Hey guys, All the best for your exams!

Coming from a totally illiterate internet background I dreaded the thought of JMS1’s term four blogging course with a passion!

The first big ‘plunge’ was admitting to my group my inability. This was received better than I had hoped with encouragement and “don’t worries, you’ll learn!” This goes for all of our group meetings which were really “chilled” using a combination of people’s ideas and views of the blog. With that out of the way I could now learn to start ‘swimming’.

I ‘dived’ straight in, forgetting my ‘buoyancy bands’ – for I had no g-mail address. After a quick addendum I commenced, contributing (or trying to) to my blog. Have you found that you never learn from some mistakes? – well in this instance I forgot all past experience and leaped into the ‘deep end’ where I ‘drowned’ two hours of precious time attempting to copy and post a document from Word. The following day in the lecture I was reluctantly lead to the ‘steps’ where I was told to use Word Pad.

It was with great joy that I completed my first ‘length with out putting my feet down’ in managing to post a picture on our blog! Our blog was aptly themed based on the television programme Survivor, for I was actively trying to survive, chocking, spluttering and unintentionally swallowing gallons of ‘chlorinated water’ in my attempt to survive blogging.

Our intention was to provide a survival package in the form of a blog for next years first year Rhodents. This narrowed down our story horizons yet it provided a much needed ‘refinement of one’s style’. It caused us to physically look about us and reflect on the past year, one’s emotions, expectations, bathos’ and in what areas we have grown or fallen short. Looking back, I appreciate that we were confined to our experiences this year for it called for an analysis of how we had found our first year of university. This was my only course that encouraged one to look back on progression, which was very encouraging.

Our blog genre – being survival – was very open ended. This was convenient especially due to the ranging assignments which we were given. The only ‘stroke in which I was restrained’ which I found frustrating was that one always had to provide an answer, or a way to survive a particular experience or aspect of first year. There have been many first years who have left Rhodes which would have been a great story idea, yet I was unable to fulfil this as I would have had to turn it in to an anti-survival piece- going against our genre. Our audience also had to be kept in mind, in view that they were not yet at Rhodes and therefore would not know the jargon which Rhodents use in connection to one another.

Continuing with the parallel to swimming my ‘gold medal at the Olympics’ would be to specialize in photography. The blog entitled me to use photographs and also contained a few lectures on the basics. Blogging confirmed that images can convey a lot more than a written piece, while often sticks in the viewers memory for a longer time. The blogging course allowed one to reach an audience by different means, and thus enabled a larger audience. This brought in an aspect which I had never before had to deal with, that of ethics. Because my essays were in the public sphere I had to scrutinize them in regards to ethics. When evaluating the course on a scale from one to ten I would rate seven in regards to blogging allowing me to grow towards my personal and professional goals.
There is a conflicting debate of whether journalism is blogging or not. In order to understand the debate one has to define journalism, and it is in the definition where people differ. I tend to follow Dan Gilmore seeing blogging in an optimistic light, viewing blogging as an already budding media network, yet it does not fit to the traditional norms of journalism.
A valid point used in contradiction to the statement of blogging being a form of journalism is the availability that anyone can post things. Because of this, information can often be faulty with no previous research being done on the topic. Personally, in regards to research on my blog, because most of the pieces were opinionated one did not have to do research, but what little research I did was interviews or across the internet. This made me aware of the ease which one can make up sources, information and statistics.
My motivation gleaned from this course can physically be seen at in my own fun blog. Looking back over this term I can safely claim a ‘blog surfer certificate!’

Hey, I’m doing a first year blogging course in journalism at Rhodes University in South Africa. I was interested to see that we had both blogged about our residence food, yip we all share the same concerns millions of sea miles apart! As an exercise we have been asked to market our blogs…so why don’t you check out my article on my res food?

It's not all about the sex, love.

Hi there Starfish,
I really enjoyed reading your post about first-year relationships. You are right about a lot of the stuff you said. Some girls do not realize that there are guys out there who are only interested in going all the way. Such guys think that because they are at university, they have to get as many notches on their belts as possible. I am truly glad that you didn’t give in to that promiscuous wannabe, presumably misogynistic asshole who tried to pull you into the sack. My word, if he lied about his father’s death just to get that much closer to sleeping with you, how low would this guy go? There really are too many nice girls at Rhodes who are taken advantage of by guys who just want to ‘get in, get off, and get out’ – excuse the expression.
However, you must be careful not to over-generalize. I have been in a stable relationship with my girlfriend for 10 months now. Clearly this first year relationship is working. People, especially ‘victim girls’, need to be aware of who they allow into their lives… and into their beds. Although, whatever mistakes such people make, like if they do unfortunately get taken advantage of by a sexual-predator of a male, you must realize that they will almost certainly get back up on their feet afterwards. They will also be stronger people for it; and they will learn to not be so easily tricked by assholes like your ex-friend.
Peace…

What are you doing at Rhodes?

To "Lord Harold III" in his post First Year Defined:

It’s quite obvious that you’re one of those who are content with mediocrity – all you need is “that 50% that gets you through” – your post appears to have been written at the last minute without checking your spelling and grammar (or even something as simple as a line break). Maybe you don’t know that “than” is spelled with an “a”, not an “e”. You must’ve missed that lecture on style because lectures are “unnecessary”, right? Also, there is no way you can say that 200 students in a lecture are hungover if you don’t even attend the lectures. Perhaps you did this assignment a few minutes before the deadline as you stumbled home from an occasion of “drunken debauchery” which is apparently natural. How can you say “truth is…” and then say that you can “skip” first year? That’s not the truth – it’s your opinion. Sadly it is people like you that give Rhodes students a bad name… you know, there are some of us that are here to get degrees, not just get drunk and this doesn’t make us friendless losers.

Only First Year Females?? Likely to contract AIDS????

In response to the title itself in http://themanbarbie.blogspot.com/2008/10/first-year-female-students-are-at-more.html where strawberries states that first year females are more likely to contract HIV/AIDS at Rhodes sounds absurdly sexist. What decent evidence is there that first year males are not in the very same predicament? They also engage in sex. In this case I feel that the spreading of AIDS has absolutely nothing to do with age, gender or whether one is first, second, third or forth year. It solely depends on the decisions one chooses to take on a night out. Whether one is in a state of drunken rebel or even sanely sober, how you choose to spend your night and with whom is the only thing of importance because AIDS comes in any shoes size. First years could also likely have AIDS already putting senior students at risk if they decide to engage in intercourse. Think about this rather than singling the situation out in a gender threatening style or even between seniors and juniors.

Reply to opinion piece

http://www.outtaurspace.blogspot.com/2008/10/be-in-it-to-win-it-who-is-real-rhodent.html

Hey girl, I think you rock, and it isn’t my own Zimbabwean pride. What dictates is the fact that you stick to your beliefs, in your anecdote of your escapade to Port Elizabeth. This causes your reader to admire you while developing Aristotle’s rhetoric division ‘epidentic’ while backing it with ethos mode of proof. I totally agree with your forceful argument, why should Rhodents be characterized or, quite frankly, boxed in the degree labeled the “biggest boozes ever?” As a fellow Rhodent I can see no reason why any one would want to be proudly categorized like this? I view the question of ‘Rhodent citizenship’ in the same light as how you distinguish a specific nationality, is it the country you are born in, the passport you hold or where your ancestors originated from? I think each person has to decide for themselves. And just to give you encouragement; I don’t drink myself dizzy, runabout in overalls in the rain or any of the other crazy things one hears classifies you yet I proudly believe I am a Rhodent!

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You're a big big girl, in a big big world - grow the %$#* up!

Let me begin by stating that I will not take this opportunity to look down my nose and preach to you about my self-proclaimed immense knowledge about the world, life and love. I am but a fellow student that uses his experience as his weapon. Feel free to stop reading at this point, as I will assume that you have better things to do than read about my complaints (or, what some may euphemistically call ‘constructive criticisms’). Given the title of this piece, one can more or less see where I might be going with this; and this is not a direct attack on anyone, just some gentle advice to a certain type of people as a whole.

First of all, let me begin by stating, rather obviously, that this is an institution where people, predominantly young adults, come for a tertiary education. The kind of education that prepares us for the ‘big bad world’; the kind that ties our shoe laces before we run the race of real life. This is not kindergarten, primary or high school. Here, the university and its lecturers are not fazed if you do not study, if you fail all your subjects, and are asked to leave. To them, you were just another person who came to test drive university life for a year, and couldn’t cope with what was hidden under the hood. The university doesn’t care if you feel as useful as a fashion designer in a nudist colony when they show you door, deal with it.

Forgive my crudeness here, but what really pulls on the short-and-curlies for me is these young adults who come to university still thinking that they are in matric. When I was in grade seven, (then, standard five) I remember the principle telling us that as our last year in primary school, we were big fish in a little pond, and that when moving into high school the following year we would be demoted to little fish in a big pond. Well, moving from matric into university is like going from big fish in a big pond, to a big fish into an ocean. There are much bigger fish in university than high school. This does not refer specifically to age, or size, or status. This refers to a wide variety of different aspects, perhaps among the most dominant is maturity. It should be institutionalized that before a kid moves from matric into university, he/she has to have an ‘injection’…of maturity.

I was in a lecture the other day, and it just so happened (and it is actually quite common) that an assignment for one subject and an assignment for another subject were both due that same day. When the lecturer asked the class if everyone had finished and submitted the assignment that was due, to my complete and utter surprise, this smug little Paris Hilton wannabe in the back of the class had the nerve to say that her reason for not doing the required assignment for that subject was because she was up all night completing the other assignment for the other subject.

Ummm, sweetheart, that is no excuse at all. Firstly, grow the #%@* up. Secondly, having done the ‘assignment’, I was a hair’s width away from standing up and saying to you that a 150 word comment can barely be called ‘an assignment’ at all. This is not an attack on the lecturers; this is a statement to young Miss Hilton in the back row who thinks that a 150 word commentary would actually take her more than 20 minutes to complete. A 2000 word essay can be classified as time-consuming, let us be realistic here. Thirdly, probably the best advice that I could not stress enough, you should learn to plan ahead and manage your time better. This way you might not come to the situation the night before deadline where you have two assignments due the next day, and you have not done either of them.

Fellow first years, especially back-row-Paris, when you are working one day a few years from not, your employers will not tolerate excuses. Deadlines are deadlines. Having been accepted into university just illustrates my point; we are all intelligent human beings. We should have no problem realizing that proper time management is essential to success.

Let me end with a fairly wise quote I heard, “if you work hard, you can play harder”. This is the truth.

Peace...

Code 008 – Licence to stall (with apologies to James Bond… and considerate drivers)

Yes, I’ll admit it. I am a Learner Driver. I am one of those nervous pathetic types that you drive behind in peak traffic and that keeps stalling the car every 10 metres. I am the reason the car has that sticker on that says “Please be patient.” I am the person that licensed drivers have to watch out for at traffic circles, because I have no idea when it is my turn to go or I just can’t stop in time so proceed anyway. My maximum speed at any given time is 60km/h and I’ve never been above third gear (except when I accidentally put it in fifth).

Let me tell the inconsiderate drivers out there something. There’s no need to get aggressive. It’s just rude to roll your eyes (or worse, make facetious hand gestures) at learners when they’re going slowly. The car says “Please be patient”, not “Please be a dumb chop.” You would think you’d be able to read that because you spend so much time behind me while I try to pull off on an incline.

It’s bad enough that you overtake me all the time and scare the living daylights out of me because you’re so close to my car. Would you rather I drive faster and cause an accident? I will if you’d like, but I somehow doubt this would improve relations between us. Your insurance company would not love you either.

Speeding is also fun for drivers, apparently… not that I would know, being a learner and all that. What I do know is that accelerating down a 45 degree incline while overtaking me is dangerous. I’ll repeat that in case you’ve been deafened by the thumping eardrum-murdering music that pumps out your car. It’s dangerous. What if I decided to turn but forgot to put my indicator on? Not that I’ve ever done that or anything.

I will drive alongside you one day, but for now I would prefer it if you went away and didn’t clog up the road that I try so hard to navigate. I agree with you that K53 is not always the most logical system, but I wish that you remembered all the rules of the road that you were tested on. This way I would not be blamed for causing the near-accident that came about when you drove through the four way stop when it was clearly not your turn. Even I knew that.

So give me a break. I don’t stall at traffic lights on purpose. I don’t do it to annoy you, I promise. Trust me, I’m just as embarrassed as you are enraged. Remember, it may have been last year, it may have been in the last five years or even last millennium, but you did it too. You made those mistakes that you curse me for making. Forgive me then for committing the traffic crimes that are inevitable. Go ahead, sigh and curse under your breath. But please don’t intimidate me – I already have the clutch to fight with.

With any luck I’ll pass my drivers’ licence test in a few months’ time. Then I can be one of your kind. It will be so much fun to run red robots, get speeding fines, hoot at my friends, almost run over pedestrians and generally forget my K53 training as I ride the clutch with the best of you. Honestly, I can’t wait.

First Year is seriously not taken seriously...

Experiencing First Year has been somewhat of a large obstacle to overcome. I say this because it is at this very point in one’s life where there is an escapade of change that he or she needs to deal with. It is filled with trials of all sorts and makes every action result in some sort of outcome whether it is good or bad. This piece will cite reasons as to why people look at First Year University as being so casual. The truth however, is that one has to go through an ordeal that is not exactly simple to overcome to get through to their next year of study. It in fact, takes a toll on them physically, emotionally and mentally. Furthermore, it is this year that determines what one will be aiming to achieve for as long as their course will take them. The above points will be elaborated below.

There are many reasons as to why people take First Year as such a light- hearted and fun- filled experience. Firstly, the impact senior students have on our thought patterns in terms of courses tell us that First Year is the most “chilled” year an there is nothing to worry about. These very thoughts embed themselves in the very flesh of our skins and we practically swear by these very utterances. We as gullible, timid First Years fall prey to such claims and take it easy along the road to our degrees. We party more, socialize more and detract from our work as though we do not have any of it at all. This mindset is one of the main psychological boosters that push us into places like “The Rat…” and completely out of places like lecture theatres. First Years become so laid back and placed into comfort zones that they do not exactly own; this is because First year is far from a comfort zone but rather a time to prove to oneself that they are able to cope with this new transition in their lives as well as to set the foundation for stronger and more fruitful years to come.

With regard to not taking First Year as seriously as we ought to, we expend our energy on other aspects of lives as students, namely, socialising! We tend to stay up late, feel awfully tired and sluggish for the next day’s lectures. Dragging our feet along and dragging our work along, we tie ourselves down to last minute working and just making deadlines! We allow ourselves to become mentally drained and develop unhealthy and obscure eating patterns pumping our systems with junk food and energy drinks. To some this might seem irrelevant. But it is a serious issue and does develop nasty habits in us all. This is especially to the fact that we lack that sense of supervision from our parents, particularly here at Rhodes.

With the above lack of our parents’ watchful eye, we do not feel that added pressure to sit with our books. We tend to take our lives and work too lightly believing that we can manage our time more productively. Though, the truth is we as young adults fail to realize that we do not possess that much will- power especially that we are here alone, able to make our own decisions and use our freedom to the best of our advantage, feeling no restraints by the consequences that will follow.

To conclude, First Year is, in my opinion, not taken seriously at all but rather taken as just a preparatory year for learning about how to live as free as a bird! Our mindsets need to be changed and geared towards work and living life in a more balanced and content way.

Opinion Piece: Library Extention

All you ever hear around campus these days is the whirring noise of drills and the clanking of heavy machinery. Originally one might think that Rhodes is on a maintenance campaign, what with all the peeling paint, the deteriorating walls and the general disrepair – not so. Instead all energies, labour and money are being directed towards the extension of the Rhodes library(http://www.ru.ac.za/modules/blog_include/blog_content.php?blog_id=303).

When our society today is visibly moving from the information of books to computer literacy I find it laughable that the ‘powers that be’ deem fit that Rhodes should remain with its archaic reputation pouring its money in to the “wonderful development” of the new library. Complaining that the campus is running out of space, Rhodes University has decided to invest in a library which will contain the 450 000 volumes, yet all of the information contained in the books can be stalled in minimal megabital space! I also want to know what goes on behind all those closed doors on the first and second floors. According to my calculations, there is sufficient space in this ‘off-limit’ zone to expand.

The one advantage that the building of the extension to library is its aiding South Africa in its unemployment (oops, I meant employment) policy. Already overstaffed with grumpy, ‘don’t care two hoots’ staff who are seemingly employed to type personal e-mails, Rhodes will not only need to employ more library staff but construction staff.

When more than half of South Africa’s population( http://www.naledi.org.za/docs/Poverty%20and%20unemployment%20in%20South%20Africa%20Feb%202006.pdf) are struggling to survive it is deemed fit that one should expand what one already has, effectively decreasing the rest of your community’s wealth. Spending R90-million on a building which can at any time be burn down, flooded or even blown away by a tornado (one can never be sure with Grahamstown weather) seems a waste when a third of our fellow South Africans are struggling to survive.

Another ‘advantage’, as the motivators of the project regard the extension, is the unity which will be achieved in housing all departmental books under one roof. Can you imagine precise, meticulous physicists being in close proximity to the over exuberant, flamboyant characters of the drama department? Or if that doesn’t work what about paint smeared, over creative Fine Art Students working along side Geologists who hypothesis when a particular type of gem suddenly changes colour to a luminous green. Well, I suppose it would provide an interesting case study for the psychologists!

Lecturers claim that the ‘beep beep’ of a received message is disconcerting yet they are happily oblivious to the beeping signalling the reversing trucks, the continual roaring of cement mixers and the ear piercing explosions. Noise pollution smears the air while doing that last minuet ‘tut’ in the library or having that journ interview over a cup of coffee at the Kaif. I hate to think how the nearby residents cope, I originally thought it was due to the promise of earplugs, yet these have never materialized. And are we going to have communal earplugs for passers-by and areas located within the area? Well cabbages would definitely be cheaper, even beating Fruit and Veg.

With all the emphasis of being designed as an environmentally friendly building, with its “natural lighting, natural cooling and sensible use of power” the fact that an avenue of trees had to be forfeited is totally forgotten. It is ironic that the librarians have catalogued sections of books on the destruction of eco-systems, the crisis caused by deforestation and the hot topic of global warming not realizing that they play a part; in turning the page of that book (what is paper made of?) and actively destroying what little resources they had the authority to protect!
What more can one say about this horrific scheme to destroy students, fee payers and our environment? One can only conclude that the project is anything but what the protagonists claim!

Survivor SRC Comic (Click on comic to enlarge)

Blog Action Day 2008

"I wouldn't change a thing..."

Like so many others, she comes from a home of divorced parents. But this has not impeded her ability to handle her life wisely, as she is a confident young woman who brings joy to those around her.
She will remain nameless for the time being, as it is in hope that she will linger absolutely free from any judgment until the time is right. She is a journalism student who is in a similar situation to her fellow students, as she doesn’t know if she is doing the right thing with her studies.
“I’m not sure if I want to do journalism,” she says, “it’s not the kind of journalism I had in mind.”
It is here at Rhodes University where she would get the opportunity to fulfil her passion though, which is photography. This bright young photo-junkie has set her sights on eventually becoming a conservation photographer, taking awe-inspiring photographs of wild life that would make even the Dalai Lama breathless in utter peace of mind.
“If I don’t get into photo-journ, I’ll change degree,” says the prospective photography journalism student. She has reason to be tense as a fish in a leaking bowl, as there is much competition amongst the students due to the limited number of available places in the ‘photo-journ’ class.
This has been in the centre of her thoughts lately, as she has already successfully survived her first year at Rhodes University. There are some who may think that this is already a colossal accomplishment on its own. This is because not all students metaphorically live to tell the tale of a triumph over the battle of first year at University, especially one as ‘unique’ (by which untamed might sometimes be a more effective substitute) as Rhodes University.With her eyes jokingly pointed down, she revealed the secret behind her assistance to first year survival, “Alcohol,” she said with an ear-to-ear smile revealing pearly whites.
“The main piece of advice that I could give a first year student is to work hard,” she asserted. “Students should choose their subjects wisely so that they don’t waste time on subjects they don’t like.”
“A whole year of philosophy was a waste of time because I wasn’t interested in it,” she revealed.
There is little doubt that university life makes small, or sometimes large, alterations to a person with regard to who they are as people. As a student at Rhodes University, this prospective future photo journalist proclaims that one must have responsibility.
“University life has made me more responsible. There is no one here who will tell you to go to lectures or do your assignments; you have to make your own time for your work. There are no parents or teachers pushing you to get things done.”
While twirling her hair around her index, she provides some sensible words of guidance on how to not go about flunking your degree because of the overwhelming freedom and responsibility of first year university life.
Looking back on first year as a whole, Kate Roswell (pseudonym) is satisfied with her choices.
“With regard to my thoughts on first year, I wouldn’t change a thing… except maybe study harder.”

Nyummo Res Food?

Always beaming, while peering our through her glasses Refilwe Mpshe proudly claims “I have survived a year of res food, although there has been a few dodgy moments!” Coming from the restaurant laden Jo’berg to the little nook of ‘G’town’ where the air is heavy with the smell of oil or burnt veggies has “been quite something,” remarks Refilwe, “with the hectic fees that we pay, res food is just not up to standard.”

Refilwe came to Rhodes used to communal eating having worked on her gap year for a Healing and Deliverance organization in England. Joining the young people’s team she helped in many of the day to day chores, including working in the kitchen. Because the organization catered internationally the meal had to suit every person partaking likes, dislikes, religious beliefs and traditional customs. Being sent on specific courses Refilwe humbly admits that she knows “more than most people.”

Because Refilwe believes she can make a difference is one of the reasons she is running for Residence Food Rep. She believes that although there are eight varieties one can pick from for a meal, a fundamental component is left out - that of a light meal. Instead of two heavy meals a day Refilwe admits that in her opinion this is an overload. “Salads are the answer,” she grins before continuing “a variety of colour is also essential!” “This option is also viable in its practicality” according to Refilwe in that it saves money.

Similarly Refilwe sees herself as the perfect channel between the students and the kitchen staff. “We, as the students are always complaining amongst ourselves yet how do the kitchen staff know in what aspects they can improve?” she questioningly asked, raising her eyebrows, “the kitchen staff can and will only improve with feedback!”

Refilwe went on to explain about her lowest moment, her worst meal, and her most disgusting experience. That of having her friend finding a congealed mass in her chicken. When dissecting her own meal, Refilwe found that she also had the slimy amalgamation. “We still do not know what it was” she hesitantly added “I was put off res food for life, but my student budget doesn’t allow for that!” After a week of eating out, Refilwe’s pocket was empty forcing her to pluck up courage to return to the hall dining room.

This has not been the only time that Refilwe has got more than she had bargained for. Who knows what goes into res food, but I do not call finger nails (I’m assuming it wasn’t a toe nail) an essential ingredient in any recipe. Following in this line of thought, I have yet to meet a person who thinks that hair is delicious, loves the taste of sand and mince and thinks that a mixture of peas and stink bugs are a delectable canapé.

Refilwe’s advice to all first years is to eat blindfolded! Having thought of the impracticality of this she recommends that one should discover your choice menu in ‘O Week’ as you are still wealthy enough to go down the road for Nandoes. She also cautions first years that there is no luminous yellow trade mark of the M in Grahamstown.

Personally Refilwe is a McDonald’s fan. She jokes that the Big Mac Burger gives her reason to live. This is naturally her first stop when returning home for vac!

Being in res prohibits Refilwe from her hobby of baking. She has inherited both of her parents cooking genes. Her father makes her favorite meal of Pap Le Sebcti, yet this is only done when his sisters come and visit, making her want to extend an invitation to them daily. Refilwe’s mother provides the family with daily sustenance – her trade mark being her amazing sweet potatoes.

Who better to have than a food rep who loves setting the table and watching people eat while their enjoyment lights up their face and who lives by the motto that we should “not eat to live, but to live to eat!”

She "Iz" an island of calm

You might have seen her going for a walk in the Botanical Gardens or chatted to her on a hiking trip. You might have come across her in a tutorial in English, Geography, Geology, Philosophy or German or seen her bouncing to the beat of a live performance by 10 Points For The Dismount. You might have seen her in embroidered jeans, takkies and her Canterbury House hoodie or a flowing skirt, T-shirt and beaded slops. If you have seen Isabel “Izzy” Rawlins, you have seen a tall, confident 19-year-old who will readily greet you with wide blue eyes and an unassuming smile.

Tadasana – the mountain. A yoga position which symbolises the interconnection of body and mind.

Izzy is not used to talking about herself. She obliges, however, and soon her hands are gesticulating wildly to emphasise moments of her life story. Multi-coloured string bracelets which she wove herself catch your eye momentarily before you notice her black socks with grey skulls on them. The skulls become a blur as she becomes more passionate and swings her feet. Later as she explains details of her personality, she will start knitting her fingers through the scarf her mom crocheted. Izzy’s nature is by no means one-dimensional – she hides occasional volatility well – but it is the sense of calm and optimism which she exudes that is the most striking and admirable of her features; something which is uncommon in the life of a first-year.

Trikonasana – the triangle. Symbolises potential.

Having matriculated in 2006, Izzy left her home in Mtunzini (north of Durban) and spent the first half of the year travelling across Europe. She visited Wales, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Florence, London and Amsterdam. This taught her the level headedness she shows today. “I was so loskop at first,” she admits. “I didn’t write down addresses or phone numbers of the places I was supposed to be staying at and got lost once in London. What an ordeal.”

Bhujanasana. Symbolises transformation.

When Izzy first arrived at Rhodes, she found it difficult to adapt at first. “My mom wanted to do everything for me because she didn’t want me to do it alone, but I didn’t want that,” Izzy says. “When I go to a new place, I always want to be independent.” Homesickness wasn’t a problem then, but getting back into the ‘school’ routine was a source of frustration. “I became quite tense because it was a big change getting back into studying. My timetable is so full, with no free afternoons, and the pracs are the bane of my life.” Then she pauses. “But anyway...” She trails off – a prime example of the way Izzy refuses to dwell on negative thoughts. “I like being busy, I guess.” She also finds time to sketch, go on hikes with the Mountain Club, take part in inter-res sport, go to ballroom dancing classes and attend twice-weekly yoga sessions in town, as well as going out with friends to the Rat and Parrot and Yellow House.

Virabhadrasana – the warrior. Symbolises triumph.

With a hectic weekly schedule, Izzy finds time every morning to prepare for the day with yoga. “It’s so invigorating and it helps me to wake up,” she explains. “The breathing exercises centre you. Yoga releases endorphins and afterwards I feel this great tingly sensation in my body.” The yoga positions Izzy goes through every day tone the body but are also mentally empowering, helping her control the stresses of student life. She is not overcome by petty matters either. “I get angry when people when people are annoyed by small things, especially small things other people do. It’s just not important.” When she does get irritated with others, Izzy does not react to them. “I’m quite accepting of people so if I shout at them I always feel so bad afterwards, even if they deserved it. I also get angry with myself when small things annoy me.”

Balasana – the child. Symbolises unconditional love.

Balancing academic burdens, Rhodes society responsibilities and leisure time is a skill of Izzy’s that future first-years can only hope to achieve. The inspiration that Izzy offers is also evident to her peers. “What I like about her is that she’s positive all the time,” says Denashree Naidoo, a friend of Izzy’s. “And persistent.” “I’ve always done things for myself,” Izzy states. Her travelling and life at Rhodes has strengthened her independence. “Whatever I did, it was my own doing. And I’m really proud of that.”

Find out more about Izzy on her Facebook page.

First Year's Profile: Sweet, Subtle Sadiyya...

She’s so pure and so innocent like a precious pearl found in the depths of the vast ocean. Her first year on campus, away from home and the people she loves, has proven to be one of the most memorable times of her life. Sadiyya Khan, a BComm student here at Rhodes University has undertaken one tremendous journey that actually determines the life she has ahead of her. It is amazing how a person like Sads can fit the theme of this blog so perfectly; she is a real survivor who knows her way around campus life! But this did not come easy; Sadiyya, like most first years struggled to find her comfort immediately, yet sought for it and has finally reached that point of warmth and courage within her.

She coiled her shiny, black hair around her finger seemingly in deep thought, her eyes so soft and honey- coated like a warm winter’s treat. She said so very gently in her sweet and mellowed tone, “Back home I’ve never had the opportunity to be completely my own person. Everything I did revolved around my home and my family. Here I’m put in a position to make my own decisions and create my own world”. Feeling lost and isolated from the rest of the crowd where people seemed to be as different from each other as the ten seasons we have of any one day in Grahamstown, Sadiyya felt quieted and shut away from it all. “I didn’t even go to dining hall in the first week of campus. Now it’s chilled, I have many awesome friends and many awesome times.” She related an incident that changed her perspective on dealing with such change in her life. Without too much information (or juicy gossip) Sads said that people within her community love stories, but no matter what anyone says, it is important to hold your head up high and not pivot your life around what society thinks of you, you can only achieve success if you are satisfied with yourself. And that is all that really matters.

With a feeling of complete motivation to tackle the upcoming final examinations, Sadiyya is more than confident that nothing can tear her down. With the belief that university is much like the survival of the fittest, she will do anything in her power to stay in the academic pool. So, to keep afloat, Sadiyya finds it extremely important to strike that balance between work and play. “Now I love going out and spending time with friends, but at the same time I know my limits. She goes by her day with this very enthusiasm and zest which allows her to expend her energy throughout the day on all that can help her move forward.

When interviewing her closest friends, they all smile gently, thinking how great a person she really is. They all regard her as one heck of a survivor and an upcoming heroine of first year university. She seems to fit the profile of an aspiring academic with glowing horizons as well as infinite possibilities. Sadiyya checked up on this blog and added that the theme fits in perfectly with the way university should be viewed and tackled; “Every piece of work is like a challenge for survival, you go in there and strive for excellence and if you have worked hard, no one can deny you those million dollar results!” Sadiyya can be viewed on www.facebook.com under her very name. By the way, she’s one heck of a hottie!

To my Little Princess...

To My Little Princess,

You have always been so sheltered and protected from people that were not like you. Remember when your family had made sure that you attended a private, all girls’ institution only so that you would mix with a certain kind of people, they did it to make you “feel safe”. You must know that this is not reality Your Graciousness. The world has so much more variation than what you’re used to. You have been showered with everything you ever wanted and you were not exposed to any hardship that would frighten you or make you understand that life is not as simple as you make it out to be. Before stepping out into this monstrous world, open your mind, open your heart and let your spirit shine.

Your journey here will be filled with colour; no doubt, it will be a phenomenal experience. This begins with the most basic; interaction with people across the gender and race line. Princess, please know that this will be interaction on all levels; eating, working and living. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this once you adapt to it, but this could take you long. What you will experience is somewhat of a culture shock. In this world, you scrape together every bit of recognition you can claim. Just remember, there are many just like you, and there isn’t that much love to go around! I’m not trying to scare you, but “let no one try to crush thy spirit”, as your mum always says.

Lastly, remember you are a delicate flower, not to be tampered with or tainted. Keep your head up high and be strong. Spread your wings, make many different friends and have clean and healthy fun, for that makes this experience a whole lot more worthwhile.

Your guiding star,
Raessa

Time to think about time...

Hey buddy,
I hope things are going well on your side. Before you carry on doing whatever it is you are doing with your life right now, I’d just like to take a few minutes to give you a bit of a ‘head’s up’ about varsity life. I know you won’t have a problem with homesickness or anything like that, because you have been living on your own for a while and know how to be independent.
Dude, biggest piece of advice I can give you about varsity life – especially first year – is decent time management! That’s what it’s all about in the end. If you can manage your time wisely, and find a good balance between work/academic life and your social life, you’ll cope like a champ.
Many people I know have really felt the heat of shitty time management. Like, they leave assignments for the night before, in which case they rush doing it and then pull together a below-mediocre assignment. So I really can’t stress it enough, plan ahead for assignments and essays because in the end, it makes a massive difference.
Just to give you an example from my point of view, without proper time management I’d never cope with all the stuff going on in my life. First of all, there’s my academics, then a play football bout 3-4 times a week, I got a job in town once a week, and of course I like to chill with mates and party.
So keep focused on how you spend your time my man. Remember, if you work hard, you can play harder.
Anyway, you keep well and regards to the family.
Peace out..

My Declaration of Independence

Dear Self

You’ll meet him when you’ve just done something utterly embarrassing in a rare display of emotion. He will watch (unnoticed by you), eyes crinkled in amusement while you pound on the closed door of the empty Linguistics department. This attractive specimen of the human race will suppress his laughter while you wail “…you must open the door for my essay!”

After a few more minutes of viewing your frenzied monologue with the sturdy wooden door about the possibility of you losing your DP, he will say something profound to your quivering shoulders. Something like “Let me unlock the door for you before it gets hurt.” Your gushing gratitude towards your knight with shining keys will match his intrigue at the nutcase door abuser and you will naturally decide to get to know each other better over coffee – cue Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

Reality check, Self. It hasn’t happened. Mr Mysterious Essay Saviour hasn’t materialised. Admittedly, Future You hasn’t stopped dreaming about it either. You still stare out your window at couples walking down the street holding hands. Celine Dion’s All By Myself or something equally soul-crushing still plays on Algoa FM while you’re doing this. So far you’ve survived being single in the sea of couples on campus. How have you done this, you ask?

When you become impatient waiting for Attractive Specimen to appear, you’ll find that certain thoughts help. Being single means you don’t have to fry your hair with a straightener every day to keep ‘him’ keen. You can also leave residence/digs without wearing make-up if you choose. No need to shave your legs daily either – no one will be getting close enough to notice. No ego-boosting necessary (“yes you do know more about cars than him”) or pretending to enjoy a soccer match when you could be watching 7de Laan. Enjoy single-ness… while it lasts, that is.

Yours always
Future You

How to servive the onslaught of societies!

Hey “Innocent”

Hope that your bags are packed and you are rearing to come to varsity! Having taken that path last year I thought I might tell you an aspect that is never mentioned to first years – that of the conniving societies.

When you arrive, you will undoubtedly be swamped with book loads of leaflets, pamphlets and flyers telling you what you should see, how you should act, where to go and not to waste paper! Amongst this new library, an informational booklet on the societies offered may come to light – if not, look for it. If you can’t find it, don’t worry, I think they were all printed five years ago to provide relief for the ‘O week’ printers for the following ten years. Your best bet is to ask current students what societies they belong to, what societies have good reputations in management, inspiration and yes, cheese and wines!

With this in mind, make a list of what you enjoy doing. Compare this to the list of societies that have been recommended to you. An aspect that societies never mention is that they will suck you dry of your spare cash, and don’t be deceived, they also have the ability to delve into your student account! This, they claim are for t-shirts, but at the rate they go, you could kit out your whole family and still have a surplus. Also, be very weary of the style of the one and only t shirt you might receive (if you are lucky) in the third term. More often than not they seem to be of the fashion which you might encounter in the circus!

At societies evening, all the societies will be enticing. Lists of promises with what they provide, the advantage of joining the exclusive group, the wonderful service you will receive, will all be broken as soon as you write your student number on their Holocaust list. Caution: heed this warning in advance.

Otherwise, all the best. Varsity is the place of great opportunity in every aspect of your life.

Looking forward to seeing you soon, my special friend!
“Been there done that!”