That whole reason I came here

School. University. Whatever you want to call it, I really haven't written too much about it just yet. I'm about to go to African Music, my final class of my second week of school. I'll first give you a brief explanation of how IES (Institute for the International Education of Students, I know, there really should be two I's) works. There are thirty of us in the program and we are all required to take two IES courses and at least two classes at the University of Cape Town. We are taking a "History and Politics of South Africa" class and the elective I chose is called "Social and Economic Development of South Africa." The elective has a field study component to it, so I am paired with an agency to volunteer over the next six months. I complete an extensive research project, take a couple of tests and attend class weekly. My (three) professors for this course are awesome and are from Zimbabwe and South Africa. I like this class a lot because it encourages hands-on learning and it helps me put into perspective what I learn from my history course, and I can see how far South Africa has come since pre-colonial times.

My University of Cape Town courses require a lot of work outside the classroom because I am enrolled in the South African College of Music, which is a big pink castle located on UCT's lower campus (we are on a big hill, thus lower, middle and upper campus). I had an on-the-spot audition with my trumpet (I HATE sight reading) and took a music theory entrance exam, which I breezed through (thanks Gustavo, Bjorn, Kevin SJ and Tom G). I am taking African Music, private trumpet lessons and play in an ensemble. 

Going from a liberal arts music program to a college of music is like taking spanish classes and then moving to Spain. I am intimidated and underqualified and absolutely terrified most of the time. When I talk to some of the other IES students about their classes sometimes I wonder what I got myself into, but I quickly correct myself. Though I'll have to work a lot harder than some of my friends, this is the opportunity or a lifetime. My African Music professor is a gem and is going to work with me on an independent research project to present when I return to Chicago. My trumpet teacher has been instrumental (haha, get it? ok, bad joke) in my adjustment to South Africa, as he is also from San Diego. I haven't gotten the chance to speak privately with the ensemble instructor, but he is really good at what he does and seems to know a lot about music.

I've learned a lot from other students and from my professors as well. Outside of ensemble rehearsal time, we have trumpet and brass sectionals. I also have private lessons two times a week. Add the two IES courses, the African Music class, my fieldwork volunteering and oh yah PRACTICING...well, I'll be keeping busy. Everyone has been so friendly which makes of course helps a lot. Being the only American from my program in the music school has led me to conclude that it is pretty much:

MAKE FRIENDS OR ELSE. I consider myself to be an outgoing person and I love making new friends, so it has been easy to meet people. I've realized that the IES program is perfect for me. Some Americans here only take UCT courses, while others only have courses with the American students in their programs. This way I get the best of both worlds: the experience of being a stranger to 5oo+ students in the college of music, and the comfort of a small group of people who are going through a lot of the same things I am. 

This is also the perfect place for me. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to not only be studying music at such an accredited university, but to be studying music in a multi-cultural African city. Being so active is going to inevitably make my time here fly by, but I am doing all I can to take time out and reflect on my experiences. Sometimes I'll remind myself that I am at the bottom of the African continent, and I'll just get a huge smile on my face (which makes me look totally creepy when I am by myself in a public place). This is so cool and won't get old. 

I'm also excited to take what I learn back to Chicago with me. I've been journaling and keeping little notes here and there; I am looking forward to just sitting down and putting all of this into music. It has been far too long since I have written anything and after talking with Kevin, a good friend of mine from Chicago, I've decided to scratch this creative itch I've got. Speaking of itches, my flea friends bit the hell out of my roommate, too. So here we are: two itchy, American girls covered in little white steroid cream dots unable to lay in our beds. While inconvenient, it's more funny than irritating. We had the place fumigated so things should settle. 

Sleep tight; don't let the bedbugs bite

No really, don’t – nasty little things they are. For those I haven’t told yet, I have fleas (I previously, accidentally wrote lice. I don't have lice, but fleas). Yes, exactly what you don’t want your dogs to bring in the house to give to your children after rolling around in the dirt all afternoon. I first discovered these lovely little red bumps on my right forearm and thought, “Oh, must be nothing.” Well, once they spread to the rest of my body and had me itching insanely in public, I thought I might visit the doctor. I’ve got some steroid cream and I’ve thrown out my bedding (the assumed source), so all is well, or will be. Moving along…

Each day I adapt more and more to my new home, and have still not been too homesick. It seems every time I talk to my mom or sister they ask if I’m eating well so, yes I am still eating well. I mostly “cook” (toast, sandwiches, fruit, anything easy) for myself but every now and then I’ll luck out and my roommate will cook for me. I don’t know what planet she comes from but girlfriend can whip up quite the meal. Used to always grabbing lean cuisines and other quick meals with my friends, I am fascinated with this whole population of student chefs. We also eat out often because it is so affordable.

As you might expect, the cost of living in South Africa is substantially less than that of the United States. When I run to the grocery store I can get out with ten days worth of food for about $15 US. A container of grapes is $.89, frozen pizza is $2.00, loaf of bread is maybe $.59, and so on. On our first trip to the liquor store we purchased a case (24 bottles) of Heineken for $12.00. This is all just to give you an idea of how much, or how little, things cost over here…

Being a vegetarian has been interesting too, because South Africans LOVE meat. Barbeques are common here (called Braais) so when I get to that awkward “oh, I actually don’t eat meat,” some people are shocked. This will be interesting when I venture to the townships during my family stay weekends. Some of my friends have already tried a game reserve restaurant and have eaten: crocodile, eland, shark, ostrich, and other animals, and while I said back in the States that I would try some new things, I haven’t been able to do it just yet, but some time in the remaining five months I will…

It is Saturday morning here and I have just finished my first week of classes (which I’ll write about it my next post – I could write for hours about the music). Take care of yourselves over there and I’ll write again in a couple of days. After my post about my classes you can expect an update every Friday afternoon..ish. I have more time after Wednesdays so if I don’t get to it on Thursdays I’ll surely write on Fridays. Thanks for your continued support and encouragement, and updates as well! 

Rank Noodle

three weeks in

I have been here for three weeks now, and have just only now started a blog. I know it is a bit late, but three weeks into six months doesn’t seem too bad. After trying to send a mass email to about 190 people, I decided a blog would be easier to do, especially since the email came back undeliverable to at least 50 people.

Three weeks in and I only just started classes today. Like I have told many of you already, I have been quite busy with three different orientations, traveling, exploring the city and the townships, experiencing the nightlife, and so on. I have become friends with people from all across the United States, African nations, and beyond. As classes and volunteering progress, I look forward to meeting even more people from the rest of the world.

In my email I wrote a lot about the townships. Though I have been to the top of a mountain, swam in the ocean, and have gone all around the cape the townships have been my favorite part of the trip thus far. We visited two black townships and one colored township. I am amazed at how beautiful and joyful the people are, and also at how they live. The house that stays with me is the house in which there were three families (sixteen members) sharing a bedroom, sleeping in three twin beds. The people of the townships welcomed us and the kids crawled all over us. I can’t wait to start my volunteering. 

This past weekend our history class (everyone in my program) and our prof. journeyed up the coast to explore a fossil park and take a hike through the bush (it was 42 degrees Celsius, which I think is 107 Fahrenheit) to look at pre-colonial rock art left by the hunter-gatherers who lived there many years ago. We also went swimming in the hot and cold springs under the stars, which was astonishing. Going from Chicago to St. Louis, and even to a big city like Cape Town – it has been years since I’ve seen stars like that. 

I feel like I have finally adjusted here, and am exited to finally start my classes both with the study abroad program and my classes at the South African College of Music (I’m very nervous and excited for those). I’ll be keeping busy but writing as much as I can. I haven’t felt homesick yet but there were a couple of times I’ve been upset when seeing the poverty and how prevalent racism and segregation are years after apartheid ended. 

I hope to learn as much as I can about myself, South Africa, Cape Town, other African nations and international perspectives about the United States’ government and people. I also hope to learn about gender roles in society, and I look forward to my Socio-economic Development of Cape Town class. I’m sure I’ll be challenged a lot over the next six months especially when volunteering in the townships, so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. And email me at nshamel@luc.edu. It is always comforting to hear from someone back home while being away for a long time. That is all for now, check back at your leisure and I’ll keep you updated!