Home Sweet Home!

So it is now day four that we have been living in the Kimberley house, and finally I am starting to feel at home and acclimated. Last night was the first night I had slept since Sunday, and it was a much needed 9 hours! Now that I have successfully slept the night I feel so much better and I think I am finally on African time!! Below are a bunch of pictures of our house. I haven't really been taking my camera out with me other times because I hate looking like a tourist and I bring the smallest amount possible as not to lose anything. We are going to Roben Island this weekend so I will certainly take it there and other tourist sites and share those pictures !

So the last few days are honestly blending together but I'll try to highlight the best parts. Yesterday we went to UWC (University of the Western Cape) for Orientation and to register for classes. Unfortunately, after two nights without sleep, I had trouble staying awake through orientation and I skipped the campus tour to take a nap. However, the parts of campus that I did see were absolutely beautiful, the history of the school was fascinating, and all the administrators were so kind and welcoming. It is a place that I am so excited to be a part of, and although I'm sure University of Cape Town, where most international students attend, is a great university, I truly believe we are going to have such a rich immersion experience at UWC. That is part of the reason I wanted this program so badly and I am so happy to see that my expectations so far have been met, and actually transcended.

Basically what we learned at orientation is that UWC has a very rich history and was extremely involved in the ending of the apartheid in 1994. Here in South Africa there are white South Africans, coloureds (mixed race to put it simply, but its not that simple) and black South Africans. Though I believe UWC was at one time an all coloured school, it opened its doors to students of any ethnic background/race in the years before the apartheid regime was overthrown to begin to practice what it preached. It was also known for student protests and was described by administrators as far left...which I think is awesome. There are 50 international students in the University, including the 21 in our program, and not even all of us are white. We are the minority on campus to say the least. I even heard (but did not personally witness) that some UWC students would punch one another and say "white girl" when they saw one of us, just like we play the "punch-buggy" game when you see a VW bug. I guess some could take offense to that, but honestly I like it. I am so happy to be among the few white students at our university, to have the opportunity to experience that, as well as make friends and expose the other students there to an American, hopefully breaking the stereotype in some ways. I think it is going to be really great. All I will say about registration is that it is halfway finished. I'm trying not to even think or worry about it so we'll see what happens!

Today we were supposed to go to my service site, the Amy Biehl Foundation, but the schedule constantly changes last minute and we did not go. Other students went to their sites and apparently Amy Biehl Foundation will be somewhere we all go together, perhaps tomorrow? I am anxious to see it but I also enjoy the free time! Today was spent walking around town. I got a very cute flowy print skirt that was handmade here in Observatory (the Cape Town suburb we live in), textile and all! It was probably my favorite store so far, and I plan to go back and maybe have a dress or another skirt made for me once I decide what fabric I want. The skirt cost R120, which is $15. Not bad for some authentic African pieces that really are beautiful. I plan to come home with a lot! We also went to a thrift store with a lot of cool things, I got a few pieces to organize my room and also bought a mirror for my room, which I really needed. It all came to $2.50. You really can't beat these prices!

I will try not to write much more because I could go on forever and ever. I am absolutely in love with Observatory, or Obz for short. The main street has some awesome bars where we have already made friends with the bartenders, shops just like the textile one and thrift store I just mentioned, as well as really adorable cafes! We have all already become addicted to one called Coco Chachi, but there are so many more I am dying to try. I already know my way around, which is huge for me who always gets lost! Everything is really close to our house, we live in such a great location, and we walk absolutely everywhere. During the day it is actually perfectly fine to walk alone, for instance today I headed home when we were all out shopping because my legs were getting tired. It was two blocks, but at night it is better to have at least three people with you, just to be safe.

Tonight we are headed to Steve and Lori's house for a Braii (barbecue)! Steve is a professor at Marquette University who is here this semester with his wife Lori and three children. He is our academic director while we are here and is also doing research of his own involving South Africa. His two daughters are in high school here and his son in middle school. He and his wife are both really nice and I am so impressed that they moved their family here for this experience! Its just such an awesome thing and its really comforting having an american family experience SA with us.

Let me end by saying that I am so happy. It was definitely tough not sleeping for two nights in a row and the jet lag was getting to me, plus I might have been a little homesick. But I have put a collage or pictures up above my bed and already this place is starting to feel like home, for the next five months at least! I wouldn't trade this for the world. Walking down the street I am in awe of the beauty of Cape Town and how much has to offer and experience. I honestly am not doing it justice no matter how much I write, so I'll stop there!

Peace & love!