“Differences challenge assumptions,” the famous author Anne Wilson Schaef once said. As I looked at Chelsea Ann Chalmers, I snorted at the possibility. My assumptions about her, I thought, would never be challenged.
On the surface, we were very similar. We were both of the same age, race and sex. Both of us came from families with fairly comfortable incomes in Johannesburg, we both spoke the same language and we both attended Rhodes University as first year students.
But, as far as I was concerned, Chelsea and I could have been from two different species.
Having observed Chelsea for quite some time, I thought I knew exactly who and what she was, and I was not impressed. “I know your type,” I found myself thinking on more than one occasion, “and I don’t like it.” Her social extroversion and habits created my inability to see the person that she truly was. The culture at Rhodes teemed with ‘people like her’. She fit in beautifully; I was an outcast. She loved people; I felt uncomfortable around them. She enjoyed parties; I would rather cut my own leg off than attend one. She takes pleasure in sport; I find it torturous. It happens so often that we, as human beings, do not feel comfortable when we come across someone who could fit into more than one of the restricting little boxes we have created in which to stuff them. Because I had always regarded myself as liberal-minded and free of judgmental thoughts and ideas, it came as a nasty shock to me when I found that I had created a large number of these little boxes. Not only had I been trapping my acquaintances in these boxes, but my boxes did not even have holes through which they could breathe.
Chelsea is part of the ‘in-crowd’. She is popular, and she taps her feet to the music that blares from the radio. She jumps from one earth-shatteringly fashionable outfit to the next in the space of five minutes. She is invited to all the most exclusive parties as a Rhodes first year, and she attends them. Speaking to Chelsea, I thought, would be a waste of time. It was not. Speaking to Chelsea Ann Chalmers not only surprised me, but it blew all my stereotypically labelled boxes into oblivion.
It turned out that Chelsea and I were more alike than I had ever been able to dream. Human beings, I realised, were human beings not because of, but despite their cultures. Despite being from different cultures, Chelsea and I are both saddened by pain and suffering, and it brings us joy to bring joy to others.
It comes to pass that the most important part of a person is not determined by their habits, their background or their way of life. People share core values, and this makes us human. It is time to break open our boxes, pile them up, burn them down and dance around the flames together.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Think Like a Journalist
I am almost home! Can you believe that seven weeks are almost over? I have just spent the weekend at my dad's house with Benjamin, and my tastebuds have never been more satisfied.
I do not really know what I will write about today... Things that seem old and familiar to me will be exciting and new to you, so I have no idea how to select news for you. As I am reporting this news from my own life, I guess that's a problem all journalists face! I feel that I am starting to think like a journalist more and more these days. After struggling with an assignment I had been given for a whole weekend, I went to my JMS 1 Introduction to News lecturer, Gillian Rennie, and asked her for tips. She was very unhelpful, and gave me cryptic clues and roundabout answers. I went home, ruminated on her comments, and approached her again. Again, the same thing happened. I revised my strategy, thought and thought, and apporached her again. She explained again, and finally I understood. I told her, "Finally, after all this time, you give me something I can work with!", to which she replied, "No, you just started asking the right questions." Needless to say, I am quite chuffed with myself. Learning to ask the right questions is what makes a good journalist and writer, and I am on the way. I will post the piece of writing I created by asking the right questions, and you can be the judges.
Economics is going surprisingly well, and I am writing yet another test on Tuesday that will (hopefully) attest to my economic capabilities (I got 75% for the first one - ace!). I don't know about Sociology yet, but my last essay for the term jumped from a 5 to a 7, so I'm not complaining to loudly.
I miss you so much, and I can't wait to see you next week this time. I want sushi and hugs!
I love you.
I do not really know what I will write about today... Things that seem old and familiar to me will be exciting and new to you, so I have no idea how to select news for you. As I am reporting this news from my own life, I guess that's a problem all journalists face! I feel that I am starting to think like a journalist more and more these days. After struggling with an assignment I had been given for a whole weekend, I went to my JMS 1 Introduction to News lecturer, Gillian Rennie, and asked her for tips. She was very unhelpful, and gave me cryptic clues and roundabout answers. I went home, ruminated on her comments, and approached her again. Again, the same thing happened. I revised my strategy, thought and thought, and apporached her again. She explained again, and finally I understood. I told her, "Finally, after all this time, you give me something I can work with!", to which she replied, "No, you just started asking the right questions." Needless to say, I am quite chuffed with myself. Learning to ask the right questions is what makes a good journalist and writer, and I am on the way. I will post the piece of writing I created by asking the right questions, and you can be the judges.
Economics is going surprisingly well, and I am writing yet another test on Tuesday that will (hopefully) attest to my economic capabilities (I got 75% for the first one - ace!). I don't know about Sociology yet, but my last essay for the term jumped from a 5 to a 7, so I'm not complaining to loudly.
I miss you so much, and I can't wait to see you next week this time. I want sushi and hugs!
I love you.
Friday, March 5, 2010
And the writing in the salt says: "We ride on out to the stars..." *
The five days I have only barely just survived have been among the busiest of my life (ranking right up there with Drama practicals - whew!) and I have only just touched down for the first time since Sunday.
These five days were filled with the usual amount of lectures and tutorials, and an unusual amount of work, assignments, essays, questions, meetings and other obligatory madness. For Journalism, I wrote a personal narrative for Monday and a profile (for which I had to conduct a serious interview that took serious time) on a fellow tutorial member for today. For English I had, as I always do, two sets of questions, but this week I had to hand in an essay on top of that! Not to mention that I three hours of my invaluable time on Wednesday night watching the archaic John Laurie "Hamlet"... For Sociology I had an essay to hand in today, but I also have a test on Monday. History filled its slot with some indigestably convoluted writing about climate change (enjoyable, though). And Economics decided that this week was the week to slap me with a six-source essay, multiple choice questions and another little essay. Oh, and did I mention the test I wrote on Tuesday?
Activate (the independent student newspaper) meetings started this week, and I attended the Business/Opinions meeting (they share a meeting) and I did my first bit of sub-editing yesterday! I am a born spelling-superstar!
I've dyed my hair dark again! For Ouma and Oupa, who did not know that I was blonde for two months - I was blonde for two months. The regrowth of my natural colour was getting a bit ratty, so I decided to darken it again and it really looks beautiful.
I went shopping for fake flowers today, and found a beautiful bowl at Mr. Price Home for R11.99. It is glazed, and square with rounded sides. It is a dark, glazed brown on the inside and a speckled, watery-looking white painted on the outside with black patterns drawn into it. It is really beautiful.
Time is moving forward so quickly that I seem to wake up from a robotic stupor every Friday and wonder where the hell my week has gone. I am going to try to make some time for myself, if only to remind myself that I am alive (That sounds very sombre - I really am fine, just very busy!).
I miss all of you like a bunny who has lost his carrots.
I love you.
* Modest Mouse - Trucker's Atlas
These five days were filled with the usual amount of lectures and tutorials, and an unusual amount of work, assignments, essays, questions, meetings and other obligatory madness. For Journalism, I wrote a personal narrative for Monday and a profile (for which I had to conduct a serious interview that took serious time) on a fellow tutorial member for today. For English I had, as I always do, two sets of questions, but this week I had to hand in an essay on top of that! Not to mention that I three hours of my invaluable time on Wednesday night watching the archaic John Laurie "Hamlet"... For Sociology I had an essay to hand in today, but I also have a test on Monday. History filled its slot with some indigestably convoluted writing about climate change (enjoyable, though). And Economics decided that this week was the week to slap me with a six-source essay, multiple choice questions and another little essay. Oh, and did I mention the test I wrote on Tuesday?
Activate (the independent student newspaper) meetings started this week, and I attended the Business/Opinions meeting (they share a meeting) and I did my first bit of sub-editing yesterday! I am a born spelling-superstar!
I've dyed my hair dark again! For Ouma and Oupa, who did not know that I was blonde for two months - I was blonde for two months. The regrowth of my natural colour was getting a bit ratty, so I decided to darken it again and it really looks beautiful.
I went shopping for fake flowers today, and found a beautiful bowl at Mr. Price Home for R11.99. It is glazed, and square with rounded sides. It is a dark, glazed brown on the inside and a speckled, watery-looking white painted on the outside with black patterns drawn into it. It is really beautiful.
Time is moving forward so quickly that I seem to wake up from a robotic stupor every Friday and wonder where the hell my week has gone. I am going to try to make some time for myself, if only to remind myself that I am alive (That sounds very sombre - I really am fine, just very busy!).
I miss all of you like a bunny who has lost his carrots.
I love you.
* Modest Mouse - Trucker's Atlas
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Societies, Ben's paintball, disappointment and Debonairs's after eleven-special...
For the delay, I will now apologise profusely.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!
Now, we get back to business. I have had a few assignments, paragraphs and essays marked and they do not seem to be all that awful. For Economics, I seem to be hanging between B-'s and A's. I have an Economics test on Friday, though, and then I will know for sure where I stand with this dark horse of a subject. For Sociology, however, I have a 50% assignment burning a hole in the lining of my heart... 85% for my first Journalism report, however, seems to act as Burnshield. Tomorrow my first English paragraph will be returned to me. Quite apprehensive.
On a more positive note, Societies evening was held on Thursday evening. I joined two societies: SHARC (Student HIV/Aids Resistance Campaign) and the African Drum Society.
I am joining SHARC because I would like to become a Peer Educator next year. As a Peer Educator, you give talks on awareness and safety, as well as on how to handle the virus. I get to demonstrate fun things like male and female condoms and dental dams. To me, this campaign is very important and I would like to make a difference to someone, somewhere.
The African Drum Society was my "for fun" society. Benjamin has joined as well, and every Friday afternoon at four we will meet at the Botanical gardens, relax, and listen to and/or play some African drums.
The last thing I signed up for is not so much a society as a movement, with one particular event coming up that I am incredibly interested in attending. We will be marching in solidarity for victims of rape, as only ONE in nine women who are raped report the crime, and of these, only 4% are successfully prosecuted. I will have my mouth taped shut and wear a T-shirt proclaiming these statistics. For the whole day.
As part of JMS, I also joined the independent student newspaper called "Activate". I signed up for three sections: Sub-editing, Opinions and Business. After my first "Subbies" meeting on Tuesday, you will know more!
As you might have noticed, I have created a new Facebook account for friends and family that I really want to keep in touch with. I will not really be very active there, but at least I can keep an eye on your events, photographs and news!
Last night, after watching the season finale of Hell's Kitchen (A great show that I do recommend), Benjamin and I made a run for Debonairs, which has a special (for drunken students, I presume) that runs from 11pm to 2am and consists of two small pizzasand a very large cheese and garlic sub. Yum.
Today, I watched Benjamin play paintball with the Paintball Society. It looked very fun! Ben is quite battered and bruised, but he enjoyed it immensely. I am reading Hamlet today, to keep up with lectures that move at a startingly rapid pace.
I miss you all so incredibly much... April is ever approaching, though, and I will be home before you know it. I love you!
PS: Ouma, here is a research project for you:
Assess the importance of the development of writing in human history. What have been its major benefits and what problems has it brought?
Just a few thoughts from you, for if you start missing me too much... (This is for History!)
I love you!
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!
Now, we get back to business. I have had a few assignments, paragraphs and essays marked and they do not seem to be all that awful. For Economics, I seem to be hanging between B-'s and A's. I have an Economics test on Friday, though, and then I will know for sure where I stand with this dark horse of a subject. For Sociology, however, I have a 50% assignment burning a hole in the lining of my heart... 85% for my first Journalism report, however, seems to act as Burnshield. Tomorrow my first English paragraph will be returned to me. Quite apprehensive.
On a more positive note, Societies evening was held on Thursday evening. I joined two societies: SHARC (Student HIV/Aids Resistance Campaign) and the African Drum Society.
I am joining SHARC because I would like to become a Peer Educator next year. As a Peer Educator, you give talks on awareness and safety, as well as on how to handle the virus. I get to demonstrate fun things like male and female condoms and dental dams. To me, this campaign is very important and I would like to make a difference to someone, somewhere.
The African Drum Society was my "for fun" society. Benjamin has joined as well, and every Friday afternoon at four we will meet at the Botanical gardens, relax, and listen to and/or play some African drums.
The last thing I signed up for is not so much a society as a movement, with one particular event coming up that I am incredibly interested in attending. We will be marching in solidarity for victims of rape, as only ONE in nine women who are raped report the crime, and of these, only 4% are successfully prosecuted. I will have my mouth taped shut and wear a T-shirt proclaiming these statistics. For the whole day.
As part of JMS, I also joined the independent student newspaper called "Activate". I signed up for three sections: Sub-editing, Opinions and Business. After my first "Subbies" meeting on Tuesday, you will know more!
As you might have noticed, I have created a new Facebook account for friends and family that I really want to keep in touch with. I will not really be very active there, but at least I can keep an eye on your events, photographs and news!
Last night, after watching the season finale of Hell's Kitchen (A great show that I do recommend), Benjamin and I made a run for Debonairs, which has a special (for drunken students, I presume) that runs from 11pm to 2am and consists of two small pizzasand a very large cheese and garlic sub. Yum.
Today, I watched Benjamin play paintball with the Paintball Society. It looked very fun! Ben is quite battered and bruised, but he enjoyed it immensely. I am reading Hamlet today, to keep up with lectures that move at a startingly rapid pace.
I miss you all so incredibly much... April is ever approaching, though, and I will be home before you know it. I love you!
PS: Ouma, here is a research project for you:
Assess the importance of the development of writing in human history. What have been its major benefits and what problems has it brought?
Just a few thoughts from you, for if you start missing me too much... (This is for History!)
I love you!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Out of gas, out of road, out of car, I don't know how I'm gonna go...*
My pocket money for February has officially run out. No more hiding, no denying. On what, you ask? I have absolutely no idea. I tried to keep my slips, but they got lost with my recycling paper and, as a result, were recycled (at least I promoted the interests of the environment if not the interests of my pocket).
Mom, I think I will make an appeal to you tonight. Be prepared. Both of my pairs of shoes broke, I had to buy laundry supplies, I need to pay Benjamin back my part of our Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. (6th ed.) London: Collins (textbook), I need water because our water is filled with aluminium to kill all the stomach bugs in it (I know, I thought so too) and I must appeal that one week in February has single-handedly engineered my demise: Benjamin's birthday followed by our ten-month anniversary celebration and a dash of Valentine's Day. A recipe for disaster.
Sometimes I think about money. It is such a bizarre concept. Paper that is utterly meaningless drives people to sleep with, befriend, hurt and brutally murder each other. What for? It would be exactly the same if we were still trading in shells or pine nuts. Why this need for accumulating more and more and more of such an intangible, transient idea? When you remove yourself from the situation, you see how absolutely futile it actually is.
I think I have shown that I, as an 18-year-old student, possess over incredible insight. I think that is more than enough of that. I still need money.
Classes are going very well. Have I explained the concepts of lectures and tutorials to you yet? Lectures are big "talks" we are given in groups of about 200 to 300 students, in a big lecture hall. You all know what a lecture is. Nobody knows if you are actually attending them, no homework is dished out and nobody actually cares but you.**
Tutorials, on the other hand, are an absolutely crucial part of university. For each subject I take, I have four lectures and one tutorial. For English Literature I have three lectures and two tutorials. Tutorials are small classes of about 10 to 15 students and are led by a Masters or Honours student in the subject. The focus is on preparation and discussion. All assignments are handed in here and discussion and understanding takes place here. If you do not attend 80% of tutorials, you lose your Duly Performed Certificate and are not allowed to write your exams.
Sociology: Tutorials require a typed essay once a week.
History: Preparation for the discussion of a certain topic and at times, essays and assignments.
English: Written answers to questions (for personal use) which will be discussed in class and paragraphs (to be handed in) twice a week. Assignments and essays will start soon.
Economics: Two essays and multiple choice questions with typed explanations once a week.
JMS: One or two reports once a week, I'm not too sure about how this one will work just yet.
I need to go have some lunch now, and after that I will start reading Hamlet. Reading? For university? Bring it on!
Love
Kayla
* Modest Mouse - Out of Gas
** I attend all my lectures, Mom!
Mom, I think I will make an appeal to you tonight. Be prepared. Both of my pairs of shoes broke, I had to buy laundry supplies, I need to pay Benjamin back my part of our Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. (6th ed.) London: Collins (textbook), I need water because our water is filled with aluminium to kill all the stomach bugs in it (I know, I thought so too) and I must appeal that one week in February has single-handedly engineered my demise: Benjamin's birthday followed by our ten-month anniversary celebration and a dash of Valentine's Day. A recipe for disaster.
Sometimes I think about money. It is such a bizarre concept. Paper that is utterly meaningless drives people to sleep with, befriend, hurt and brutally murder each other. What for? It would be exactly the same if we were still trading in shells or pine nuts. Why this need for accumulating more and more and more of such an intangible, transient idea? When you remove yourself from the situation, you see how absolutely futile it actually is.
I think I have shown that I, as an 18-year-old student, possess over incredible insight. I think that is more than enough of that. I still need money.
Classes are going very well. Have I explained the concepts of lectures and tutorials to you yet? Lectures are big "talks" we are given in groups of about 200 to 300 students, in a big lecture hall. You all know what a lecture is. Nobody knows if you are actually attending them, no homework is dished out and nobody actually cares but you.**
Tutorials, on the other hand, are an absolutely crucial part of university. For each subject I take, I have four lectures and one tutorial. For English Literature I have three lectures and two tutorials. Tutorials are small classes of about 10 to 15 students and are led by a Masters or Honours student in the subject. The focus is on preparation and discussion. All assignments are handed in here and discussion and understanding takes place here. If you do not attend 80% of tutorials, you lose your Duly Performed Certificate and are not allowed to write your exams.
Sociology: Tutorials require a typed essay once a week.
History: Preparation for the discussion of a certain topic and at times, essays and assignments.
English: Written answers to questions (for personal use) which will be discussed in class and paragraphs (to be handed in) twice a week. Assignments and essays will start soon.
Economics: Two essays and multiple choice questions with typed explanations once a week.
JMS: One or two reports once a week, I'm not too sure about how this one will work just yet.
I need to go have some lunch now, and after that I will start reading Hamlet. Reading? For university? Bring it on!
Love
Kayla
* Modest Mouse - Out of Gas
** I attend all my lectures, Mom!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Week Three
Could I really be nearing the end of another week already? I feel as though I have not even touched ground in the past three weeks... How could they be over already?
But, as I look over my 'Rhodes' folder and its steadily growing contents, I remember why it feels as though my university career has not really started yet: I have been doing too much work! I have been so busy typing, scribbling, printing, scanning, copying, reading, rereading, proofreading, editing, running around, handing in, defining, discussing and describing that I had not stopped to think for one second thus far.
Well, this isn't going to be it. I have to get to the library to print my sociology assignment!
I love you.
But, as I look over my 'Rhodes' folder and its steadily growing contents, I remember why it feels as though my university career has not really started yet: I have been doing too much work! I have been so busy typing, scribbling, printing, scanning, copying, reading, rereading, proofreading, editing, running around, handing in, defining, discussing and describing that I had not stopped to think for one second thus far.
Well, this isn't going to be it. I have to get to the library to print my sociology assignment!
I love you.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ice age, heat wave, can't complain...*
The blistering heat that swallowed Grahamstown about a week ago, kicking and screaming, has not let up yet. It showed some promising (yet, ultimately, deceptive) signs of cooling down on Sunday, which was Valentine's Day. Benjamin and I were blessed with some beautiful, lyrical, romantic clouds on this romantic holiday.
I planned to surprise Benjamin at his res at exactly 11:11 with a cactus (the perfect flowers for this manly man), The Sunday Times, cupcakes and a letter. I got beautiful flowers (they suit me perfectly!) and 70% cocoa luxury dark chocolate... I felt very lucky!
After lunch, Ben and I took the paper to the luscious green lawns outside my dining hall, and we spent the afternoon reading, laughing and eating. My favourite Valentine's Day by far.
I have drifted off the point completely, as I am prone to do.
Heatwaves. Polar ice caps melting. Pollution.
For the past week I have been researching this mouth-frothily juicy issue and I still cannot say that I am educated enough to make a decision. It seems to me, as with any heated topic of debate, that there are two camps, both friendly and waiting for you to sign up and get sucked in.
One of the abovementioned camps denies that climate change is real and/or caused by human beings. As far as I know, one of their main arguments is that the world temperature is fluctuating, and taking its natural course: getting hotter, and cooling down. Even if it might take thousands of years, the cycle will continue. Sitting in puddles of my own sweat makes me feel a little less friendly towards air-conditioned, hair-conditioned CEOs of motorcar companies and paper mills.
Concerning our familiarity with the other camp I have no doubt. Human pollution is bringing the end of the world closer with frightening rapidity, and we should all do our bit to save the environment by organizing lift clubs, recycling and winning Miss World. This, I can handle. What I find to have slightly more difficulty in swallowing is the fanatical moral authority 'They' (whoever they are) assume over us mere mortals. 'Going green' has turned into the religion of the week!
As I am still undecided as to my own position on the matter, I will not become a moral authority in my own right and use this blog as a platform to promote some interest above another.
This interesting article makes for some enlightening (if not exactly light) reading.
I have finished my second Economics essay (more essays for Economics than English Literature? What?) for tonight, and I pretend to organize my notes while shuffling some papers around. I cannot promise anything.**
* Modest Mouse - The World at Large
Always give credit where credit is due!
** Just joking, mom, I am working incredibly dilligently and I am more organized than I have been for years!
I planned to surprise Benjamin at his res at exactly 11:11 with a cactus (the perfect flowers for this manly man), The Sunday Times, cupcakes and a letter. I got beautiful flowers (they suit me perfectly!) and 70% cocoa luxury dark chocolate... I felt very lucky!
After lunch, Ben and I took the paper to the luscious green lawns outside my dining hall, and we spent the afternoon reading, laughing and eating. My favourite Valentine's Day by far.
I have drifted off the point completely, as I am prone to do.
Heatwaves. Polar ice caps melting. Pollution.
For the past week I have been researching this mouth-frothily juicy issue and I still cannot say that I am educated enough to make a decision. It seems to me, as with any heated topic of debate, that there are two camps, both friendly and waiting for you to sign up and get sucked in.
One of the abovementioned camps denies that climate change is real and/or caused by human beings. As far as I know, one of their main arguments is that the world temperature is fluctuating, and taking its natural course: getting hotter, and cooling down. Even if it might take thousands of years, the cycle will continue. Sitting in puddles of my own sweat makes me feel a little less friendly towards air-conditioned, hair-conditioned CEOs of motorcar companies and paper mills.
Concerning our familiarity with the other camp I have no doubt. Human pollution is bringing the end of the world closer with frightening rapidity, and we should all do our bit to save the environment by organizing lift clubs, recycling and winning Miss World. This, I can handle. What I find to have slightly more difficulty in swallowing is the fanatical moral authority 'They' (whoever they are) assume over us mere mortals. 'Going green' has turned into the religion of the week!
As I am still undecided as to my own position on the matter, I will not become a moral authority in my own right and use this blog as a platform to promote some interest above another.
This interesting article makes for some enlightening (if not exactly light) reading.
I have finished my second Economics essay (more essays for Economics than English Literature? What?) for tonight, and I pretend to organize my notes while shuffling some papers around. I cannot promise anything.**
* Modest Mouse - The World at Large
Always give credit where credit is due!
** Just joking, mom, I am working incredibly dilligently and I am more organized than I have been for years!
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