One Week

Who remembers this song? “Chicka to China, the Chinese Chicken. You have a drumstick and your brain starts ticking. Watching X-Files with no lights on…” I loved that song! It’s been probably ten years since it came out and I still know all of the words. God bless the Barenaked Ladies. Anyway, as you can see I am continuing the tradition of using a song title as a blog title. Clever, right? I either use a song that I’ve been listening to as inspiration for a post or find a song that fits in with what’s been going on lately.

About three hours ago, I finished my first week of classes. Get the One Week reference? Everything with classes has been worked out (thank you, Jesus) and my schedule for my semester in Cape Town has been finalized. I will be taking Religion, Conflict, and Violence, as well as Advanced South African Politics and Genocide: African Experiences. Hopefully the work load won’t be super crazy. I’m taking three 3,000 level courses- which is the highest level for undergrads. Some people have advised against this, but I’m sure I’ll rock it no matter what happens. Or… I’ll try to.

After the whole mess with AU and credits transferring as well as having to change classes here at UCT (which was a nightmare), I realized one more time that if you really want to get something done you just have to do it yourself- and pester the crap out of people as much as possible. It’s a good thing that my friends and I are relatively pro-active people or we would not have had any idea that AU didn’t have their poop in a group. If you can’t tell by my mildly frustrated tone, I’m still pursuing free internet. It’s not going so hot. Whatever, I’m over it.

But along with getting things done yourself, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do in the future. One of the girls here is a second-semester senior and has a job lined up for when she gets back to the USA. It’s crazy that in a years time I’m going to have to have my life figured out! Obviously I’m thinking of going to grad school. Anymore you have to get a master’s degree to make any real money. I’m the kind of person who thinks I should go right away so I don’t get out of the school groove. But I’m also thinking, “Damn!” I will have been in school for 17 years, including kindergarten, once I graduate from AU. Part of me wants to discover what the real world is like. But then what will I do? Get a job? That sounds so boring… I’ve also been looking at the Peace Corps. I like the idea of getting real world experience in a different way. I go where they tell me, get paid a little bit, don’t pay for anything, my loans are deferred… Sounds like paradise, right? But what if I don’t get in…? There’s some serious thinking to do. As far as grad school goes, I’m really interested in Maternal and Child Public Health. There are a couple programs I’ve looked at- UNC and John’s Hopkins. Maybe I want to do that and get certified as a midwife and set up safe birth programs in remote parts of the world. Or reform the birth industry in the US- which is a total mess. I’m really not sure. I need inspiration. I need something to strike me and say, “Go here! Do this!” Who knows… it could happen.

I certainly wouldn’t mind spending more time in Africa. From the two countries that I’ve seen, it is a beautiful continent. It also is incredibly relevant to my interests.

But in the end, I plan to open a bakery with Jenna. I will specialize in Tiger’s Blood cupcakes and Raspberry Coconut Macaroons. Maybe we can call it Best Friend’s Bakery… I’ll probably also makes flower hair clips and book purses on the side.

Anywho… I’m really enjoying myself. The first few days were kind of rough. I’m not very good at being assertive and outwardly friendly to people. Sometimes I’m self-conscious and super nervous that I won’t make friends. But now that I’m in the swing of things, I’m quite happy. I start yoga next week- good thing because my chakras are in desperate need of realignment. Oo! And I start volunteering next week. I will be interning at an organization called PASSOP. They give legal advice and help to people living in the townships (slums) around Cape Town. Another big interest of mine is human rights- PASSOP works to make things easier for refugees from Zimbabwe. So I’ll be working either in the townships with the people living there or at headquarters doing grunt work. Which is just fine because I am quite a good typist! J

Well that’s probably enough. I’m sure I could be outside working on my tan- which is coming along quite nicely, might I add. I also found a bunch of vintage shops that I’m hoping to go to soon. Tomorrow (Saturday) we are waking up early to go back to the Neighborgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill. In the afternoon we’ll go to the beach. I’m pretty much living the life here in Cape Town. Included in this post are pictures from both of those same events from last week as well as pictures from Valentine's Day.

Anybody have any suggestions on what I should do with my life? Please let me know…

Love you all. Be safe,

B.