So, the Monday after Mzoli's, 3 June, we watched District 9 and then commenced the most insane rush of papers and presentations and exams conceivable. (Not really, but compared to how pampered we've been all quarter...it seemed pretty horrendous.)
District 9 Trailer for your viewing enjoyment: (It's a blatant parallel for apartheid. Really interesting othering going on.)
Just in case you were doubting that I did work here:
I had a final development/volunteering reflection due that was 4 pages single spaced.
I had a final public health refection due that was also 4 pages single spaced.
Then I handed in a group project with my three fellow Prochorus volunteers that was 33 pages.
Then I gave a 40 minute presentation on said 33-page paper.
Then I handed in a film review for my culture and language and identity class that was 7 pages.
Then I handed in a final research paper for my public health class on breast cancer that was 19 pages.
Then I handed in a final research paper for my politics class on rhino conservation that was 11 pages.
Then I took a 3 hour all essay-format politics final on Monday.
Then I gave a presentation on language politics in South Africa vs America. 11 official vs 0 official languages. It was actually really interesting material.
Then I wrote a take-home written final for development that was 7 pages of essays.
Then I took a 3 hour public health final that was 5 lengthy essays.
THEN I WAS DONE WITH JUNIOR YEAR!!!!! So yeah, that's why I haven't been updating my blog. But honestly, I only had one adventure in that whole time and it was a trip to a wine farm restaurant called Solms Delta. It grows all its own vegetables, fruits, and spices.
And it was pretty.
Now it's Thursday night. I spent the day after my exam wandering around Stellenbosch with a friend and having a great time. It's good to be done with junior year! Also weird.
Tomorrow morning my internet is being shut off at 8am...so in about 7.5 hours. And then I'll be heading into Cape Town for Friday afternoon-Saturday to enjoy the city one last time with some friends. Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather!
And then on Sunday, I head off to Kruger again for my two week research project. I am so excited!! It's going to be incredible. Not sure what the internet status will be, but hopefully I'll be able to check in periodically. If not, I'll upload my last blogs when I get back to America on 2 July (or when I recover from jetlag).
Stellenbosch, it's been real! And it's been fun! I can hardly believe that I am leaving it. It's become a home away from home to me. I wonder if I'll ever be back. Usually, I have a feeling when I leave a place one way or another, like yes, I'll be back here or no, I won't. With Stellenbosch, I honestly can't quite tell. Hopefully someday, the wind will bring me back to Stellenbosch. But I know that even if it does not, it will always be on my mind and in my heart. I know that I will always have the memories. And there are lots of them! And I look forward to reminiscing on my time here in person with you all when I return. Stellenbosch is a place that has taught me more than I can ever express. From the tree and café and restaurant lined streets, to the gorgeous mountain backdrop, to the grape vine covered hills of the wine farm estates, to the stately Dutch colonial architecture of the University buildings, to the kids crammed into the creches in Kayamandi to the inspiring priest at St Nicholas Kerk to the deliciousness of melktarte and boboetie to the friends I've made and the countless priceless conversations I've had with them to the random rainforest I discovered in a huge and mysteriously secret botanical garden I wandered into this afternoon - I've loved it here. I've been so blessed. I don't think I want to leave it. But I also know that life must go on. And that other things await me. My adventure in Kruger. And my adventure of returning home. My adventure of learning how to apply what I have learned, seen, heard, felt, smelled, tasted here to my life back home in America.
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