Hello everybody!
I still haven't started school yet- It feels like I've had an entire summer vacation given to me since December. Classes commence on Monday, I'm ready to get into a routine of things here and end this "floating" feeling where I'm not really sure whats going on. Their credit system is very different here. They go by NQF credits, so the more credits you are taking, the higher the year you are in your studies. I'm taking 84 credits, excluding a seminar course offered by the abroad program here. (The max is 90._ Because I was not able to get into any architecture classes, (the abroad program approved me for them, but the architecture department has a strict policy on net letting under grad international students take graduate level courses- even though the courses are exactly what I'm learning back at NDSU! I think I'm going to pick up another minor while over here in Environmental Science.) but I did scramble to find a few others that I think I'm going to enjoy. I am taking a Sustainability and Environment class which I am really excited for. It is 5 days a week with a tutorial on Wednesday's. I am also taking a history class called Art and Theory, and an archeology class that is called South African Hunters and Herders. The semester has a lot of holidays, and is considerably more compact than University studies at home. This probably explains why I will have class more often during the week. Finals here are 3 weeks long (they don't have mid terms) and account for at least 50 percent of your grade, if not more.
The University here is unbelievably gorgeous in all aspects. It rests on the side of Table Mountain, and the flora, architecture, facilities, views over Cape Town, etc. are breath taking. Word's cannot describe my feelings in being a student someplace so magical. The University itself is world class. It is ranked 157 in the top 1000 schools in the world. I am humbled to be an ambassador of the Midwest studying here. It is a complete 360 degree tailspin from the demographics, diversity, scenic views, contours & landscape, etc. of NDSU's campus. It is a well needed change.
Today I went to the organization fair. Their organization fair is a much bigger event on campus than NSDU's. It is an all day, three day event. It was quite overwhelming because of so many clubs/organizations they offer. (sailing, wine and culture, hiking, skiing, wakeboarding, rowing, habitat for humanity, volunteer clubs, and hundreds more). I think I'm going to give rowing a shot, it is something I've always wanted to try out and I figure this is my opportunity. I'm able to join up to 3 clubs with my fees being waived. I also want to get involved with the hiking club- they do a lot of weekend trips and it will be a great way to explore the country. Oh yea, and I'll probably toss some volunteer time into the mix of things as well.
The food here is delicious. There are lots of similarities to the U.S. but lately I've been broadening my palette. (Or trying to at least.) Ketchup is very different here. I'm not sure what the missing ingredient is from Heinz is (it could be the sugar) but I slowly liking it more and more. It's going to take some getting used to. I had a waterblom bredie, which is a casserole with rice and also had potjie a few nights ago, it is a traditional stew that was freshly homemade by the backpackers lodge I stayed at on the Garden Route. An ostrich burger was also on the list the other day. It was very different, something not on my high priority list to eat again on a menu with a plethora of options. My host family cooks delicious meals also, which I am grateful for. More on the food later.
I went on a 5 day adventure with 4 other friends to The Garden Route, this last weekend/early week. It was a great mini vacation and it felt like I was in a completely differently place than South Africa. It is a very lush, green, mountainous, stretch of scenic scape. Swimming in the Indian Ocean is much warmer here than the Atlantic in Cape Town. I have never seen mountains with indigenous forests meet the ocean so drastically. It felt completely foreign. (Cape Town is also a city where you feel like your in multiple places at once. There are several different vibes here. Sometimes you feel like your very much in Africa, but there is also a European affluence here.) I don't really know where I fit into all of this yet but it is an exciting feeling to say the least. I ended up bungee jumping off of the highest commercial bungee jump in the world at 700 feet. It was the thrill of a lifetime, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Lots of exploring, including a sustainable/organic village off of the road we pulled off at. We ended up staying 2 nights in Nature's Valley at a very eco/environmentally friendly lodge that really focuses on minimal impact in the environment. I could ramble on forever of how much I fell for this place, including great people, food, dogs, horses, hiking. It felt very homey from the time we arrived.
It is challenging to think about what to say in my blog because there is so much to share, and I could type forever. I am looking forward to things kicking off with school and activities next week.
Sala Kahle!
