Spring Break in October, wtf?

Looks like the internet is going to let me actually post a blog, but sorry if you want pictures you'll have to wait. So, last week was Spring Break for students attending NMMU and most if not all International Students took the time to travel and experience other places other than boring PE/Eastern Cape.  For me, I wanted to get out to the Western Cape, in particular Stellenbosch and Cape Town. 

I left Thursday night Sept. 25, the week before Spring Break, and took the bus with about 6 or 7 other friends to Stellenbosch, the 2nd oldest town in South Africa and the largest wine producing city in the entire country.  The bus ride was 12 hours and we took it over night. So, the bus was an experience all in its own; big black women with their little children eating fried chicken which stunk up the whole bus with the addition of Arnold Swartzanager 90s movie Eraser and some other random 90s movie that was extremely boring and hard to follow. So if that doesn't specify that I did not sleep at all, then yeah, I didn't sleep more than 2 hours on the bus and upon arrival in Stellenbosch it was raining.  It wasn't that bad though BECAUSE after getting off the bus we ran into a women who obviously knew we were internationals and asked us if we wanted a ride to our accommodations. It was awesome!! A lifesaver at the most! And on top of it she was driving a nice ass BMW! 

So we eventually made it to the backpacker, Stumble Inn, convieniently named because of the wine tours they hold equate to drunkin' stumbling students.  That Friday I just walked around town, taking in the periodic sites and surrounds whenever the rain would stop and the clouds would clear. It was extremely beautiful and breath taking. I love Stellenbosch, the people (well not the women, fucking Afrikaans bitches) and the locals and just the atmosphere.  So that night the group decided instead of eating out, we would have a huge braai at the backpacker.  It was awesome!! I love to braai and for some reason I am always the one designated the position. Maybe its because I love to BBQ or maybe because no one else likes to take on the position of standing over hot flaming fire and smelling like cooked meat the following morning but anyhow, I was given all the props after the meal was consumed of which I received hardly little. Oh well, thats what you get when you cook for a large drunken group! 

The Next day we set out on the wine tour. We went to four different wineries, all of prominent distinction in the Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschoek area. It was so much fun, especially since we went three wineries I had anticipated on getting to. Simonsig, Fairview, Boschondel, and Diou Donne.  Simonsig is globally renowned, well for those who care about the wines here in SA. They have a beautiful blend of red wines, many Shiraz and Pinotage which they have some international awards for their blends of Pinotage and Merlot ( Tiarra 2000 & 2001) as well as their Frans Malan Reserve (Pinotage Cab and merlot) a wine which I greatly enjoyed. As for the others, more subtle but also some excellent reds and whites for the everyday dinner occassion. Boschondel makes a fabulous Shiraz, try the 2001 if you can get your hands on this limited supply of bottles or the 2004, which I managed to buy and hopefully bring back to the states for a little more maturity and aging.  Any how, the tour was so much fun; everyone was drunk by the time we got back, 530, except for Jo and I so we decided the night needed just a bit more adventure. Oh and did we find ourselves an adventure! We ended up at a local student hang out drinking the locally brewed cervesa for R5 = .60cents. From there we stumbled over to this other little pub of which the name neither of us can remember to find the local students dressed in costumes and the South African overalls dancing and singing. We were warmly welcomed by a few of the students and introduced to the local favorite drink, double cane and cream soda. I don't think I have had a tastier cheap drink in my life, but the night went on and we continued to our drink extravaganza! We made it back to the hostel around 3 or so, broke and debilitated. Waking the next morning was the only hardship of the entire trip but we managed to make it out of the hostel around 11 and off to some more wineries. We managed to make it out to two on foot, both of which were spectacular wineries, Nethingsholf and Asara.  Nethingsholf is one winery I truly love, and am very happy I was able to make it out there. The 350 hectare farm is one of the largest in Stelenbosch, and one of the newer more acclaimed families making some rave reviews here in SA as well  as internationally. The 2001 Cab Sav was phenomenal! Jo and I split a bottle which we plan to drink sometime soon with a huge Kudu or Ostrich steak! Asara was seeming okay, with the Chardonnay Reserve winning our hearts.  

That night we took it easy and ate out at a Sosati Restaurant, sosati meaning kebab in for Southern Africans.  We tried some crocodile, kudu, eland, springbok and some other kinds of antelope. I also tried an exceptional potjies, another traditional south african dish which in corperates the Indian and Asian style of cooking with traditional African flavours and meat. Tired from the night before, we just went back and hit the hay early.

The following day, we jumped onto the train for Cape Town, 1st class baby!! 

We arrived their in a down pour of rain and thunder storm action. We walked to the backpackers which the rest of the group was planning on staying at for I was to meet up with the CEA group because Cape Town was to be our final paid excursion.  The backpackers the others stayed in was situated on Long St., a famous, friendly and Haight st. like atmosphere located in the Central part of Cape Town in the City Bowl so named because of its position central to the surrounding granite Table Mountain range. Their are venders all along the street corners, shops selling clothing of all kinds, health food stores, coffee shop after coffee shop, and cooll places to just hang out and have a beer. Oh and not to mention the immensity of Nite Club after Nite Club after Nite Club!! I walked around checking out the different shops, finding myself more at home with this type of South Africa.  Later that night I met up with CEA group in Sea Point.  We were about a mile from the new football stadium being built in Cape Town, which is so big! So the major things we did on our excursion included going up Table Mountain which was breath taking. I ran into a very nice guy from New Mexico who just got his degree in Geology which meant the guy was in South Africa heaven.  After we ventured to Hout Bay and took a boat out to a small island just around the point which is largely inhabited by Cape Fur Seals. Man the smelt but it was super nice being out on the ocean again. I miss it so much! We ate lunch in Hout Bay and were able to make it to a few museums that day which exemplified the Cape Colony established 1652 and the different tribes that made a living off the land prior to the arrival of white man. It was a really fun time and that night I met back up with Jo and Jenn for a little pool action and R10 beers.  We played pool for a few hours, and after downing a few shots we made our way to Rouge Room. We had just missed the band headlining that night but were just in time for more shots!! Hahaha... and I think that is all that needs to be said about that night!

Next day was a lovely hang over cure in the Botanical Gardens of Kirstenbosch and a trip to Cape Point, South Western most point of Africa. That night we meet up with the huge group at a night club and were pleased to see they actually had Corona!! Danced a bit that night and headed off to bed, marginally early. We spent the next day in Stellenbosch, Franshoek, and Paarl, a second round for me which I enjoyed greatly. That night we ate amazing pizza and talked with a super cool guy from Colombia. The next day we set off back to PE, sadly.  We stopped for lunch in this little town in the middle of who-knows-where only to find the tube circulating coolant was leaking and in the aftermath my bottle of Frans Malan was lost. I was pissed but was able to get the dumb-ass bus driver to pay me back for the bottle. Hopefully I can find it again in PE or else I am going to be pissed! Anyhow, thats the summation of my time over the past week. Hopefully everyone was enjoying their time doing whatever it was they did or didnt do. All I can say is that I want school to be over NOW!!! I want to continue the traveling especially now that the dollar has elevated to 9% on the rand.  That and PE is so boring that even sleeping sounds amazing. Oh well. I look forward to finishing exams in a little under 2 months and look to travel up through the Wild Coast and Maputaland for three weeks! Cheers! 

Hey!!! I am back from Spring Break! I hope everyone had as much fun as me; oh! wait you're all back in school or working or volunteering. Haha..sorry to rub it in but its true. Anyways, over the past 10 days I have traveled throughout the western region of the Western Cape of South Africa -- from Cape Town to Stellenbosch to Cape of Good Hope and through the Garden Route. I really want to tell you all about it but I don't have much time to talk now because I am using someone else's computer and I don't want to use up their 1 GB that each person is allocated per month so I am just going to show you some of the pictures that I was able to capture on my trip, and tomorrow I will tell you all about my adventures. Cheers for now!!

Sharp!


Ok!!!! F'! So, the uploader isn't working and this person's computer is going to die... I guess the pictures are going to have to wait until my computer is able to pick a fucking connection to the stupid internet. Anyways, let me throw a recap to you all just to let you know what happened:

Walking tour of Stellenbosch, Wine Tour - Simonsig, Fairview, Boschendel, Diou Donne - Most beautiful weather we've had ever since arriving plus two more wine tastings at Nethlingshof and Asara, Train to Cape Town, City Bowl, Long St, never ending rain and clouds and wind to wake the next morning to a beautiful day atop table mountain, Hout Bay, Seal Island, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Penguin Colony, Planetarium, Cape Castle, mass of children playing soccer along the N2 highway. Well that seems fitting...can't wait to hear more? Well check it out tomorrow and there will be more. Cheers!

Bananas, toast, and jam

So I know I continually mention throughout my blogs how amazing the weather is in this country... well, I just have to say it again, I love it!! Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine!! Anyhow, I would just like to congratulate Southwest on a great season!!! Our football team has made it in the top eight of the CFL, so looks like we are going to playoffs. First game is October 11.  All the teams are drawn so the match ups have not yet been decided. We ended the season in fashion, beating the team we lost to in a tournament earlier in the season 6-0, with leading goal scorer Taffy scoring 4 of those goals.  Sunday we were awarded 3 aggregate points because the team we were to play did not show and thus forfeited the match. 

The weather is getting nicer and nicer each day, making it a lot harder to stay focused on school (obviously).  This week has been the slowest so far and I am quit certain its because I'm so excited to be heading to the Western Cape for Spring Break.  Stellenbosch is going to be amazing, which reminds me I need to call them and make sure they have kept my spot in the hostel. Saturday is a wine tour through three major regions - Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschoek. Monday I will be in Cape Town taking in the sites of the second largest city in South Africa.  From what I have heard, its a crazy, ambitious, and outgoing city!! I can't wait!! Cheers!

Two Wins and a Braai

Que ficho!?! How's everyone?

So this past weekend we had two largely important games of football for the Campus League.  Saturday was 85 or 90 F no one really knows how hot it actually gets or whether or not you can trust the thermometers here. Any how, its fucking hot and we had a game at 130, the hottest part of the day! It was a brutal game... we  took the lead early on with a penalty kick only to have the other team strick back with an amazing goal outside the 18 yard  box. Oh I didn't mention the fact that we were playing only 10 men the entire first half!!

By the second half we thought we might end up losing the game; the other team was just pounding us; but two extra players eventually showed up and came into the game and helped considerable on defense and the midfield.  We ended up winning the game 3-1 with two goals coming in the last five minutes of the game.  

On Sunday, the weather was half as bad, windy as usual but not too hot. We dominated the whole game with our main striker Taffy scoring 5 goals!!! We won 6-3, the opposition's goals being free rewards from the referees. Any how, these wins help keep our hopes alive for play-offs. 

Saturday night I hung out with my friends from Angola. We cooked a huge feast and watched some videos of the previous weekend, Valdeman's 25th.  The pictures were so funny, and the videos later in the night being even funnier. It was nice to hang with the guys, picking up a few words in Portuguese here and there.  Any how, hope all is well with everyone; only 10 more days till Spring Break Stellenbosch/Cape Town here I come!!! 

Cheers!

Beautiful Days have arrived!!

Hey --

The weather has een so amazing the past few days that I feel like I have to write something on my blog!

Yesterday, Friday, Joachim, Jenn, Cicilia and I walked down to Pick n Pay, the local grocery market here in PE, so that we could pick up our tickets to Stellenbosch from the MTN store.  Oh thats right!!! So a group of us are planning on going to Stellenbosch, the main wine region here in South Africa, which is about 100km outside of Cape Town, situated in the mountainous area beyond Table Mountain.  Its supposedly one of the most beautiful places in South Africa, and on top of that they have over 100 hundred wineries within a distance of some 20 - 40 mile range. We are all super stocked and excited! We are leaving the weekend leading into our Spring Break!!! Ya!!! So for Spring Break, CEA is taking our group around Cape Town, from Table Mountain to Robbin Island and the Cape Of Good Hope (the southern most point of Africa).  I can't wait!! I am a bit bummed that I won't be able to get out and see the Great White Sharks that breach here in Southern Africa. Hopefully some of the people going out from Mussel Bay will take some amazing photos that I can share with you all. 

Any how, yesterday we all just hung out on the beach enjoying a few drinks and just soaking up the sun!! Hopefully the weather stays consistent till the end of the month when Spring Break starts!

Today its about 1130 in the morning and its already 80 F! I love this weather! I have a soccer game at a quarter to 1:00 and its a must win. We haven't won a game in weeks, and many of the guys on the team think its because the league is dominated by local Southern Africans who are very adamant about foreigners. The referees having been cheating us every game and last week we lost to the first place team, our biggest rivals 1-0. It was a devastating lose but we plan on bouncing back by winning our next 4 games and sticking in the top eight for playoffs. 

Everyone here in Annie's Cove have left for Port Alfred because there are supposedly some big rowing races going on, that and besides its beautiful weather to get drunk and hang out at the beach! I am staying behind because I am trying to save money for the Stellenbosch trip and because I would prefer to play soccer and go out after we kick some ass!!!!!!!

Anways, hope everyone is having a fantastic time back home!! Feel free to write me messages or email I'd love to hear from you all, or anyone who is reading my blog! 

Cheers!

In The Herald

So quick post ---

I don' know if anyone read the full length post last time, but I attended a football match between SA and Nigeria. 

Well come to find out, most of us international students who attended the game made front headlines in the local newspaper the Herald on Monday!!! Yeah, full frontal and everything will all us internationals cheering on the South African National Team, Bufana Bufana!! Its super awesome. Anyways, hope everyone is having a great time at home, cheers!

I know... its been a while

Hello again, I know its been a while since I last posted a blog of any kind.  I've been relatively busy, having gone on a few trips over the past few weeks and having exams and papers due as term 3 came to end last week.  So let me recap the past few weeks in short, Mexican Night, Karoo and Graaf Reinet, Exams, Township, Addo and Schotia, South Africa v. Nigeria, and massive rain storm!! I can't remember the last time I wrote on my blog but I know it was somewhere in the mid of August just before the week of Mexican night.  Wow this was about 3 weeks ago i think, I can't believe how fast the time is going by here. 

I am trying to get out and do as much as possible, paying as little as possible and trying not to get lost in between.  Anyhow, Mexican Night, or should I say the white washed version from Minnesota, was a blast!  The ladies from St. Cloud Univeristy decided to host a Mexican Fiesta Night, which included lots of tacos, burritos, fajitas, cerveza, and the likes!! Everyone thru-ought  Annie's contributed to the massive eating and drinking extravaganza.  My contribution was unfortunately the beans.  Now, this may seem the easiest job in the world, especially if you have pre-made canned beans.  But here in South Africa, there is no such thing as black beans or pinto beans, unless you cook them yourself from scratch.  Soo... I was stuck cooking 4 kilos of beans (approx. 8lb.)  I filled more than four pots 

full of beans which took forever to cook.  I mean how hard can it be? Steam  and boil for a few hours until soft and juicy.  Well let me tell you, with stove top burners its an all day event with sepping pills of beans and juice and dog food smelling yumminess spewing  out of the pots all over the counter... lets just say it was a pain in the ass.  However!!! They turned out just right and with my special touch of spices and garlic, they tasted fantastic. Well, that and I still have a whole container still in my freezer.

 This was about mid August, and that following weekend, the CEA group and I had our second excursion all planned out.  We were heading off to the Greater Karoo for a small town called Graaf-Reinet.  The weather was actually quit nice even though it was raining. The town is about 3 hours north of Port Elizabeth, and was established by Reinet, a Dutch trekboer from the Cape who settled in the north e

astern frontier in search of fertile land and a equal liberation from British control.  His house and farm still stand in the center of the town, along with a large church built after his time.  Trekboers, or pastoralists farmers who moved away from the colonies, were Dutch descendent farmers who moved across southern Africa and settled along the orange river regions that were most profitable and livable.  Many of these farmers came into conflict with the Nguni tribes living in the southern and northern parts of south africa; this was the beginning of the Boer Wars.  We toured around the town, visiting the Reinet house which featured different sections and displays life on the farm during those times  (early 1800s -1910).

The house is the sight of the original vine of the Wit Hant or White Dog, an alcohol made from fermented grapes, much like a cognac.  It is said to have healing powers and was used by the doctor who lived on the farm to help with sick patients.  Alcohol was always a curing agent, and I'm pretty sure it still is...hah. Anyways, the house featured some amazing pieces of furniture and old wagons and horse trollies. The house was so old, the floor boards were spreading apart and you could feel the cold wind flowing up through the cra

cks.  Following the Reinet House, we ventured up the slopes to witness the Valley of Desolation, a small passage way in the mountains surrounding Graaf Reinet.  It was breath taki

ng, just check out the pictures.  The wind w

as blowing at about 40 mph but it was still nice.  From there we visited a local game farm which had many different types of animals.  We were able to see springbok, grysbok, kudu, and other antelope as well as plenty of ostrich. 

Saturday night that weekend, we took accommodation on a small farm half way between Nieu Bethesda and Graaf Reinet.  The farm was quit large, with some 4, 000 or so acres. We walked around the farm and to the local village.  We ate that night with the owners of the farm who were extremely nice.

  we did however come in

to contact with the side of the typical Afrikaner nationalis

tic poitn of view, or the white perspective of south africa.   It was an experience I will not forget.  That night the temperature outside reached about -10 C and for some reason the other group members decided to jump into the pool they had in the back of the barn. I guess 

this was our way of celebrating the semi lunar ecllipse.  Anyways, the following day we drove to Nieu Bethesda and toured the Owl House, which belonged to a woman named Helen Martins.  For some, she was a crazy old woman who never left her house and basically turned it in to her living piece of artwork.

Her house is covered with glass decorations, sculptures and the like.  It was a haunting experience at best but also a very different experience, one you would not expect to participate in while in South Africa.  From there, we went on a tour of the local river, which contains an abundance of artifacts and fossils from prehistoric creatures that came before the dinosaurs as well as artifacts of the San and Bushmen people that inhabited the region years ago.  For me the weekend was a good get away from city life and a chance to experience more rural, farmland South Africa.  Most people think when you get to Africa your going to be living in a bush with a gun hunting lion or something but truly thats not the case. Farming and cattle, sheep, goat and other game raising is a huge profitable market here in South Africa, as it was when the first settlers arrived in 1652.  

 In any case, it was an overall fulfilling weekend.  The coming weeks were not so active as I had two assignments due for my classes and the following week was exams.  The only thing memerable from those two weeks was the huge storm we had come through.  Nothing comparable to Ike or Gustav or Hanna but winds here reached up to 70 mph.  I had to walk out to the gate to let a friend in and it took me almost 5 minutes when it should have taken no more than 1.  Haha.. it was something!

This past weekend I traveled with a few friends to Addo Elephant National Park and Schotia Game Reserve.  Addo is a National Park and is kept in great shape by the government where as Schotia is a privately owned Game Reserve.  We left Friday morning and started at Addo and were able to catch some great photos and glimpses of animals and the amazing wildlife that live at the Park.  And as its called Addo Elephant national Park, we got to see a large herd of Elephants resting at one of the many water holes situated on the park.   It was really amazing. We left park after having lunch and made it Schotia around 3 or so.  At Schotia we went on a guided tour were as at Addo it we drove ourselves through. It was much more informing with the guided tour and we learned quit a bit about the different animals.  I am amazed by how many survival techniques these animals have, from different striations in fur color to eating and grazing patterns.  But the most memorable part of the tour was the sunset with one of the lions on the park.  Yes, thats right, we actually sat in the vechicle of course, about 5 feet away from a 3 year old male lion with the sun setting in the background. It was unbelievable.  We were so close to the animal and it was frightening to hear the animal call out to its sisters.  The power the animal has it just a single roar is breath taking.  We were also able to witness one of the female lions from afar.  It was the first time anyone came into contact with her and her cubs; our guide pointed out that we were the first to confirm that she was pr

egnant on here arrival and that she successful had the cubs on her own.  Fucking awesome in my opinion! That night we had a huge dinner, an intermixture of Xhosan and Afrikaner food. The guide told us about his life and that we should come back to see the rhinos they are to acquire within the next few weeks. Saturday was freakin' awesome as well, I got to go see South Africa play against Nigeria in an African Cup of Nations qualification game here in Port Elizabeth. I think almost all the international students I know went to the game.  I have to say, we must incorporate the style of fan support they have here in Africa with that of the US because from the minute I walked into the Stadium I was singing who knows what and yelling and dancing.  Ah man it was so much fun! It was disappointing to see South Africa lose but the experience was intense.  The 

food was incredible fat filling and good and the people were all so nice.  I think almost everyone bought a South African flag.  That night I attended my friend Valdeman's 25th birthday party at the Omega Lodge. And ended the weekend in bed!! Haha.. So thats about the best recap I give for the past month.  I expect to be getting out to Port Alfred, Coffee Bay, and Stellenbosch by the end of the month so check back in for some more pictures and stories. Thanks ya'll! Cheers!

Over a Month Gone: Around Town, 2 Birthdays, Football, Cooking, Z-a-bras

Hallo! Hoe gaan dit met julle?

Its been a while since my last post. I thought I had submitted one last week but for some reason, as the internet often does here, the message did not formally post. So here I am, two weeks since I last talked with you

 all, and to tell you the truth, there hasn't been too much going on.  I lie. Haha...

I have done quit a bit over the past two weeks so I am going

 to try and sum it all up in as little words as possible because of the complaints I received on my comments...cough cough Cameron. Jk haha...

The last week of July concluded a successful month here South Africa. More cooking with housemates and friends.  More football as usual. And more partying as expected.  Joachim, Jennifer, Sara, and I ventured out to central and township of Walmer, about 30 minutes from Summerstrand and the campus.  We left around 1245 and when we got there we were regrettably reminded that weekends are probably the worst day to go out shopping or venturing out.  I'm not sure I have said this before but TIA = This Is Africa.  It is a saying a way of life you must become accu

stomed to on arrival here.  When I say TIA I mean people don't work on weekends because they don't feel like it; shops close whenever they like even if their hours state they'll be open because this is Africa. So weekends are the time that people usually take off work early to go home and spend time with friends and family, cook and most importantly, party!  So instead we just walked around to a few different places throughout the city, of which one place we visited was the Donkin Lighthouse (above).

It was erected by Mr. Donkin the forme

r of the town Port Elizabeth, of which he named the town after his wife Elizabeth who died when her ship from the Eastern Asia's sunk off the coast of eastern Africa. We also made 

our way out to Walmer which has some really idyllic gift shops, tea gardens and coffee houses. All of which were closed be

cause it was the weekend.  

Friday the 1 August, Jo, Sara, Amanda, and I set out at 7am to venture the nature reserve on which the campus is located.  I reserve is home to host of different bok animals, 250+ bird species, badgers, zebras (pronounced z-a-bras with an a) and the national animal the springbok.  The day was another usual wind day in the windy city so many of the reserves smaller animals were not out and about.

 Since its also winter time, so of the small mammals and animals are still hibernating.  We were able to catch a glimps of some zabras, as well as some grysbok which are the relatively most abundant animals found on the reserve. It was a lot of fun until about 2 hours into the hike realized we weren't a

ctually on the paved trail but some random maintenance road for trucks. We decided to hike through the reserve to make it back to campus because Sara had to tur

n in a paper by 12.  We were able to find our way back without destroying too much on our way.

After the weekend came to end and most of us recovered from hang overs and what not, it was

 time for the first of the two celebrations that began the month of August.  Monday the 4th was Joachim's 20th birthday and a

 few of us decided o host a little surprise party at my flat for him.  We worked all afternoon to keep it a secret from him, making Amanda take him to the local Mercado, Spar, where she wasted TWO HOURS trying to stall time for us to braai, blow up balloons, and set up my room for the dinner party.  We were able to get everything set up with a huge platter of food and meat for the non vegetarians, as well as the complimentary wine. In the photo you have (from left to right): Kaylie, my flat mate Thomas, Laura, Stephan, and Cecilia. 

It was a lot of fun! He obviously knew something was up after his two hour tour of spar with Amanda but as you can tell from the picture he enjoyed the company and was very pleased we put such a thing together for him. We all enjoyed the evening!

That Wednesday was another 20th birthday party for my friend Meredith, another CEA student.  Amanda, I, Cristi, and Brian colored her room wall with paper and had everyone we could find in Annie's sign the wall as a form of large birthday card for her. We also blew up balloons and made brownie

s fro her. Some others took her out to dinner and we all met up at the Bowling lane at the Boardwalk for some drinks and a few games.  It was a blast, especially when I slipped and ate shit in the middle of the lane trying to throw the ball left handed (for those of you who do not know, I am a lefty but I throw a football right handed and also bowl right handed). It was a blast. 

The rest of the week I spent studying and working on homework for my history class as well as my Afrikaans course.  I have also been doing a lot of research into places I want to visit once classes finish and exams are over. 

This past Saturday was probably the windiest and coldest day in PE since I have been here. Our football team, South West, played our first and only game of the opening tournament. We fell to some weak crappy team 2-1.  It was a said morning but the night made up for it completely. haha.  Saturday night I spent teaching people the rules of Beer Pong and Flip Cup (now labeled cup flip here in Annie's).  it was an amazing time and a great way to make up for our failure earlier that morning.  Sunday was a beautiful day and perfect for the even that took place:

American Pancakes vs. French Crepes!!!!  Joachim and Thomas, two of the french people staying here in Annie's teamed up against myself and Laura to showdown and see whose pancakes were better. It turned out to be a tie but in my opinion American pancakes came out way better, just because crepes are so hard to make in the lame cooking equipment we have to work with. 

Well thats about it I think. I tried my best to keep it short. Its taken me two hours to write this, hahaha. I hope everyone is having fun back in the states; trying to get their final trips in before classes start. Please email me if you'd like me to send you more photos for I don't have time to wait years for the photos to upload on this page so I tend to leave out some good ones. 

Cheers!

First week of classes

Hello everyone... its been another speedy week of fun and excitement here in Port Elizabeth; more students continue to filter into Annie's Cove each day. Many of them are from Europe mainly Germany because their exams are finally coming to a close for this past semester.  A roommate has finally moved into the room next to mine; his name is Tomas from Germany.  He is another Business Admin. student like

 so many others studying abroad.  Its funny to tell people that my concentration of study is environmental sciences//protection.  Everyone thinks I am going to end up dealing with waste management.  Any how, my roommate Tomas was actually suppose to stay in another apartment accommodation but was able to talk our housing director, Marius, into allowing him to stay.  This past weekend Tomas joined another German on a trip west to a Township in which he plans to promote the company he has worked for: Bayern

(right to left: meredith, me, Kaylie, Mike, anonymous, Sara)

Munich.  Yes thats right, the world renowned football club from Munich, Germany.  He brought a bunch of jerseys with him to give away to kids in the community and I was able to snag one from him.  An 80 euro / $100 USD jersey !  I was very excited and basically wore the jersey all weekend.

Anways I have uploaded a few more pictures for you all to get an idea of what life is like here in PE/Annie's Cove.  Below is a photo of my room, plain I know but its home for thenext five months and I have gotten pretty used to it already.  Each room has a bed, a desk with shelves, and a table for possibly dinner or extending the desk if needed I am not completely sure what its for but its great for hanging your towel out to dry-- since all the walls are concrete they take a long time to heat up thus its usually alw

ays freezing inside my room so its hard to get my bath towel to dry thoroughly.  Any how this is the standard room set up and as for the kitchen we have a microwave, a toaster oven with hot plates on top for cooking --- its the hardest thing I have ever done and probably the only thing I hate about this place; its so damn hard to cook anything decent because temperature regulation on these things is close to nothing.  Any how t

he frigerator is nice and runs 20hrs out of the 24 in a single day.  

I am not quit sure why these photos are so small but I uploaded a few pictures of South Campus NMMU.  South campus is considered the main campus of the 6 that hold the name Nelson Mandela Metropolitan.  South Campus has the 19 story department building with several lecture halls surrounding it.  the Faculty of Art is the dominant prospectus of courses held on South Campus, with engineering held on North Campus, 2nd avenue mainly graduate students and Bird st. heading the Business faculty propectus.  The international office is located on South Campus and it is where I spend most my time in class and hanging out with friends/meeting new people. 

One of the first things we are told as international students here at NMMU is that because the campus is located on a nature reserve, we must realize that we'll come into contact with all sorts of wild life, even monkeys. 

Everywhere you go on campus you run into signs like this one indicating the fact that there are dangerous monkeys around that 

like to steal your lunch or even try to steal your backpack if you permit them. 

So far classes are going smoothly.  I have joined an afrikaans language course just for fun so I that I can pick up a few colloquial terms to try and gain some respect from the native south afrikans.  The other classes I am taking include an intro. course in South Afrikan history as well as a South Afrikan Literature course.  I am taking an music in society and history course that covers mainly classical genres most popular in europe between 1200-1900s, 

and also a course on th

e apartheid era here in South Afrika.  So far I have only gone to three of these courses because one has not yet begun and the other is held in the second half of the semester but as for the others they are quit interesting; the professors are all fun and welcoming of international students. I am one of the lucky few to not have classes on fridays so my weekends have been extended an extra day equating to more time for travel as wel as leisure.  This past friday I went to the beach with a few friends since the weather was quit nice and was able to get out and enjoy some of the waves on the beach.  The point at Summerstrand is probably the best place in PE for surfing because the wind blows off shore and its a right break.  I tried to show some of my friends from europe a few tricks in the water but without a wetsuit i was unable to last more than 15 minutes in the water.  So yes the water is quit cold but on sunny days when the wind is moderate, the water is absolutely amazing. In the afternoon I joined up with my friend Taffy from Zimbabwe who has asked myself and a few others to come out and play for his football team that plays for the school league.  We practiced for a while and got to meet some of the team members. They are all very nice and welcoming and freakin' good footballers.  I hurt my toe the previous week playing so I played pretty bad and was unable to make the game on sunday.  That night we all went out to our usual place at Brookes Pavilion to two places known as Toby Joe's and Tapas.  Nice places to

 hang out and get a cheap beer and dance but since the large majority of us international students have been frequenting these places, I feel they are getting quit old.  The music is always fun though; european nineties house music mixed with apple bottom jeans and a few other popular hip-hop songs.  For some reason they always like to throw in a classic rock song from random american artists.  Hey when your drinking and dancing its a lot of fun.  

The next day was a big event for some of us in Annie's.  There is a large group of Angolan students here at NMMU and they all stay in this large apartment complex called Omega Lodge just a block or so from Annie's.  I met these guys during orientation week on the first day.  I was actually extremely hung over possibly even still drunk from the night before and 

was evidently running extremely late according to european standards/american standards.  I was the last of our group to leave annie's and as I was walking/stumbling to campus I ran into a group of these guys who were speaking a language I had not heard yet while I have been here in SA.  Well I knew it wasn't spanish although it sounded like they were saying puto a lot, and  it seemed a bit like french but i wasn't entirely sure.  So i decided to ask the guys and I came to find that they were speaking Portuguese -- an amazing language I have to say.  The way they speak as well is entirely different from Brazilian Portuguese or

 classic Portuguese from Portugal.   Well at the time i thought it was quit amusing and cool so I continued to talk with the guys and got their names and numbers and was able to meet up with them throughout orientation week and play football with them and so on and so forth. So this weekend the group from Angola decided to host a braai at their accommodation.  Many of us from Annie's went over to their place which is really nice and big compared to Annie's. They had plenty of food and beverages and the night was a blast.  I heard music known as Cuduro which is Angolan hip hop/free style music that is very popular among the young people of angola.  It originated in the ghettos and soon become popular around the country after some struggle with the upper class.  I was a bit tired from the week before and decided to head back early, where as others ended up staying till almost dawn but it was the best time I have had here in South Afrika so far. On Sunday I attended the football match which our team, Southwest win the match-- the name Southwest was chosen because of the team's diversity among players oh and just to let all you footballers know, almost everyone here is an Arsenal fan.  I hope my toe will get better and hopefully find some used football cleats around somewhere so I can get out and play.  

Well thats basically were I leave off.  This week I plan to get all my courses settled out, find some cool hiking trails around the school, and journey throughout the city over the weekend.  Talk to ya'll soon. 

Cheers. 

July 10-22: Flight To PE, Annie's Cove, NMMU

So as it seems I am writing my first blog, seeing as how I have time finally to waste on the internet and listen to the mingling of languages that congest the pool area here at Annie's.  Where to start?

So I flew out of LAX Tuesday night July 8 and took 9.5 hrs to arrive in L

ondon Heathrow airport.  It was pouring down rain yet clear enough to see the beautiful city of london as well landed.  I would have to say, London, the suburbs surrounding the big city and all the congested buildings, homes, and streets were so intriguing and mysterious.  I could not help but think I 

might have to extend my stay on my flight home to the states in six months so that I can have time to possibly roam the city.  While at Heathrow, I bought my first guinness with a side of fish and chips.  I thought that was pretty standard seeing as how I was in England and all. After 3 hours at the airport and an additional 45 minutes that myself and others flying to Jo'berg had wait, I was finally on my way to South Africa.  The flight took about 11 hrs if you can believe it.  Flying over Africa was amazing! Nothing, nothing, and more nothing for miles and miles.  The flight over Pretoria, the Capital of South Africa, and Jo'berg was really something else. Housing projects, enormous buildings downtown, rugby parks, cricket stadiums a

nd in the distance I could see the beginnings of the 115,000 person 2010 World Cup stadium being built.  It was an incredible sight.  

After landing I had to run from one side of the airport to the other seeing as how our flight was late I didn't want to miss my connection to Port Elizabet

h (PE).  The route I had to run went outside and since it was 0 degrees C and I was wearing just a t-shirt, everyone was starring at me like I was some crazy foreigner..haha.  Anyways,, I missed the first flight, stood waiting for the woman at the British Airways stand to get me another seat on connecting flight for about an hour when it should have only taken 10 minutes (you must get used to this Africa... waiting I mean).  Finally I was on my way to PE without sleep and hungrier than an elephant.  I arrived 5 hours later than I was supposed and the people picking me up from the airport were nowhere in sight.  It took me about 30 mi

nutes to figure out how to use the pay phones here, they ring even when you dial and the ring tone is just a beeping noise as though the line is busy. I finally fond someone working for the University, 3 pretty girls huddled together with large coats.  It was quit funny to see them in such a way seeing as how it was actually quit nice out compared to Jo'berg.  I finally caught a ride to my accommodations, an international living quarters for students from around the world and different parts of South Africa, known as Annie's Cove.  The houses are quit small, actually the rooms are enormous, larger than the room I stayed in at Poly, but the kitchen is very cramped and compact, standard I suppose for african living.  By this time it was 7pm July 10 and I had not received a decent sleep when I lite knock on my door woke me from my daze and confused state.  It was another CEA student na

med Amanda who supposedly arrived a few hours early and had been sleeping all day and was quit energetic.  We introduced each other, spoke about the basics, who were, where we came from, why we

 chose SA, and so on.  Two other gentlemen soon joined us in our conversations, one from Germany named Stephan and another named Joachim from France.  They live together here in Annie's and are the nicest and coolest guys.  We all four chatted it up for a few hours, before I finally decided to end my night with some long needed and anticipated sleep.  

The next day I awoke and readied myself for a long day ahead.  Monalisa, CEA director with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) met myself, Amanda and two other CEA students, Kaylee and Laura, who arrived later that night. We took a short tour of the campus

, received our mobile phones, meet the director of the international office, and met back at Annie's to get ready for Tsitsikamma.  Back at Annie's we met the group from St. Clouds, 11 girls and 1 guy from a Minnesotan

University, that were all pumped and ready for their first South African adventure. 

It took about 3 hours to arrive Tsitsikamma and upon our arrival we were sent to the adventure center to get ready for a night of ziplining.  

It was a lot of fun. The greatest part was the guide Ivan and his cousin Spinach who were two crazy South Africans from Cape Town that flew around on the zipline screaming and howlering.  After we retired to B&B area so we could sort out our rooms and get the bra

ai started.  I was joined by Mike, the only other guy in the group, and two south african NMMU students Lanz and Cobis who were there to help teach myself and Mike how to braai.  A braai is style of South African barbecuing that involves waiting for a wood fire to burn down to coals upon which you put a large grilling screen and applying different types of poultry and meat.  The food selection included pork strips, chicken wings and breasts, beef sausages known as woers and chicken sausages that took forever to cook.  I was able to get the Tsitsikamma B&B host to get the group some beers, and after two hours of braaing and drinking beer, the party began.  Everyone ate and drank and I 

learnt that whiskey is the most popular alcoholic beverage among the south african men.  The next morning was harder for some than others to wake up the next morning, upon when we received a nice 

breakfast from the hosts.  From there, the group traveled on to Monkeyland, a small area/range that is dedicated to the wildlife preservation of different types of monkeys. I got some good pictures which I have shared. 

After Monkeyland we all decided to head back to PE and spend the night out downtown.  That night was the first for many in a night club. first for ANYONE where drinks at a night club were less than a euro and about 1 USD.  If you can figure what that equates to I will not go further.  For those of you who don't think 10USD can go far on alcoholic drinks i'll tell you.. it equates to a crazy wild night. 

The following week was Orientation and registration for most of international students and new students arriving this semester. Registration is possibly the most difficult thing I have encountered so far here in Africa.  Took me 5 hours just to pick my classes seeing as how most the ones I got approved from Cal Poly were not being offered this term. So i chose all new courses and was able to email and contact Cal Poly and received good word that the classes I chose would be approved by the General Education Director. So I finally got all my academics situated, which meant I had more time to party, no I am just kidding. I was able to go out and join the others on a nice 

tour of PE which included a tour of the city, a visit to the history museum, red location--a township on the city limits where black south africans were relocated during the apartheid era and hav

e not been able to regain their status since--and bayworld--an acclaimed marine park here in PE. The day was  lots

 of fun and we were able to get back out that night for half off cocktails and make our way back to Tapas.  We were also able to make it out the beaches, now that the weather has warmed back up to were it is  supposed to be---winter time in PE is basically summer time in LA  70s/80s during the day, 60s/high50s at night.   It is amazing.  14 of us, Stephan, Joachim, Ellen, Sarah and Jenn--three other americans here who come from the IS program-- Felix, Jeesy (a guy Finland), 

Merrideth, Laura, Kaylee, Cicilia, and myself were able to make it out to Jeffery's Bay (yes the acclaimed surf spot of South Africa) to watch the Billabong Pro finals.  Kelly Slater beat Mick Fanning for the title and we all bought sweaters for 10USD and spent the day in J-Bay hanging out and meeting the loc

als.  It was good fun and upon our return to PE we found we only had to pay 15USD for the rental of three cars for 14 ppl. It was amazing!  I waves were so awesome that day although the wind was strong from the southeast putting a onshore/offshore side swip across the face of the waves.  

 Over the weekend, many of the other students off for the holidays soon began to arrive back in Annie's Cove. I ended up meeting a few guys from South Africa as well as a few other people from other African states.  I finally met my flat mates, two Botswanan fellows however, I have yet to meet my official roommate who is supposedly from germany. Well I don't have much time to chat, my computer is soon to die so I will rejoin you all later this week if the weather permits which it most likely will.  I have classes all this week which are going quit well, considering all the mess from registration and tomorrow we are going to play soccer and hang out on the beach. 

So for now, Cheers mates!

Matthew