I love my life!
What an amazing weekend! Goodness! I went to a drama dept production to support two of my friends, turned out about ten of my friends were in the show, and it was lovely (not to mention quite comical!) Then to the potjie (pronounced poy-key) at my friend Emcy's. She had her dad make the potjie (which is a braai (bbq) stew made in a pot that looks strikingly similar to a cauldron). Yummy! As the semester, and my time here, comes to a close it was so much fun to sit and celebrate with a large group of my South African friends at her house. Good food, good company, good times! Emcy made sure I had potjie and milk tart before I go home, she's been so sweet in explaining loads of Afrikaner traditions to an unknowing mind. Also went to a mall and had tea with a couple of friends, then ran into another group of friends and had coffee with them. For being such a big city, Durban really is a small town :) Finished off the night on Sunday at a friend's church, which I'll get to in a second. Church going here has been very interesting too. First, a good number of churches here have uniforms for members (the Anglican women for example wear white outfits with red trim and large hats of the same), there is a student church which sends buses on Sundays for students at UKZN. I'm actually surprised by the fact that there isn't some sort of Christian of Catholic church or building, since there is a beautiful on campus mosque, a Hindu temple, and a Buddhist meditation space. It’s very refreshing to see the way that South Africa not only embraces cultural diversity, but religious diversity as a part of that. They even leave an hour of the week unscheduled as a prayer hour (not for organized prayer, but just for personal use) and tea breaks too! In the States (and especially on a varsity campus) I feel that people of faith are largely looked at as stupid, or crazy, or both. Here religion is a respectable part of life, nothing to think less of someone for. I appreciate that fact greatly; it’s something Americans would do well to consider. If people sue over, "one nation under God" in the pledge of allegiance, how would they like a Hindu temple on their campus? I for one enjoy both. Also, the progressive constitution of this nation is a piece of beauty. While still establishing legal precedent and case law, the statements of the constitution remain more a dream than the law of the land, but I have high regard for that dream (as does much of this nation.)
Back to a lovely weekend, I'm very excited to hang out with friends and hopefully to make it to Cape Town soon! Just let me tell you, if you ever get the chance to go to South Africa you won't regret it. For all that I am experiencing, all that I am learning, all that I am feeling; this has been worth more than rubies :)
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