The Waiting Room

So, last night we went back to Long Street. Apparently Monday is the Capetonians day of rest, so we went to a bar called The Waiting Room. It was a really cool, funky place and they had a live jazz band which was really fun, plus they had this cool rooftop area that was very Moulin Rouge meets South Africa. Anyways, the band finished pretty early so we went to a pool bar called Stones, played a few games, saw a hooker, and then went to a bar called Marvel. Marvel was so much fun, we ran into Thapz again (I just realized how you actually spell his name), he bought us more drinks, a shot of 480 (note: never drink it, I think its like 80% alcohol, but it tastes like drinking nail polish), and then a Savannah (second note: people here love cider, it tastes a lot better than beer, and has the same alcohol content so it's really a win-win). Marvel was also interesting because I'm pretty sure we were the only white people in the entire club, which actually made it really really fun. Tonight, we're going to Tiger Tiger. Apparently it's a really really nice club and like Prince Henry goes there when he's in town (again, it can't be that nice if they're just letting anyone in a.k.a. us, but who knows). Tomorrow, we're catching a transport at 6:45 to go to the airport (seriously, I may just not sleep tonight), then it's off to Jo'Burg for our safari in Kruger! I'm soooooooo excited. It should be the highlight of my trip. So, the next photos I post may just be of (hopefully) one of the big five (lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, and leopard, so aptly named because they are considered the five hardest animals to hunt on foot and are now sought after on every major safari). They are incredibly difficult to spot, and you're not guaranteed to see anything so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll come across at least one (I really want to see an elephant and a leopard!).

Also, one of our assignments for Anre's class is to keep a journal documenting how our attitudes, how we feel, etc. over time so that we can compare how we felt coming into this experience with how we have changed after having left. So, I've decided to create another blog called Side Notes, found at www.jgsell1.blogspot.com (creative, I know). I'm going to leave Notes on Contemplation as a sort of record of events, documenting what I'm doing, where I'm going etc., and use Side Notes as a much more personal, in-depth diary. I'm going to try my best not to edit myself or my thoughts, despite it being posted online. So, if you are someone who may not want to know my inner-most thoughts, then I honestly wouldn't read it. I would hope that no one's opinion of me would be changed after reading what I have to say and that anyone who reads it can use it as a source of reflection for their own lives and experiences. Being in South Africa, it's inevitable that you are faced with racism in both obvious and subtle forms. The discussion of racism and apartheid is not always common here, and is something many people would like to simply ignore or forget (much like slavery in America). Facing issues of discrimination face to face isn't always easy, but I think it's a critical part of being a global citizen. This includes not only racism, but homophobia, sexism, agism, classism, etc. The list really goes on and on. I think that Anre's psych class will help a lot not only to study racism, prejudice, and discrimination in others, but also to see it in myself. Side Notes isn't set up yet, but I will get on it when I return from Kruger.

Till then,

Jason