"NO HOOTING (honking) PLEASE." "OSTRICHES GETTING LAID!" HAHAHAAAAAAA :D
Today was our second trip on Table Mountain, YAY! This time was a trail around the mountain about half the way down maybe. We began at the Rhodes Memorial at UCT and climbed up from there to meet the trail around. Again, it was incredible, apart from being exhausted. While everyone else gets to nap after school during the week, I am busy with extracurricular activities or being toted around by colleagues. Thus, my energy was next to zero. Anywho… it was great to see the MSU crew again today. The last three days felt like years, especially without phone or internet. Amazing how connected the world has become and how different it seems without these amenities.
Back to the hike… the path was unbelievable. I wish I could chronicle and video everything here. It was unreal: waterfalls, large boulders, streams, some wooded path, some rocky path, some flat bridged path. I could not have asked for a better trail myself! The only thing I could ask for is more knowledge to explore the off beaten parts or the stone stairways up! There were a few times when I did venture on to some rocks, and these were really not smart. Haha, but it is a good thing I like climbing and am not prone to injury (there were several times when I should have easily rolled or broken my ankles today). I climbed up this virtually straight up rock, wet and covered with moss and little footholds. I made it up and back down, not without some concern though. The next was up to a little cave on the other side of the waterfall… which was easy peasy compared to the first climb. Last included getting up to a large boulder, where I could have done cartwheels it was so flat on top. Again, not an easy climb nor descent, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. From all this folly, I think I discovered I am meant to rock climb or something…. :D
Once finished, we were at the Kirstenboesh botanical gardens. And as much as I hate to say it, but it kicked the MSU botanical gardens to the curb! Location could have done that easily, but also with the variety of plants, grass areas, restaurants, etc. There was this one flower, called pleasant bird or something like that, that looked exactly like the wild creature's head in the movie "UP." It was unique and beautiful! I would definitely have loved to get lost in these gardens for hours, as well. Perhaps even enjoy a picnic like many of the families that were there. It seems that Cape Town keeps getting better and better.
In wrapping up the "fun" part of our study abroad in Suid-Afrika, our last few days were spent on a weekend trip to Hermanus and Cape Agullus (the Southern Most Tip of Africa). Saturday and Sunday we spent driving and sigh seeing mostly, stopping in some towns for meals and markets. Again, I avoided bartering after my traumatic experience before - realizing that I do not even like to be approached by sales people in the States, come to think of it. Anyways, the real adventures of the Cape of Good Hope and shark cage diving were well worth it.
To start, the drive to Cape Agullus was what seemed like eternity. We drove about three hours I think, to arrive for lunch in time at a quaint little lighthouse. Again, our meal was about an hour and a half to two and a half hours. Surprisingly, I have acclimated well to this trait of South African culture. Social conversation while waiting for meals, as well as aftering finishing the meal really has become the focus, rather than the food. This is not so different that the States, as it takes me forever to order a meal due to incessant conversation. The process here is just much extended, but enjoyable once immersed in discussion. After lunch, we were able to walk the 250 meters to the Cape, climbing rocks and venturing along the way. I so badly wanted to get out on to this once stretch of rocks, but wasn't able to due to too wide of water gaps between them. Again, I appreciated the climbing and the scenery - beautiful swells crashing along the cliffs.
Despite a great day at the Cape, the real adventure was shark cage diving. As anticipated, it was magnificent. It took us 15 minutes to reach our destination in the Atlantic Ocean, where ther is best visibility and where the boats can best lure the sharks in with bait. Thanks to some Dramamaine, the ride and overall trip were a success for others and myself. Unfortunately, a Dutch girl got seasick multiple times. Anyways, my trips in the cage went from uneventful to spectacular. My first trip included 15 minutes of waiting for a shark to come by - thus idling in the 55-degree water that was cold even with a wetsuit! However, ocne the sharks came, it was awesome!!! To be within three feet of a Great White Shark staring at you as it idled by was indescribably. The underwater pictures we took do not even fully capture the visuals, and definitely not the feelings./ I saw about 7 shark sitings during my first trip down.
After everyone else had been through once, second takers were allowed to go down again. Needless to say, my second trip was a once in a lifetime experience! Our group got to see multiple sharks aggressively chase the bait that was about 7 feet in front of our cage. And even better, after one rattled the cage with his fin while going by, he caught the bait and then rammed into our cage and go caught! RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! Since the crew member didn't pull the bait out fast enough, the shark caught it and got so distracted that it rammed its nose right into the viewing hole - literally within 3 inches of my thighs, as well as Jen's! It was definitely one of those moments where 500 thoughts run through your head within seconds. The main one"s were "Dear Lord, I really hope this shark can't get through this cage anymore... and how do I get out if it does???" Erin was smart enough to get to the top of the cage immediately, using me as a boosting post - hahahah! Surprisingly, maybe due to the shock, I wasn't really all that terrfied once I got out; perhaps, because I got out and I still had all my limbs. However, I was definitely frozen when I thought the shark was trying to get in the cage more and possibly bite my knees off. In reality, it was wriggling to try to get out of te cage. All I know is it is a story to tell for many years to come, and one to definitely hysterically laugh about with Erin and Jen! Ohhh Suid-Afrika... you are majestic :D
After reading my last post and reflecting on topics covered in our UCT sessions, I realized I forgot some of the questions that I was most engaged with and were left relatively ambiguous. There are a couple of points I wanted to pose to others, for further understanding as well as to challenge you to think about a few things.
The first was statistics on how other countries recruit their teachers. Top countries recruit from the top 30% of their students. For example:
South Korea 5%, Finland 10%, Singapore 30%
I am unsure of the United States statistics on this, but I feel it is probably top 50%. Sadly, our teachers are not highly esteemed, like these other countries. This is probably because we do not pay our teachers very well, nor hold them in high regard. Everyone thinks that they could do a better job or that teachers don’t deserve their salaries whether because of jealousy of summers off or the old saying “Those who can’t do teach.” Perhaps this is because we do not have the smartest people teaching. But perhaps this is because these people who have gone through extensive college years and training are not valued. It is a double edge sword. Curious as to what others think about this… Should we change our standards for our teachers? Or should we just become better informed about what they do? Also, can we stand to pay our teachers more, or will this further bankrupt our state governments?
In addition to this, I was fascinated to discover the role of Hollywood across the world. Almost every movie poster I have seen here is a mainstream American movie. People are not joking about our globalization influence. This makes me think of another point from UCT, about American perceptions about Africa. According to a study done by a Michigander a while ago, apparently most Americans believe Africa to be jungle and barbaric because of the movie Tarzan. Yes, Tarzan! And to think, people disagree that Disney movies do not influence kids! The subtle messages we miss everyday. Amazing.
In addition to these fascinating points, a couple of other philosophical points intrigued me. In 2008, there were extensive xenophobic attacks in South Africa. (Fear of foreigners). 69 people were murdered, while millions of others were injured and displaced. While some may say we do not exhibit xenophobia in the United States, we definitely do with our immigration fears. I am interested if people think such violence could occur in our country?! Personally, I do not think it will because I think socially we condemned that kind of behavior with the end of the violence during the Civil Rights. However, I am curious what other people think. Also, what do you think is a viable solution to our fears and anger regarding immigration? What is a practical solution? How do we deal with these fears across borders while respecting each other and not fearing distance? Is the only fear about immigration an economic one?
Lastly, one comment struck me throughout the week: “Is the type of schooling received in this country appropriate for the needs of this country and the issues/systems that students are stepping into? A.k.a: What would be the most appropriate education for South African students? On another note, what would be the most appropriate education for U.S. students? My thoughts go directly to social education for South Africa because there are such extensive social issues that exist here, but you could also say that about the United States as well, but in a different context. Of course math and science must be emphasized so countries can compete internationally and on a technological scale, but we also must extensively prepare students for the social situations they will likely face. Racial and class therapy are crucial for South Africa in my opinion, and attention to global influence is necessary in the United States. What are your thoughts?
However, in trying to critique the film from the perspective of an unknowledgeable audience, it may be enjoyable. It was very intense and simplified complex scenes from the book for such an audience to understand. But beyond the dramatic aspects of this altered film that may be riveting, there were a few concerns about the technical elements. The film did not contain great transitions, as scenes were sort of chopped together. Also, the comedic relief was placed in odd/inappropriate places. But on the whole, the film did hold viewer’s interest due to the intensity of the plot.
From the other perspective (the informed reader), the film was quite shocking in the variation from the film. Although depicting the major ideas that the horcruxes had to be destroyed before the defeat of Lord Voldemort, the majority of it was far-fetched and largely distorted from the story. Beyond smaller and less important things that were excluded from the film such as George’s missing ear or the lack of Dumbledore’s family backstory, the major disturbing adaptations included:
Other small details that are not crucial to the main plot line but altered that could easily have been depicted were:
On the whole, the film may have been enjoyable if either the larger or the smaller things alone would have been properly depicted. However, since there was such a vast difference between so many things, it seemed so disconnected from the book.
This week has been extensive, exploring deep complex issues interwoven throughout many aspects of society, as well as multiple societies. Obviously, we examined a lot of information regarding South African schools. A lot of this information was mind blowing!
Day 4
Today was a day of sight seeing. We drove all around the peninsula of Cape Town, and one cannot begin to describe its beauty. Sadly, I am unable to describe it in words it was so breathtaking. However, I can clearly describe the bit of culture shock I endured at the market this morning. I hardly learned to barter at a stand the day before and thus did not want to fully participate, yet was thrown into the lion’s den in the morning. If you merely stop at a stand for three seconds, one better be prepared to be persuaded. It was hard just wanting to browse and not wanting to offend. When I eventually tried to bargain for a bag but didn’t want it at the going price, a sales woman latched onto my arm, trying to convince me to ask for money from my friend. I did not want to forcibly remove her arm, but could not get away. Thus, I was being torn between the woman and my friend. It was quite alarming that she did not let me go for about five minutes, since I could just not bring myself to forcibly say “NO!” Thus, bartering may be put into the hands of others in the future, as I was deeply rattled.
On a better note, the scenery was phenomenal and my fellow study abroad friends amazing. For dinner, we had a Gatsby – which is a sort of a large sub. It had spicy chicken, lettuce, French fries, and a sauce. It was enormous, but delicious. Everything here seems to have fries… or chips as they call them here. The other day we had a chip roll – literally a French fry sub. Everything I have tried so far, apart from the ProNutro has been wonderful. Not exactly a home cooked meal, but good nonetheless :D Keep on bringing on the South African ways!
