« The adventure has started. | Main | Cape Town Wonderfulness »
February 04, 2006
Cape Town!
I am currently without a regular internet hookup, but more regular updates (with pictures) are on the horizon, beginning probably next week. Here is a brief update for now, though:
I got here on 2 Feb in the early evening and set up my stuff. The other kids in my house arrived in small groups, and they're all pretty cool. We began the next day (yesterday) with orientation stuff through interstudy, my program, by learning our way around the city, opening bank accounts, learning how to ride in taxis here, and fun things like that. Last night after all our orientation stuff was done for the day ,the whole group(all 50 of us) went out to this club in downtown Cape Town as part of our orientation, which was really nice. Then we were able to explore Lang Street until 1 am. A bunch of the kids from my house went to this other club which was pretty cool; the DJ was playing break beats for a while, and then he switched to early-mid 90s hip hop, including some Kris Kross, among other things. It was a lot of fun. The kids in my house are all pretty fun; I have a feeling that the semester with them is going to be good and we're going to have a great time together. It already seems like my house is tighter with each other than the other houses are. Today we had more orientation stuff, during which our program people tried to scare us so we'd be really vigilant about safety in the city, and also a bunch about academics and course registration. Then we went to a braai ("bray" - meaning BBQ) with a lot of good food. Next week we start the UCT orientation, which includes fun trips and lots of tours and other practical information, as well as final course registration. We've been on the move since the instant we got here, so the UCT orientation will be nice because it's not as many hours per day. When we get time, though, my house really wants to try and get to the beach ASAP and hike up Table Mountain. We'll probably do those things the following week, though, when we have free time.
It's so beautiful here -- the scenery and the weather. Table Mountain is this amazing backdrop behind this gorgeous old architecture that is UCT (pictures to be posted soon). The city is much like any other big city, but poorer on the whole (though the white people are rich, of course); there are a lot of poor people who ask for your money every time you venture out, including hordes of little kids. It's a bit hard to handle because I'm on a finite budget and I'm not sure what the culturally correct way to interact is in that situation. There are a lot of small things that are indicators of the legacy of apartheid, and it's kind of difficult to know how to feel about them because it's not my history, but it's still somewhat upsetting in these small doses that pop up around every corner. It's also a little nerve-wracking to walk around now because of our little scare session this morning; while I am entirely sympathetic to why crime occurs, it's still a little disconcerting. In Cleveland I'm pretty careful and pretty aware, and I walk around by myself and ride the rapid on a regular basis from the E. 120th stop, etc.; here, however, you have to be even more careful, so it's a little uncomfortable at the moment. I'm sure I'll get used to it, and I'm figuring out ways to carry as little expensive or important stuff around with me as possible.
I can't wait for school to start; I think it's going to be great. I have so much I want to get involved in, too. I'm excited, and it's so cool to be here, but really surreal in a lot of ways, too. I'm trying to work out my course schedule, and it's coming slowly but surely.
Unfortunatley, my time in the internet cafe is almost up, but I will add more as soon as I am able. Be sure to write:
jacqueline.greene@case.edu
or send mail to:
Jacqueline Greene
c/o IAPO
3rd Level Kramer: Law Building
Middle Campus
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, Western Cape 7700
Republic of South Africa
Posted by jcg24 at February 4, 2006 11:20 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.case.edu/jacqueline/mt-tb.cgi/5647
Comments
next time tell the dj to play some dnb!
Posted by: vic at February 4, 2006 03:33 PM