Week at University of Cape Town

And so the ‘study’ part of study abroad began…


We arrived at UCT campus for our first day of lectures driving up to a beautiful building sitting right at the bottom of Table Mountain.  The buildings were covered in ivory and flowers and even though noting was in bloom (because its winter) it was so pretty.  I can’t even imagine it in the summer.  While it’s not quite like MSU, the ‘spirit’ store sucked and there is no (green) red cedar flowing through it, sitting on a mountainside is pretty damn cool.  So after the awe striking view we sat down, little be known to us, to an 8 hour day of classes…waaaa


However, we were able to hear some pretty cool speakers, I will tell you about them shortly but ill keep the details short I don’t know how interesting it will all be for you.  Although, if you want to comment and talk more about the issues or anything please feel free and let me know! Id love to chat..but beware the info is pretty heavy and focuses on African issues both pre and post apartheid.  Many of the speakers you can hear the anger and tension still in their voices.     


So,


Day 1:  we started off by giving presentations to the class and two guest speakers, Janice from Scotland and Simon Banda form South Africa.  The first presentations were about jobless growth; similar to what we suffer from in the states, the power of teacher unions, the implementation of the post apartheid education curriculum (C2005) and the effects of the 11 official languages among, teachers, students and families.  This makes it hard to communicate and even harder to teacher when the language you are teaching in the classroom is not what the student might be teaching at home. 


Simon then spoke about the outside impacts effecting education.  Him and Janice both work with the future leadership management of South African schools.  This kind of stuff was cool to hear first hand and see what is going from a different perspective.  South Africans really struggle with education, all races and particularly blacks and coloureds.  We talked a lot about the effects of teachers in the classroom and how big a role they play REGARDLESS of the resources available to the students.


“The quality of a classroom cannot exceed the quality of the teacher”


Student to teacher ratios have been studies also and it is shown that there is little effect on the students except in earlier grades. 


Day 2:  we had THE Jonathan Jansen come in to speak to us.  He is the author of the book we (were supposed to) read in preparation for our teaching here.  (Which starts tomorrow!!)  This part I will have to be brief with, he just had too much to many great things to say and I have limited time to write here.  He talked a lot about his time at the University of Pretoria (UP) where he was the first non-white dean of the university and the first to start integration there.  He talked about how he dealt with it and the issues that followed.  It was extremely powerful.  We also talked a lot about the effect of xenophobia, which is the fear of foreigners.  There were brutal attacks on villages and families that forced people to again move from their new homes.  We watched a movie called Shikaya, that depicted this and the youths that were effected really well.  One of the most shocking things for me was to see the hatred and bigotry directed towards these foreigners from other Africans who experienced the same kind of pain during the apartheid struggle.  You would think they would never want to do that to someone else.  However, the next part of the movie showed the remorse, and guilt felt by many of the children.  They were just doing what they thought they had to do.  Another thing that shocked me was then the wiliness of forgiveness and ability to move on. 


Day 3:  this day we finished up our presentations, on school fees, decentralization, the change of teacher education post partied (me) and the process of integration in schools, communities and surrounding areas of south Africa.  We then listened to a lecture from Crain Soulden about education and young people in South Africa.  A big thing he touched on unfortunately was the terrible effect of AIDS and its killing rate among teachers and students.  He also talked about racism and that even though the apartheid has ended and school have been integrated it still does not change the social and economic status of families.  This is something to consider even more then race, because that is the true factor impacting the school, what students go to what schools and what resources and thus teachers and supplies are available to the students. 


Day 4: WE FIANYLLY HAD THE DAY OFF!! Woohoo this was grreeaaattt!! We slept in, hung out, did laundry and then most people went to go see Harry Potter 7 part 2 but I am not well versed in the HP series so myself an a few others stayed back.  We hung out with the son of the family who runs Deo, the B+B we are staying at and had some drinks fireside.  This opportunity allowed me to learn about culture and life here for young South Africans.  I learned a few words like “dop” which means drink, referring to alcohol, dam, is like a pond where you would go to hang out, drink fish whatnot, “shabeen” is a place to buy alcohol after hours because they stop selling at like 8, there are not the safest places to go on the weekend apparently.  We made a fire by the side of the dam to keep warm, which I guess they do often – it was fun and relaxing and I learned a little Afrikaans.


Day 5: this was the last day of classes! Woooo!  And uuum I honestly don’t remember all too much what we talked about.  I was poooped and worn out even though we has a day off.  I do know that we talked in depth about the effects of the language barriers on not only teachers and students but also individuals and families of the country.  All in all this week was a pretty good prep for us on what to expect when we go into the classrooms (tomorrow) to start teaching.  I wasn’t nervous…but now im freaking out!  haha I have 6^th graders and I hope it al goes well.  I have never really been nervous for teaching before, but then again it’s always been with kindies…and now there are kids that can talk back to me….ha wish me luck!!


Some cool foods we ate this week:


Rotie – was like a wrap with chicken and curry, pretty good!!


We have also been eating a ton of lamb!! I love it tho! (we have also been eating A TON not kidding – no African diet for me, I swear I think ive gained 10 pounds already…you like HAVE to take a lot on your plate and finish it all… L) haha oh well ill figure it out when I get back lol


For dinner one night we had breyani, this is a mixture of rice, potato and chicken all cooked together!  I liked this too!  All the foods have been pretty spicy another thing I love! Soo ya, 10 pounds is prob no exaggeration….


Ok wellll its breakfast time now and im sad to leave you all i want to jeep writing but times up...Today we are visiting a township. This is a place that you might ‘think’ of when you think of Africa…it is going to be an emotional day but I am hoping to lean a lot.  Last night was also out last night in Dao, today we go with out host families.  Im nervous but excited!  I have a brother who is about Andrew's age so hopefully he will be able to take me on some cool hikes or out a little so I can see more of the culture.  On the down side I don’t know when I will be able to update next because I don’t think they have internet..but I will do my best!  I still have lots to update you on still!!


Miss everyone soooo much!!!


Keep checking for updates


Love ya tons,


Erin

P.S. I MISSS MY BRUDDERRRRR A LOTT!!!! Cause I know how much you would love it here and I wish you were here!!!