tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87272745121411593832024-03-05T02:45:52.912-08:00Michelle in South AfricaI am a student at UC Berkeley in California and I am studying abroad in South Africa for a semester. This Blog is an opportunity to share my experinces with my friends and family.MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-7028185592317840642009-06-02T06:51:00.001-07:002009-06-02T07:13:42.212-07:00Ubuntu PhilosophyThis week is bittersweet. Saying goodbye to friends is rough. It seems like we are just getting to know each other. And the way of life. These days I am studying for my last test, on Friday. Been wrapping up all the last minute details around leaving, finances through the school, packing, clearing out the room. Man, we are getting so used to how it all goes, here. Even the slow pace of walking has caught on with me, the "Howsit?!" greetings in the hallways, the little things that make the big impressions. The time people spend with one another. There is soo much socializing. And while I think part of it is how I choose to spend MY time, as compared to Berkeley, for example, I think a big part of it is the spirit of African community. It is everywhere. Support for one another is embedded in every action, it seems. People hang out all the time. You do laundry together. You sit outside not even talking, together. You cook together. You walk each other to the store. All these actions stem from the philosophy of Ubuntu. The ideas of respect and care and value for others (aside from the issues I have previously described related to criminal violence, ironically...) add up to strong sense of community. Ubuntu is a term derived from the Bantu language. To try to summarize the concept, I have cut and pasted some words by the famous archbishop, Desmond Tutu, known especially for his anti-apartheid efforts in the 80's.<br />(1999):<br />“A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.”<br /> (2008):<br />“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity.<br />We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity."<br /><br />To wrap things up: I won't be writing on the blog much more, because I will be in transit more than usual. But still checking emails.<br />If you were wondering, the Comrades winner this year finished in something like 5 hours 23 minutes and 26 seconds.<br />The exchange rate has dropped tremendously since we arrived in January. It is now under 8 rand to the dollar. We are trying to tell ourselves that we just got lucky in the beginning!<br />What else?!<br />I am excited to go off travelling, and will look forward to catching up with you in July :)MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-36693452906631077412009-05-31T03:30:00.000-07:002009-05-31T03:44:22.684-07:00Warm Winter<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWl5E0qyTsM-EhNyVYfQYxOR2NNFB4sA3166K3vL36M11YNLbU_IABM1hD75OLMNBLUa10WJYmk_o4JgYTIG2XYWb-qbu5rxn_CLN3QE4Y9bjpTg5ssuUyliEnNPrEHqKFw8m4nQpVTeT/s1600-h/kareoke+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341936170029437954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWl5E0qyTsM-EhNyVYfQYxOR2NNFB4sA3166K3vL36M11YNLbU_IABM1hD75OLMNBLUa10WJYmk_o4JgYTIG2XYWb-qbu5rxn_CLN3QE4Y9bjpTg5ssuUyliEnNPrEHqKFw8m4nQpVTeT/s320/kareoke+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE1qs072mrvnV12vSUPx6WRJBcedZUOrgBtXUJnTxbncdBCZXa1hVMR0MRXyCbDl8KTO79F7kgg7a1gm_xLqx0G98ZXQPkaJTITwAy8XcEzKifStoNjSXNn1swjIcIxLC1qncEMLwrVFJ/s1600-h/kareoke+026.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div>I am uploading a picture from surfing in Durban last week and then another photo I got from a friend, when we were setting up a science experiment for the kids at the Ubuntu Center.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof0_XRQ-LHv7DBA-enRN6mQibh5tkNA7MfkpTIqAwp8wZD-ZEMTmISwy9Opwn9iuiDU9i50k_Rp3i3wFMsTiHZgLnfDXCnKgW8djey_VpHayU9F0wiVW5aZ0XDs23WfUNRm11xzZ-EyYh/s1600-h/DSC01339.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341936512701065410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof0_XRQ-LHv7DBA-enRN6mQibh5tkNA7MfkpTIqAwp8wZD-ZEMTmISwy9Opwn9iuiDU9i50k_Rp3i3wFMsTiHZgLnfDXCnKgW8djey_VpHayU9F0wiVW5aZ0XDs23WfUNRm11xzZ-EyYh/s320/DSC01339.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>A really pleasant day out today, maybe in the late 70’s, and it is just about winter! If I have failed to mention in the past, the climate here is: wet summers, dry winters --- I was pretty surprised, among other things, to step off the plane in January and be welcomed by thunderstorms. But now it's all paying off cause winter is alright.<br />Two exams down, two to go. It is sad saying goodbye to friends I have made in class. Some people have been at home for the last week or so, and are just returning the days of their exams, so, we say goodbye upon finishing the test. And then there are the friends in the dorms, we still see each other all this week, but, man Friday is coming up fast. </div><div>Last Wednesday we went out to watch the big soccer game (Barcelona beat Manchester) at a local bar. It was packed! Soccer is everywhere here. Really gearing up for 2010. It is not like the sport isn’t already incorporated into the cultures around here, I mean kids are always kicking around a ball, and adults are pretty into it. There are some weirdly obsessed individuals, in fact. But that is besides the point. The sport is up there on a pedestal right now because the country is going to be hosting the games next year, about this time. Therefore, games on TV, no matter who is playing, are Must Sees. That said, Wednesday’s game was, well…hyped up. But my friends and I are into the karaoke Wednesday nigths...so we balanced our time (photo). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzcXz1P8pfF0fCUifkzWWr6PtNUIFEk8aUz6jl-LQceNAadA42f7thQ4kO4I0afMpFnDa0zBtmYPLTm9TFgIKiLWMshDc45gDQ5pE6LuH0IHxGoZiyYNY2UWWVTdNfRIJSTjCy9FWF_Ck/s1600-h/kareoke+073.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341935245850672242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzcXz1P8pfF0fCUifkzWWr6PtNUIFEk8aUz6jl-LQceNAadA42f7thQ4kO4I0afMpFnDa0zBtmYPLTm9TFgIKiLWMshDc45gDQ5pE6LuH0IHxGoZiyYNY2UWWVTdNfRIJSTjCy9FWF_Ck/s320/kareoke+073.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday was a study day. And on Friday I wrote the Virology test, and then gave a presentation. Both of which went alright. It was neat to hear all the other students’ presentations but the whole thing took more than 4 hours and we didn’t break in between anywhere! The presentations were all about our community service and individual research projects. Many people, myself included used powerpoints—but the power outlets didn’t work, so we had to just show off of a laptop, not the same. I was impressed that our professor managed to stay seated in the same chair that whole 4 hours! I was getting antsy.<br />Saturday we hung out around here then studied at a local coffee place, Bread Ahead, probably go back there today, in fact. The owner is a nice guy, he's always there. They make all the pastries you could ever dream of.<br />So that leaves me at today, Sunday. Still thinking about saying the goodbyes on Friday. Can’t believe it is so soon.<br />I am going to be traveling (with two other friends) a little bit after the exams period: to Kruger Park, then to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, then to the Okavango River, where it floods the Kalahari Desert, then to the sand dunes in Namibia, and a couple big cities, like Windhoek. I will fly home from JoBurg on the 2nd of July. If you have suggestions about anything, parks to see or cities to hit, please don’t hesitate to send a note: shellbell@berkeley.edu</div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-19146037049730775262009-05-26T02:13:00.000-07:002009-05-26T02:28:34.709-07:00Crime and ViolenceIt is Wednesday, time is flying by. I have mostly been studying virology, and writing a paper about crime in KwaZulu Natal. the paper is for my service-learning (Poli Sci) class. We were allowed to research pretty much any topic related to policy in South Africa, and initially I was going to write about health care, but after observing in the hospital a couple weeks ago I realized that the root of a lot of the problems that came in to the hospital, was criminal violence. So I wanted to learn more about why there is so much of it, or even if there is all that much, compared to the past years. So far, the conclusions I have drawn are that the government transformed their approach from crime control to crime prevention, in 1996, with the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). This strategy also outlined other goals for the country, like better communication between different tiers of govt. and authority, and trying to portray a more accurate account of crime and violence in South Africa (to the Int'l community)-so as not to scare people, but to still be honest. The strategy highlighted the importance of incorporating the issues of crime and violence within other social reform and development initiatives, so as not to isolate the problem as something that could easily be fixed from one angle (like using only the police to fight crime, or placing all the money to carry out crime prevention in one area of the budget). By considering other social factors, like education and poverty alleviation, the NCPS is a farther sighted and more comprehensive measure when compared with other policies and agendas the country has tried to use. The NCPS has been faithful at reviewing it's accomplishments and failures, so that is good, too. All in all, crime and violence is still a problem here, while the stats say some incidences are on the decline, the daily news and stories from people still make the place out to be "dangerous". But, I guess compared to the late 80's and early 90's it is a dream.MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-71897283959037771482009-05-24T14:34:00.000-07:002009-05-24T15:12:09.635-07:00Study Break<div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hdSV4Y-ZNTsiKd6RU9ZeGTTAFRrt4VtsVHy7x3Sf9lWJ6IP-XapoekXirRRTeo8aNeCAvkh-xtqRqaFOLYov3_l9XP-VLWz9KvA64B2K7irOOvOGwAy9JWdux_lxC_YiM9fEo6nAYYZ-/s1600-h/DSCN6698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339512923891451170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hdSV4Y-ZNTsiKd6RU9ZeGTTAFRrt4VtsVHy7x3Sf9lWJ6IP-XapoekXirRRTeo8aNeCAvkh-xtqRqaFOLYov3_l9XP-VLWz9KvA64B2K7irOOvOGwAy9JWdux_lxC_YiM9fEo6nAYYZ-/s320/DSCN6698.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eGmWmS43sumWKRdoekFLNlPzWA5vRdXrKMOz0SiUu_PKiPhSNZ9wIg84kpojZrG-s5ErzkMJEa94t1hnY1n-2_K6M_GWcR06IIXUYSLtPpJCPBRWGYd8bs8a4CI4LD4tmbJqK3c_4aal/s1600-h/DSCN6701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339512787208220754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eGmWmS43sumWKRdoekFLNlPzWA5vRdXrKMOz0SiUu_PKiPhSNZ9wIg84kpojZrG-s5ErzkMJEa94t1hnY1n-2_K6M_GWcR06IIXUYSLtPpJCPBRWGYd8bs8a4CI4LD4tmbJqK3c_4aal/s320/DSCN6701.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Above, photos of "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Agric</span>" part of campus, where my classes are, the natural and biological sciences. We have a pretty nice area of campus. And then a I am putting up a picture from the third floor of the building, too, sometimes we chill on the roof before class starts and look out at the farm area in the distance...that is about all that you see in the distance. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339513757089359970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-oXgQz-MMcPnx1sUITUBrAR-A3A67n5T4NH_2LqDLGo6v0KEQc-z_v3DOa6CRDXdxnCMDxA68nx0xErO2kvJvoz9C3lF8zIsfZmeME41QQFPKHMniKvBlr5_rkma0nkrpmcBgdE7AJp8/s320/DSCN6703.JPG" border="0" />This is the week we get off between attending classes during the semester and writing exams which contribute a significant amount to our class mark. My tests are the 29<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> (one written, one submission), the 1st (written), and the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> (one written). This week is genius because there is not pressure, it is just expected that you will choose to study more often than not…So, that is what I have been doing, along with cooking, and chilling out. A couple highlights of the last couple days (you know, the stuff besides studying virology and the such in my dorm room…):<br />Thursday was spent with some friends, just hanging out, studying a bit. Did some music swapping, really exciting to get new South African pop music, actually.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIzUIdJAFgyv-yViKzzjo2fansnr5APU5fY9ZIgjeFRF11Nv1B1ETVdBw9Csffi1bZL20cO7Z6LvNwcMal4WHRwI_ZQzHN_T217JasvM3LaLrJjcHWs993whyphenhyphensG24LhrUDtBzQd062db1/s1600-h/DSCN6711.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339509486022609442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIzUIdJAFgyv-yViKzzjo2fansnr5APU5fY9ZIgjeFRF11Nv1B1ETVdBw9Csffi1bZL20cO7Z6LvNwcMal4WHRwI_ZQzHN_T217JasvM3LaLrJjcHWs993whyphenhyphensG24LhrUDtBzQd062db1/s320/DSCN6711.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We went to Durban for the day on Friday, did a bit of shopping in the Indian (actually this would describe a large portion of Durban) part of town, Victoria St. Market and Workshop (Photo here of Kerry and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Laurin</span> at the Workshop area). In the afternoon, I went the beach with the intention of watching my friend learn to surf, but I ended up thinking, that is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sooo</span> easy, I could do that…so, I did try to surf, and man was that tough, frustrating! It was not till I got off the waves that I realized it IS really a cool thing to do. Just you and the natural tide, each wave is different so you never get bored. No boat needed (like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">waterskiing</span>!!!), no snow needed (snow boarding), all you need is a board and the ocean, peaceful.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAp8xXGnWm51EgrpuCnkzNSFc_tkA1EGDOkzJ34c5D9Jn_ugVyn4bPIcqHT9wmPQfZpK52giDDhn3jSky67lOShlbai2hbA8CWEE_8lshi0RxAkFAv910Ri85Rbm5Vn3ulXWD_GQbCPU-/s1600-h/DSCN6708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339509645200222994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAp8xXGnWm51EgrpuCnkzNSFc_tkA1EGDOkzJ34c5D9Jn_ugVyn4bPIcqHT9wmPQfZpK52giDDhn3jSky67lOShlbai2hbA8CWEE_8lshi0RxAkFAv910Ri85Rbm5Vn3ulXWD_GQbCPU-/s320/DSCN6708.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br />Last night We went to The Royal Show, past the main part of down, in the city showgrounds. It was like a county fair, it is going on all this week and last night was like the opening show night, a few opening bands performed then the headliner, Prime Circle came on (they are the hottest band here in South Africa and apparently one of their songs just went International, listen for it J ). Have to say, not my kind of music, punk-rock, but it was a cool experience to see how South Africans celebrate their music. Show aside, the fair grounds were fun, lots of advertising, lots of high school kids, a few rides, a few festive food stands, and during the day the shows range from cattle and horses and dogs to motorbikes jumping cars. After the show, the after party was at the local dance club, Crowded House, and that was jam packed with better music and dancing.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06JK9WHjfhOIVfMiEqxXTIqPD_e8kJgPKqvboGO0p9gdqads1lpQJvvexHBrRpW47wfneiooJgUG0gcvM2dfduk6NPLzZpT6hT5zUphn-UpizEXwpli8UkqyUX6ezKXtnZAnwkP0KR1tK/s1600-h/DSCN6724.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339509955532055938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06JK9WHjfhOIVfMiEqxXTIqPD_e8kJgPKqvboGO0p9gdqads1lpQJvvexHBrRpW47wfneiooJgUG0gcvM2dfduk6NPLzZpT6hT5zUphn-UpizEXwpli8UkqyUX6ezKXtnZAnwkP0KR1tK/s320/DSCN6724.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339515520446131234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3bkRrjWfaJ1bWJrWcJnIgkKuBHFebJ4M3IlR1R4ExHtugD5eKXz3lcVwlTo5lc16JDHrynN7ICOC0eAxBSkhRF5iHzcXnB8mDY0YdFnw4u4XddxRrOIJlwVlfGl28OpigluJWPZOLd8p/s320/DSCN6726.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmVR5fLjfBrc4n4EpoLh4gCFK5pKvTJCOw6kVEBiyXAGONAfiImYx6vMhVU0NfePMZFVIGJt1bP2NMkXARyT0Y3R6ANTk5R3d8WWraLqetLMQB0iQWR_3Tzm4W8fuoXk_nCmFTrSUmZuN/s1600-h/DSCN6732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339510046808069474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmVR5fLjfBrc4n4EpoLh4gCFK5pKvTJCOw6kVEBiyXAGONAfiImYx6vMhVU0NfePMZFVIGJt1bP2NMkXARyT0Y3R6ANTk5R3d8WWraLqetLMQB0iQWR_3Tzm4W8fuoXk_nCmFTrSUmZuN/s320/DSCN6732.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This morning, Sunday the 24<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span>, was the Comrades Marathon, which has been going on for decades, it is a foot race between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Pietermaritzburg</span> and Durban, each year the direction alternates. This year it began here and ended in Durban. It is something like 55+ miles, more than twice a marathon!! And people actually finish, a whole lot of people in fact. This morning we walked down to town and saw the start, at 5:30AM. My friend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Laurin</span> joined in and ran the first 10k and back for fun. It was incredible to watch, 15,000 people went by, which took about 10 minutes, and that was at the start line! On TV we watched as the first runners came in, at 5 hours and 30 minutes or so, the female winners (for the last 6 of 9 years, in fact) were a pair of twins from Russia (32 yrs old). People come from all over this week to enter in this marathon. People do die from running it. Crazy. By the way, a lot of people just take it ‘easy’ and walk a good portion of it, just to say they did it, it takes them more like 11+ hours. It would be cool to say I did it someday. It is a big deal around here, there are many people that have done it for 15+ years, like addicts! But I say good for them. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339510545995403042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavPFrH71utK18kAK_DBgRAU53zmpzDEDWIHNCNEPXl1_ZVq8oG1gZ0xWUi9eHNCsGx88Ry3lNoSqhk06AuQTE3wQbQyQmKBYaoAh9gXhz-ZTEhBg_OILN2DCfebC4x4d3_Sj7O8IH1Uku/s320/DSCN6743.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339510790066787954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeawwVw7IDE2lXZUeAsOw3ClEUv0HyY3lZfyuWMvxLBDrmZrOLX-h29P94bZTE6Kno4oV7lTo00azuQMW0GGkd5VvCMyNiezacveWiB4xOqdDybz69szgullA6BM-7tMA5T_EwqMZJBL8/s320/DSCN6752.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339510940611851042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr6Hci9CBrXmw4HSsaXwqKTuwFuWScYq5vEf-LSfMKU4j9TD0H99wAzj6gHDrnLVtHY_tVQdXKNY6z4H30FCu8YqPQqquLuwbDN0VocirCdJ4oFoj6k0_b7Epng9NhUyTmmqEH6-06ydo/s320/DSCN6758.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339512212817466034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC2-LtyTh08Cr7ZN65mUF1C3ZKQAHOh0TQ2u5ZGUjOZqypY6UHh7nPL1OYqId4ZBumsAtWnSde9X_qqAfSftGodZhnp2tk1QSI6cGhBgvjv9SaIWA5L7kpAl_n-zGqYx7C3-1tRZHlkK5/s320/DSCN6759.JPG" border="0" />After watching the start this morning I went back to sleep for a while and studied more. Then my friend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mosima</span> and I tried to imitate our favorite curry place’s food, we made our own bunny chow and I gotta say we were so excited--And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Mosima</span> loves taking pictures, so we can brag, basically, and well I have included a fair share of the photos...Good as the curry place in town, if not better. It was like a chicken curry stew we made, hot and spicy with veggies in it, then we scooped it into quarter loaves of bread and ate up. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Mosima</span> makes a good stew—she’s writing up the recipe for me to take back.</p><p>Alright, back to studying for us, there is a building on campus open 24/7, so as it is now past midnight, that is where we are headed to read for a while. And tomorrow, who knows? <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">maybe some</span> more studying?! And get the final results of the Comrades Marathon...how many people made it to the end? How many people made it under 8 hours? Ya, should be interesting news. To be honest, watching it on TV is like as exciting as the Olympics, at least the first few batches of people who are running all out...then the walkers are not as neat to watch, but still incredible to believe these people went so far in one day. Oh, and my friends recently told me that the marathon was started to commemorate the victims of WWII. It has been going on for 80 plus years. It supposedly is the worlds longest and oldest run!</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-74934532336937549222009-05-20T03:16:00.000-07:002009-05-20T03:34:09.366-07:00Last day of classes<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGroRhklxymNMECRwWV2t1sU56h5u4i2LPJdK9YaPABvGvX2AyMA3Femek5TLLOkzp6_ULFUZA4GCcv8-VKboY2YEliOiu2P6Hzde5ZfRciCn6ndDkeGuCZyBtIfU9IYp-uqSQFKGHbcz/s1600-h/DSCN6690.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337850734818590498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGroRhklxymNMECRwWV2t1sU56h5u4i2LPJdK9YaPABvGvX2AyMA3Femek5TLLOkzp6_ULFUZA4GCcv8-VKboY2YEliOiu2P6Hzde5ZfRciCn6ndDkeGuCZyBtIfU9IYp-uqSQFKGHbcz/s320/DSCN6690.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Wednesday. Sunny out, going to a luncheon put on by some Food Management students in my Agric Dept. There is a luncheon or two a month, where the students have to prepare a themed, three course meal for 40-50 people, plan, write menus, purchase, cook, and serve, all for a grade. I am excited to see how it goes, it will be the first one I have attended. The theme is Mexican, I am curious how well they pull it off. Already saw some decorations...<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCm7Hok7rA-d5j35xJqeDwCBO04iTAJ9w0x2IhvjbBdplakdFYi7ZUOS6zZu71pZnb1D_SQr6JigO8D8cu8Y-DTjOsXnVN9oqmKK-zUACIRe2BBa0zB-JHZj7p3iIHLZYd0jPeqFzQGcE/s1600-h/DSCN6693.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337850249441405058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCm7Hok7rA-d5j35xJqeDwCBO04iTAJ9w0x2IhvjbBdplakdFYi7ZUOS6zZu71pZnb1D_SQr6JigO8D8cu8Y-DTjOsXnVN9oqmKK-zUACIRe2BBa0zB-JHZj7p3iIHLZYd0jPeqFzQGcE/s320/DSCN6693.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Today is the last day of classes and then we have a study week, in preparation for the big exams.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1S3e0dhih-de3VWs5r0cHxuoTXOP2D3p1FPo4u3Y0kpMlcmJdCTnxDIybYr2QNiqTuvU8jC2ESQNtfEQDOXUH8k-oNhqyxVc43JJvWQE_VDe4X-CosR9Qh38PzCsuBnIaeMyuJyli9R_/s1600-h/DSCN6691.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337850492605793810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1S3e0dhih-de3VWs5r0cHxuoTXOP2D3p1FPo4u3Y0kpMlcmJdCTnxDIybYr2QNiqTuvU8jC2ESQNtfEQDOXUH8k-oNhqyxVc43JJvWQE_VDe4X-CosR9Qh38PzCsuBnIaeMyuJyli9R_/s320/DSCN6691.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I am posting some pics of the rural area outside of Pietermaritzburg that I have visited several times with a woman, Sanele, who, is like our equivalent of a social worker, she goes out most days and checks on people who are on ARVs and makes sure they are taking them, asks them about how things are going, and just takes tabs on quite a few of the people in the community. I asked one family if I could photograph them, and the daughter was ecstatic, so, I will put that photo up too.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLKShgbLlApvDFRH4Pdwgxl8s64VUQz3iOLwug3b9ENiAibuC9CqLds4AqGAP4kaBAmpnASljeq4lzrZ6N6k6Ot4JdCVdRbqsay49xIynABjUkKIeY4MYVwP_Ou3qbKvkdV9zU_EGL6xG/s1600-h/DSCN6692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337849900433220626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLKShgbLlApvDFRH4Pdwgxl8s64VUQz3iOLwug3b9ENiAibuC9CqLds4AqGAP4kaBAmpnASljeq4lzrZ6N6k6Ot4JdCVdRbqsay49xIynABjUkKIeY4MYVwP_Ou3qbKvkdV9zU_EGL6xG/s320/DSCN6692.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This area is called Buffa, and most of the houses are government build/provided, and date back at least 5 or 10 years. It is very different from the suburb area campus is in (Scottsville). And then I have a picture from when I went out with two of my friends, B and Mosima, from the dorms on Friday, to Lizard Rock, a bar/dancing place close to campus.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ0RTqRTvI_J4UishthDlq0H2UIfuvZSEaOUcBCMIJ5M6oYZdS4mtLMU4_eS5uEKiAm0LLf7-1u3AOKSnU0gpqUsgPvRmtxLCRVqW7BQLebxejHdj7QZTzKRm0DytutDrUzf1yVf5Zntm/s1600-h/DSCN6658.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337850990321075474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ0RTqRTvI_J4UishthDlq0H2UIfuvZSEaOUcBCMIJ5M6oYZdS4mtLMU4_eS5uEKiAm0LLf7-1u3AOKSnU0gpqUsgPvRmtxLCRVqW7BQLebxejHdj7QZTzKRm0DytutDrUzf1yVf5Zntm/s320/DSCN6658.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-50474933660782485572009-05-17T22:55:00.000-07:002009-05-18T02:46:34.375-07:00SOPD, Edendale Hospital<div><div><div><div>SOPD (Surgical Outpatient Department) is where Dr. Ndaba works. This is like ER. The hospital is so big that their 'ER' is divided into many different sections, all ending in OPD. So there is Medical OPD, for example, too, and it takes different patients from SOPD. SOPD takes any severe trauma emergencies which could go on to surgery. I was just starting to understand the set up by the end of the day. Observing in SOPD was really fascinating, we saw a number of incredible cases, plus I was able to compare the way the facility was run to those back in the States. It makes me want to go to medical school. I am searching the AAMC website now...<br />So, that was all day Sunday. While it was busy, and long lines of patients (really, I would call them more like victims), and just crazy, I was told by the nurses that Friday and Saturday nights are much more hectic. Well, well. I guess next it would be cool to see a private hospital here, there is supposed to be a huge gap in how the two compare.<br />Saturday I walked into town with my buddies Laurin and Kerry. We checked out a really cool art museum, Tatham Art Gallery. I am going back there before I leave, there was all kinds of mixed media, painting, beading, collage, print making, photos, you name it, nice place. Unfortunately we forgot that shops close early on Saturdays, 2:30pm, so we didn't do much shopping, that's okay, we don't need to buy much, just browse. Downtown was pretty dead after 3, though. We ate at our Curry place and then walked on back. I have included some sweet pictures from downtown, the clock tower, and a statue of Gandhi. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi22voKr5n-zf8Z2C7RblFP2l234M8i3QAHTUId-8DjCq-2XdNx68QG7TrshTHdBwNOtKmZA-lYGrhcKuXKZqjVA7o6PhfR5j63Uk4szTvdHr2MR-9TTYD7nYKqTlVZOZfIEsIKGuHSBL/s1600-h/DSCN6645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097665126573362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi22voKr5n-zf8Z2C7RblFP2l234M8i3QAHTUId-8DjCq-2XdNx68QG7TrshTHdBwNOtKmZA-lYGrhcKuXKZqjVA7o6PhfR5j63Uk4szTvdHr2MR-9TTYD7nYKqTlVZOZfIEsIKGuHSBL/s320/DSCN6645.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337096855414705314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHl871Ai79MgdJXVfNjhfMtQy3BcJ9nSKGKmF-msCRkHrUpf8CmmKWL-G7InuVcMuDuUZHR6nvXXHAvqX18JvrlFVhoqHxgC0MMk6ATg0Z2ETCuRy0KxhLSgSWNQJxfDIhtIE54keBjB6/s320/DSCN6650.JPG" border="0" /><br />I forgot to mention that Saturday was Open Day, a day when high schools from all around the area bring bus loads of students to UKZN PMB to check it out (i.e. super chaotic on campus, and a hence a good day to go to town). Girls and boys dress up in their school uniforms and look really nice and stroll around the campus and ask questions to all the departments who have set up tents of information. Plus the art students do some demos, and there is free ice cream. Like Cal Day at Berkeley. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34z0Ja7PCZjwx3qKScjbGISX4LmfKpEZosJMwNnU3aqUk6P5QLgme1OFgZSazQGtcRLaFYuIilvIxL30YPmYJN3XZGN2pAL5Xs1edcaQf7qxV1hjtdIBXCWa81QSmNosOGrgu48F0YMon/s1600-h/DSCN6649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337096437041507906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34z0Ja7PCZjwx3qKScjbGISX4LmfKpEZosJMwNnU3aqUk6P5QLgme1OFgZSazQGtcRLaFYuIilvIxL30YPmYJN3XZGN2pAL5Xs1edcaQf7qxV1hjtdIBXCWa81QSmNosOGrgu48F0YMon/s320/DSCN6649.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhYzu7QTvoHzIcvvwUMZwKB8KEkVJAfFaizTBUZprmI11TNsRrehznP8HiYfr2DqyyCvPw6B-BIcMz9_VcRIh_XyTWA8bX6LINmJ63zlK06zj4F3411WA4d09ju2QyUo1QT02A9j3alIW/s1600-h/DSCN6648.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337096021126438114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhYzu7QTvoHzIcvvwUMZwKB8KEkVJAfFaizTBUZprmI11TNsRrehznP8HiYfr2DqyyCvPw6B-BIcMz9_VcRIh_XyTWA8bX6LINmJ63zlK06zj4F3411WA4d09ju2QyUo1QT02A9j3alIW/s320/DSCN6648.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So, this is the last few days of classes, we are out on Wednesday, then we have a study week, then exams. It is weird to think that a semester has gone by, seems like it it has been to short to be a semester.</div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-31367734323819655082009-05-14T16:14:00.000-07:002009-05-14T16:32:21.166-07:00End of the School WeekIt is early morning Friday, I am in the computer lab when it is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">soooo</span> quiet, pleasant I have to say, cause normally it is so packed and you have to wait to use a computer. I realize what a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">privilege</span> it is to use the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Internet</span> here, if you are not a student, you would have to use a shop in town which is much slower connection and costs money and you would still wait in line. This week has been a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">whorl</span> wind, I submitted papers, had tests returned to me, and just been working hard in school, seems like it is paying off, reports are coming back with (at least) decent scores.<br />I am really excited for this weekend because I am going to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Edendale</span> Hospital to job shadow a doctor I met at an HIV research center nearby the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ubuntu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Children's</span>' Centre. I met Dr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ndaba</span> (Nelly) a week and a half ago, when some of the girls from the center walked me over to the research center, and I ended up learning all about the research they are doing there, with anti <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">microbicide</span> gel. Really fascinating to hear about. But that same day I met the doctor that works at the clinic there, and she said that she works long shifts at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Edendale</span> Hospital. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Edendale</span> is a rural, township I guess you could call it, just outside of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pietermaritzburg</span>, the same area the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ubuntu</span> Center is in.<br />So I have been keeping up with Dr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ndaba</span>, and she said that I could take my pick, she would be working the 24hr shift on Friday, then again on Sunday, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">sooo</span>...Sunday I am planning to go out there. I have a taste of what it will be like, cause today was my second time visiting the place, I was supposed to ask permission from the head of surgery, but after waiting and waiting, 2 hours later I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">couldn't</span> wait any longer and left a note with my info, hope that is okay.<br />The place is a completely different type of hospital than I have seen before. As I described it to my folks the first time I saw it, it is cross between a train station and a prison. Plus a lot of people (like thousands I am sure, and all those that are waiting outside), I don't know how nurses (a ton) and doctors (3 at a given time) that work there see it, but I hope to find out. It is a public hospital. That is a crucial point. Here, private (for patients with medical aid... NOT the vast majority of people here) hospitals and public (for all others) hospitals mean the difference between life and death, respectfully.MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-78813886843452575612009-05-10T08:26:00.000-07:002009-05-10T09:01:52.230-07:00After the Sleepover<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334225853667167954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxVVjXc15368D89geXg8XKjCcfU49KAfXQvgykTic9Mgxe2a9wfoweN7pOrqQ5E4gbszJAOfwJMQ3EPm3w2UodfhIzy3aJ9y3d1vgpt2D8nbuPI8tT_0CGnUqG8nP_DHYSE68H5rw_mIA/s320/DSCN6587.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div>Wow! We had quite the time at Ubuntu. Longest time we have spent with the kids. Too long? I don't know. I don't think so. It was a chance to see how each of them lives, in a 24 hour period. Totally different than I do that is for sure. I am still coming to terms with this; people live differently, that is a fact of life. I guess when all you see is so many differences, it makes you wonder, what are the similarities? I want to recognize these, too. As this is for my "reflective" service learning class, appropriately, I am still doing some thinking about the whole weekend.<br />Well, for a brief recap of the weekend: we painted the front sign outside the Center--lots of bright colors and the kids hand prints, some people played monopoly with the kids, we did some coloring activities, tried to tie in some English with the coloring, pretty successful if you ask me. The teenage girls know a bit of English, but the younger girls that are still learning. They know more English than they let on, but still, there is a language barrier for us. And the English comes out at the most unexpected times, the arts and crafts is a good bridge cause I think they use that as a learning tool in school too. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jd1z64CduxSZdmmPgg6gOFdaEeLrHZ0aipwBrq7Nhey6WiasuSKOAiGNg7pxCLfa5KcIq7hiBIGgz_Umb9jyCCj1Ef6yxLyAvgrmwnpLPL4fuG7o5Jjsswo-aw7XBeZNnsQL9AkK8AU5/s1600-h/DSCN6599.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334225262884657826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jd1z64CduxSZdmmPgg6gOFdaEeLrHZ0aipwBrq7Nhey6WiasuSKOAiGNg7pxCLfa5KcIq7hiBIGgz_Umb9jyCCj1Ef6yxLyAvgrmwnpLPL4fuG7o5Jjsswo-aw7XBeZNnsQL9AkK8AU5/s320/DSCN6599.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We cooked a bit of meat on the braai pit outside the house and the "moms" cooked us up some traditional pap (corn meal with with water, like porridge, but if your lucky...I think, lard too...), and a green bean and tripe stew on top. We ended the night with Toy Story and a South African comedy, Mr Bones.<br />In the morning we all got ready for church and walked to a classroom at a school across the way, where we had our own little ceremony, the kids said that was usual for them, small, but sufficient...and we appreciated our mothers--some of us, not all the kids know their mothers--and sang and prayed, in Zulu. But we were guests of the day and treated really nicely, they made us a lunch and they had rehearsed new songs, in English, even.<br />To tell the truth, I was really uncomfortable and ready to head home by the time we were on our way walking to church, but I am glad I stuck it out. It meant a lot to the kids. The church is a big deal in their lives and to share it with us was really important to them. It is like when you introduce one of your good friends to another one of your good friends.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91t8ulLmwkCMSTiFmaFU_oPIzv-mK1KNn4nBql6LVLO7ES-uTp7Mk59l5QSxsm3sJ2NRH4bBPORKyfUHY_HYc2pt-B_UUnMnCj5crBaNK2QDY0uYCU7x9wM4XKZnGDCE1PzZzZrQCAYIo/s1600-h/DSCN6550.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334224772570716930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91t8ulLmwkCMSTiFmaFU_oPIzv-mK1KNn4nBql6LVLO7ES-uTp7Mk59l5QSxsm3sJ2NRH4bBPORKyfUHY_HYc2pt-B_UUnMnCj5crBaNK2QDY0uYCU7x9wM4XKZnGDCE1PzZzZrQCAYIo/s320/DSCN6550.JPG" border="0" /></a> Below is a picture of me with one of my biggest fans at the center, Apiwe, 8 yrs.</div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-69669858193498180982009-05-09T02:27:00.001-07:002009-05-10T08:54:31.798-07:00Saturday Morning<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbLNRTNy7zKcuvrq_RM3dM1obuAaH42N-NSiJuOEjHT7kroHeGuKMZRp0MhFp1StprUzeEInoxfi2mnDFu6ONKa5tOwZ1on7Qdi6Z0hyphenhyphenaUNiSKeGa8Eo7tUmT2s4TIcpaDcF62Un1hGBL/s1600-h/DSCN6535.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334223462597937826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbLNRTNy7zKcuvrq_RM3dM1obuAaH42N-NSiJuOEjHT7kroHeGuKMZRp0MhFp1StprUzeEInoxfi2mnDFu6ONKa5tOwZ1on7Qdi6Z0hyphenhyphenaUNiSKeGa8Eo7tUmT2s4TIcpaDcF62Un1hGBL/s320/DSCN6535.JPG" border="0" /></a> Pictures of campus (below, the main campus library; right, the main campus clock tower. This is the part of campus I live on, but my classes are mostly out at "Agric")<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qg65-DW6W8ml48H5f9EeciiNy6UWyG8YCi-bGB6D4qo8vBVaRM0tKX1wxNTlAqKkOVMWdhecFr9Es_Xf7ko0MW3MjOYeZOOzbrBAJ9gV_WZb0yhSvr0OW4yn-Y7XH_lDiugt-nRvbHk4/s1600-h/DSCN6533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334223350705390258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qg65-DW6W8ml48H5f9EeciiNy6UWyG8YCi-bGB6D4qo8vBVaRM0tKX1wxNTlAqKkOVMWdhecFr9Es_Xf7ko0MW3MjOYeZOOzbrBAJ9gV_WZb0yhSvr0OW4yn-Y7XH_lDiugt-nRvbHk4/s320/DSCN6533.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>It's a nice Saturday morning. I mean nice outside. I am inside...I am working on my paper about <em>Tobacco mosaic virus.</em><br />This morning my friend Lauren and I woke up early to watch Kristy complete a half marathon. That is about 13 or so miles! Wow! We thought we were up early, but Kristy had been up since quarter to 5! Well, it was worth it, she ran at like a 7 and a half minute pace, so she crossed the finish line around 8:20am. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi465J8AMUW2ooaZ4O-dKU_2Kk88ZYWHF1cB-hcKiqra2enHZvIhx4Lg9NwOUrDJxcy2h0dE1HNcGSPM7O8EdpKnJyhzPH5gXMyAnSBVQucRV5hUWFpk7IFG5p6QMOXRnuUbbKQcNePlA8b/s1600-h/DSCN6539.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334223635873888978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi465J8AMUW2ooaZ4O-dKU_2Kk88ZYWHF1cB-hcKiqra2enHZvIhx4Lg9NwOUrDJxcy2h0dE1HNcGSPM7O8EdpKnJyhzPH5gXMyAnSBVQucRV5hUWFpk7IFG5p6QMOXRnuUbbKQcNePlA8b/s320/DSCN6539.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Today our class heads out to Ubuntu to have an afternoon plus sleepover with the girls :) Then church with them tomorrow, too.<br />There is about a week and a half of classes remaining, then a dead week or two. Then EXAMS.<br />Here, exams count for 67% of your semester mark. Big deal!!<br />And you have to make a certain "DP" which is the value of all the work you have done up until classes end. If you make DP then you get to write the Exam, if you don't then you have failed the semester (33%) and they won't let you write the Exam. I am nervous cause this is a big deal. Different from back home where the Final is max 50% and that is not so common, even.<br />I will surely have more photos after this weekend. Have a pleasant Saturday.</div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-76964437040041311092009-05-05T00:28:00.000-07:002009-05-05T00:45:29.176-07:00ClassesToday is a regular Tuesday morning. Yesterday was rough, as my friend said, I was having a "case of the Mondays". Yeah, school was just kicking my butt this weekend. So, yesterday, I submitted a lab report on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bacteriophages</span> (viruses that infect bacteria), a paper on organic versus conventional foods, and I "wrote" (as they say here) a test for Animal Science.<br />Then took the night off. We watched <em>Atonement. </em>It was storming all afternoon and into the evening. Lightening bolts lit up the whole sky at 2 minute intervals. It was perfect to sit in an chill out. But, to be honest, that movie involved a little too much concentration, we agreed that next time, comedy.<br />This afternoon we go out to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ubuntu</span> CC for a few hours.<br />We have a sleepover planned with the girls this weekend. I am excited, Magic wants us to treat it as, yes, fun time, but as a time to share with them some knowledge they may not get elsewhere...I am most excited about taking photos from home, a map (I have been trying to teach them the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Happy</span> Birthday song in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Spanish</span>--and I want to explain that there are specific areas of the world that speak this language...), and hemp to make necklaces.<br />In the mean time, back to studies. Working on a lab report that covers the entire semester I have had in my virology class: identifying an unknown virus in tobacco plants (its <em>Tobacco Mosaic Virus, </em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">TMV</span>).<br />If there are any questions you guys have about South Africa, please let me know, I am happy to write about more specific issues and look into the answers if I don't already know them. Cheers!MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-70258767844662913632009-05-01T03:45:00.000-07:002009-05-02T03:33:59.386-07:00Ubuntu Children's Center<div>One of the courses I am enrolled in here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UKZN</span> is through the political <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">science</span> department, it is called "Policy Issues and Service Learning". Where the bulk of our class time is done via volunteering (like poll monitoring). We do study policy issues on our own or in groups, but outside of the school work, we volunteer at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ubuntu</span> Children's Center a couple times a week. This place is home to 35 young girls (from toddlers to teenagers) who come from unfortunate family situations. Here they are provided beds, food, school clothes, homework help, and a supportive Christian environment.<br />When we go out there (we take a small public bus, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">coombi</span>) we help them learn English, we play soccer, we talk with them about what varsity is like (college), and so forth. Last night the older girls actually came to campus and we all had a meeting about where we want to take <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">things from</span> here on, since us volunteers are here only another couple months, and then other students will come. I am preoccupied with how to get some of the local students more involved, so that it would be an ongoing, sustainable volunteering system. We talked with Magic, the Center's director, about fundraising opportunities and weekend gatherings we want to have with the girls in the next couple weeks.<br />Let me just say that Magic is a star! He founded this center and he continues to be the prominent voice for the center and all the girls. While he does excellent networking around the area, and is greatly assisted, he is just Magical--encouraging, proactive, wise, and street smart. A great leader who we are all learning from. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHo2a25GiNuX4fis25L7xZwFRsNFI4S0tvg-vjrE61VHcBFYYU67UcepD9-WLqZErwrMy1s0q1_yCqCEozKGQJG0baHU9VEf9c8Vler_f3d9PtpkkXF-5DQ2ZsKRm6K5pbqCPisPYij-V/s1600-h/DSC01339.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331172702010271970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHo2a25GiNuX4fis25L7xZwFRsNFI4S0tvg-vjrE61VHcBFYYU67UcepD9-WLqZErwrMy1s0q1_yCqCEozKGQJG0baHU9VEf9c8Vler_f3d9PtpkkXF-5DQ2ZsKRm6K5pbqCPisPYij-V/s320/DSC01339.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(soon to come) I have included a picture here from when we were setting up a science experiment with the girls. While, yes, some girls were too young to understand, there were others that were so excited to read aloud the whole 'worksheet' we made up--in English--. Then others were concerned with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">collecting</span> all the necessary materials (bugs, plants, soil), while others were jazzed that they had a notepad to be responsible over in which they were to record results. It was a good afternoon for learning.</div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-56648075149057243232009-04-28T03:17:00.000-07:002009-04-29T22:45:53.981-07:00Rowing in Pretoria<div><div><div><div>This last weekend I travelled with the rowing team up to the 54<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> annual South Africa Championships rowing regatta held just north of Pretoria. In attendance were most of the same teams as at the last regatta, but this time, there were also teams from clubs, not just varsities (colleges). Hence, there were older people on teams together and even an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Olympic</span> pair. This was the most competitive racing of these few months. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOHjpCWPSYFNwvbE2VbDLJ1a2YyO3_q24L0X-5EboFw4hvXjjTGoK-xypcuz9dnNjMKCcUbRzap3sNmjWCNRa8vl32G-LkZB6rhqMycAlVJCLZY224InOBCzRtz4FVq15lcfzUHq4NncW/s1600-h/DSCN6441.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330355057494314098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOHjpCWPSYFNwvbE2VbDLJ1a2YyO3_q24L0X-5EboFw4hvXjjTGoK-xypcuz9dnNjMKCcUbRzap3sNmjWCNRa8vl32G-LkZB6rhqMycAlVJCLZY224InOBCzRtz4FVq15lcfzUHq4NncW/s320/DSCN6441.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTiRbkSR6zYpG9Cm-DOKO_u4B2GK2xD_C0YZKnLTQc0Zno4Ttk9FkmSfNnjxoLcTZuc9JzFD0LHbJpuv2EEO9Y2YMIi5S4-N3iPJezmgjwdbw2Rba5qZg-9be6Tcxo-qGs7iKcFEK85wS/s1600-h/DSCN6440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330354813484349090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTiRbkSR6zYpG9Cm-DOKO_u4B2GK2xD_C0YZKnLTQc0Zno4Ttk9FkmSfNnjxoLcTZuc9JzFD0LHbJpuv2EEO9Y2YMIi5S4-N3iPJezmgjwdbw2Rba5qZg-9be6Tcxo-qGs7iKcFEK85wS/s320/DSCN6440.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On Friday we drove up to the lake, a good 6 or 7 hours, and pitched our tents and cooked up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">boerwoers</span> on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">braii</span>--sausages on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bbq</span>--and hung around the campground, looking at the southern cross, and trying to remember the rest of our astronomy, I bet my neighbor Lynn could tell me(?). The guys tried to get in to mischief, which they did, setting off firecrackers and getting some angry Africaaner guys to come after them...not a good idea...some shouting and slapping followed! Well the campground was definitely our playground for the two nights of the regatta. We had booked three campsites, but ended up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">smashing</span> all 25 or 30 of us onto one site for the bonding I guess :)<br />My crew entered a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">women's</span> eight (placed 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nd</span>) and two <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">women's</span> fours, both my races were Saturday. It was a lot of fun and we were super tired by the end of Saturday. The thing with rowing is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">there</span> is a lot of carrying. the boats are heavy, and they do not get themselves assembled and in to the water...<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">definitely</span> a process. That afternoon we went to a pub and watched a rugby game on TV, then went back to camp for a mince meat and pasta dinner, and we showed our teammates all about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">s'mores</span>, yummy. It rained that night, but we kept fairly dry. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIki1IdS44shCFNeArsBE8-H0NYxsiQ6XAGzfeIB_zK7jz0hyphenhyphenKSJkBui1T993t9eksSOLTl-kYKRCIHCMMC_pjDqctPX090wX6dPKrA1v_MPIX7iVdzNbrmnyovFsHhCXiQB6Nn8sC-OOj/s1600-h/DSCN6445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330355131946538290" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIki1IdS44shCFNeArsBE8-H0NYxsiQ6XAGzfeIB_zK7jz0hyphenhyphenKSJkBui1T993t9eksSOLTl-kYKRCIHCMMC_pjDqctPX090wX6dPKrA1v_MPIX7iVdzNbrmnyovFsHhCXiQB6Nn8sC-OOj/s320/DSCN6445.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylUnDnq1mvhGs8M0HvHHLkOQYaQXmjI7jFz2XUNXUyjYAD2Hi1WM8D_Es1dCptBs202rO984xrRttOu6NdeZNqV17EmSdgw4xjzvlgJr3UsxtMp-l8JRyBdhGqsuOsq3728KranxpNoj6/s1600-h/DSCN6453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330355222810865330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylUnDnq1mvhGs8M0HvHHLkOQYaQXmjI7jFz2XUNXUyjYAD2Hi1WM8D_Es1dCptBs202rO984xrRttOu6NdeZNqV17EmSdgw4xjzvlgJr3UsxtMp-l8JRyBdhGqsuOsq3728KranxpNoj6/s320/DSCN6453.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On Sunday we watched a lot of races, particularly the guys crews, and helped them get in and out of the water on time. I coxed one of the guys' four person boats: sat in the front, facing the direction the boat was going, and steered and gave encouraging yelling and calls to the rowers. Its pretty fun, cause the guys row hard, and you sit at ease cause you aren't rowing, but you are most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">definitely</span> in the competition, you line up the boat at the starting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">line</span>, you see where the boat is going and how close it is to the other teams during the race. Some people go to school and row for a team just for that position...scholarship, sort of like with any sport position. In case you were wondering, our school does not have anyone on scholarship for rowing, too social?<br />Sunday we packed up our stuff and drove a couple hours to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">JoBurg</span> where we left our stuff at the Sleek Backpackers and went out for the post-regatta party with the other school teams, at a country club type of place. It was a lot of fun, probably one of the best nights I have had in South Africa, a culmination of the season. And just cause it was great hanging with the crew and seeing familiar faces from the last regatta. Lots of dancing, House Music is THE music here. It is like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">electronica</span> but with more words and it is generally upbeat, not angry or headbanger. Well, the party was great, and as usual, our team MADE the party, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">haha</span>! After the party ended, not wanting to sleep we drove around a while, in the Quantum, a giant minibus we often rent out for travel, and finally made it back in the wee hours to our beds at the hostel.<br />Monday we slowly made it back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Maritzburg</span> where we all unpacked and settled back into school life.<br />Let me explain, Monday was a national holiday because that was the date, the 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">th</span> of April, when South Africa had its first democratic election in 1994. So, yes last Wednesday was a holiday, so that people could go out and vote, but the 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">th</span> is a holiday so that people that work the voting stations (Wednesday) really do recognize the special date, by not working either.<br />School is tough. I believe it is because I have not been putting in as much time on the weekends... well this next weekend is another 3day weekend, and I am not travelling, it is school time. That is how it goes. And, we are done with regattas for now, so I won't have as many posts about rowing, sadly.<br />Currently, I have a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">PowerPoint</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">presentation</span> on cauliflower mosaic virus to give on Thursday, and a test that day too. Then a paper on organic farming and foods due on Monday. Along with a test in Animal Science. Will be busy.<br />I would love to write more about what I observed last Wednesday at the polling station, it could be sort of long, though, so I will plan another post this week.<br />Oh, and, it is a friend's 21st this evening, woo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">whoo</span>! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK6CgBJLxZiBNUhsKzwj8Aen6nBxHVSiEadOExfXq-l0mKEdIPMI1DkmJTwhdyOaqAA4a1Dqb-6DV_iWguaJnYzZZwNMZd7MMEd1sLA7pmoAJ0PdA8dy4j5we6pJLiSSQUOUChmq2AApL/s1600-h/DSCN6472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330355330685294114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK6CgBJLxZiBNUhsKzwj8Aen6nBxHVSiEadOExfXq-l0mKEdIPMI1DkmJTwhdyOaqAA4a1Dqb-6DV_iWguaJnYzZZwNMZd7MMEd1sLA7pmoAJ0PdA8dy4j5we6pJLiSSQUOUChmq2AApL/s320/DSCN6472.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So that is all for now. (right, birthday girl, Emily, in the white)</div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-51801702985792992392009-04-20T04:18:00.000-07:002009-04-28T03:16:36.827-07:00Durban<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0uA6-9odyxVoQ44fwn5JYgSsVW2oa9welJctSIVMCwCTGwTHk-9iGxmQYetxr1GLPcFM0W0sGeDhbVdbKkmbMB4qpTYYgKFHwShYfJXSk-i4UoFhWtsRaKUxrgx4oEMdGxDkmeKxxCeu/s1600-h/DSCN6425.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329682419423287058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0uA6-9odyxVoQ44fwn5JYgSsVW2oa9welJctSIVMCwCTGwTHk-9iGxmQYetxr1GLPcFM0W0sGeDhbVdbKkmbMB4qpTYYgKFHwShYfJXSk-i4UoFhWtsRaKUxrgx4oEMdGxDkmeKxxCeu/s320/DSCN6425.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Friday we went to dinner at our favorite Indian food joint, Bollywood Curries (the ever popular mutton bunny chow, see above). Then walked back to campus and went to the Irish pub, The Bell, with some girls from my dorm. Later we went to the apartment of a friend, Eddie, who was throwing a grad party in celebration of his graduation ceremonies over the weekend. Graduation ceremonies are ongoing, at least so it seems, because of the logistics of processing all the degrees, it is different than back home.<br />Saturday I spent the morning in the computer lab with my virology group working on a paper and powerpoint presentation that we are to submit next week. Then in the afternoon I went to Durban with some friends to see my very first rugby game!! Lots of fun! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAldAIORa5r4XcRq12O3GbjpVq_9-VlzATvyVIrRvI9RDWlN33W1UAnXFREGXQk3HmY8CNdoM3PeNIUp5EEIDK0jgC6F6T_EreO-VQve5l7Xe8GtMUPsYaH64i-Qc7GbSYozAMSm2GoP8Z/s1600-h/DSCN6411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329681770545475490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAldAIORa5r4XcRq12O3GbjpVq_9-VlzATvyVIrRvI9RDWlN33W1UAnXFREGXQk3HmY8CNdoM3PeNIUp5EEIDK0jgC6F6T_EreO-VQve5l7Xe8GtMUPsYaH64i-Qc7GbSYozAMSm2GoP8Z/s320/DSCN6411.JPG" border="0" /></a>While the sport (and the fair like festivities/tailgating before and after is most like football), the stands and crowds are reminiscent of baseball, like going to a Giants' game. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKtxC4rJXabymiO0VPTMjJrK6g7RETNxFsJDmc0R9anqcIo_dJKacBQWDflaKll23epWiviTtW5D42wccpffYj2AD94-tPbF69SNHZcXXEdDAZb3LjwntKCux6dRBVoTUOFYpuq2kIU63/s1600-h/DSCN6408.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329681307885424242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKtxC4rJXabymiO0VPTMjJrK6g7RETNxFsJDmc0R9anqcIo_dJKacBQWDflaKll23epWiviTtW5D42wccpffYj2AD94-tPbF69SNHZcXXEdDAZb3LjwntKCux6dRBVoTUOFYpuq2kIU63/s320/DSCN6408.JPG" border="0" /></a>photos of rugby game (a New Zealand team vs. Durban Sharks), and then a photo of me in front of one of the new (still building, it. Thsi picutre was taken from inside the rugby stadium, so you can see they are very close by)stadiums being built for the FIFA World Cup 2010 (there are stadiums being built in many of the big cities here, including JoBurg, Durban, and Cape Town).<br />That night we walked on Florida Rd. the supposedly happening place in Durban...it was not that crazy, but it was a little nicer than other parts of the city. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BIRY-u9Z-chCKsnkEIAHPiUrk38Enj-P7AiKGiAXgY4jeMcSzSLdMZ4a70D9jV4xhCeT-w1Z7eS7-ZaMCmRXkWuoNg1al6OJZnZ5hZayXfwNVzohCGM8c4cX8dInfMeTBmDtZQMt4a1i/s1600-h/DSCN6418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329682085950081106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BIRY-u9Z-chCKsnkEIAHPiUrk38Enj-P7AiKGiAXgY4jeMcSzSLdMZ4a70D9jV4xhCeT-w1Z7eS7-ZaMCmRXkWuoNg1al6OJZnZ5hZayXfwNVzohCGM8c4cX8dInfMeTBmDtZQMt4a1i/s320/DSCN6418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday we walked out of our hostel and into uShaka (named after the Zulu king) water park. We spent the day between the water slides and the beach where we rented kayaks and body surfed. I think next time I go to Durban I am going to try surfing. I like waterskiing...maybe similar?! (to the left a photo of the beach in Durban, part of the "Golden Mile")<br />So, Monday has once again arrived and I am back to classes, writing lab reports for Animal Science, volunteering for my political science internship based class. It is going well.<br />Wednesday is election day, national holiday. Zuma is expected to win, even though many people are unhappy about this. Some argue he is a criminal. As one poster put up by and ANC opposing party says: "Put criminals in jail, not in government (Independent Democrats)."<br />I am supposed to help monitor elections on Wednesday, as an observer, make notes about how the polling station is running (not just us students, there are many people from the community that are doing this, compensated appropriately, not as community service workers), through my PoliSci class, so, we will see, it should be a pretty big day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EqF8DHFGVb2yqVSX0E56WlbaQxrtFaVjOIlsCqBcojKNvzGcoIBJhsr_RigsQ5hFIRaYjeMGPecqIxA6PYasWgXcHBf1phmzY1GmPBytZHdToS8hlXCWY2oUzNQ1J1FFXZr2Q94U_xGU/s1600-h/DSCN6426.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329682725320521090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EqF8DHFGVb2yqVSX0E56WlbaQxrtFaVjOIlsCqBcojKNvzGcoIBJhsr_RigsQ5hFIRaYjeMGPecqIxA6PYasWgXcHBf1phmzY1GmPBytZHdToS8hlXCWY2oUzNQ1J1FFXZr2Q94U_xGU/s320/DSCN6426.JPG" border="0" /></a> (a little Zuma opposition, Independent Democrats party street sign to the left)</div></div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-20032914714360308532009-04-15T11:19:00.000-07:002009-04-15T12:41:52.330-07:00Easter Vacation: Garden Route<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2sd_EwcCxAitJmLxxcy1IBvupVAJdm5ocgR-Oc3T1gUvw0-eXFodLERURQludkU5z4sbrb1yPilFSF3JdeLq0PaSlMC-HhUhHzmJgGufvrZJAQ_sSaijazSzxVV-fj_rCtl2y-iY8IqE/s1600-h/DSCN6163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000929662694642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2sd_EwcCxAitJmLxxcy1IBvupVAJdm5ocgR-Oc3T1gUvw0-eXFodLERURQludkU5z4sbrb1yPilFSF3JdeLq0PaSlMC-HhUhHzmJgGufvrZJAQ_sSaijazSzxVV-fj_rCtl2y-iY8IqE/s320/DSCN6163.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>We started in Coffee Bay; we were there two nights. On our very first day/night of driving—to The Coffee Shack Hostel—we got a flat tire!! It was pitch black and we pulled off to the side of the highway, Mom, I had my flashlight (though the emergency flashers were sufficient…), anyhow, the guys managed to switch the flat in 15 minutes tops, just as some other random folks were strolling by (yes, walking on the shoulder of a country highway). Not a blink later we had arrived at Coffee Shack where we got a free welcome drink, and went up the hill for pizza. Coffee Bay was a very small seaside town (pop 600), lots of huts for houses, one gas station that had limited (petrol supply?!) hours and no signage, the main attraction = beach, main attraction for most of the South Africa Garden Route. At Coffee Bay, surfing was all the rage, as was lounging on the soft sandy beaches, and making a toast (sundowners) and taking photos at sunset<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlcFcDBaYlIEWzQMOsl4lniKyrPmgPz7jITzJnUsmsJx0OT3X1m5_EvQVTZWBksJ4SKcWzRaANDM6SbKjgPk53RJj0v2r21vHAiicuOCQXqyItHhiUoZvZS5eiJDD5z4mAARraL-8GFq3/s1600-h/DSCN6190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325001260196047842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlcFcDBaYlIEWzQMOsl4lniKyrPmgPz7jITzJnUsmsJx0OT3X1m5_EvQVTZWBksJ4SKcWzRaANDM6SbKjgPk53RJj0v2r21vHAiicuOCQXqyItHhiUoZvZS5eiJDD5z4mAARraL-8GFq3/s320/DSCN6190.JPG" border="0" /></a>, below, left.<br /><br />Man, the words to describe this trip! I want to just talk and have it transform people’s minds. Anyway...Coffee Bay had “Hole in the Wall” a big island rock with a hole in the middle, caused by such strong wave action over the years</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We took off for Jeffery’s Bay and stayed two nights, funny, a brief but fierce shower poured down as we pulled in the driveway that night. Not a good sign for sand boarding the next day. Oh well, we jogged in the morning, and shopped in the small beach town, a lot like a California surf town! Santa Cruz or beach towns in So Cal, San Diego neighborhoods even. Got a billabong sweater and slops (flip flops). Worked on a tan. Went out for Mexican food. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcQsDLjNrI2SHdggfRcyjkTJCl8DcikJrXCJueY3y34GS4B7XViBw1A0YGyi-bPWiZn9y05k383u6GcQpvJSP78p5REZGcR-Wzy1UpYLIQogzfYpIVWM76yURXWIqBeD1Z-eGj9648lL7/s1600-h/DSCN6196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325001655372034130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcQsDLjNrI2SHdggfRcyjkTJCl8DcikJrXCJueY3y34GS4B7XViBw1A0YGyi-bPWiZn9y05k383u6GcQpvJSP78p5REZGcR-Wzy1UpYLIQogzfYpIVWM76yURXWIqBeD1Z-eGj9648lL7/s320/DSCN6196.JPG" border="0" /></a>(Jeffery's Bay to the lower right).<br />We went up the road to the world’s highest bungee jump (lower left), which I am still glad I did not do. I watched most of my friends, that was plenty of terror for me! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhPYtUU89oZuR1KmTz_MfTdDeFUvNWeDhKOUwWXWjwEwPsaiBWyMMdZpgEq5J68WPj4aUepqyN9_oXocapdCJy9T49rCwH9cc_1Lgp6nyz7-5yeS_k1RvEvvMT5olb-9BH_kB1qO7JQdL/s1600-h/DSCN6215.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325001805088016626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhPYtUU89oZuR1KmTz_MfTdDeFUvNWeDhKOUwWXWjwEwPsaiBWyMMdZpgEq5J68WPj4aUepqyN9_oXocapdCJy9T49rCwH9cc_1Lgp6nyz7-5yeS_k1RvEvvMT5olb-9BH_kB1qO7JQdL/s320/DSCN6215.JPG" border="0" /></a>Then we rolled on towards Knysna (“Nice-na”). A touristy---but for a good reason--place. You can walk to wherever you need to go, so we just parked it at the hostel (sweet restored old mansion) we booked and walked on to the waterfront (lagoon here, reminiscent of Venice). That night we barbequed some grub and hung out.<br /></div><div>The next day we took of down the road to where the Indian Ocean ‘meets’ the Atlantic Ocean. We arrived there just at sunset; I would say one of the most beautiful nights here. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ax18Tp16xbyaoB1DFIexnmWx3I4iRMhDislrGZgi-U4auTosUuDZuPicS-7ASGeNSlZuAdi2QDd4Rdt1KpgVLLO_4ceFv4PQEUdsrPoXByNQr0GuR0l4wWzgpqI81DkI_Nq_ZwYu8icR/s1600-h/DSCN6265.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324996552390521314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ax18Tp16xbyaoB1DFIexnmWx3I4iRMhDislrGZgi-U4auTosUuDZuPicS-7ASGeNSlZuAdi2QDd4Rdt1KpgVLLO_4ceFv4PQEUdsrPoXByNQr0GuR0l4wWzgpqI81DkI_Nq_ZwYu8icR/s320/DSCN6265.JPG" border="0" /></a>(photo here).<br />Then we carried on to Gansbaai, where we stayed the night to wake up bright and early to get in a cage with sharks swimming around us. This bay is credited with being home to more than 70% of all the photography and documentaries that are on TV these days. Inside the tour operator’s area they showed movies of underwater cage diving, they had teeth on display, they had photos of Matt Damon and Leo DiCaprio with the tour director, it was a fine established program. Thumbs up! A lot scarier than I thought it was going to be. Partly because of the suspense. The whole boat stays there looking at the chum line, bobbing up and down, waiting for a shark to snap on it. Not as common an occurrence as you would expect. No, you wait, until more than half the boat has gotten motion sickness, until the side of the boat is painted with “complementary breakfast,” until the six people waiting in the cage are too cold to wait any longer (and then they swap out with a drier bunch). the nthe shark creeps up, and BAM in your face!You wait until everyone has had the nice underwater, shrilling, life ending/death-breathing monster they call the Great White within an inch from their heads. The sharks feed on some 60000 seals that populate the rocky shores. (On a side note, I learned that a couple dolphins could take down a shark! They just ram into him until he cannot take the pressure). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHF2K2CiT0zeqpFDsNmi9Kh-KwWa7_a6C7RLXsY_MIN5RgvvxPbvRYBneoqjDRYjK_DS1nOU281JAVz9ZZMoFjyetS7HK0CaTjOmU3G6cW9fnGa4aFxgabwZ5f7UmZkzoXEcnl3oDk3d9/s1600-h/DSCN6271.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325002092356706722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHF2K2CiT0zeqpFDsNmi9Kh-KwWa7_a6C7RLXsY_MIN5RgvvxPbvRYBneoqjDRYjK_DS1nOU281JAVz9ZZMoFjyetS7HK0CaTjOmU3G6cW9fnGa4aFxgabwZ5f7UmZkzoXEcnl3oDk3d9/s320/DSCN6271.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LO2HfDZahr3Rw1zmpy1MGYpj7gvqfyjeCsi1SZ4NVwC9mXQgBGowTx5YfQ7IFKB4BMiGXbhau_oZzY79Lnz63-R9oPtF0IMMnOUKjB9bB_32OpxBsSrfNJIe59qcs4MtzG61-QtHC21t/s1600-h/DSCN6272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325002233079726418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LO2HfDZahr3Rw1zmpy1MGYpj7gvqfyjeCsi1SZ4NVwC9mXQgBGowTx5YfQ7IFKB4BMiGXbhau_oZzY79Lnz63-R9oPtF0IMMnOUKjB9bB_32OpxBsSrfNJIe59qcs4MtzG61-QtHC21t/s320/DSCN6272.JPG" border="0" /></a>Photos from Gansbaai, below.<br />That afternoon we drove towards Cape Town. We followed the Garden Route and saw some nice beaches. Beautiful coastline. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N2rqWAh1BTu4LTQiNvlZePYeMKq9DnquSdizY4Hl_eUZp_aZ4h08stnn6DiFJd9p60VFPqHRYCn6ag4IYjM6q2BedPC66dwvWvVQ1xbwUph8sV_rooitCFohG4_1VRGm4tE7dQEtIVqX/s1600-h/DSCN6289.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324997604111795026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N2rqWAh1BTu4LTQiNvlZePYeMKq9DnquSdizY4Hl_eUZp_aZ4h08stnn6DiFJd9p60VFPqHRYCn6ag4IYjM6q2BedPC66dwvWvVQ1xbwUph8sV_rooitCFohG4_1VRGm4tE7dQEtIVqX/s320/DSCN6289.JPG" border="0" /></a>see below.<br />Upon entering Cape Town, we were shocked with the differing kinds of housing. The whole route we had taken showed and obvious trend from poorer, generally, to richer (that is moving from KwaZulu-Natal KZN to Western Cape)—everything from businesses to homes, to streets, to signs. There were still poor people in western Cape, but fewer. And we sort of expected this trend, but when we saw the repercussions of such a general pattern, there were no more words to describe it. The poor people in these “rich” areas of South Africa looked a heck of a lot more poor than the poor peoples’ neighborhoods here in KZN do. The shacky places were up on top of one another; the electricity wires were originating from a central pole, and hung low to the ground even until they reached a given shack. Heavy pollution (though not as bad as Naples, Italy last summer) more spread out garbage, not clumped in a heap. I have no idea if they have water nearby, most likely not piped to their shacks, maybe a central spot in the streets over. As usual, only coloreds and blacks walking around in these streets. Let me repeat, these streets are minutes from Cape Town. We just drove by.<br /></div><div>So on to Cape Town, and once you get there, it’s like the whole other world you passed by never even happened. Seriously: European! It is mostly white people walking around, a lot of cafes (we have about zero here in KZN, I am guessing because there is not enough extra spending money to waste on lounging in a café, though beer is another story). We were fortunate enough to stay at some other exchange students’ flat, in Observatory area of Cape Town, where we could go out at night, walking distance from a busy party street. Apparently not the safest part of town, oh well. (We met some UCT exchange students from the States, earlier in our trip, in Coffee Bay, and they told us that the UCT demographics are hugely different from ours. The most striking info was that of 20,000 students, 3,000 are international! Within that, 300 are American! Thus, they live with, hang out with, PLUS have classes with at least a handful of Americans per class. While here in KZN there are maybe 30 of us Americans, and we do not see only each other. We live with locals, and personally, there are no other Americans in my classes). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSfrO7nQB9w1gmLGb2y2yel9UfH9y4JUKX7PAufcakp0c5i3CYmXEh8-wnWALDEohCChISOfF8mNqKh4g-DI11AJ3Y-gLEb0L8e29FvPtJtT7OKU5tMkKIFxh3pqpyOyjjgUvbAh1FT6K/s1600-h/DSCN6323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324998230054744274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSfrO7nQB9w1gmLGb2y2yel9UfH9y4JUKX7PAufcakp0c5i3CYmXEh8-wnWALDEohCChISOfF8mNqKh4g-DI11AJ3Y-gLEb0L8e29FvPtJtT7OKU5tMkKIFxh3pqpyOyjjgUvbAh1FT6K/s320/DSCN6323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The next day we hiked Table Mountain (view from top is on the right here). We started in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Papa and Grandma would have LOVED them!! I even said that to my friends when we were walking there. Hiked up the mountain (via Skeleton Gorge) for a couple hours, very steep, even had ladders at some points! But the breathtaking panoramic views were worth it. We “took the scenic route” getting down, which left us quite exhausted—lost?! Anyway, not a big night, that one, had Mexican food yet again! (Yes it is alright here, they know Mexican about as well as Chevy’s does, so we’re happy). The next day, Saturday before Easter, we headed to V and A Waterfront for a look around, shopped, saw a snazzy hotel or two on the water there that I could have moved into! Shopped around for some crafts, had a mocha and then we took off for a scenic drive around the Cape Point.<br />(<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXOELbebQSMLzHJMyr319k3YeLPpXJ6xZOuqfVYtD7Aueh4jfcxzTKKyPzwCZQ9kGuNSaLDb34gXp4wZb5YyYYcgkPo2TKum3z49b1pibR86lfGYRFwcSiGS-VrWRUobincq2-abyGLNY/s1600-h/DSCN6360.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324998533034261234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXOELbebQSMLzHJMyr319k3YeLPpXJ6xZOuqfVYtD7Aueh4jfcxzTKKyPzwCZQ9kGuNSaLDb34gXp4wZb5YyYYcgkPo2TKum3z49b1pibR86lfGYRFwcSiGS-VrWRUobincq2-abyGLNY/s320/DSCN6360.JPG" border="0" /></a>The baboons!)<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIALpZFNYnoRvIjLCvfU62f0dFFXUuSXIqUP-x5tr1fzr20VwE8-haHB8JO5nYP8aEz7_0-nmzNxAl_dhWbc9d3x8zSfx_8HZDMaxAkAe46esJ3zv1EgsZxrHWNRXjNg74gAdTE4_zy2W1/s1600-h/DSCN6355.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000482042757026" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIALpZFNYnoRvIjLCvfU62f0dFFXUuSXIqUP-x5tr1fzr20VwE8-haHB8JO5nYP8aEz7_0-nmzNxAl_dhWbc9d3x8zSfx_8HZDMaxAkAe46esJ3zv1EgsZxrHWNRXjNg74gAdTE4_zy2W1/s320/DSCN6355.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>(photo: Cape Point)</div><div>That was an afternoon of beaches, wildlife and a lot of laughs! We stopped at Camps Bay, a lot like Miami—classy restaurants and bars on a longs single strip of town that runs along side the sandy beach (water in this part of country is cold, FYI) We saw African penguins at Boulders Beach, adorable (mating season now, we had some fun) and then we drove on towards the point and stopped to take millions of picture of baboons crossing the highway, picking at each other, climbing trees, they even opened the two car doors! Apparently they are very strong, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ie</span> dangerous, though, so my friends were scared, I thought it was absolutely hilarious!<br />We carried on and saw a camel on our drive back in to town, yes a camel! And then I got a nice call from my parents, wishing me well and saying they, too, were on a trip, really good to hear from them.<br />That night we checked into a hostel right in the thick of downtown Cape Town: Long St!!! it is crazy hectic loud from the afternoon, picks up around 8, and blares music, serves drinks, pours out people, until 5 AM. I made it until 3, but even then I could have kept on. Imagine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mardi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gras</span> in New Orleans, just like that main drag there in New Orleans! I mean there is a bar/club interspersed by like 20 Backpackers hostels (they run like $10/night), so what can you NOT expect. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29OZ3cqbYdanrYsCYYyIAx34yO0Nr2G7XCWm4b1RkXMSBpFhuSobeZt1x8KMLEt_I0re-xR7gSGpFOLlKuQleNPIPGYIihtigrfyZpL5kIEWLhWqqh8BlhC0o63pV9WVIopbnZvL6WLZd/s1600-h/DSCN6370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000612885613522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29OZ3cqbYdanrYsCYYyIAx34yO0Nr2G7XCWm4b1RkXMSBpFhuSobeZt1x8KMLEt_I0re-xR7gSGpFOLlKuQleNPIPGYIihtigrfyZpL5kIEWLhWqqh8BlhC0o63pV9WVIopbnZvL6WLZd/s320/DSCN6370.JPG" border="0" /></a>(Long St below to the left). Well, one night there, and we bounced to the quiet and quaint <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Stellenbosch</span>: it is like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Healdsburg</span>, but a little quieter.</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrwG5Emz7udp_HQDp9m2Gt4SIYpWT92GxsCM8RDyvc-KzKFLTskZjX2tNZ7QWx5d-WT-4G0T1sr9PIyaORm65UEMZOIpCfN68W2hNF_T3pX3kj4Bzg5UTwSqmjOB2bDlRIv7VKV3Q7OYE/s1600-h/DSCN6384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999308364268018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrwG5Emz7udp_HQDp9m2Gt4SIYpWT92GxsCM8RDyvc-KzKFLTskZjX2tNZ7QWx5d-WT-4G0T1sr9PIyaORm65UEMZOIpCfN68W2hNF_T3pX3kj4Bzg5UTwSqmjOB2bDlRIv7VKV3Q7OYE/s320/DSCN6384.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvitrI2XFZqseztG_ARIq1Opmzp5q_2rYeKJ0PtfFE9y53fd1H8B6DdIScviMklmAa6m2ymqK4tsl8_DYzbVCXVwYdBH_KhG9wfNIf3UdfvjTLe3-ci38FKxPOCl098IneRWarhDgK6obl/s1600-h/DSCN6379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324998798527786242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvitrI2XFZqseztG_ARIq1Opmzp5q_2rYeKJ0PtfFE9y53fd1H8B6DdIScviMklmAa6m2ymqK4tsl8_DYzbVCXVwYdBH_KhG9wfNIf3UdfvjTLe3-ci38FKxPOCl098IneRWarhDgK6obl/s320/DSCN6379.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Downtown and campus in Stellenbosch, above.<br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">A couple</span> main drags, with nice eateries, and a legit tourism office--but it was even open on Easter! But not much else was, so we relaxed, pretty much. We did take a self-guided tour of the University: it is landscaped marvelously, some oaks, some palms, many other trees and flowers I don’t know…(FYI the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">proteas</span> are the country flower, it is a large pink and white petalled flower—you see the word <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Proteas</span> a lot here, like as the name of an establishment). So, future reference, if you want to go to school at a very well recognized, nice climate, small town place, go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Stellenbosch</span> Uni. One thing, though: taught in Afrikaans. Yes, this part of the country is bilingual in a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fN0_fFszPTsBbTZhOBPpxGBcjlNG4a3Zc0SM_x4DC3KRr9yA8FhtzMIIhVLz3BldvQewZQDEPylnWhn3TNrKRLKkDJlxfBnmZ28CL5GxOTsBxHwr7uOOfUcroHIMiPJUHJdrYyIMYcYg/s1600-h/DSCN6401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999085178983778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fN0_fFszPTsBbTZhOBPpxGBcjlNG4a3Zc0SM_x4DC3KRr9yA8FhtzMIIhVLz3BldvQewZQDEPylnWhn3TNrKRLKkDJlxfBnmZ28CL5GxOTsBxHwr7uOOfUcroHIMiPJUHJdrYyIMYcYg/s320/DSCN6401.JPG" border="0" /></a>different way from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">KZN</span>. In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">KZN</span> we have a lot of things translated to Zulu, but in the Western Cape, especially the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">richy</span> rich wine regions, there is more Afrikaans, plus English.<br />The day after Easter we took a wine tour, and I have to admit it was a lot like being a tourist in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Healdsburg</span>. We have it good in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sonoma</span> County. Blessed for our earth. On the tour we went to four wineries, a host of wines at each. First was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Simonsig</span>, where we had a particularly nice wine, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Redhill</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Pinotage</span>, developed in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Stellenbosch</span>, soft red wine. They suggested pairing it with game meats. It is a dressed up, classy, enjoyable activity to go winery hopping. Someone drives for you, have a nice lunch, talk about more flavors than you could have thought of on your own. We even tasted goat cheeses at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Fairview</span> Winery. Overall the tour was a good way to wind down the trip. We slept well that night and early the next morning, half past three, we left our hostel to fly back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">KZN</span>. And we hit the ground running with school that is for sure. Vacation was awesome. It definitely gave me some perspective about how this town, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">PMB</span>, (that I spend a majority of my time in) fits in to the rest of it's surrounding country. The country is more diverse than Zulu land. It is whiter in some areas, it is poorer in some areas, not that those are mutually exclusive, but that they are two extremes that we don’t experience in our college bubble. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-24359161822522232782009-04-03T01:14:00.000-07:002009-04-03T01:16:53.276-07:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today I take off for a road trip of epic proportions: The Garden Route. Yes, Easter Break has arrived. Most people do call it Easter Holiday, no political correctness problem, just as is. Big time Christianity here, overwhelming majority I would say. For example, I am not surprised by the question, “So, are you following Jesus?” (I really have only been asked a few times, but still…)<br />Anyhow, out of my microbiology lab at noon, and from there we take our rented Toyota <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Corolla</span> on towards Coffee Bay, stop number one. Plan to stay there two nights. Then on to Jefferey’s Bay (2 nights), then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Knysna</span> (1 night —bungee jumping around here), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Gansbaai</span> (1 night ---shark diving=big deal=biggest deal IN THE WORLD), then Cape Town (3 nights—place some other exchange students actually live in while attending <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">UCT</span>), then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Stellenbosch</span>, around Easter Sunday (2 nights—Wine Tour!!), and fly back on a Tuesday.<br />So far we are super jazzed, why not?! My car has four, Andrew (Rutgers), Nolan (UCSC), Yvonne (UCB), and me. Then behind us is a car of three Jenni (Finland), Michelle (UCSC), Jon (Illinois). Probably no more updates on the blog until after we return.<br /><br />A few side notes, if you were wondering:<br />They sell petrol here, same way as back home, Shell stations, with fast food restaurants inside, too. Petrol is about R7.21 a liter.<br />Water is totally drinkable here.<br />Papaya is called paw paw (sounds like “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">po</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">po</span>”)<br />“Pop”—fluffy corn meal porridge basically, add salt or differing levels of water make it hard/soft pop---is what a lot of South African’s eat as a staple food, like Italians eat their pasta.<br />There are condoms EVERYWHERE. Free “Choice” brand condoms in every dorm/school/restaurant/hospital/office bathroom, or outside the bathroom, or in shared <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mailboxs</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">cubbies</span>. Everywhere. Yet according to some girls in my class, it is a bad sign if a guy pulls “Choice” out, means no fore thought, furthermore, he could have bought a better kind. Okay, point taken.<br />Traffic is terrible. Deadly. One of my friends from Michigan State watched somebody get hit by a car at quarter to 8 in the morning last week. The girl was crossing a heavily trafficked road here outside the gate and just got struck. My friend was in shock the whole day and then some, I could not believe the whole thing and the girl that got hit is in ICU. It was just surreal how different the situation was handled, how long it took for an ambulance to come, how long it took to load her in to the ambulance, and then who knows how the care was, because apparently the public hospitals are worthless, and unless the girl had medical aid, not so common among working class, she very possibly ended up there. We are all so thankful it was not one of us.<br />Really, aside from that, I have not felt unsafe at any time. Really we stick to groups, don’t go places we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">shouldn</span>’t, listen to the (white and black) South Africans who tell us (and each demographic has it’s own safety precautions), when they tell us to stay away from this or that.<br />Almost all cell phone usage is on a prepaid basis. And almost all of it is “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">SMS</span>” or like we call it, text messaging. It is about a tenth the price, and more reliable because calls cut out, depending on the time of day, too. Actually, cell phone usage is a big money spender, I easily buy and use a R30 receipt in 3 or 4 days. Adds up.<br /><br />Well that is all for today. Hope my friends and family are up to something nice for the holiday, at least spending some quality time together. That is one part missing from this upcoming holiday, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Fam</span> J Peace, Guys.</span>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-12752790903201818382009-03-31T00:30:00.000-07:002009-03-31T01:02:47.551-07:00Weekend in Free State<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319257605146669570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9mAM7ZaO24i_DsopGTZ4l5Pb2kv_p37DOYHjDWZXGA7dYm_DjCaEt6Tli1-LeAHNv9XrS1twCQnOrPYN2HMxAvPZihpXdbh_NaujBpPrcBuWMkk39VRaW9B_JT2JYcoCLo6aJ9v3rioY/s320/DSCN6126.JPG" border="0" />Caravanning<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7bnAm7T_xzXtQots9Vq058Kqv7HlX-xmp2qa9t5F-wK4De7ONkFm0BIlZUJLac6HoqtR7_2hbV4gaB7KpquTzFaSxy32HH7bXZ6itfyG53kHBbMTPHWt0tw6hR3xmXyd6tBYnWtMvi99/s1600-h/DSCN6061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319254385966671314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7bnAm7T_xzXtQots9Vq058Kqv7HlX-xmp2qa9t5F-wK4De7ONkFm0BIlZUJLac6HoqtR7_2hbV4gaB7KpquTzFaSxy32HH7bXZ6itfyG53kHBbMTPHWt0tw6hR3xmXyd6tBYnWtMvi99/s320/DSCN6061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX7NW2hMHV7ZLZxffoFFgQ4vsBZVhJUI4G48DIE_gxzqLTIjbTIl2P21gSssACgo1ZWWdZUomFNV-Q2-5N0fBmoXGqRCaNOMeV5axDf_ueZMi58HCVcHBrD_kX5_QH2HZk7HT336wm_RD/s1600-h/DSCN6058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319254260157469458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX7NW2hMHV7ZLZxffoFFgQ4vsBZVhJUI4G48DIE_gxzqLTIjbTIl2P21gSssACgo1ZWWdZUomFNV-Q2-5N0fBmoXGqRCaNOMeV5axDf_ueZMi58HCVcHBrD_kX5_QH2HZk7HT336wm_RD/s320/DSCN6058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Middle of Where?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP37Ba55bEwUWXhOfKtwESKvh2l7Szl1by2b8ZGeB-bOkTpOde56aGynrFMWdUMbefBTYWJ11Cx8bo5mxzVIcdD7Yqew5SuJJEyQ35Lk-JX0m6clK7WNHlruUl23qgTN52J18jMdgNxehk/s1600-h/DSCN6057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319254160066157106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP37Ba55bEwUWXhOfKtwESKvh2l7Szl1by2b8ZGeB-bOkTpOde56aGynrFMWdUMbefBTYWJ11Cx8bo5mxzVIcdD7Yqew5SuJJEyQ35Lk-JX0m6clK7WNHlruUl23qgTN52J18jMdgNxehk/s320/DSCN6057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The weekend trip to Van der Kloof Dam was awesome! We drove through north, then west, above the country of Lesotho, on the map. The province is called Free State, and there are a lot more Africaans speaking people up there. In fact, I heard there is even a town or two that only allow Africaners to work there. A bit different than the Zulu speaking communities of KwaZulu Natal.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSGDUcOCwW0MPfCorsX27dX8ktLm-abUTX2udorS6GoMRnOGE_sU2mEAfr0gZcTst7X7aqUtyZhnIjqGYxz_hbSDAYa7xGdpOI8z-57pwp-ehZDhzykY7YIzX-zEt2-Jm6QJ419I4G9mI/s1600-h/DSCN6073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319254600105278386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSGDUcOCwW0MPfCorsX27dX8ktLm-abUTX2udorS6GoMRnOGE_sU2mEAfr0gZcTst7X7aqUtyZhnIjqGYxz_hbSDAYa7xGdpOI8z-57pwp-ehZDhzykY7YIzX-zEt2-Jm6QJ419I4G9mI/s320/DSCN6073.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We left at 3 am Thursday; most of us had stayed up the night before, so we just crashed on the bus. Thus, the drive didn’t seem like 11 hours, but it was! So three mini buses caravanned to the lake, we stopped every couple hours and checked out pretty much every rest stop available J Upon arrival we set up the boats and got settled in. Made some dinner, the guys made a fort in the hall we were staying in.</div></div><br /><br />Our Girls B crew has races in the eight and four person boats, team of four, here<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319255114630139938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgObejmn1s4hmRRgKysfzIRy7FMDRvLtvivf8NpBUdkBuoQdUCuo9Ywwv0pVfen5nZaRjvU1pgyPqn3lit4owh08BAH8d-nV-1GpRTfNERhcIjhydRYkYtnC3jqdWdAvd1_LCf9_DIvg3/s320/DSCN6082.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319255326517917442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-leOX78ODFqCnoU-aVfoGqtPv4gFpwVejCZdBGSJ37Hr10RsgOpBCJwkPteIu2bbZqIDCvLf6IfxMrvazpOQtT0eFYkSf1oPeOqnsIZewuf67XkmSNaYEj3t-mo9H13Jsp4Xv4kAvQITw/s320/DSCN6086.JPG" border="0" /> getting ready to row out to the start of the sprint, I am second one from the front<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq82ERXKDMC6nk7jko4Me6B6tc1imm-5_LxS-OblFCs6Q4r6Q-MxhJwYfspO83ZB1CtBSjGSa64a4W9A4geQAm8I2rg4c09482AoAYhCufD1s6bhhNV8_aWyKNuQnc2LMo-ijuDcjQ-D1T/s1600-h/DSCN6087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319255548954376994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq82ERXKDMC6nk7jko4Me6B6tc1imm-5_LxS-OblFCs6Q4r6Q-MxhJwYfspO83ZB1CtBSjGSa64a4W9A4geQAm8I2rg4c09482AoAYhCufD1s6bhhNV8_aWyKNuQnc2LMo-ijuDcjQ-D1T/s320/DSCN6087.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31yltyHyjuisHaA6ZCQ-fHXQY32HdA8aMWbsBcy-Q17sX1LPJQ5ZESm5SQBS50aHEGHzoD-VxW902MbEjcl30ebGf7Vw3M3bZIP-o-mdD3FtQMUYE1D2AymdDWbwXJOsnl93LvMGDMoVo/s1600-h/DSCN6089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319255717933803378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31yltyHyjuisHaA6ZCQ-fHXQY32HdA8aMWbsBcy-Q17sX1LPJQ5ZESm5SQBS50aHEGHzoD-VxW902MbEjcl30ebGf7Vw3M3bZIP-o-mdD3FtQMUYE1D2AymdDWbwXJOsnl93LvMGDMoVo/s320/DSCN6089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The dam had a bunch of camp sites around it and that is where all the teams parked their rowing gear, and then up the road were a bunch of halls, like a deserted summer camp or something, and that is where we all stayed, each team to its own hall and shared kitchens. Surrounding the lake and summer camp area was pretty much nothing, just rolling hills with arid desert shrubs. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgRTp-G9fCZ8Qnk01r2G8y1VZlaLqGTrq4iKnwyn5MQZc4k5T5OzJNgj7AE8eVTqz_QGkwOCKTkjR7qKxYW7ByeK0g0E6td5CfTp0RTwELDBdH84zJtRq99HB3bqJCFBa16tYE6D5dfkN/s1600-h/DSCN6138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319258880287843490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgRTp-G9fCZ8Qnk01r2G8y1VZlaLqGTrq4iKnwyn5MQZc4k5T5OzJNgj7AE8eVTqz_QGkwOCKTkjR7qKxYW7ByeK0g0E6td5CfTp0RTwELDBdH84zJtRq99HB3bqJCFBa16tYE6D5dfkN/s320/DSCN6138.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We called it an early night Thursday and woke early for races on Friday. Friday was pretty much watching and entering races, likewise for Saturday. It was beautiful out there, hot and sunny. I definitely picked up some color. In the afternoons after our races we swam in the lake and hung out on the rocks.<br /></div><br />The guys 8 crew to the left here<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6hkpZH3dVZptq4_tX0UGuBGQ8OIAfI7TIeUu0nkXBRWtRwjkRrLDJYlX8TfEO4Hg1kLpJpxUJfgKva3yhRA3x90B5pTbfzs7Tq8qcGr43nN5Ftd5GnF1ffZOIQ_y7ciwwS2aXED7Snho/s1600-h/DSCN6105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319255942661441954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6hkpZH3dVZptq4_tX0UGuBGQ8OIAfI7TIeUu0nkXBRWtRwjkRrLDJYlX8TfEO4Hg1kLpJpxUJfgKva3yhRA3x90B5pTbfzs7Tq8qcGr43nN5Ftd5GnF1ffZOIQ_y7ciwwS2aXED7Snho/s320/DSCN6105.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Friday evening we had a formal/dress up dinner, where the most creative costume won a prize, and of course, we placed (3rd), as did our guys’ team (1st). We painted the guys’ bodies all blue—Smurfs---with white shorts, such a sweet idea! And plus, clean up was not as bad as we had expected, though I must say some of the guys still have paint on their toenails and in their ears!<br />Saturday morning we were on the waters edge by quarter to 6. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu-_0V90jheu5H1KyfxlagQHIGMYSutrSddisFKc6KqVZihbTlCZVy0u9dzuSAjoYKIss2JyjhPiBwMJaTmSVK3ff4-OqUxoKeCswO0ldXzyAxqjbEmnyskT1bcS1f3NfSBN-DiRfiCew/s1600-h/DSCN6119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319256277386214370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu-_0V90jheu5H1KyfxlagQHIGMYSutrSddisFKc6KqVZihbTlCZVy0u9dzuSAjoYKIss2JyjhPiBwMJaTmSVK3ff4-OqUxoKeCswO0ldXzyAxqjbEmnyskT1bcS1f3NfSBN-DiRfiCew/s320/DSCN6119.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The best part about the early mornings is watching the sunrise. It is so quick; I mean you have to grip your camera tightly! And not even dare try to catch a make up wink of sleep. Once you are up, you are up. It was serene watching the guys start out the races that Saturday <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQL6grLPunoIeIwepHZpeiF8kV4DZmzIzI8OiBQrv0knnMfKAORDwaa4pFdKJ4NEgxjV_U4xhzfiNfBWBkTJNZruid8rHQ3tJDWYhoLIUyF3Zbvq6jIJO0CxOcyVtqDTb3akabHP8HoWz5/s1600-h/DSCN6120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319256583616590642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQL6grLPunoIeIwepHZpeiF8kV4DZmzIzI8OiBQrv0knnMfKAORDwaa4pFdKJ4NEgxjV_U4xhzfiNfBWBkTJNZruid8rHQ3tJDWYhoLIUyF3Zbvq6jIJO0CxOcyVtqDTb3akabHP8HoWz5/s320/DSCN6120.JPG" border="0" /></a>morning. My race on Saturday was in the morning, a little later. I got to race with our A crew (normally just stick with B crew, but the A crew wanted to do an 8 person, so I got bumped!) and our race was intense! We came in 3rd, maybe out of 6 or so teams, it was really close, I mean we almost had 2nd! It was just really smooth working with the more experienced girls, we kept balanced and our timing was just right.<br />After races on Saturday, we derigged the boats, loaded them to the trailer, and the party began—Pietermaritzburg is sort of the Santa Barbara of KwaZulu Natal…So we didn’t miss a blink of the action. Each team started their own mad chaos and then merged forces down by the water under the pitch-black sky. It was a rockin’ night!<br />It sounds like our next regatta will have the same teams invited to it, so we’ll all hang again, looking forward to that! Yes, there are some rivalries: we are not big fans of the JoBurg team, and the Tuks team has a beef with us (we shared a—messy—kitchen with them and they kept reminding us that “this is a sport!” when they would catch us having a little more fun than they were), but all in all, at the end of the day, we all like to be out on the water, and we all like to kick back. So, yes, in about 3 weeks we go to the SA Champs, up on a lake in Pretoria, a beautiful city about an hour north east of JoBurg. I went there with some friends about a month ago but we only saw the place for an afternoon. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319256956966110914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYZHdHpiUqtRe4z_Cxn7YmN1JNPKdVbFog4FzBGs4FX7ek5q2milOXxDdZH1ucrIwMdWxFzr8UHG9GQv57pNcLpSZ5KtfMvUdQJZr9wCvntKLtsPzRppZPd6FV6_T5MKZYfrJ1gReNB_K/s320/DSCN6150.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9djajhSCjHDoAHMeuD1Ko3kV97jrjfAGrOYHVl81G25Y_hH5xDM8QktqTq6urVTIJ9Th1Kj630ArIvbmaqb3tJXEjcUHS4hoVoOXs2XEfjHnvos8IG8RT1J39mxI3lq8TnEevj8RMo1TI/s1600-h/DSCN6151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319257149529180146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9djajhSCjHDoAHMeuD1Ko3kV97jrjfAGrOYHVl81G25Y_hH5xDM8QktqTq6urVTIJ9Th1Kj630ArIvbmaqb3tJXEjcUHS4hoVoOXs2XEfjHnvos8IG8RT1J39mxI3lq8TnEevj8RMo1TI/s320/DSCN6151.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The drive back through SA did seem a bit longer, because it was pretty much all day Sunday, we left around 8 am and got home at 730 pm. Like before, we encountered quite a few petrol stations, I swear the vans we had needed petrol every two hours! Well there were some pranks exchanged, involving road kill (FYI: the count for the whole return trip was 86…) and such, so it kept the good times rolling. And we took some pretty goofy pictures next to road signs! One thing that the roads here don’t have is billboards. You’ll be driving for hours with no advertisements, just a sign every now and then, in regards to how many kilometers there are till the next city.<br />Coming back to school on Monday was tough, we were all a little lonely, I mean we had just had a jam-packed weekend, then lull. But today, Tuesday is one day closer to the holiday break, so that is a plus! Get a bit of work done by Friday, and then take off on another road trip.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-70910045333749736392009-03-23T02:14:00.000-07:002009-03-31T01:02:22.246-07:00Hello Everybody!<br />So, Monday, in the computer lab at school, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sweeeet</span> :)<br />Nah, it's a very nice day out today, sunny and hot, yes, I am working on a bronze glow, in March. I had a low key weekend, studying a bit more than usual (for here) cause I have a bit of work to finish up before the weekend trip to Free State, which I have been told is mostly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Africaans</span> speaking, we'll see. That's right we are leaving middle of the night, Wednesday, and driving <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">a</span> long ways to get to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">SAUSU</span>, rowing tourney.<br />Last night I attended one of the church services on campus, I had been before, but one of my friends was interested, so went back. Some of the songs were in Zulu, a little uncomfortable, but the more uncomfortable part was the really really loud, move around praise. I mean I have my faith and my way of showing it, and this well, it's a little too tongue-speaking, etc for me. The friend I went with was even more shocked, she's Jewish, and she said that they are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">definitely</span> not allowed to talk at her services, and dancing is unheard of. It was one of her first church experiences...<br />Then we came back from service and some of our guy friends had been working on dinner in our dorm, it was Italian...yummy pasta and chicken.<br />I talked to my grandma last night and reassured her that, Yes, I would be coming home, not like her friend's granddaughter who decided to live in Spain after going for a visit. Like I told Grandma, I don't know if I will be back here anytime soon, I mean it is nice and different, and I am <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">soooo</span> glad I am here now, checking it out, quenching the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">curiosity</span>, but I don't know how eager I would be to come back right away...a little homesick maybe.<br />But all in all, the laid back weekend was good. I appreciated a little more time to myself, too.MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-39827243705504032122009-03-19T02:00:00.001-07:002009-03-19T02:47:05.791-07:00Monkeys in the Mornings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_gjWADEPn2MJ23-71FgamduY4WnEc_cruI42Ogw2FhNcM77AuCwOveSlAyzmo96bnThg1qY51pMGo11jA2LbdEoh48ZhzQ_f9EdmZG9qiRMhUjFpxgvAJDswBnL-LfOYvmqi3erWnPR4/s1600-h/DSCN5900.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314832648584443634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_gjWADEPn2MJ23-71FgamduY4WnEc_cruI42Ogw2FhNcM77AuCwOveSlAyzmo96bnThg1qY51pMGo11jA2LbdEoh48ZhzQ_f9EdmZG9qiRMhUjFpxgvAJDswBnL-LfOYvmqi3erWnPR4/s320/DSCN5900.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In the morning I walk along <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Carbis</span> Rd to get to the side of campus where most of my classes are held. It is a residential neighborhood, with quite a few preschools nestled between gated (thorn like tops to these gates) houses. Every now and then there will be a cluster of small monkeys running across the road, or swinging from each others' bellies, jumping up a tree or something. On Monday, it was the best because they were just sitting at the bottom of the tree trunk, scratching each other, no where to go, just chilling. I stood there for a good few minutes smiling at them...with like three campus security monitors...working hard :)<br />Something <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">about</span> the walk to campus that I failed to mention, it is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sloooow</span> walk. Seriously, if you start walking at a normal, "American" pace, they call it, you get some strange faces. A lot of things are slow here, not just the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">internet</span>. It is a whole different concept of how long a given task should take. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">African's</span> call it Africa Time. True <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">dat</span>. If you have to go to an office, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">African's</span> know that that trip to the office takes time to leisurely walk to, visit with the people outside the office, step inside--if the office is not on an extended lunch break--wait behind a dozen other people...30 minutes, whatever, then talk to the person you are expecting to see, if they are there, if they are not, no biggie, they will be back in a couple hours, or tomorrow, or the next day...just wait outside...it is just a whole different perception of time. not to mention, lectures often start late...I don't know, I am hoping to cultivate some more patience than I had before...it's a good thing.<br />Common questions that South <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">African's</span> ask us:<br />Do you have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">KFC</span>?--So funny to share that Kentucky is actually one of our states.<br />Did you think that South Africa was all huts and elephants wandering the streets?--<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Apparently</span> quite a few foreigners have had completely off ideas about the (actual) urbanization of South Africa, which has led South Africans to believe that Americans are rather ignorant about the development that this country actually has.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ANC</span> is definitely the dominant party here, they have theme songs, lots of posters, many political rallies on campus, they run <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">through</span> the dorms shouting with microphones...Big powerhouse. I heard Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Zuma</span> speak a month or two ago when he was in in downtown <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">PMB</span> (coming out of court), he spoke in all Zulu, so that was not so cool, but I got the vibe that he was well supported and that his followers will easily forgive the political charges against him...Sad, but he is going to get off, and be the next leader here, it seems.<br /><br />So, yesterday I got into a sweet debate with a (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Muslim</span>) Indian in my microbiology class, she was trying to tell me that Barack Obama came from a family of practicing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Muslims</span>, that he was a practicing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Muslim</span>, too. And that his father is king of Kenya!!!<br />Wow Baby! Go Obama! For the record, his dad (1936–1982) was a government economist in Kenya.<br /><br />Thursday today, classes, a few tests next week, looking forward to chill weekend, maybe a rugby game?!<br /></div><div>I am putting up a scenery picture from a drive just outside of town...on the way to the Ubuntu Children's Center, an organization that we volunteer with twice a week, an earlier photo is of the kids (scroll down).</div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-42253703010158212062009-03-16T00:07:00.000-07:002009-03-18T13:35:54.868-07:00Weekend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1kMsaP7mI7hShcvSJMzgnxLfCnjrPMU2zryNsnMUvemZJDrlmdA-fqtnELfl-X2u84RczVK2Xu0ChbntHiOCnS8gHMgvwfcHDvcM48FMK-IXOgDa4-v1yV6I0TDKhZzLPB_CyiYOpjKg/s1600-h/DSCN5974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314629224787341602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1kMsaP7mI7hShcvSJMzgnxLfCnjrPMU2zryNsnMUvemZJDrlmdA-fqtnELfl-X2u84RczVK2Xu0ChbntHiOCnS8gHMgvwfcHDvcM48FMK-IXOgDa4-v1yV6I0TDKhZzLPB_CyiYOpjKg/s320/DSCN5974.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2EcRY5UwLTvIHE82WI0inCU1BFcn0nl2RywRkb0u3T6LktxtBUWr_tnecBizVvPsXE6tJpk3lyL4lpOEv5yG2WdARA5O6tMQfbqnO0-ubDOgf7wVYu10xOeRpKcxc7TuAQI7_FbIEHd_/s1600-h/DSCN5944.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314628698251062066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2EcRY5UwLTvIHE82WI0inCU1BFcn0nl2RywRkb0u3T6LktxtBUWr_tnecBizVvPsXE6tJpk3lyL4lpOEv5yG2WdARA5O6tMQfbqnO0-ubDOgf7wVYu10xOeRpKcxc7TuAQI7_FbIEHd_/s320/DSCN5944.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6J_wkLXtBGQwgs-p9tjzZFsl12QlBoCAaUb9CxHdU9Rfw9xyYPDP01MTEx-f1EDLoxUlkln47Kqhlc88BdnOHY3j6EHJN9_-FGeCg0TERQanWSXAORD2o1X18qvMc0-pEU3VZC4bxpbq/s1600-h/DSCN5939.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314628329196911394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6J_wkLXtBGQwgs-p9tjzZFsl12QlBoCAaUb9CxHdU9Rfw9xyYPDP01MTEx-f1EDLoxUlkln47Kqhlc88BdnOHY3j6EHJN9_-FGeCg0TERQanWSXAORD2o1X18qvMc0-pEU3VZC4bxpbq/s320/DSCN5939.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkiBneXs78XqsCqnweBls3QoCyh8T-1kc6vukP9-QvYDv5o7z8QegrMcPkFxGA7g0PhZHZsVV6WzQVhscCgpigzbuVozkeUyhQdPd_gxzZAva_GKNziBti9oJcLVSaXZzlSenfkE786E5/s1600-h/DSCN5911.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314627136270999298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkiBneXs78XqsCqnweBls3QoCyh8T-1kc6vukP9-QvYDv5o7z8QegrMcPkFxGA7g0PhZHZsVV6WzQVhscCgpigzbuVozkeUyhQdPd_gxzZAva_GKNziBti9oJcLVSaXZzlSenfkE786E5/s320/DSCN5911.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This past weekend I stuck around Pietermaritzburg. On Friday we derigged the boats to take out to Albert Falls on Saturday morning. Later Friday some friends and I went to a cricket match on campus, let me put it this way, if you think watching baseball is fun, you may enjoy watching cricket, otherwise, bring some music and a braii (they call bbq braii) and plan to just chill out with your buddies.<br />Saturday was the regatta and that was a whole lot of fun! We got golden medals on a black ribbon to wear around our necks at the end of the day. They say KZN on one side and there is an emblem of a person rowing on the other side, sweet!<br />Then we packed up for PMB and when we got back spent a few hours at the drift (river house) then went out form there.<br />The bummer of that night was that when I caught up with some of the exchange students from France, they were looking for their car, which had been hijacked...they parked it outside some big campus party and a couple hours later it was MIA, yikes.<br />Sunday was a clean up and study day, I was supposed to write a test this morning but my lecturer, sadly, had a stroke, so it has been postponed.<br />This afternoon I have plans to work with Sanele, the community advocate that checks up on HIV/AIDS patients...this will be the second time I go with her, still not sure how I like such work.</div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-58647923874692416282009-03-12T12:51:00.000-07:002009-03-18T13:48:51.989-07:00Rowing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86WlzFA4ht0bMJ0DoimOrFkHhTpCB_RWtseyctawYreh74UZq5MvfnAPF0Kcla5msMTY201tFrn20qWyWofArfjRtHpD-EgUTJtRKi4AdJcVA0ET7XsiDSdn2AgPst69JLh2FqRu-i26E/s1600-h/DSCN5918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314632567580274082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86WlzFA4ht0bMJ0DoimOrFkHhTpCB_RWtseyctawYreh74UZq5MvfnAPF0Kcla5msMTY201tFrn20qWyWofArfjRtHpD-EgUTJtRKi4AdJcVA0ET7XsiDSdn2AgPst69JLh2FqRu-i26E/s320/DSCN5918.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>And I joined the rowing team, and it is sweet! Morning practices are early, but they pay off when you see the orangy pink sun come up. And then we do club runs on Thursday afternoons. And the teammates are outgoing, a few are from the states, like me, others local. They like to have a good time, and we get to travel for tournaments, Albert Falls this weekend, and in two weeks we miss school on Friday, take off Thursday, and go to the middle of South Africa for a coutry wide regatta...I row bow side.</div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727274512141159383.post-80701893275242513442009-03-12T12:04:00.000-07:002009-03-18T13:47:00.880-07:00March 12th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_JC_2WY9CRc_YuFv6SkyzEqqbhZebTtR2KbXZl29XqtZH-U-EXyqYWBsECOKhM1kwbZhmNijOeRQGTTLk5LDjxyuO-LxmaHYPfQNTfMXUg5BUmqI43O473DilPRFNnJz9BGdhOWwFFdi/s1600-h/DSCN0496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314631962307396882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_JC_2WY9CRc_YuFv6SkyzEqqbhZebTtR2KbXZl29XqtZH-U-EXyqYWBsECOKhM1kwbZhmNijOeRQGTTLk5LDjxyuO-LxmaHYPfQNTfMXUg5BUmqI43O473DilPRFNnJz9BGdhOWwFFdi/s320/DSCN0496.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36F0khtRuNEQt8EiMXM4YWtIF93ltmD6JeG9WyZPpyot-R8k9fjQx_Yj3ZotzlTBxl_uq9eFBbKLxSLYrCbX1c40JLNKYrQxm5p1pdLhWHiFKg5JYBIc8gvbYG3_XDTFGfDj6oxytKlPt/s1600-h/DSCN5905.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314631238954583106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36F0khtRuNEQt8EiMXM4YWtIF93ltmD6JeG9WyZPpyot-R8k9fjQx_Yj3ZotzlTBxl_uq9eFBbKLxSLYrCbX1c40JLNKYrQxm5p1pdLhWHiFKg5JYBIc8gvbYG3_XDTFGfDj6oxytKlPt/s320/DSCN5905.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhOpfuSL8RB2sB2b1RbeuuuA2Bm1msGC-Ln5hE8DnauI5VQG-uUt3LBRNl90bu628oyp0LniJTd_tbRVtlfw6hvCbHJNRRNLKIZyB8UJF8gnowP0NFLihOYtwnM475hI4v3SOVCuG4MlB/s1600-h/DSCN5819.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314630997723126226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhOpfuSL8RB2sB2b1RbeuuuA2Bm1msGC-Ln5hE8DnauI5VQG-uUt3LBRNl90bu628oyp0LniJTd_tbRVtlfw6hvCbHJNRRNLKIZyB8UJF8gnowP0NFLihOYtwnM475hI4v3SOVCuG4MlB/s320/DSCN5819.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEn-2BWVmXmaKaAXCmV3gBi-LROk53uvR-VA0oS4K224Y2UOiyZF52NH5LY1Igb-xZjvIE_hJIlcW1Dkmc4ncNcBAsk0iGiwGo13cjdnHtUA2cs6gcFKecjwWkc-r0IocG2NMjHvEK5dX/s1600-h/DSCN5779.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314630689769797602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEn-2BWVmXmaKaAXCmV3gBi-LROk53uvR-VA0oS4K224Y2UOiyZF52NH5LY1Igb-xZjvIE_hJIlcW1Dkmc4ncNcBAsk0iGiwGo13cjdnHtUA2cs6gcFKecjwWkc-r0IocG2NMjHvEK5dX/s320/DSCN5779.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexnIpGce8QZgbB20RyME7tpoL_5iNPIlpGQAv1CH2dTrjvAffuj_zqwdrU8h7Q1gO9VKjEfMhe1894QwHfg7e0mxWGaQKvGJPi0_Kh_mqmiyHQCoQgzhrIhpOKGsMbgArZhFDEtGh3Jnr/s1600-h/DSCN5767.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314630404725339106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexnIpGce8QZgbB20RyME7tpoL_5iNPIlpGQAv1CH2dTrjvAffuj_zqwdrU8h7Q1gO9VKjEfMhe1894QwHfg7e0mxWGaQKvGJPi0_Kh_mqmiyHQCoQgzhrIhpOKGsMbgArZhFDEtGh3Jnr/s320/DSCN5767.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGNGEr0FSCV9b8BhPZJb7miKm-CUuIctnO62a_N2vw8O4as1hrDTTVuETDjvATmQaKpKIH1gbojEM32XFLuHzcrT-ukbWFyW7gxD63640IwNz2PxzVsJVy7-H6XECTWQt3ZYlzhGC0ZA_/s1600-h/DSCN5739.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314630194445340658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGNGEr0FSCV9b8BhPZJb7miKm-CUuIctnO62a_N2vw8O4as1hrDTTVuETDjvATmQaKpKIH1gbojEM32XFLuHzcrT-ukbWFyW7gxD63640IwNz2PxzVsJVy7-H6XECTWQt3ZYlzhGC0ZA_/s320/DSCN5739.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mi3Cach5zxi20D8Wejt8jNeI9tfxDKuJz04dcLDhrj6QpQm-T3TkEar0hR_FOtPEirX6o9YqXRvSc2jx5BuW8bErgtikragGP9oiQIenDFFtgu4RR_jnNjQx-iF84U01Is2rSeoZitLl/s1600-h/DSCN5705.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314629942261086162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mi3Cach5zxi20D8Wejt8jNeI9tfxDKuJz04dcLDhrj6QpQm-T3TkEar0hR_FOtPEirX6o9YqXRvSc2jx5BuW8bErgtikragGP9oiQIenDFFtgu4RR_jnNjQx-iF84U01Is2rSeoZitLl/s320/DSCN5705.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjeRXdbSPgNQvfJKpN4K_k6gU8eEC8wNdzGYoIs8YaSvBEgy9l4wOppofsBm5XU6xRcI6MuRGnQ5fj2zt9vxzlUDC4hxFXt6QDrlBMEHvcszMGhKnWeiWBVtZd-mAur9zd8WlkeLoW4de/s1600-h/DSCN5657.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314629685156396386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjeRXdbSPgNQvfJKpN4K_k6gU8eEC8wNdzGYoIs8YaSvBEgy9l4wOppofsBm5XU6xRcI6MuRGnQ5fj2zt9vxzlUDC4hxFXt6QDrlBMEHvcszMGhKnWeiWBVtZd-mAur9zd8WlkeLoW4de/s320/DSCN5657.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I am a third year student at UC Berkeley in California and this second semester of school I have been attending the University of KwaZulu Natal in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, as part of a study abroad program.<br />As I write this, I want to acknowledge that I cannot fully describe the reality of what it is like to be here, but i will try.<br />So, it did start a little rough (I am going to reflect for a paragraph or two), but now, man, I feel like I have always known the people and places I know here, I feel at ease, and like there is a place for me as long as I am here.<br /><br />Upon arrival on the 28th of January I did not know who I would cross paths with or what I might enjoy doing and seeing in the months to come. To be honest, I was freaked out, I remember that first night alone in the dorms, all the other international students (I didn't even know there were any....) had gone out, and not come back yet. I had gotten off the plane, been given a pack of English cookies from Bill (the on campus advisor who I rarely see now, but hasa huge help in getting settled in) not talked to my parents and not really gotten that tired cause I had slept just fine on the plane...and this was not going to change, cause there was no way to "swipe" in and out of my building, i had no access untill morning, so I waited, and waited, and when I heard laughs from down the hall I leapt off my bed and bombarded the other international students, man was I excited, I actually tripped in a puddle (yes, inside), on my way! That's another thing, South Africa is rainy in January, yes, wet summers, why did I not know that before I left...with out my nice Cal umbrella...<br />And that first week there were no others moved in to the dorms yet because we all arrived well before classes commenced, enough time to check out the local bars, walk around the (contaminated) Duzi River that runs through town, check out Howick Falls, and just get to know how each other and how we ended up so far from home. It feels like those first few nights were quite a while ago, but really only about 6 weeks ago.<br />The internet was slow to come...did not have access for a while...But obviously, now I got it, and my friends over here told me exactly how EASY it was to start a blog, and even they were tech illiterate and managed to do it so i must at least try, so, now, here we are.<br /><br />I think in the future my postings will be briefer.<br /><br />I hope this is a good way to relay information to people, about my activities, and about the culture and whatever else people send me emails about.<br />For now, I am going to just mention a couple things that I have already written home about:<br />-The exchange rate is unbelieveable: 1o rands to the dollar, a beer at a bar is 8 rand, at a club it is 10. Bottle of wine at Checkers (their equivalent to Safeway, a 5 minute walk from the residence) is 25 rand.<br />-There is a strong Zulu culture here, while there are other African tribes, Xkosa (click at the beginning of that word), Sotho, and then a lot of students from Zim and other countries in Africa too, the Zulu culture as the provincial name may imply, is prodominant.<br />-I know a few Zulu words: Sawubona (we see you) Yebo (yes) Ungani (how are you) Ng'yaphila (I am alive) Ubuntu (about people helping each other) Daga (weed), and there are a few others...not coming to mind at the moment...<br />--Everyone is very friendly, always greet each other, on campus, hallways, with "Howisit" a rhetorical statement you both say...sometimes resond with "good, and you?"<br />--A lot of Indian food! Bunny Chow is a cheap (4.5 rand at Kara Nichas, two minutes from the dorm, or 12 rand at Bollywood Curries, where its spicy and meaty and the owner likes to tell us stories about local history and politics) and tasty, basically take a loaf of white sandwich bread and cut it in half, scoop out the middle and scoop in curry, you have bunny chow, like a South African version of chilli bread bowl.<br />--They do get snow around here, in the mountains, and at nearby elevations, too.<br />--the Drakensberg mountains are breathtaking, we did a silly silly thing and hiked (hitched...a couple k's) the Sani Pass into Lesotho, wow! 26kms in a day, that is what happens when you get a lot of young, dont know betters in the same crowd...haha! We stayed at the "Southern Hemisphere's Highest Bar" YEAH<br />--I have been volunteering at the KZN Church Council, doing intake work on HIV patients, working with a community advocate, Sanele, and at the Ubuntu Children's Center outside Edendale, cool place, good for the kids with no where else to be, they go to school, eat meals, practice praising God, take care of one another, too. lovely, affectionate kids and teens.<br />--I am taking classes, I swear, Animal Science (Herbivore Physiology), Microbiology (Virology), Food Science (we talk chemistry and get to cook :), Poli Sci (internship based, ie, the above volunteering)<br /><br />Read what you can from above, long, I know, but really I could go on, I want to go on, but Emily is sitting next to me saying "Wow, going to town on that first entry" so i am thinking I won't get many readers if I ramble much more.<br />Ciao.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MTConklinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194624705179337837noreply@blogger.com6