I went on a walk today. I walked to the local mall where I purchase my meals for the week, if I wanted to I could by clothing, jewelry, and well anything I really need. It is interesting to have a picture of a place that you will be visiting or even staying. I envisioned dirt roads, black people, and open air markets. What I see on a daily bases looks like the house that my grandparents stay at in the winter (Arizona) mines the large metal fencing with razor wire decorating the top. I watch the over sized men and model like woman make there way through the consumerism covered mall. I walk out side of the mall to find pubs, dance clubs, and restaurants. This is always full of students, at noon I will at least see 40 people drinking or drunk. Will this life style change when school starts? Will some of these strangers be my friends? In a way I hate it here. I wanted something that was not America. I wanted to experience something out of the ordinary. I wanted it to be like West Africa. But now that I am here and in the moment I think to my self and realize that West Africa is not the place for me to be, South Africa is. It fits my life style; I have what I need at my finger tips but can see the exotic life with in an hours drive.
I am here with a lot of Dutch students, and they never let me forget that I am an American. I fell that we as Americans are fucked (excuse my language, sorry mom). I am told not to speak when we talk to the police, when we go out, when we do anything. What is wrong with this picture? The first time I traveled outside of the states everyone loved me because I was an American. In only 7 years the reputation that the states had at one time is gone. I am a danger to the Dutch based off of where I am from, what my passport says, not off of what my personality is like or my beliefs on life. I wish that I was not from the states; I wish and hope for a brighter future for the citizens of the states.
I hope to be traveling to Durban for the weekend. This will be our celebration of school starting on Monday.

South Africa

Well I am here in Pretoria, it is very beautiful. I find Pretoria and Johannesburg very modern. In fact I feel like I am in the states. The people here are interesting. All of the men look like Arnold and all the woman look like models. I am in a city of beautiful people.

Unfortunately I will be living with the two girls that I came over with. This is because last semester it was coed but some of the woman complained making them rethink the housing, there for they had little time to rearrange where we would be put. We will be joined by three more, and I think they will be Dutch.
The students that live around us are all Dutch and one American from Philadelphia. I have had quite an entertaining time. Last night I was taken to an Irish pub and then we went to a dance club where everyone looked like they where bobble head dolls. It was soooo funny. They just do not know how to dance in this country.

When I was in Zurich I was mostly freezing and looking at a map, because one of the girls said she would plan the trip into the city, but she had failed and then complain how boring Zurich was..
The Alps where so amazing, in the plane I watched the sun rise over the top of them as we dove down into the worst fog I had ever seen.

The school is so disorganized. Half of the international students are in the computer system and the other half are not. We can not get our student cards till next week, this means I can not used the internet or get on campus or do anything even related to the university. The class schedule still has not come out, and all of the international students are getting very angry with our coordinator. I think that this is what everyone was warning me about. Being patient is the best way to get things done or not doing anything at all.

West Africa

I have made it home safely from a country that I find hard to explain. I have always hear about African time but I didn’t realize how importuned it is. It is to hot to do anything. They don’t understand the concept of moving fast, unless they are in a car that is allowing air flow through it. It is to hot to function at midday. The people, who are very nice and welcoming, sit from the hours of 10-3 this depends on the season. We spent most of our time in my brother’s village meeting people and sweating. Once we where out of the village we spent 4 days on a beach in Ghana. We went to the rain forest where we participated on a canapé walk. The rope brigades where 200 ft. in the air and we relied on the huge jungle trees to hold us up. This was a beautiful site and my first rain forest/jungle that I had ever been to. We also took a tour of a slave castle, which was very hard to take in. After boogie boarding for 4 days straight it was time to go home. I will write more, but I first have to process what I have experienced. Happy New Year.
P.S. The waves where 5-10 ft. high and way fun