Day 39

My life as a UCT student....

If I have learned one thing, it's that I made a really good choice not going to a big school. For those of you reading this and know my habits, you'd know that I am the type of person that likes to do... everything. I've really had to take a step back and reconfigure myself as a student so literally everything I do related to UCT is books. No clubs, no on-campus job, no day time collegiate activities. It's weird. I've never felt so unsuccessful as a student. But I did find a tutor for one of my classes so I'm hoping that will help. I should not be requiring a tutor due to difficult academics while studying abroad... that's for sure.

My house here is falling apart. On Tuesday our electricity was patching in and out all day, then we lost internet and didn't get it reconfigured for two days, all of our faucets leak, and there is a tree that could fall on top of us on the next windy day.

The other night I went out to Boogies, hands down one of my favorite places to go out here. In conversation with a few of my friends and a local, he asked us where we were from. We all said the U.S, but apparently I'm from Canada. He kept saying, "you are from the U.S, but you, you are from Canada." This guy would not have it that I wasn't Canadian. Explaining the fact that Minnesota is close to Canada was not going to help this conversation, so I left it at, yah, ya know I'm Canadian.

In preparation to travel to Botswana for spring break in two weeks, I had to get a yellow fever vaccination. I went to this travel clinic which at first I thought was completely sketch, but I survived so all is well. I ended up talking to the doctor though for quite some time as he decided to give me his personal perspective of Cape Town which goes as follows:
Illegal immigrants are flocking in to Cape Town. Destroying the standard of living, begging for money, and increasing the crime rate because of drugs.
The government doesn't do anything but turn a blind eye under the ideal of equal opportunities for black people.
Most crime done here, is for drugs.
In twenty years, Cape Town, Western Cape, or even South Africa won't be nearly as nice as it is today just because it is the most economically thriving place in Africa and is being taken advantage and not protected.
Oh, and apparently Africa thought we were going to save them because our president is "black."America: always disappointing the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, in local news, there has been a lot of hype about the shootings at the miners protest in JoBurg. Honestly, I don't know much about it and it's far from here. But, there is protesting going on in a local township and we have been instructed to not go there. But that's something I don't know much about either. All I know is that South African police are idiots, as I saw one make a U-turn and take out a motorcyclist last night.

For my fifth consecutive day, I went to the gym yesterday and signed up for a class looking for a lighter workout. Not so much. Once I got in the class and people started taking out multiple sizes of barbells, I knew I was going to die. Probably one of the hardest strengthening challenges I've had. I would like to consider myself a somewhat strong female - the other women in this class gave me a huge run for my money. Today, definitely not going to the gym. Hopefully a nice hike or something outside because it is finally not raining and a beautiful day!

I am so sick of winter. It rains at least once a week. And it is cold and windy every day. I want spring!