When it Rains, it Pours

Here begins a series of mini-lecture titled: T.I.A. (This is Africa): Through Janni's Ridiculously Near-Sighted Eyes.

Lesson One: Janni is a dumb klutz. Always. 

All the pathways here at Rhodes are made with uneven concrete or brick/stone, so I finally met my inevitable fate and sprained my ankle. Thankfully, I know that I'm a clumsy oaf and had the foresight to bring with me not one, but TWO Ace Bandages and a bottle of ibuprofen. Now if only I hadn't gone dancing a couple hours later… I might need to get it checked out

Lesson Two: Dancing on pub tables.

I love the nightlife here. There is a noisy college pub, the Rat and Parrot (the Rat), a block from campus which is a staple for Rhodents. Open pretty much all day, it's the first gathering point that the Intl Studs have chosen. From there, some of us have gone to Friar Tuck's (Friar's), a club that plays a mix of dubstep, house, and basic clubbing music. There's a place called Pirate's (Tinashe tells me there's a stripper pole there) that we've been trying to see this entire time, but it's always closed. There's also a seedy smoke-filled bar called Champs that I think I'll stay away from unless I want to play pool with a bunch of shady looking characters. There's a couple other places for dancing, Olde 65 and Prime, but I've heard mix reviews. Also, Monastery, which is exclusively dubstep. All these places are within a couple of blocks of campus. The Intl Studs have gone out almost every night this past week, and I am starting to get used to coming home smelling of cigarettes, spilled beer, and fun. Lots of fun. There are many good memories that have been made. I'm sure you've seen the Facebook pictures…

Lesson Three: An alarming trend.

There is some hardcore fratty action here. I think it's due to the fact that the Res.es here are all arranged by gender, so the guy's Res.es are conducive to huge brofests. Seriously, there are guys on the dance floor tearing it up together and dancing on tables, singing their house's anthems. With Mullets. Apparently, one of the houses here made a pact that the first one to cut the mullet would have to buy cases of beer for everyone. Am I on the set of Animal House? Regardless, I have met some nice, un-mulleted guys here, including a very cute (but seemingly totally disinterested) ichthyology major…

Lesson Four: Living conditions

I'm now moved into my permanent Res, John Kotze House (JK). I have to lug my sorry ass up to the third floor to get to my room, but that'll be good to ward off the impending beer gut, I guess. The house is beautiful, full of quirky, friendly, individual girls, and a head of housekeeping that is the most adorable old lady I've ever seen apart from my grandmother. The one downside: piss-poor showers. Weak water pressure, ridiculous sensitivity of the cold water tap, so tall that I might as well be standing in some mild rain. Maybe the showers down a floor are better...

Lesson Five: Apparently, Janni's hair is normal here. So there. 

I have seen 5 separate women with the same color magenta, or some shade of it. Actually, there are all sorts of cool hairstyles here, and I feel like the fact that I have weird hair makes me fit in.

Lesson Six: Where are all the Asians?

Guys, I think I'm in the only college that doesn't have any East Asian students. I've seen two. Total.

Lesson Seven: The Locals.

What is in the water here? First of all, everyone is so nice here. Like, "Oh, are the new exchange student? Let me, go out of my way to introduce myself/start a conversation/carry your bag/be ridiculously good-humored. Also, everyone is tall. Okay, I exaggerate, it's more like everyone is not short. But that, to me, means everyone is tall.

Lesson Eight: Well I guess I'm here to learn something…

Classes started Monday, and apart from not being able to access the online course material, it went off without a hitch. I found all my classes, and they all seem to be interesting. I'm taking third-year History: Themes in Zimbabwean History; Politics: Contemporary Theory; and Economics: South African Economy. Also, my Politics prof is essentially what Akins must have been like 20-30 years ago. Enough said. Guys... having classes at 7:45 AM sucks. They're called "Dawnies" here, and I have three of them....

Lesson Nine: Technology. Can't do it.

So, after my beautiful new Macbook was exposed to water via leaky water bottle in purse and I put it in a giant bag of rice for three days straight, internally sobbing, it turned on without a hitch. So that's good. Everything is running smooth. But let me hit you with a piece of knowledge:

Fun Fact: Rhodes' internal internet networking system must be first accessed through Ethernet cable.

"So what," you ask?

Fun Fact: Macbook Airs do not have Ethernet ports.

Cue facepalm.

Fun fact: it costs 50 USD (minimum) for someone in South Africa to buy a cheap version of a Mac compatible USB to Ethernet Adaptor and have it shipped to them if they want it within a week. 

Why am I so bad at life? Bottom line, I'm still on limited internet access, because I either have to hobble into town to access wireless or use the school's computers, which doesn't have any of my files. I will upload pictures and keep updating as much as a can, but this will be another busy week. I leave you with this lovely mini story:

Favorite Moment So Far: I was walking a very sheepish and drunk Tinashe back to Matthews House (back when the Intl. Studs were all still staying there), where he needed to grab an overnight bag before heading to be the RA on duty for the night(they do it for a week straight). He was so embarrassed that a girl was carrying him home and a little concerned that he would be showing up to work drunk. We were bantering about something when:

Tinashe: Oh, I think I just friend-zoned you.
Me: I'm not too broken up about it, man. We can be bros.
*fist pound*

Some things never change. I love it.