The Beginnings of Something Great

I've spent the past four months since my return from South Africa dreaming only of going back. My short three week stay in the Rainbow Nation opened my eyes to a part of the world which almost instantly tugged at my heartstrings. When I left, deep down, I already knew that I would someday be back. You cannot give someone a sampling of something wonderful and expect them not to want more. Therefore, my plan is to spend a year abroad studying at the University of Cape Town starting next summer (or rather next winter for the Southern Hemisphere).

There's nothing officially set in stone yet, but nonetheless it's already been a long road to get where I am today. Lots of information had to be researched and decisions had to be made. Originally I only intended to go back for a semester, and at the University of Stellenbosch rather than UCT. My university, Tennessee Tech, participates in the ISEP exchange program with Stellenbosch and I had thought that was my only option. But after talking with Amy Miller, the study-abroad coordinator at Tech, I learned that I could go to UCT by applying independently. Even more, all my scholarships can be applied there, which is a crucial factor in me even being able to consider studying abroad. As time went on and I thought more about it, I decided that I would rather spend a year in Cape Town. I mean, why not? I'd be afraid that spending six months there would only allow me to just get myself settled in before ripping me right back up and sending me home. This way I'll be able to put down more roots, experience more things, see more places and make deeper relationships with people.

Deciding to stay abroad a year has made things quite a bit more complicated to plan. But I am definitely a stubborn person when it comes to getting something I feel so strongly about. So as complicated as it might be, it is not impossible to make the necessary plans. Being a junior now means I will be spending my entire senior year at UCT. So if I still want to graduate in 2011 I need to make damn sure that all my credits are or will be in order. I still need to take 2 histories, 2 sciences, 1 spanish, 3 french and 1 capstone to graduate. The only thing I'm really worried about is getting my French credits done. This will take a bit of creative thinking. Hopefully the wonderful French faculty here at Tech will be able to help me take a Directed Studies course before I go and the French faculty at UCT will allow me to enter into their French program. Apparently there are only certain courses offered to study-abroad students at UCT, and French is not one of them. Nor are the two others I really want to take, Afrikaans and Xhosa. But, like I said, I am stubborn as hell, and will hopefully be able to twist some arms successfully. I will also have to take my senior exit exam the beginning of next semester, over a year early, just so I will be able to graduate when I come back. But that is really no biggie.

The next problem, and probably the most important, is that of money. I have been saving money as best I can. My mother, the eternal corny jokester, says that I'm pinching my pennies so hard she can hear them screaming. Haha. I work at the local Cracker Barrel as a waitress relying on tips as my source of income. I've been trying to put myself in the mindset that every table I wait on is one step closer to getting to South Africa, and every extra dollar I can make is appreciated. Recently I've even been volunteering to stay until close just to make a tad bit more money. Scholarships are something I will be persuing. I came across the Boren scholarship the other day while searching the internet and am quite excited about applying for it. I met with Amy Miller today again to go over a few concerns I had and she mentioned there might even be a study-abroad scholarship for Honors students, which I am. So, I'll be emailing Rita Barnes, the Honors program director, to get more info.

Besides having my mind engulfed in the stressful factors of even getting to the country, I've spent a lot of time daydreaming about once I actually get there. In the past four months books, articles, music, movies, etc that have to do with southern Africa have become my best friends. I am incredibly excited, and become even more so as each day passes. I just actually finished watching Andrew Zimmern: Bizarre World about an hour ago where he went to Joburg and Cape Town. So hyped now. I've been making a hodge-podge sort of list of things I want to do when I'm in SA but haven't gotten a chance to put it in writing. It's not fully developed by any means, and I don't think it ever will stop growing, but here it is so far:

-see Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
-go to Lesotho & Swaziland
-hike in the Drakensburg
-go to a World Cup match (which I already have tickets to!!! :D :D :D)
-road-trip to Windhoek, Namibia (more about the journey than the destination)
-see a traditional healer/doctor
-abseil off Table Mountain (I'm terribly afraid of heights but am slowly conquering that fear)
-see Flash Republic, Glaskas and hopefully Goldfish in concert
-travel along the Garden Route
-eat bunny chow in Durban
-eat all sorts of different game for that matter
-go to as many braais as possible

I think that suffices for now. The list goes on and on, and I will be adding to that, you can be sure of it.

Enough for now. Off to dream of faraway lands. (Or actually off to study late into the night for the impending exam of doom aka Laningham's Euro Civ Exam that will be tomorrow at 3pm..wish me luck!).

Much love!
Rebecca