Hey,
I cannot imagine what it must be liked to live with three other literally foreign students! I am the only girl living with eight other guys in my digs in Grahamstown, South Africa. It is rough at times – to say the least… and they are ALL South African even. At least we all share a similar culture. Although there is always culture within culture isn’t there? Peoples backgrounds are really vast in South Africa. I suppose that’s why we are called the “Rainbow Nation!”
I must admit that there are aspects of living amongst eight boys that I do enjoy. Not at all what you’re thinking!! Safety is an issue here in SA, so I do enjoy sleeping soundly at night knowing that one of the guys will take care of anything that might go wrong.
One solution to a problem I see you have with your people is to get a nanny in maybe once a week? We all chip in R10 on a Tuesday and Tracey comes in to mop floors, wash dishes, scrub the bathroom and generally pretty the place up a bit. As you can imagine, there are not too many feminine looking things around our digs! Our place looks like a golf course or recreational centre some days, other days likehttp://relm,evolution&ideocracy.blogspot.com/ a laundry mat and sometimes (most times), the place looks like a nightclub/rubbish dump!
How long have you been living in your digs for? This is my first year. I am studying Journalism and that is the reason that I did a search and came across your blog. You might want to check ours out. We are a group of four Journalism students at Rhodes University (http://www.ru.ac.za/). Check out our blog at http://digmyrez.blogspot.com/
Good Luck with exams if you are writing!
Cheers,
Michelle
Showing posts with label university. Show all posts
Showing posts with label university. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
IS IT SOMETHING IN THE ENVIRONMENT?
The one year where you should make mistakes, break a couple of hearts and laws while you are at it, lie in drunken stupors now and again and wake up next to random strangers until you are proclaimed the all enduring, all responsible third year (second year fades into oblivion in between). Irresponsibility in first year has become such a norm that responsibility becomes a deviation. It is not to say however that all first years are irresponsible but that the University environment and perception that it perpetuates in terms of the conduct of first years is closely related. “.It then all boils down to the question of choice do first years choose to be irresponsible or does the University environment promote irresponsibility? Be the change you want to see in the world (Mahatma Ghandi)”
The idea of having control of your own life and are responsible for all your major decisions that in the past years have been in the hands of your parents puts one in a different position, that of responsibility. What you choose therefore becomes the basis of the consequences, good or bad. Choices like living in res or digs, taking a subject or dropping it, going to classes or bunking them etc. can seem like minor decisions but they are all a reflection of your character but also of how responsible or irresponsible you are. However because there are little expectations placed on first year’s in relation to other students in different years of study can breed an attitude of ignorance and oblivious bliss because some forms of behaviour are “expected” of first years, are “normal” for them and are therefore” tolerated” in the hope that they will “grow out of it” but some don’t and end up dropping out of University because of the enormous pressure placed upon them in the expectation for them to be responsible with concern to school work but the opposite when it comes to the social side of things.
This not only sends off a mixed signal but also fools many a first year into a false sense of security concerning their balance between study time and fun time, with fun time being of utmost importance. The question of maturity then comes into play, granted that the maturity level of an individual is very important in their decision making processes. Can it then be said that many first years lack the maturity in order to make responsible decisions and take responsibility for themselves and their actions and still be able to deal with the enormous amounts of freedom from control afforded by the university environment? Should the University be held responsible for their lack of reasoning and judgment?
The University environment not only comprises of academics but also the non-academic (and in Grahamstown that means New Street). Although the University has no control over these external entities, it has influence on the students. The assumption of the level of maturity amongst first years is a misleading factor in how the university approaches the subject of “socialising” by promoting sober habits but with no real emphasis on taking responsibility and focusing on why you are at University in the first place. It then boils down to the manner of interpretation. Is the situation really out of control and does the University environment promotes irresponsibility or is it a matter of self control and maturity both in judgement and rationalisation and who takes responsibility? First yeas should be given more guidance rather than being left to their own devices as it were in order to help nurture their maturity in order for them to take more responsibility.
The idea of having control of your own life and are responsible for all your major decisions that in the past years have been in the hands of your parents puts one in a different position, that of responsibility. What you choose therefore becomes the basis of the consequences, good or bad. Choices like living in res or digs, taking a subject or dropping it, going to classes or bunking them etc. can seem like minor decisions but they are all a reflection of your character but also of how responsible or irresponsible you are. However because there are little expectations placed on first year’s in relation to other students in different years of study can breed an attitude of ignorance and oblivious bliss because some forms of behaviour are “expected” of first years, are “normal” for them and are therefore” tolerated” in the hope that they will “grow out of it” but some don’t and end up dropping out of University because of the enormous pressure placed upon them in the expectation for them to be responsible with concern to school work but the opposite when it comes to the social side of things.
This not only sends off a mixed signal but also fools many a first year into a false sense of security concerning their balance between study time and fun time, with fun time being of utmost importance. The question of maturity then comes into play, granted that the maturity level of an individual is very important in their decision making processes. Can it then be said that many first years lack the maturity in order to make responsible decisions and take responsibility for themselves and their actions and still be able to deal with the enormous amounts of freedom from control afforded by the university environment? Should the University be held responsible for their lack of reasoning and judgment?
The University environment not only comprises of academics but also the non-academic (and in Grahamstown that means New Street). Although the University has no control over these external entities, it has influence on the students. The assumption of the level of maturity amongst first years is a misleading factor in how the university approaches the subject of “socialising” by promoting sober habits but with no real emphasis on taking responsibility and focusing on why you are at University in the first place. It then boils down to the manner of interpretation. Is the situation really out of control and does the University environment promotes irresponsibility or is it a matter of self control and maturity both in judgement and rationalisation and who takes responsibility? First yeas should be given more guidance rather than being left to their own devices as it were in order to help nurture their maturity in order for them to take more responsibility.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Words of wisdom to young Litha
September 26, 2008
Young man
Your wisdom may be questioned by your peers, your reserved self criticised as being too mature for your age, but have comfort in the reality that such qualities should ease you into the tertiary atmosphere and enable you to enjoy a fulfilling period in your first year.
I have had a fairly successful year so far at Rhodes, and I encourage you not to let go of your wisdom. Such wisdom shone upon our father’s death, where you overcame this personal tragedy in an exemplary way. There are plenty of hardships in university, where a build up of tests and deadlines can create high amounts of stress. There is also an uncontrollable amount of partying, which will test your wisdom. Your ability to live a balanced lifestyle will prove pivotal in your first year.
I had taken my support system for granted before this year, but as the year unfolded, I have seen countless situations which have previously been described to me - I have perhaps have taken the advice on girls given by my mother a bit too seriously. You should loosen up at university, whilst maintaining your controlled lifestyle, so you can fully enjoy your tertiary experience.
There are periods here when you lose all motivation, and wish that you could stay in your own bubble and not work. I have adopted a minor but thought-provoking episode in dealing with this. Remember when uTa’mkhulu teased that we would sleep in the chickens’ barn should we fail a grade at school? Well, I took that statement seriously, and it has served as motivation for me to be diligent in my work.
Rhadebe, brace yourself for a path of endless possibilities at university. Maintain your talents, as you will surely make use of them here. Stay the person you are, and remain positive about your life, as you are destined to have a fulfilling first year at university.
Regards
Litha
Young man
Your wisdom may be questioned by your peers, your reserved self criticised as being too mature for your age, but have comfort in the reality that such qualities should ease you into the tertiary atmosphere and enable you to enjoy a fulfilling period in your first year.
I have had a fairly successful year so far at Rhodes, and I encourage you not to let go of your wisdom. Such wisdom shone upon our father’s death, where you overcame this personal tragedy in an exemplary way. There are plenty of hardships in university, where a build up of tests and deadlines can create high amounts of stress. There is also an uncontrollable amount of partying, which will test your wisdom. Your ability to live a balanced lifestyle will prove pivotal in your first year.
I had taken my support system for granted before this year, but as the year unfolded, I have seen countless situations which have previously been described to me - I have perhaps have taken the advice on girls given by my mother a bit too seriously. You should loosen up at university, whilst maintaining your controlled lifestyle, so you can fully enjoy your tertiary experience.
There are periods here when you lose all motivation, and wish that you could stay in your own bubble and not work. I have adopted a minor but thought-provoking episode in dealing with this. Remember when uTa’mkhulu teased that we would sleep in the chickens’ barn should we fail a grade at school? Well, I took that statement seriously, and it has served as motivation for me to be diligent in my work.
Rhadebe, brace yourself for a path of endless possibilities at university. Maintain your talents, as you will surely make use of them here. Stay the person you are, and remain positive about your life, as you are destined to have a fulfilling first year at university.
Regards
Litha
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