I'm here to study? almost forgot

College is college no matter where you are in the world. The professor stands in the front and lectures monotonously for about an hour while the students stare back blank faced. It’s like this in Santa Barbara and it’s like this in Cape Town. 

Today was my first day of classes at UCT.  It started out early, my first class being at 8am.  Like Santa Barbara, math and science courses are often the earliest ones. I managed to catch the “Jammie” (the school bus) at 7:30am. I wasn’t sure where the stop was so I just followed all the people with book bags. Then like a typical foreigner I asked if this was how to get to UCT to the next person I saw. They responded with a polite “yes” but a look that inferred “DUH”.  

The Jammie took me to upper campus and my day began.  

A few things I noticed about UCT that differ from home...

1. Everyone knows everyone. A lot of the students take the same courses as their classmates all 3 years, it’s similar to high school in that way.  So I felt like I stuck out a lot, most of my classes have very few or no international students. It will be fun to meet and befriend all the Capetonians while I’m here. For one of my classes I actually have to do research with 4-5 other students and give a presentation. 
2. Everything is paper based, online registration doesn’t happen.  On my registration form I replaced one “3” in a course code with a “1”. Rather than a quick switch online I have to go find my professor, hope he is in his office, and have him sign a form.
3. Doors aren’t labeled push or pull. For some odd reason I’ve been pulling push doors and pushing pull doors constantly. It’s getting ridiculous haha
4. Campus is on a mountain.  The campus is beautiful, might even give Santa Barbara a run for its money.  But there are SO many stairs. I am going to miss biking to class.
5. Books are FREE. What a concept. UCT believes in an equal playing field for all. Personally I’ve known people who couldn’t buy their books until their next paycheck or financial aid went through. This can really put people behind.

This might be my last entry about school, its pretty generic.  South Africa has so much more to offer in culture and natural beauty, and that is defiantly why I choose here to study.