Fall Semester Just Ended...

So, fall 2009 has come and gone, and I am packing to leave my dorm room in East Hall, which I have come to call 'home' during my time at Whitworth University. It is Christmas break, and to think in only two weeks, I will be packed (or packing) to embark on our South Africa Jan Term trip! After a semester of the prep course for the Jan Term class abroad, I can say that I have a much more informed grasp and understanding on South African history, culture, politics, economy, social demographics, and a bit of what to expect.

Our itinerary is rigorous, but I look forward to it muchly, especially after all that I have heard from Sue Jackson, our study abroad coordinator at Whitworth, who is South African. She has given me a list of things I ought to make sure to do while traveling the country: go to the market theater in Johannesburg, and also the Maynardville theater. Before leaving for S. Af., when I go home this break, I am supposed to read "Master Harold and the Boys," by Ethel Fugard, as well as "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead," both which are plays that Sue highly recommends.

The group of 26 students and three professors proves to be a diverse group, but anticipated to be interesting, I'm sure! I hope to be fully rested and refreshed after a week and a half or so of the holidays with family and friends. Stay tuned!

Before the trip: Summer Homework!

Well, I decided I would start blogging for this trip a few months in advance, so as to track the preparation and my thoughts on the process.

First, a description of the trip:

Dates-- Saturday, January 2 - Saturday, January 30, 2010

Details-- this little "Jan Term semester" study abroad is affiliated with my school, Whitworth University, and I'll be traveling with a group of 23 students & 3 professors

Why-- In my undergrad university work (completion date set for December 2010), I am studying in the fields of political science/international relations/cultural studies. I intend to double-major in Cross-Cultural Studies and Spanish, with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (ELL). Though a major concentration of my studies has been set in Spanish-speaking countries, namely in Latin America, I do not wish to put myself in a box as far as my cross-cultural studies are concerned. I am interested in many cultures of the world and would like to be educated and versed in multiple regions. Therefore, I with this trip to the continent of Africa, I intend to expand my perspective on yet another way of life, exploring and learning first-hand about a different culture.

Glimpse/highlights of the trip itinerary-- The tour around the country of South Africa tentatively includes a variety of exciting plans:

* exploring Cape Town University, markets & museums

* visiting Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was jailed)

* touring Pretoria

* a series of short stays with multiple host families (Christian and Muslim)

* lectures from influential political persons involved in post-apartheid action

* spending time touring the country's beaches, caves, townships, hospitals/AIDS-related institutions, monuments, and even going on a safari

I am stoked for this jam-packed trip that is loaded with opportunities for observation and first-hand learning!!!

Summer Prepping:

I have spent many hours this summer (July-August) beginning to go through resources on South Africa's history, people, and landscape, gaining some background insight into the country's present state. Current conditions are muchly impacted by the effect of SA's past, with specific relation to apartheid. The professors have assigned us a summer reading/film viewing list from which to begin our preparation. Lonely Planet's trusty guidebook has also been purchased and thumbed through. What great exploration lies ahead of us! In addition to watching a couple movies set in SA (such as "Cry, the Beloved Country"), some books I have read include:

* “Too Late the Phalarope” (1953) by Alan Paton. The lives of ordinary people are used to illustrate the inhuman quality of South African apartheid; racial segregation is described through the story of Pieter, a white policeman, who has an affair with a native girl. He is betrayed and reported, and thus brings shame on himself and his family.

* "July’s People" (1981) by Nadine Gordimer. A dramatic, short novel about what people imagined would happen when Apartheid fell. Gordimer was a Nobel prize winner.

* "My Traitor’s Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience" (1990) by Rian Malan. Malan’s grandfather had been one of the main architects of Apartheid.

* "Biko" (1978) by Donald Woods. A journalist, Woods was a close friend of Biko

Stay tuned for more mini-updates in the coming months before departure!