Pre-Departure Jitters

Molweni Nonke! (Hello everyone!)

Okay, it's official. I leave tomorrow (well, today), and I'm a bit frazzled. I just said goodbye to one of my best friends. I should be in bed, but I have too much energy at the moment.

For those who I don't talk to on a regular basis, I figured it might be good to share the details of my upcoming adventure. This semester, I'll be participating in a study abroad program through Marquette University in Cape Town, South Africa. I'll be living in a house called Kimberley House with the other 19 students in a suburb of Cape Town, Observatory ("Obz"). About 2/3 of us are from MU, and the rest are from other universities around the U.S. (I'm the only Billiken...) I know no one in the program. I don't even know who my roommate will be. (We're just supposed to figure it out on our own, apparently. That'll be interesting.)

At the moment, I don't even have a good idea of my schedule. The only solid details are that I'll take 2 classes with the other students in my program on Fridays. One class is a theology class focused on forgiveness and reconciliation. The other is about leadership in grassroots organizations. Beyond this, I know that I will spend two each week full-time at my service learning sites. Both of my service sites are in Langa Township, not too far from our house in Obz. In the mornings, I will work at Thembani Primary School. Once again, I don't know details yet. In the afternoons, I'll be working with a group called Ilizwi, which means "Voice" in Xhosa. Ilizwi is a women's empowerment program that focuses on art, motivation, sexual health, and future careers with a group of high schools girls. I'm incredibly excited about these two sites. I talked with the girl who worked at both of these sites last semester, so I have a vague idea of what it will be like, but no specifics. Basically, stay tuned for all of that.

The other two days of the week, I'll take two or three classes at the University of the Western Cape. At the moment, I know I'd like to take a Xhosa class (especially since all of the kids I'll be working with in Langa township speak Xhosa before English). To continue the trend of uncertainty, we won't even know [for sure] what classes are being offered at UWC, so registration will be quite a treat...apparently, long lines and lots of confusion. Woot.

Hmmm, bed time? Yes. Not that this is overly interesting, but my flight itinerary is kind of interesting. Milwaukee --> Detroit --> Amsterdam --> Cape Town. I'm going to be exhausted. Basically, double international travel back-to-back.

Okay, I'm off, but I promise a more interesting second post! I'll miss you all! Please keep in touch and take care. :)

More typical Parisian tidbits to go around...

Salut!

Below you will find more pictures from Paris...yes, I'm really behind. What else is new?

Anyway, first, there are the pictures from when we actually went INSIDE the Louvre! Yes, I finally went in the big building that I have a million pictures from the outside!

the upside down pyramid!

Nike

side view

La Joconde

(I've never understood this translation, but nonetheless, she's rather underwhelming, to be honest...)

Les Mysteres de la Passion du Christ

...a bit trippy, I thought.

L'Odalisque (by Ingres)

We learned about this in my Impressionism class! Yes, I'm a dork...

Le Venus de Milo (Aphrodite)

...and me!

Le Sphinge...as our art teacher would insist...she's feminine, not masculine (thus, not a Sphinx)

my favorite parts of the Louvre, the rooms of statues...wonderful :-)

THE Code of Hammurabi

...the butt shot. I couldn't resist.

Now, we move to the famous, Moulin Rouge. Don't get too excited, it's not as glorious as in the movie, but we thought it was worth a photo-op.

My friend from high school, Annie, just arrived that night for her Paris program!

the famous cafe, Le Chat Noir

The area around the Moulin Rouge is FULL of sex shops, another reason not to be overly enthusiastic about the area. Nonetheless, it's kind of entertaining to count how many there are as you walk down the street.

Once again, another area I've already posted pictures of, Notre Dame. However, here are more details of the interior and exterior...

Monet's old stomping grounds: Giverny!

Mom, this one's for you...you would love this place.

A few Fridays ago, we took another day trip with IES. This time, we ventured out to Giverny, where impressionist painter, Claude Monet, used to live. There, we visited his house, his gardens, and a museum dedicated to him. I don't have any pictures of the inside of his house (we weren't allowed to take any), but hopefully all of the lovely scenery will suffice. :-)

first glimpse of the house

the famous Japanese bridge Monet painted in one of his series

a better shot of the bridge

les nympheas!!! (the lillypads he painted in his famous Nympheas series)

Monet's house

the restaurant where we had lunch