1st week

I figured I should write a blog so that I could write down some of my thoughts about my time in South Africa and also so I can tell everyone who wants to know what I am doing in this incredible country.  We have now been in South Africa for almost a full week and it has been amazing.  We landed in Johannesburg on Thursday and spent a couple days in the city going around and visiting different parts, especially those affected most by apartheid.  Which for those who don’t know was the separation of races from 1940’s to 1990’s in which white people were given power and money and controlled everything.  There were a lot of emotions I felt from anger to sadness to joy during this that I don’t have the time to get into, but it was a very impactful experience.  After being in Johannesburg, our group flew to Durban and then we made the short drive to Pietermaritzburg where our main campus is.  The campus here is absolutely beautiful.  We are right next to a game reserve which is amazing and while walking or running you will most likely see zebra and all other sorts of animals that I have only ever seen on TV before so it is quite amazing.  There are monkeys all over our campus, which they keep telling us are just annoying but I find them quite fascinating.  And I guess I should mention because of the fact I am here to study and not just travel the country that classes did start this week.  They are pretty intensive but I guess that makes sense since they are only for 6 weeks.  I am taking Zulu which I just had my first class in and I think its safe to say it is going to be really challenging.  I never knew it was possible to click while saying a word.  But I am finding out that not only is it part of the language but I must teach myself to do it.  Overall my time here has been incredible in the first week.  I know these are really scramble thoughts, but that is how my mind works a lot of the time so I figured why not write this way for my blog. my plan is to write in this blog every week but we will see how that goes