Both buttnaked bangin' on the bathroom floor

I am fucking blogging. I was waiting to get to an amazing emotional peak to write but well one can’t move mountains.

1. I am working with a fourth grade class. The kids are black and speak xhosi as their first language. Most of their school instruction is in English. When I give instructions though, I have one of the students translate for me (the kids are at different levels of English fluency). Xhosi is an interesting language, there is a lot of clicks. The school I work at is working with little resources (like nothing, except pencils, papers, and school books and chalk, there is a large quantity of chalk.) The first week of work/service learning was rough, I was alone with the kids all day and I had no idea what to do (it was a shit show). But today the teacher gave me some structure and I really enjoyed the day. I especially enjoy hanging out with the kids and just talking. Hanging out with the kids makes me want to be a teacher.

2. I love UWC, the university I go to. It was a colored university (under the apartheid government) But now it’s about 50 percent black and 48 percent colored or Indian (I can’t really tell) and 2 percent assorted white. I made a friend, his name is Michael. He is colored and straight. I told him I was gay the first day we met. It was actually a funny story. His work study was at the computer lab in the library. I couldn’t get into the lab because my card wasn’t registered. So he took me to get it registered (he wasn’t feeling work) and then we talked for the rest of the shift. Then we went to the barn (school pub) and shared a Gatsby (a piece of bread, meat, and fries covered in a heavenly sauce). Speaking of food, it is so cheap here (like I went to dinner tonight, my burger at a nice restaurant was 3.50 in American dollars). But regards, I love UWC! It makes me feel stupid for not getting to know more of the commuters at Fordham more.

3. The house is good! The people are really great and I am enjoying getting to know them. The only thing is that I totally want to go neighborhood exploring in “bad” areas and go to colored and black bars and restaurants, and not everyone is into that. I love Long Street though, it’s the nightclub and bar area in Cape Town. We go there on the weekends, it is so much fun! There is so much culture shock, crazy, and energy. I be dancing my ass off!

4.  The nature here is beautiful. I have a mountain I try to hike up everyday. My housemate Shannon and I actually hiked it barefoot last night (she’s from Portland, I call her Shannon Spirit).

5. Boys: I am so fucking on it but no hooks yet. I have been putting myself out there though. I’m getting closer!

I can’t really write about South Africa and its culture/problems/pros because I am still seeing it through an American lens/cynicism/issues but I really like the people I have met and am enjoying the experiences I am having.

I miss you all!

Roll Out,

Stu.lu (that’s South African for Stu.Lo)

P.S. Post-Long Street skyping seems to be best for me (the only time when the internet is not blocked up). I get back at 4 or 5 am (so bad) and I could skype you all at 10 pm or 11 your time on Saturday night/early Sunday morning my time. Anyone free this weekend?