Robben island
Trip Start
Feb 05, 2007
1
22
25
Trip End
Apr 28, 2007
Cape Town,
South Africa
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
I have learned a lot of things while abroad, and one new thing that I think I should pass on to all of you is not to get your hair cut abroad. some things don't translate, because i thought i said what i wanted but i walked out of the salon with something very different. and i am now have my hair cut like all the girls in london. the thing is, i'm not from london, i am an american, and i don't know what to do with this super boxey, short, layered bob thing i have. so i bought some head bands.
i went to robben island today. it was too short, that place has so much history to it. they have been using it as a place to put prisoners since the start of colonization here, for for more than 300 years. it was also a leper colony. the most amazing part about it was that half of the tour was given by an ex-political prisoner. here is this man, my parent's age, talking about his life in the prison, why he was there, what he was fighting for, it was giving me the chills. but i didn't have a good enough question to ask him anything, and he was only there for 45 mins. but it has left me with a lot to think about. i guess with museums and tours you often have to fill in the blank places yourself. as i walked through the halls of the prison i was thinking about the extent government and society will go to maintain the status quo. or the fact that now ex-prisoners and ex-guards both work on robben island still and are neighbors. and yet, what has changed here?
i also forgot my camera this morning, so i will have to remember that i went to robben island without the photographic evidence.
i am disappointed because i got my things i put in the hostel safe out today, and found that all my cash was gone. thanks ashanti hostel. oh well, my passport was there and i have my bank card, so no need to cry over spilled milk. it just puts a wrinkle into my day.
so this is my last night in cape town, i leave tomorrow in the afternoon for durban. on friday i go back to swaziland to finish out my project there and then on the 27th of april i leave back to the United States. my departure date moved forward, for a lot of reasons. one of them being I have the best job that is starting in early May. It is likely that i may never have a job i am looking forward to this much. I was awarded a grant to do research with a US historian at my school. I will be working independently and setting my own hours, and i spend a week in New York doing some primary research since his book is going to be on the development of American nationalism focusing on New York city. essentially i am getting paid to read books.
i am also going home to do an interview at the admission office for the senior intern position. it will be a full plate next semester if i get the job. i hope i don't drive my boyfriend too crazy from all my work.
it's go go go, for the next 13 months, and then i graduate from Whitman. what happened? and my answer to your question, what are you going to do after graduation- my dad has helped me out a bit and i have the answer for you, "I will get a well paying job that also beings me a lot of personal satisfaction and enjoyment. Though I haven't narrowed down the field yet because I know it will be a hard job to find."
well, you'll hear from me next in swaziland.
