My dear friends and family
First of all a big sorry to all of you who wrote me all these nice messages that I didn’t manage to come back to yet! I promise all of you will get an answer sooner or later!
During my exchange semester I am staying at the North-west university (NWU) in the “city” of Potchefstroom close to Johannesburg.
Just for those of you who might be interested in some information about the North-West Province, visit http://media.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/sth-africa-lesotho-swaziland-8-nth-wst-province-preview.pdf
Now…where shall I start?
Life here in Potchefstroom has been very exciting, sunny, fun and very different to what I’m used to J (good& bad).
When we arrived here three weeks ago I was still very tired of writing all these exams and my uni in Switzerland and also of the course I had to take for the airline before I left.
We were picked up at the airport by a guy from the police force here in Potch- always pleasant to be accompanied by a guy with a gun at his back! Of course he instantly gave us some tips on how to behave here-about every sentence started with “I’m not a racist, BUT…” followed by “…watch out for the black people”, “…don’t talk to black people” and so on. I figured that is a common way Afrikaans people speak about their fellow neighbours (or whatever they might call them). No offense to all of my beloved Afrikaans friends but that’s just the impression I’m getting!
What else…off course uni started right away..well we had to register as new students first which (not joking) took us about a week. There was a lot of standing in queues for hours, sometimes only to get told you’re at the wrong place or to get some stupid form to fill in, happy days! I was very happy to be accompanied by my swiss classmate Giannina who is also doing an exchange semester here!
The sentence “you will have to go to that office and then come back tomorrow” was used a lot as well. Apparently south African IT systems don’t work as fast as Europeans, who knowsJ!
Classes are very different to what I was used to in Switzerland also. Most subjects we take have 4 scheduled sessions each 50min per week. Most of the teachers’ only use 2 of them, if not even one, so our schedule concerning time spent in class is very different. Assignments or tests in class, whether scheduled or unscheduled (yes you always have to be prepared) are counted as participation mark. Out of that you have to get minimum 40% to be allowed to take the final test at the end of the semester. Then both participation mark and whatever you got in the final exam will be calculated together and dived by two to get your final mark. As I said-very different to Switzerland. Classes are held in Afrikaans and there is always, or lets say should always be a translator J. Most of the subjects are really interesting and it’s great to learn more about south Africa as a country but also about tourism here!
 |
| on campus |
In one course, hospitality management, we are given the amazing opportunity to work in the sports village close to the campus. This hotel complex was built up for the Spanish national team to stay here during the world cup 2010. Now the hotel accommodates mostly athletes from different countries or even rugby teams from all over the world (argentina’s team was here last week). We work there for 4 weeks and you can do as many hours as you want, each week you look into a different section. First week we were in the restaurant and conference center, last week in the kitchen. Working in the kitchen was very fun, getting to try all the traditional food of south Africa and experiencing all the hectic situations, just see the pictures below!
 |
| my experience with chicken liver |
 |
| bilton mousse |
 |
| the lamb they cut up |
 |
| brandy tarte! mhhh |
 |
| lovely waiter girls |
Apart from uni we are really enjoying life here in SA. The sun is shining every day and sometimes you get these pleasant or more unpleasant thunderstorms with thunders that are as loud as I have never experienced them J. Often it happens as well that the whole house, university or even city looses electricity because of them. This can be quite funny when you’re in the canteen and suddenly all the light goes out or when you can’t have class because there is no electricityJ.
South Africans are crazy about their sports. Especially rugby, which I think almost every guy has played once in his life. It was very interesting and exciting going to the first match of our uni team (sadly they lost but we still had a great time).
A thing I really had to get used to was how much of gentlemen south African guys are! European guys, you can really learn from them!!! Whether it’s opening the door for you at the library or waiting for you pass before they walk, they are pure gentlemen at heart and I really appreciate that. And I’m not only talking about the people that I met, also strangers on campus, in the mall or anywhere really! Just see the poster they put up at the rugby game below.
Last weekend we visited a national park close-by- Pilansburg! How cool it was to drive through the park seeing all those wild animals face to face! Pictures will follow!
Also, we already had our first real south African Braais! A braai is bacically a south African barbeque (any south African would kill me for this association) which consists of meat, meat, and wait, have I forgot? MEAT! It’s a part of every south Africans pride I guess, just have a look at the following clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMAwPmlpq6U and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq2SOmwzjUU
I can not tell you guys how much I love south African food! Starting with all the delicious meet, cooked, uncooked (Biltong is a must), butternut, sweet potato, creamy spinach and all the nice drinks, including Grapetiser, Appletiser, all the fantastic wines. If it was for the food and drinks, I could stay here FOREVER!
 |
| all the meet, and peppermint&caramel dessert, yum |
So that was a few insights on my life here in south Africa. All I can say is that I love and cherish every moment spent in this beautiful country and I think it’s only until you have really been here, experienced the unique culture, amazingly beautiful nature, great weather and all the other things this beautiful country has to offer that you will begin to completely understand why people adore this country and why south Africans are filled with pride!
Sending all my love to all my dear friends all over the world and I hope you’re loving life as much as I am. More entries will follow!
