class put in their orders (including the teacher) and Thursday we will enjoy wine & Afrikaans! Ha ha, how crazy is that? I was like you are kidding me! That class is on the 6th floor of a building and it is all windows and the view is BEAUTIFUL! Mountains and the campus....it is so pretty. Just sitting there is pretty amazing.
So I am really enjoying that class, and the one about the western world (South Africans view of U.S. is pretty interesting) and I think English will be good. But the Australopithecus/Neanderthal/Ape stuff isn't my favorite.
So that is a little update! More later....hope all is well at home. Miss you guys!
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Karissa
non-member comment
I have been waiting for you to post another blog! Those pictures are so insane, I cannot believe the color of the water and then the bright blue sky with sun...........amazing!!!! Is South Africa a big honeymoon spot? because it looks like it should be!! Your classes sound very interesting, in more ways than one! ha! alcohol!! it would be interesting to hear what the rest of the world says about americans, I guess we do live in a bubble!! That picture of you on the cliff with the ocean in the background is amazing!!! i am sure stacey told you, but our speaker at the young life mid winter leadership retreat the last weekend of january was tony the beat poet from blue like jazz.......it was amazing listening to him all weekend long, he thinks so differently, it was just great!!! you would have enjoyed it :)! happy valentine's day and have fun in that class!