Away from home; the experience so far

Travelling a whole lot of distance and hours away from home is really heart wrenching and fulfilling in a way. While one feels like you're leaving all the comforts of home and security behind, my mum's words came through to me - "dont fret, you're only coming home to us in 5 months time". Ahh, sweetness! I would truly relish my experience here, but I know heading home would be the only thing I want in this world.

Truly I thought I was an adventure girl, wanting new experiences and fearless of new obstacles. But honestly, I was scared when I landed, scared when I reached my dorm and scared when I attended school today. I am really ordinary, with normal human feelings. This whole idea of going to SA was precisely to make myself feel this way, make me realise how much I really wanna be in Singapore, have the friends I have. Nevertheless, the journey so far has been fruitful!

Met a few friends on exchange as well - thankfully everyone's on the same frequency, to really travel and experience SA. The Dutch girls are cooking us dinner right now. I've got the snizzles, was just thinking of downing a nice hot cut of maggi mee! haha, but I think it'd be rude if I dont eat what they cook right? (Oh one of them is studying criminology?! how cool! I know)

So what is SA like? Get to the juicy details!

Well I'm in Pretoria, a previously known "sleepy surburb", but with the Fifa World Cup coming up in 2010, this suburb is being revolutionised into a more happening place. But, it still is rather quiet. Anyway, it is plagued with issues of xenophobia now, especially amongst the Africans (the blacks?). A lot of them are unhappy with the arrival of immigrants from other parts of Africa. The South Africans see them as stealing their jon and economy. As it is the apartheid did create a major backlog that still has to be cleared from the discrimination and deprivation of African native's rights. There are insufficient jobs for the uneducated Africans and crime seems the way to go - they have nothing to lose anyway and also it's driven by resentment against the whites.

Anyway, apartheid might be gone but racial segregation is still rather evident in my opinion. Like in campus today, there were mainly ethnic enclaves everywhere. The amazing bit was there was a group of Indians smoking shisha in the open with a shisha pot! omg!

Ok but other than its tragic past and turbulent present - SA will move on, but slowly like their internet connection! haha

Campus is pretty typical of a European campus I think or even American - my LSU friend, Caitlin verified it with me. It is a beautiful campus with lush greeness and awesome sunlight with the strong breezes. It's unlike Singapore and nice! But I got lost more times I did in NUS collectively! You only have 10 mins to move from one venue to another - ahh! haha:)

Actually if not for the winter I'd feel better. I dont like the winter. I cant even express my own style because it's so cold and I got to cover myself in layers! haha, but I try spotting a different scarf/shawl! hehe

Ok, what else. The people here are normal. You see Indian, Chinese, Africans and Afrikaans. of course I'm not doing justice to others, bu these are the main groups I have seen so far.

Pictures will be up on facebook! So far, we've travelled around Pretoria and seen the zoo! which is freaking big and almost the equivalent of the safari, except you'd be sure to spot the big 5 because their enclosure is much smaller!

Look to more adventures ahead!