Today was SWEET. Many adventures. I normally don’t like to do a chronological account of a day, but it might be fitting once in a while. Here goes…
07:45 Xhosa 1 (Xhosa is an African language in the Eastern Cape of SA.)
08:40 Anthropology 3 (Class is kind of slow and theoretical, but really awesome people in the class)
10:30 Ethnomusicology 1 (Sweet jams and culture together!)
11:00 Adventure through the Botanical Gardens right on campus. Beautiful!
13:00 Lunch at the Dining Hall
13:45 Became an official member of the African Drum Society. Chyuh!
14:15 Anthropology 3, double lecture
16:15 Barefoot soccer game with a bunch of guys from PJ’s res
18:00 Zimbabwean Marimba Ensemble (Possibly the sweetest thing I have ever been a part of. About 7 of us played two full songs on a bunch of African marimbas and a couple drums. One song was called “Chaminingwa,” a Zimbabwean tune. SOOOOO GOOD!! The people are really cool and the coolest thing is that I’m actually playing in it and not just observing!)
20:00 Another barefoot soccer game with some guys from my res (I need to work on my skills)
Though the depth and closeness of relationships is much different than at home and in Boston (and to think they would be the same or equal in connection would be silly for sure), I am getting somewhat more comfortable around campus. There are some more familiar faces popping up. More pick-up soccer games. More jam sessions. It’s coming along in a pretty cool way. I am so looking forward to be a little more engaged in the larger community of Grahamstown. I am not sure where I will be directly volunteering on a regular basis, but that should come by next week. I hope to learn more about the socioeconomic situation in the area, as the devastating unemployment rate, high HIV+ rate, and large gap between rich and poor are major actors in determining the identity, culture, and struggle of people in the area. I don’t know exactly what would be done about some of the struggles, but hopefully I can learn some stuff, meet some interesting people, and celebrate the Eastern Cape culture. Meeting people and celebrating culture might not be the most effective way to develop infrastructure and battle disease, but it sure is an important part of life no matter what your socioeconomic background may be.
Uxholo (“peace” in isiXhosa),
Jeremy
07:45 Xhosa 1 (Xhosa is an African language in the Eastern Cape of SA.)
08:40 Anthropology 3 (Class is kind of slow and theoretical, but really awesome people in the class)
10:30 Ethnomusicology 1 (Sweet jams and culture together!)
11:00 Adventure through the Botanical Gardens right on campus. Beautiful!
13:00 Lunch at the Dining Hall
13:45 Became an official member of the African Drum Society. Chyuh!
14:15 Anthropology 3, double lecture
16:15 Barefoot soccer game with a bunch of guys from PJ’s res
18:00 Zimbabwean Marimba Ensemble (Possibly the sweetest thing I have ever been a part of. About 7 of us played two full songs on a bunch of African marimbas and a couple drums. One song was called “Chaminingwa,” a Zimbabwean tune. SOOOOO GOOD!! The people are really cool and the coolest thing is that I’m actually playing in it and not just observing!)
20:00 Another barefoot soccer game with some guys from my res (I need to work on my skills)
Though the depth and closeness of relationships is much different than at home and in Boston (and to think they would be the same or equal in connection would be silly for sure), I am getting somewhat more comfortable around campus. There are some more familiar faces popping up. More pick-up soccer games. More jam sessions. It’s coming along in a pretty cool way. I am so looking forward to be a little more engaged in the larger community of Grahamstown. I am not sure where I will be directly volunteering on a regular basis, but that should come by next week. I hope to learn more about the socioeconomic situation in the area, as the devastating unemployment rate, high HIV+ rate, and large gap between rich and poor are major actors in determining the identity, culture, and struggle of people in the area. I don’t know exactly what would be done about some of the struggles, but hopefully I can learn some stuff, meet some interesting people, and celebrate the Eastern Cape culture. Meeting people and celebrating culture might not be the most effective way to develop infrastructure and battle disease, but it sure is an important part of life no matter what your socioeconomic background may be.
Uxholo (“peace” in isiXhosa),
Jeremy
