Down the road from the Rat and the Parrot is a smaller,
dingier bar called Champs. A handful of us walk through the door and
immediately we are aware of how awkward we are. You know how in those older
movies a character walks into a particularly awkward situation, everyone in the
room stops what they are doing, the music stops and you hear that zipping sound
of the record skipping? That’s pretty much exactly what happened haha but we
just kept on going.
There wasn’t anywhere to sit and everyone was still watching
to see what we would do next. Champs is darker and more smoke filled than The
Rat and the Parrot and on this particular night, there were much fewer people.
Apparently karaoke doesn’t start until 9… Well no turning back now...
We killed time at the bar just talking and getting to know
each other. Any gaps in my recollection of what we have been doing with our
time so far can probably be accounted for by hours of fantastic conversations
with some really spectacular people. In this particular gap I spoke with Paul
and Anne-Laure (Anna) – exchange students from France. They study together at
Albert le Grand and are quite possibly some of the most casually awesome people
I have ever met. It’s curious that even though we are all technically
foreigners here we still approach non-Americans as if they are the
internationals. We have several students here from Germany and one from the
Netherlands. I personally think that they stand out less than we (the Americans) do. We spend hours just asking semi-ignorant questions about culture
differences. We’re such a curious bunch. The overall consensus is that the
world is confusing and awesome. Go see it!
At some point I hopped over down the bar, where Jake and
Zach are huddled together talking. Jake as I said before is from near my
hometown in Pennsylvania. Zach goes to school at Willamette on the complete
other side of the country. They never knew each other before this trip, and let
me tell you, these kids became Insta Bros. They are best friends on this trip
and it is a source of endless amusement to me. Completely awesome guys. So glad
I’ve met them. I keep calling them Jach and Zake by mistach (see what I did there?). Really I should
just call them Burt and Ernie J
Eventually the karaoke gets started, the bar is more crowded
and the energy of everyone there is at an all-time high. In the back left corner
of Champs is a small stage with a DJ set up, a flat screen karaoke monitor,
fringed with strands of fuchsia twinkle lights. The first couple of performers
are locals and, dude, they were GOOOOOOD. A list of available songs came our
way and we seized it! Nothing but seven pages of alphabetized American pop songs.
We joked about which ones we should do, thinking that we probably wouldn’t end
up on the stage, but then two girls from our international group got up on
stage to sing Bohemian Rhapsody. Other people from our group sang Diamonds.
Patrick gave a spectacular performance, complete with tasteful stripping during
awkwardly long instrumental breaks. Zach sang Pretty Fly for a White Guy and he
was indeed…pretty fly.
My friends and I had wanted to do a Fun song, but someone
else did it before we could. Pffft whatever. Over it. We decide to grace the
Wednesday night bar goers of Grahamstown with a loud rendition of Call Me Maybe
by the ever talented glorious Carly Rae Jepsen. (Please Hold Applause)
A few minutes after submitting our song to the very nice DJ,
about 18 of us mounted the stage to sing (shriek) Call Me Maybe. Caitie and I
pulled out our lyrical dancing skills. A video of us is, I am certain, floating
around the South African YouTubes as we speak. No regrets!
It had gotten late by the time we finally got to sing our
song. Our voices were destroyed and we were ready for bed. A few people stayed
on at Champs, but Caitie, Gillian, and I headed back to campus ready for bed.
Of course, yet again we stayed up forever talking, completely dashing any
thoughts of a good night sleep.
When I decided I really should go to bed, of course I skyped
my wonderful handsome boyfriend well into the night. Do you say goodnight,
sweet dreams when only one of you is going to bed and the other is getting
ready for dinner?
All in all, a spectacular night. I can now cross karaoke in
South Africa off my bucket list.
Thursday July 18th
This day of orientation week was reserved for departmental
visits. Basically, if you told Aidan or Helen you were interested in a class
you were meant to go visit the department to get some info and get a
registration slip signed.
I came here with the intention of only taking Drama classes,
but I had heard about so many great courses while talking with other students
that I started getting interested in courses other than drama. We are a very
well rounded group. Some are interested in communications, journalism, and
business. Others are all about psychology. A couple people are taking botany
and zoology to fulfill their home institutions’ science requirement. Zoology
courses go on field trips. Casual. A large group of people are very interested
in history. The more I heard them talk about it the more I wanted to take it. Maybe I'll audit everything. What could possibly go wrong.
I went to the department meeting with everyone to get a
better idea of exactly what history would be covered. In a large building that
surrounds the koi fountain behind the iconic clock tower of Rhodes, we met
Professor Gary Baines. A delightful (I’m assuming) well-learned man with a
South African accent and a groovy sweater. They offer some really cool history
courses here. I wish I had time to take them all! I think I’d be really curious
to learn world history through the lens of South Africa. I am currently signed
up for History 202, a course that focuses on South African history. Where better
to study it, eh? I may end up dropping it but for now it’s on my schedule.
After the meeting, some people scurried off to other
departments. I headed back to my room for some nappage and blogging. I didn’t
have any other departmental meetings scheduled until the following day. It was
nice to recharge for a bit.
Caitie returned from her disappointing meeting in the
Politics department. Apparently they don’t offer the one class she has to take during this semester. Shame.
(Just to clarify: In South Africa, people say “shame” to genuinely indicate
they empathize with an unfortunate situation. I’m not a jerk geez, guys)
We both had some questions for Aidan so after lunch we
ventured to the international offices to consult with him. While we were there
a MASSIVE thunderstorm rolled up out of nowhere. You really can’t predict what
the weather will do here. Aidan joked early this week in his posh Pretoria
accent that “We don’t really have a climate here. We have weather”
Next Caitie and I braved the weather for Under the Arch
coffee. Y’all don’t understand. Even if there was a hurricadonamieruption I
would try and make it to Under the Arch. (Exaggeration?) The surrounding area
was a bit deserted in lieu of the approaching ominous clouds, but Seesa (I
don’t know how to spell his name sorry! That’s how it sounds) was happy to see
us! He was playing music and looked pleased to have company. While he poured
our mochaccinos, he told us about a Barista Championship in Port Elizabeth for
which he was preparing. I had no idea there were such things and was thinking
it must regional thing when he pulled out a barista magazine as if it were a
Sports Illustrated to show us more about the competition. He’s been doing them
for a couple years now and wants to be a judge next year. He even pulled out
his blackberry to show us a video of his performance last year. The things you
learn when you talk to the guy who makes your coffee. Thanks Seesa!
Thursday night is supposed to be Girls Night at the Rat.
While everyone was getting gussied up for that, Caitie, Gillian and I decided we
were far too tired and settled in for a long night of talking and bonding.
Turns out Girls Night doesn’t start until the school year does so we didn’t
even miss out on anything, not that I would have traded Thursday night for
anything in the world. By the end of the night we had a lot of really great
conversations with Becca, Meghan (from New York) and Danielle (from the
Netherlands). Topic of conversation centered around language. I am now horribly
aware of how much I say “like”. It’s a disease, people. The entire conversation
was really pretty fascinating. Sorry I keep going on about just talking with
people, but I have really gotten to know a lot of people here in a very short
time. I’m already thinking about how much I will miss everyone when we go home.
Friday July 19th
Another day was set aside for departmental visits. I started
my morning with Patrick, Gillian, and Anne-Laure at the Drama Department. It
was SO good to finally get a straight forward break down about what was and
wasn’t available to us. I was super intimidated, but the meeting also got me
psyched for the opportunities headed my way. We also scored complimentary
tickets to two drama dept. productions happening this weekend.
I turned in all my paperwork for classes to Aidan and went
back to my room for a congratulatory nap. A very long very needed nap.
That night we went out to dinner at a very Americanized
chain restaurant named spurs. We had eaten at the Kimberly dining hall every
day for orientation. Friday night was our night to get adventurous. I got a
peppamelt burger, which was like a cheeseburger with Cracker Barrel gravy on
it. Not exactly like how Momma used to make, but it was much needed regardless.
We finished off the night at the Rat and the Parrot. Highlight of the night: a guy
with a tongue ring came up behind me and said he could see my soul. It was a
very beautiful soul. Was I from Connecticut? Oh hey, Jesse McCartney…is that
the one state you can name? Good bye. Gotta love creepers J
It’s hard to believe that at that time the week before,
Caitie and I were sitting in the Philly airport anxiously speculating what our
trip would be like.
Saturday July 20th
Nothing to do all day!! We slept in so hard! It was
wonderful. Mary, Nora, Caitie, Gillian and I went into town for some brunch.
Must go place in Grahamstown? Red Café. It was such a hip hidden little
treasure. The café is upstairs on High Street with outside and indoor seating.
You can buy old used books and just look at the funky artwork while you wait
for your food. I got a breakfast tramezinni – kinda like a breakfast sandwich
on a giant English muffin but not quite – and some much needed coffee. Mary got
an iced coffee in milkshake form which was to die for.
Some major girl talking and shopping went on throughout the
rest of the day. I bought a book at an Antiquarian bookstore that featured the
biography of Cecil Rhodes (for whom Rhodes University is named)
It was a perfect relaxing day. Not so fun fact of
Grahamstown: Everything pretty much closes at one so people can go home and
watch sport. But I want to shop! Accommodate me and my neeeeeeeeeeeds!
That afternoon the skies opened up and exploded with a
massive thunderstorm and torrential down pour which of course we got stuck in.
We took refuge near the library waiting for it to clear up enough to run to
Kimberly Hall for one last dinner altogether because the next day we would be
moving into our allocated residence halls. Regular students will be returning
and our magical summer camp of an orientation will be over.
Sunday July 21st
I woke up to Gillian knocking on my door to go to breakfast.
Afterwards, I slowly packed up my room to move 10 yards to the right into my
new res Jameson. It was an exciting and sad day as we all moved across campus
from the people we had grown to know and love and rely on in this new country.
I like Jameson. I got lost a couple times trying to find my
way out and trying to get back in but I’m getting better at it. Enough things are
different from things I liked in Oriel house that were already strangely
different from comforts of home that I feel even more out of place than I did
when I first arrived the week before, but I’m adjusting. My warden and
subwardens are nice, if a bit strict in my opinion. Everyone else seems to have
settled in okay.
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| The view from my door |
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| The view of my door. Love the mirror cubbies. I'll miss having a sink in my room too |
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| Dying to know the story. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw this in my carpet |
Gillian was my first visitor in my new res and we sought out
Caitie for some in town essentials shopping. Not so fun fact of Grahamstown
repeated: People close down their shops after 1 to go watch sport. The only
thing open was Pick n’ Pay. People made fun of us as we perused the aisles,
mocking our accents and the like, but, whatever haters gonna hate.
The move had wiped us all out. We agreed on taking a nap
then reuniting to climb up to the nearby monument (‘cause that’s a restful
thing to do) Early evening we ascended the hill in the botanical gardens
towards the monument only to be met with a very pointy looking fence half way
up. We climbed back down and re-ascended on the road. Once we figured out the
correct way to go, the climb look no time and little to no effort (hahaha) at
all. We had a gorgeous view of the township with the sun setting to our left
and the moon rising to our right.
Pitchas!
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| View of monument from the base of the hill in the bot garden |
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| View of monument as we reached the summit |
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| View of Grahamstown |
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| Me at the top! |
.JPG) |
| Gillian, Me, Caitie |
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| Clearly the best jumping photo around |
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| More of the monument atop the hill. The monument marks the success and struggles of the 1820 settlers |
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| The moon on the hill |
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| The sun on the other side |
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| Funky graffiti on the monument |
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| headed back down after a long day |
We ended the day with our first separated dinners, which was
a little sad. By the time dinner was over, all res’ could only be accessed by
the finger print scanner, which of course, Aidan, wonderful fella that he is,
didn’t register us for. Not wanting to risk being locked out all night, my
friends and I decided not to hang out together into the late evening, but
rather to get used to our new dorms and prepare for the first day of classes
that lurked only a few hours away. I went back to my room and tried to remember
how to be alone after a week of 24/7 human interaction.
Orientation week….fin
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