I am a big believer in the idea that good things come in small packages, that it is the little things in life that really mean the most, and that finding pleasure and joy in the simplest of things or situations is the best way to live positively, happily.
That is probably why I am now finally starting to settle in and enjoy myself more and more everyday as I get into a routine and just live my daily life. Like I said in my last blog, the sights and the adventures have all been amazing, but now as things slow down and we each get into our own swing of things, I am absolutely loving life!
Day two at school was fantastic! I am completely fascinated with my African History class, which I had for the second time today. Being the overachiever that I am, I had already bought the reader and done the first two readings before today’s class. But when our professor asked someone to read aloud, specifically asking for someone “with the ability to project and read lively and theatrically”, I certainly wasn’t going to be the first to volunteer. First of all, I hate reading aloud, not to mention that no one would be able to understand my “funny accent”, as they call it! However, I looked around and realized that I was the only one who actually had the reader, and after waiting patiently for someone else to volunteer, I finally raised my hand and read aloud to my South African classmates. I don’t know if they could even understand me, but I did my best and I think the professor appreciated my participation and effort! It was a little embarrassing, but at the same time, if I’m not getting out of my comfort zone, then what am I doing here?!
In addition to my History class I also had an Ethics class today, which may prove to be more of a challenge and involve much more thought, but so far it seems interesting as well! I also did quite a bit of walking around campus trying to find different departments and buildings. I am actually beginning to find my way, but it will take a week or so to really know the campus. I have to say, though, for the amount of people that complain about the way UWC works, I think the people and administration are really amazing. Twice today I had people stand up from their desks or leave from behind the counter and personally show me to a room or building that was down the hall, and someone even walked me across campus, leaving a line of 20 students waiting for him behind!! No wonder I had waited so long, but wasn’t it worth it to have someone personally escort me and make sure I got where I needed to go, rather than give me halfhearted directions or simply say “I can’t help you” ? I think so. It is instances like that when I think, would any administration ever do this in the United States? At Fairfield? Anywhere? I doubt it, and that is not to say they are bad people or not doing their jobs, but we just typically do’t do that.
We have heard again and again that this difference I speak of relates back to the South African term “ubuntu”, a virtue that has been described as meaning “I am a human because you are a human”. I am truly starting to see and believe in that concept as I spend more time in South Africa. What an amazing philosophy to live by. Imagine how different our daily lives would be in the states if we regarded every interpersonal relationship with the philosophy of ubuntu, remembering that others are only as human as we, and that without them, we are nothing.
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