Wait, I actually have to do school work while I'm abroad?

Today is the anniversary of 2 months in Cape Town. I never thought this time would fly so fast but my dad arrives late this friday night. There is a week and a half until "spring break" which is actually fall break/easter vacation. The time is seriously flying by!

I have been really busy and really sick for the last week. Overall it hasn't been the best time I've had here so far but what doesn't kill you right? The routine of school has taken over and I cannot be more ready for the monotony of this to be broken by a small vacation.

My new obsession with muffins has lead to me actually baking my own blueberry muffins (which were delicious might I add). I have spent way to much of my free time in the past week procrastinating on school work by eating these wonderful treats and watching Friends (my other new obsession).

The most exciting thing I have to report about the last few weeks is my trip to the South African National Gallery (which sounds more impressive then it actually was). It was very cool, but I also had to go for a class so that took some of the fun out of it. My life here has been all about art since I am taking two art history classes, so even though school has been crazy in the last few weeks, at least its not unpleasant work.

Another fun thing that happened an outing we took to Kirstenbosch botanical gardens. They have this wonderful summer series of events where they host sunset concerts every sunday. This trip was organized by our R.A. Tendai who lives in the apartment right next door to me and is actually from Zimbabwe and not South Africa. This specific concert was by a African band called Freshly Ground. They were wonderful! Halfway through their concert they busted out Shakira's 'Waka waka', which apparently they co-produced. That was the best surprise of the day.

We started our little tour of Kirstenbosch with an actual tour of the gardens, they are set in the shadow of Devil's peak overlooking Cape Town and the ocean. A magical landscape of trees, flowers, fynbosch (which means fine flowers), and spiders (which were as abundant as the plant life).

But now I have spent enough of my free day (today is a holiday called Human Rights Day) blogging about procrastination as I am procrastinating. So, I bid you all a wonderful week(s) and will end with an event that I remembered happened a few weeks ago that I forgot to let ya'll know about.

PRIDE! which was so much fun! it was the South African pride parade a few saturdays ago, so we all dressed up and headed to the festivities. (SO MUCH GLITTER WAS ADORNED)

South Africa is know as the rainbow nation because of a) their lovely colorful flag, b) the amount of different races they have and c) because of this festival! (but not really the last one, it was however such a blast). There was food, entertainment, booths with wonderful hats, flags, wigs and other trinkets plus so many fun people in crazy costumes.

Now I will actually get back to all my papers that are due next week. Hope spring break/midterms are treating all of you (for those who have) well an for those of you who are no longer in school, I hope life in general is going great.

And Happy Human Rights Day to all!

Don't blame me, I'm on African Time

Hello all my lovely readers! I know it has been way to long since I have updated this thing and I am very sorry about that but I have been so busy!

It has been exactly 1 month since I last posted and I have finally managed to find some semblance of a routine. My classes have been figured out, groceries are no longer as sparse and life has mellowed out a bit. It seems that my crazy vacation is turning into actual school and work seems to magically be piling up.

The exception to this disappearing of vacation life being this weekend when I took a trip, along with some friends, to Simonstown (a little town an hour and a half train ride outside of Cape Town). We had an amazing time eating yummy food, hanging out on the beach and feeling the newness that has faded away. After living here for almost 2 months I feel like I have adapted pretty darn well and nothing is quite as amazing as it was on impact.

However, they say now is when the real enjoyment begins and I cannot wait! The only other place outside of the states that I have been to for this amount of time was India and I love that place like home. I genuinely think and hope this can happen with South Africa.

How about some further updates about the specifics of my life...
I am taking three classes, two art history and one history, all of which I am enjoying and none of which compare in amount of work to MHC, which is fantastic! Granted, I wouldn't say they are at all easy. One of my art history classes is not on main campus, it is on Hiddingh campus near the city center. This is the cutest little area (in my personal opinion) and gives me a great excuse to explore the actual city of Cape Town (since I am in the area). I love the library on Hiddingh and the lack of crazy multitudes of people that infest main campus until about 5:00pm when they suddenly disappear.

I am a part of three groups or 'societies' as they call them. The art of living-Yoga club, UCT surf club and SAUJS (South African Union of Jewish Students). The first two I have been going to and really liking but the Jewish Union hasn't really done anything, so that has been a bit of a bummer. I really wanted to join a multifaith organization like at home but they don't seem to have one, so a makeshift JSU must suffice.

Other fun filled events that I have participated in so far were: Hiking up Table Mountain (which is deceivingly harder than it looks), going to Infecting the City (an amazing week-long art festival that happened last week all over Cape Town), went to a Stormers Rugby game (I love sports games), visiting Old Biscuit Mill farmers market, many Brai's, some birthday parties, shopping, discovering the company gardens (beautiful!), going out to eat, and so much more beach time. I've also cooked many meals, gone to many many classes and picked up an obsession with muffins... I must say I have been living the life and thoroughly enjoying everything (even the annoying mishaps along the way).

One of my friends keeps bringing up the amount of time we've been here/have left and every time I just want to cry because it gets smaller and smaller. Even though there is plenty of time before I must leave, it is still much to soon.

The next few weeks I have tons of reading and many papers to write but than my dad is coming and we have spring break so it shall all end with fun-times. I have really been trying to find a balance between schoolwork and fun/exploring/being abroad. It has been hard for me but I keep reminding myself that as important as school is I am here for more than that.

There are definitely events that I have left out of this quick update but I cannot remember them off the top of my head so I'll let you all know as they come up. I will also try to update more often so that I am not stuck with a month long of activities to remember all at once. But hey, everything in African runs on African time, which is kind of like Indian time for those of you who know what thats like) and for those who don't, well, things happen when they happen...