A Broad Abroad

Yes, I'll sign an autograph...

2010-07-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

That's right friends, myself, along with the rest of the Rhodes flash mob, are famous! Well, pseudo-famous! The local Grahamstown newspaper, Grocott's Mail, did a story (complete with video) on the recent flash mob that I helped organize and choreograph for LGBTI week at Rhodes University!

The flash mob was the brainchild of my lovely friend Lara, and of course, with help from two fabulous Rotary Scholars (myself and Jill), the Glee flash mob became a reality!

So without further adieu, here is the link!

http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/glee-flash-mob-rhodes-university

Much love to you all!
B

Finally... a new vlog!

2010-07-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

Artsy Fartsy

2010-04-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

While on holiday I believe I got about 5 pictures of myself and Joey, 35 or so landscape photos, and approximately 42 bajillion pictures of animals. However, I also attempted to take some fancy, art-smart photos (though they were shot with a point and click camera and therefore can't be taken too seriously). However, I thought I would share some of the prettier pictures with y'all since I am convinced that the people who read this blog love me unconditionally (except for the random internet trollers) and therefore must accept and adore my photos without judgement. Annie Lebowitz, you can kiss it.

Love,
B

Back to blogging!

2010-04-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Why hello there!

I know I've said this before, but I am so sorry that I have been MIA! As you all know, in March I embarked on a three week road trip through southern Africa with my friend Joey, and since my return to Grahamstown life has been a flurry of activity (some thesis related, some not so much!)

So, where to start? I suppose I should give you a brief re-cap of my recent travels! A friend of mine from high school (what up Magnolia High School marching band!) flew to Port Elizabeth on March 4, and from there, we set out on a 20 day journey which involved traveling through six different countries! We began in South Africa, where we drove along the Wild Coast through Coffee Bay and Durban. We then headed to the small landlocked country of Lesotho where we drove up the Sani Pass, and then headed to Swaziland where we stayed at a wildlife and game reserve. We then returned to South Africa for a two-day safari through Kruger National Park, where we saw a pride of lions hunting a herd of buffalo during a night drive! I literally felt like I was in a National Geographic magazine! After our short stay in Kruger we flew to Livingstone, Zambia, where we swam at the top of the Victoria Falls and went white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi River! After a day trip to Zimbabwe to view the falls from a different vantage point we headed to Chobe National Park near Kasane, Botswana. At Chobe we saw leopards, more elephants than you can shake a stick at, and two giraffes, who just happened to be mating. That's what I call a successful safari, and an overall amazing adventure! Over these next few days I will be sure to write a few blog entries providing more stories from what can categorically be called one of the best holidays I've ever had!

I also want to give a big thank you to fellow Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Robin, who is currently studying at the University of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban! She was kind enough to show Joey and I around the city and also helped organize an opportunity for me to speak to the incredibly welcoming, and quite hilarious, Rotary Club of Westville.

Since returning to Rhodes I have been busy researching for my thesis, mountain biking, swimming at the beach, puppy-sitting, and cooking obscene amounts of macaroni and cheese for an International Easter celebration! I am also excited to announce that Anti-Sex and Gender Based Violence Week is approaching at Rhodes and I am looking forward to assisting with the Sexual Violence = Silence Protest and the Take Back the Night march!

I'll let y'all go for now, but as previously mentioned, I promise to update this blog more frequently with tales of my holiday adventures, Rotary experiences, and my life as a postgraduate student in Grahamstown. For now, here are a few photos!

All my love,
B

Coffee Bay

Robin, Joey and I in Durban

A lioness in Kruger National Park

Lesotho

Escaping from a vicious warthog attack in Swaziland (I might be exaggerating slightly)

Victoria Falls

Hippo and friend in Chobe National Park

The Zambezi at sunset

Single's Awareness Day - Come and Gone

2010-02-15T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hello there lovely friends!

As you all know, yesterday was International Single's Awareness Day/Valentine's Day. Each year I usually celebrate by gathering with a group of friends, injesting a ridiculous amount of chocolate, and then bashing in a pinata of some sort in order to vent my frustrations. But can you believe it, yesterday I didn't even celebrate! As commercialized as Valentine's Day is in the States, it pretty much goes by unnoticed here in South Africa, which means I spent the entirety of yesterday reading about Foucauldian theory, until lo and behold, I realized it was February 14th! By then it was 8 PM and too late to organize a shindig where my friends and I systematically set several bouquets of flowers on fire, so instead I made myself a nice dinner and watched the ultimate girl power movie, Whip It! It was a lovely day, and though I think it's important to recognize and celebrate the love you share with others each and every day, I thought I would give you all a special post-VDAY shout out to say that I love you!

In other news, I, in true Brittany form, managed to lock myself out of my room on Saturday. And my computer refuses to access the wireless internet on campus. But those have been the only hitches in my giddy up, so all in all, things have been going swimmingly. In fact, I found out this morning that my digsmate, Jill and I, got tickets to the World Cup! In June we will be headed to Port Elizabeth to see the Serbia versus Germany match! I would have loved to see the US team compete (hey there Clint Dempsey), but understandably, tickets closer to the finals are way more expensive. So Serbia, here I come (you know I have to root for the underdog)!

Also, per Aunt Sage's request, I am unleashing the tentative title of my thesis - The representation of women’s reproductive rights in the American feminist blogosphere: an analysis of the debate around women’s reproductive rights and abortion legislation in response to the reformation of the United States health care system in 2009/10.

However, as you all know, no healthcare legistlation has passed, so while I am researching and establishing my theoretical framework, I am waiting out the legistlative process. So I suppose we'll see what happens!

I hope all of you stateside people are enjoying the snow! Take care of yourselves!

Love,
B

Breaking News

2010-02-07T06:12:00.000-08:00

It is hot. Incredibly hot. The kind of hot where all you can do is lay on your bed spread out like a starfish in order to prevent any parts of your body from touching and causing you to spontaneously burst into flames.

In conclusion, I am going to get my butt to the beach next weekend.

Keep cool friends!

A Stream of Consciousness-esqe Post

2010-02-02T03:58:00.000-08:00

Hey!

These last few days I have been caught up in a whirl wind of administrative duties. Wait, or is it world wind? I have never been quite sure what people are actually saying when they offer that statement, however, it's not really surprising. I happen to have both the vision and hearing of an 80+ year old and mishear things pretty often. I spent the majority of my young life thinking that people were shouting 'freaking egg', when actually, it was 'freaking expletive'. That's right, I am censoring my self for the gaggle of preteen readers who I am sure avidly read this blog.

Right, back to the subject at hand. I am now registered both administratively and academically at Rhodes University and have officially submitted my thesis proposal to the Higher Degrees Committee for acceptance as a Rhodes endorsed research thesis. In addition, I have signed up to take HAM (History and Appreciation of Music) through the music department at Rhodes! There is a jazz component which I am really excited about, as well as a section of study dedicated to South African protest music!

I also feel pretty settled into my digs (student housing) and really like my flatmates! There are five of us in total, 3 Americans and 2 South Africans, and everyone is incredibly friendly and tidy. Yes, you read that correctly, tidy. A trait that I hope to acquire. I figure 24 years of living in near total squalor is enough :)

In addition, once a week we have Taco Thursday, a night where the housemates invite random people we have met that week and have them over for dinner which we prepare. It was started quite a few years ago in this house, and last year I attended often because Rosa, a former Rotary Scholar, would kindly invite me each week. Which means I am going to learn how to cook! No more soup from a can accompanied by grilled cheese sandwichs as my go-to impressive meal!

That's about it on the South African front. Pretty simple day-to-day activities and adventures (I did have a ketchup bottle explode all over my face at a restaurant the other day, making me look like a bloodied victim in a grindhouse film, only to leave me sticky and slightly stained red, however, not a surprising occurence considering my outstanding awkwardness). And while I miss home, I am also incredibly happy to be back. I must say, I feel rather lucky to be able to be so comfortable and content in two totally different places.

Final thought: I watched Whip It! the other day and I kind of want to join roller derby. Now all I need to do is learn how to skate and get some kickin' science experiment googles to prevent my glasses from breaking...

Love,
B

This broad is abroad again!

2010-01-31T10:15:00.001-08:00

Hello there!

Well, I have arrived safe and sound back in marvelous Grahamstown! I flew into Johannesburg on Wednesday, January 27 where I met my friend JC for dinner, and then on Thursday I made my way to the Port Elizabeth airport where two fellow Rhodents (that's what Rhodes students are called... how lovely is that?) picked me up and carted me back to my digs in Grahamstown! Since my arrival I have had a wonderful time reconnecting with friends, moving into and decorating my room (complete with several photos of Texas landscapes, pictures of family and friends, and of course, an incredibly classy poster of Robert Pattinson), and spending time with my classmates and thesis supervisor! In addition, I also spent yesterday helping a friend collecting horse manure from a nearby stable in order to enhance her compost pile, and I swear, it was almost like I never left Texas :)

So now that I am back, what are my plans for the year you ask? I am going to work like a madwoman on my thesis, travel around Africa (and Swtizerland and Turkey on a rather random trip to see Alinka!), and stay involved in community service work. I also found out that postgraduates are allowed to take an undergraduate course for free, and y'all know that I will do just about anything if it's free, so tomorrow I am investigating the possibility of enrolling in an African music course! Prepare yourself for endless drum circles when I return to the States!

Things here in the Southern hemisphere are pretty fabulous and I hope that you all are doing wonderfully as well!

Much love,
B

Where does the time go?

2010-01-25T20:15:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone!

I am so sorry I have been out of touch! I arrived back in the States on December 4, 2009, and since then I have been having a blast with my friends and family! After almost 6 weeks in the States, tomorrow morning I am headed back to South Africa! I couldn't be more excited to be returning to Rhodes University and Grahamstown! Next year I will be working on my thesis, staying involved in the Grahamstown community and traveling like a mad woman! I already have quite a few trips planned and once I arrive in South Africa I will be sure to update y'all on all of my plans!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and very happy New Year!

All of my love, and I promise to do my best to keep this blog updated!
B

Cape Town Vacation

2009-11-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

Molo (that's xhosa for hello)!

I am so sorry that I have once again fallen behind on my blog updates! But fear not, my recent absence is due to what I would consider a much needed vacation! After finishing my coursework and exams I decided to take a road trip to Cape Town with two of my lovely friends from Rhodes University. We drove from Grahamstown to Cape Town via the incredibly scenic Garden Route, and after a 900 kilometer journey, I arrived in Cape Town on Halloween night. My vacation consisted of a number of amazing adventures including a hiking and biking excursion through the Cape Point Nature Reserve where I stood at the Cape of Good Hope, the point in South Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, and a trip to Robben Island where I visited the cell where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years as a political prisoner under the Apartheid Regime. I also had the opportunity to speak to two Rotary clubs in the Cape Town area, both of which were incredibly warm and welcoming.

I must admit that I also spent an ample amount of time reading ridiculously cheesy romance novels while sprawled out underneath a beach umbrella at Camps Bay. I also made a few trips to Boulders Beach, an area in False Bay where many African penguins have made their home. After visiting the penguins, I am pretty sure I have found my animal brethren. Penguins are incredibly sweet and gentle creatures, though they are ridiculously uncoordinated and seemingly scatterbrained as they spend the majority of their time wandering around and falling over mounds of seaweed. A placard near the beach simply stated, "African penguins are ungainly and awkward on land". I'm telling y'all, the similarities are uncanny.

All in all, I had a marvelous time in Cape Town! I was able to visit some of the most awe inspiring historical sites of my life, explore the amazing natural wonders of South Africa, and wander the city with friends, both old and new. I will leave you all with some pictures of my travels, but before I sign off, I want to send my love. I hope you are all well!

Sala kahle,
B
Cape Point Nature Reserve

Cape of Good Hope

Penguins!

Cell Block Buildings at Robben Island

Simonstown

Namaste

2009-09-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hey there!

I hope this post finds you all well! As many of you know, my absolute favorite time of year is approaching. That's right, candy corn season. Alas, South Africa has not heard of this miraculous culinary triumph, so if you guys want to hoard the candy corn you find in the Walgreen's aisles and save it for me, I am totally okay with that. Just saying.

This Friday I returned to Grahamstown after presenting a paper at the South African Communications Conference at Northwest University in Potchefstroom! I had a remarkable time, saw some amazing and informative presentations, met some really cool people, heard lectures from some of SA's leading media theorists, and ate some darn good free food. This was my first ever academic presentation, and though I was nervous as all get out, presenting was actually a really great experience. However, as you all know, when I get nervous I tend to talk really fast and in an incredibly squeaky voice. It's either that, or my southern accent comes out full force and I sound like I'm straight out of Deliverance. Luckily I was able to hold it together and everything went wonderfully!

Lately most of my time has been focused on academics, however, I've also attended some amazing Rotary functions (I even met the District Governor last week!), continue to travel around South Africa, and enrolled in a yoga class. My instructor, Carla, is perhaps the most zen woman ever and we even do the whole 'om' breathing thing in class. At the end of every session we conclude with a 15 minute relaxation exercise and each time, I inevitably fall asleep. But the other day, when Carla was mellowly chanting 'relax your toenails, relax your shoulder blades, relax your small intestine' - we are instructed to relax some pretty random things - she told us to relax our uvula, and I literally spent the next 5 minutes trying to figure out where in the heck my uvula was. I was like 80% sure it was one of those dodgy parts of the body, but guess what? It's that hangy down thing in the back of your throat. How in the world are you supposed to relax that? I suppose it's something only yogis can relax, but I must say, my toenails, shoulder blades and small intestine are feeling pretty good these days.

Other than that, all is well on this side of the world! I hope you are all doing splendidly! I have included some pictures of my recent hike in Hogsback at the bottom of this blog post, so enjoy!

Love,
B

Here is a photo of Lynette Marais (current Grahamstown Rotary president), Anne Botha (District Governor - District 9320), myself, and my Rotarian host counsellor, Lydia Palmer. Talk about some amazing female leadership in Rotary!

I'm Back!

2009-09-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

Dearest friends,

I am so sorry that I have been MIA for over a month! I promise that I am alive and well, though arguably a bit scatter brained. Things are going well here in Grahamstown! I officially finished the coursework component of my master's degree and I am currently preparing for two exams, one paper, and one conference presentation, all within the month of September. I actually handed in a 5000 word essay today, and of course, to celebrate, I laid in my bed eating Cheerios and watching 'Glee'. In addition, if any of you have trouble falling asleep, I am more than happy to send my riveting critical discourse analysis your way*.

*Nerd alert - the critical discourse analysis focuses on news coverage of the recent Caster Semenya 'sex classification testing' and is actually a really interesting topic. I know the majority of you slipped into a boredom coma three words into this sentence, but what can I say? Once a geek, always a geek.

In addition to my my studies I have also been trying to explore the Eastern Cape as much as possible. Recently I have: been to a beach braai at Kenton on Sea with my residence, gone hiking at Hogsback, and attended a rowing competition on the Kowie River in Port Alfred. The Eastern Cape is speckled with amazing little towns and beautiful beaches, and I am trying to visit as many places as possible before I head back to the States in December!

I promise to be a better blogger in the future, but for now I wanted to check in with y'all and let you know that I am alive and kickin'. Much love from SA, and of course, I will conclude this post with a couple of random pictures from my recent adventures in the Eastern Cape!

Lurve,
B

Kenton beach braai

Surprise birthday celebration with some wonderful friends

Canopy zip line tour in Tsitsikamma

South Africa - Animal Edition

2009-08-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I would provide another picture post and share some shots I have taken on my expeditions to Addo Elephant Park and Camdeboo National Park! For good measure, I also threw in a picture of myself pretending to be a lion. Beth was disappointed that she didn't have the opportunity to see such a majestic creature, so I did my best to represent the African wildlife. Mission accomplished.

The Karoo in Pictures

2009-07-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

Study Break

2009-07-21T12:51:00.001-07:00

Hey there!

I'm so sorry I have been MIA! I am currently trapped under an insane pile of books and articles as I prepare for end of course exams. Due to the approaching exams, my time has been entirely occupied by studying, consuming brain food (obscene amounts of Cheerios), and of course, procrastinating. This year's procrastination tool - practicing acceptance speeches for various awards. So far, I would say that my most stellar speeches are those I have prepared for the Nobel Prize and Oscar. As I realize receiving these are highly unlikely (aka hell freezing over scenarios), I am also fully prepared to speechify when proclaimed Runner-Up for the Montgomery County Potato Salad Eating Contest.

But I do solemnly swear to provide a legitimate update after exams are over! Until then, I'll take the next couple of days to post some pictures from my recent adventures!

Much love,
B

Q&A Vlog

2009-06-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

Vacation Time

2009-05-28T06:55:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!

Sorry it's been so long since I've last updated you. I am happy to say that I have officially finished my third course, Research Methods, and have only one course left before I begin working on my thesis!

Today actually marks the beginning of a two month vacation for me, which I am incredibly excited about! I will be leaving tomorrow morning to go on a short road trip with some friends around the Eastern Cape. We are heading to a place called the Karoo, and according to the genius that is google images, this is apparently what the Karoo looks like...

I am obviously pretty pumped about the opportunity to visit such a beautiful place! And I have to give major props to South Africa for having, quite possibly, the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. In fact, in South Africa, the countryside is called the veld (pronounced 'felt'). Just an interesting little fact which may come in handy on a future Jeopardy episode.

I am hoping to have several opportunities to travel during the June/July break, so I will definitely keep you all informed about my adventures. Also, this July, Grahamstown is hosting the Arts Fest, which is the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere! I am looking forward to it all as my brain is totally ready for a break!

I hope you are all doing wonderfully in the States!
B

PS - For my next blog, I was thinking about making a video blog answering any questions you all might have! So if you have any burning inquiries about South Africa, the culture, the food, Rhodes University, or one of the many recent events where I have made a complete doofus out of myself, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. I will be sure to answer them in my upcoming super hip vlog.

PPS- In other random news, I have recently discovered that mixing coffee and tea together is really tasty. I call is 'cea' (pronounced key) and I am pretty sure it's going to be the next big thing. Copyright. There, now proof exists that cea was my invention. All royalties will benefit the "Brittany Wants to go to Uganda Fund".

One In Nine

2009-05-14T10:29:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!

I am currently in the thick of my Research Methods course and as nerdy as it sounds (though I doubt my nerdiness is even remotely shocking), I have recently realized that I am a super huge fan of qualitative research! In fact, I am considering introducing a qualitative research component into my thesis, and though I have not nailed down my topic, I will be sure to let you all know how my thesis proposal progresses.

I have also been trying to stay busy by involving myself on campus and in the community. Last week, I took part in the national One in Nine Campaign. Here is a little information about the campaign:

"The One In Nine Campaign was established in February 2006 at the start of the rape trial of Jacob Zuma (the recently elected president of South Africa), to ensure the expression of solidarity with the woman in that trial as well as other women who speak out about rape and sexual violence. The Medical Research Council (MRC) study on sexual violence (2005) indicated that only one out of every nine South African rape survivors report the attack to the police. This statistic prompted the name: “One In Nine”. Furthermore, statistics indicate that of the cases that do reach the courts, less than 5 % of the rapists are convicted. This highlights the serious need for reform of the institutional framework for responding to women who speak out. The Campaign aims to mobilise support for survivors of sexual violence; to educate and change attitudes about sexual violence and to monitor the criminal justice system and court processes in rape cases."

Throughout the week there were several events, protests, and seminars intended to educate and empower the public. The campaign culminated in a day-long protest where participants demonstrated their solidarity with rape survivors in various ways. Men wore purple shirts reading "Men In Solidarity", while several women who were survivors of sexual violence opted to courageously wear shirts reading "Rape Survivor". Other female participants wore shirts that proclaimed "Sexual Violence = Silence", and in conjunction with our attire we engaged in a silent protest and taped our mouths shut to depict the forced silence that survivors of sexual violence endure. The back of our shirt stated, "my silence affirms my solidarity with survivors silenced by rape and sexual violence."

There were over 400 participants in the protest, and though it was incredibly uplifting to see the amount of people willing to stand up for women's rights, the protest was a challenging experience. Shortly after being silenced at 7 AM, a man walking down the street stopped, looked directly at me, and said "silence equals consent". I just stood there, unable to react, as he nonchalantly walked away as if he were simply stating an acceptable fact. I felt shocked, irate, and broken, and though my mouth was taped shut, I couldn't fathom how to respond to a statement filled with such ignorance and hate. And I was not the only one to have such demeaning speech flung at me. Both the male and female participants were told by many that what we were doing was stupid and pointless, that rape wasn't that 'big of a deal', or that when rape did occur, it was somehow warranted by the woman's wardrobe, or the way she walked, or her flirtatious demeanor.

Last year, 55,000 rapes were reported in South Africa. In the United States, the National Institute of Justice reported that 1 out of every 6 women have been the victims of a completed or attempted rape. But these aren't just numbers, these figures represent the lives of women. So I say, do something about it. Insist that it stop. Yell from the rooftops that it is not acceptable for women to be violated, robbed of their dignity and sense of safety, and treated as if their bodies, minds, and spirits are insignificant objects to be abused.

Help end the war on women's bodies.

Much love,
B

A Few of My Favourite Things

2009-05-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

People in South Africa often ask me what I miss most about home. My family and friends of course. But last night, I truly realized what I miss most.

Wal-Mart.

My epiphany occurred while at a friends house. I met a South African girl who had recently returned from Colorado, and as a group of us were talking, this poor, unassuming girl just casually mentioned Wal-Mart. Without conscious intent, I let out a squeal so shrill that it only should have been heard by dogs. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. This lead me to seriously consider the things I miss most about my home, the United States of America.

I miss Waffle House/IHOP/Denny's/SteakNShake, and all other establishments whose main cooking ingredient is a combination of lard and Crisco. I miss poker, youtube, and being able to see movies as soon as they're released. I miss sushi and New York City diners. I miss my Buick LeSabre, Bertha. I miss state fairs and carnivals. I miss the Union Square farmers market. I miss Chapstick. I occasionally miss the fine dining offered at Taco Bell (this craving hits me at the most random times, similar to when I was in Italy, staring at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and thinking about how badly I wanted a seven layer burrito). I miss stores that carry shoes big enough for my gigantor feet. I miss massive book stores. I miss concerts, particularly Hanson concerts. But most of all, I miss Wal-Mart.

Oh, and my family and friends. I miss you guys too.

In the sacred name of the 2 for $11 movie bin,
Brittany

Return from Morocco

2009-04-26T08:50:00.001-07:00

I am back safe and sound from my adventure to Morocco! I spent an amazing two weeks traipsing around Morocco with two friends from the States, Katie and Carrie. We all met in Casablanca on April 12 and hopped a train to the Ourika Valley that night where we stayed at a small hotel near the Atlas Mountains. We spent the next few days exploring Marrakesh and the Cascades d'Ouzoud where we hiked in the Atlas Mountains. Katie and I then set off to Essaouira, a beautiful, quiet beach town where a classical music festival was taking place. Finally, Katie and I spent the last few days of our vacation in Fes before returning to Casablanca for our final night in Morocco.

Morocco was a vibrant and incredible country! I will be sure to share more of my Moroccan travel adventures this week, but in the meantime I will leave you with some pictures.

The market in Marrakesh

The rooftops of Marrakesh at sunset

The Cascades d'Ouzoud

Essaouira

The King's Palace in Fes

A panoramic view of the old city of Fes

I hope you are all well and wonderful!
B

Port Alfred, Pineapples, and Politics

2009-04-05T00:46:00.001-07:00

My first term of graduate school is officially over! To celebrate, I am headed to the beaches of Port Alfred, where I will attempt to write a research paper on the inclusion and implications of political news coverage in celebrity gossip blogs. This will prove to be quite a challenge due to my three second attention span, but I am determined to complete this paper before I leave for Morocco on Saturday.

In the last few weeks I have planted a garden with the children of the Jozi township, visited the world's biggest pineapple sculpture, attended a political debate for the upcoming South African Presidential election, and nearly fell on my face in public because I was staring at a guy who looked exactly like Superman instead of watching where I was going.

I also gave my first Rotary presentation to the Grahamstown Rotary Club, which went wonderfully, and performed at a local cultural event evening with some of the cast members of the Vagina Monologues.

More to come soon!

Love,
B

Vlog #2

2009-03-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Nothing says hello quite like a video of me squealing.

I miss you all, and hope you're doing well!
B

Re-Cap: Cape Town

2009-03-03T11:48:00.001-08:00

This weekend I attended the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Orientation in the lovely city of Cape Town, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. We hit the floor running on Friday morning, and the rest of the weekend was a flurry activity.

Friday
Once everyone arrived, we packed ourselves into two minivans and headed over to the Mvula School in the Nyanga Township where the students performed music, dance, and drama pieces. After their performance, I had the opportunity to spend time with some of the kids as they took me on a tour of the school. The children were incredibly welcoming and kind, and it was an awesome introduction to Cape Town and the wonderful people that live there.

After leaving the school we had the opportunity to meet Grant Haskin, the Deputy Mayor of Cape Town. Grant talked with us about the social and economic challenges the city is facing, and we had the opportunity to speak with him about the housing crisis in Cape Town, the economic impact of the approaching World Cup, and environmental initiatives in South Africa.

We ended the day by hiking Lion's Head Mountain and then taking African drumming lessons at the base of Table Mountain as the sun set. I am happy to report that the four years I spent as a pit percussionist in the high school marching band served as a pretty rockin' asset.

Saturday
The majority of Saturday was spent attending various sessions and lectures where we learned about South Africa, our role as Ambassadorial Scholars, and met with some extremely passionate humanitarian workers. Helen Lieberman, one of the orientation's presenters, has dedicated her life to empowering and educating South Africans, and I can honestly say that she is one of the most amazing women I have ever met.

That night, I went to a local community carnival and helped raise money for Rotary service projects by selling chips (or fries as we call them in the States). I left the booth feeling as if I had gone for a swim in a vat of Crisco. Cooking grease really does make the skin glow. I did have a great time meeting people at the chip booth, and after my duties were done, I approached a calamari stand and attempted to eat my body weight in fried squid. Mission accomplished.

Sunday
My dreams of competing in Olympic Dragon Boat Racing have been dashed. When the scholars woke up early Sunday morning, we were taken to the waterfront where we raced one another in Dragon Boats. Dragon Boats were created many years ago in China and hold a team of approximately 16 people. Dragon Boat Racing requires coordination, strength, rhythm, and the ability to pay attention, none of which I have. Sadly, that means that I will not live to see the day where I am a revered racer. I did, however, have an awesome time, and much to my delight, my clumsiness did not cause the boat the capsize.

We then went to visit the Red Cross Children's Hospital and were shown around by the volunteer coordinator. I am not quite sure how to describe my experience. It is incredibly difficult to see someone in pain. You question your faith, chance, the government, health care programs, and ultimately, you wonder what your role is within it all. I am not sure what I am meant to do, but I do know that I am meant to somehow help.

Sunday ended at Kirstenbosch Gardens where we had a picnic, walked through the the botanical gardens, and attended an awesome African music concert. That night, a group of the scholars went for a farewell dinner at a restaurant near the ocean, and I once again ate enough seafood to satisfy an entire school of trout.

Monday
I ended my time in Cape Town by spending my morning at Camps Bay beach. Though it was a bit rainy and cool, the beach was really beautiful and peaceful, and it was a perfect way to say goodbye to such an amazing city.

I hope you are all warm and well. Love,
B

Cape Town Bound

2009-02-26T05:01:00.000-08:00

Hello there! I am sorry for my delayed blogging, things here have been pretty hectic lately, but in a good way! To give a quick run-down of what I have been up to, I have compiled a short list of my experiences in the last 10 days:

1. I have been appointed Food and Entertainment Representative of Celeste Hall. My love of food and social activities (in lieu of studying or cleaning), is apparently a characteristic recognizable in all cultures.

2. Rhodes University recently hosted their organization and society night, and I was able to sign up for quite a few volunteer organizations, which is incredibly exciting. I have also been searching for a local NGO which focuses on women's rights and health initiatives, and I was recently able to pass my contact information along to several service coordinators in Grahamstown, so I hope to begin volunteering soon!

3. I have discovered that a local bar has poker night every Wednesday. I have begun to plot my entry into the seedy underbelly of Grahamstown (aka, I will be drinking water at a bar and playing cards with the elderly inhabitants of the town).

4. Vagina Monologues. That's right, it's an international production, and I have been cast in the Rhodes University play! I am performing the monologue entitled 'The Flood', which is from the perspective of an elderly woman. The monologue is incredibly funny and poignant, and I feel very fortunate to have received the part. The production's goal is to raise awareness about women's rights, experiences, struggles, and triumphs, as well as to raise funds for local women's programs.

5. I have managed to lock myself out of my room twice this week. In fact, during one of my accidental self-imposed lock outs, I was wearing a skirt and a bra. Only. So that was interesting.

6. I start Tae Bo classes next week, which should be a riot.

So as you can see, things are going quite well here in Grahamstown! Tomorrow morning I am headed off to Cape Town for the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Orientation. During the four day orientation the scholars will have the opportunity to volunteer at both a local children's hospital and at the Mvula School in the Nyanga Township, as well as speak with the Deputy Mayor of Cape Town. I will be sure to take tons of pictures and make the most of this incredible opportunity. Though I love my master's course and feel that I am learning a lot, I am excited to get out into the community, engage in service work, and travel around Africa.

Another important note: you all should see me ride my bike around town. I can now pop a miniature wheelie off of the speed bumps in the road. I've got mad skills.

I hope you are all happy and healthy!

Love,
B

Where the Magic Happens

2009-02-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

And by magic, I mean napping.

After residing at Rhodes for almost a month, I have finally cleaned my bedroom, which means that it is suitable for me to post some pictures of my new home! Though humble, my room serves its purpose of providing me with a space to make toast, do pilates, and sleep my required 7-9 hours per night. My room is also bigger than my first apartment in New York (this is possibly a slight exaggeration), so there is plenty of room for dance parties. Whose iTunes library has played Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' a total of 523 times? That's right, yours truly.

Without further adieu, here are a few pictures:

I also wanted to include a picture of the fire escape that we, the occupants of the third floor, are to utilize in case of a fire emergency.

Here's the kicker, it is not the staircase that is supposed to serve as the emergency fire escape. It's the rope. Rope, need I remind you, is a flammable object. That's problem number one. Problem number two: seeing as how I have absolutely no coordination or upper body strength, there's an 87% chance that if a fire actually occurs, I'm not going to make it alive. I will be leaving behind my Beanie Baby collection for you all to divvy up amongst yourselves.

I miss you all and hope you're doing wonderfully!
B

Productivity is my Middle Name

2009-02-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

Today I submitted my second essay for the ever challenging, incredibly intense, Media and Society course. To celebrate I laid in bed, ate a loaf of banana bread, and watched High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

All in all, a pretty sweet day.

Wishing you all a wonderful International Single's Awareness Day,
B

Marxed Out

2009-02-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

I have survived the first two and half weeks of my Media Studies masters program. Right now I am writing a paper about various theoretical frameworks used in understanding the relationship between the media and society. I am pretty sure that I know more about Marxism than anyone ever should, but my hope is that one day, when I am on Jeopardy, a category pertaining to Karl Marx will appear and I will be able to sweep. And you better believe if I land on a daily double, things are going to get crazy.

In the last week I have attended five lectures, two cocktail parties, and one South African braai. A braai is equivalent to a good ole' Texas BBQ, only with cooler accents and less skeet shooting. Speaking of the States, last night, at our dining hall's cocktail reception, I was talking with some friends when I heard the strangest thing. That's right, it was an American accent. One that was not coming out of my mouth. So I did what I always do in social situations where finesse and manners are required. I literally jumped in front of these two people and yelled, "Holy crap, are y'all from the States?!" I had no idea I would get so excited, but after three weeks, the prospect of unexpectedly meeting someone from home was awesome. Both of the kids (I use this term because I was one of the oldest people at the cocktail, making me feel both incredibly sophisticated and a touch awkward) said they were from Maryland. I admit, Maryland isn't quite as great as the South, but it is below the Mason-Dixon line, so I'll give them credit.

And guess what? It cooled down here in Grahamstown. My prayers have been answered. Now I'm just waiting for Brad Pitt to materialize in my room.

Stay classy,
Brittany

My Very First Vlog (As the Hipsters Call It)

2009-02-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

Let me preface my very first video blog with the following pleas:

1) Excuse the ball of frizz that is my hair. As I have mentioned, it is hotter than the inside of a crock pot here.

2) Apparently, video recordings make me sound as if I am a missing member of the Alvin and the Chipmunk clan. I am convinced that this is not how I sound in real life, so don't you dare try to convince me otherwise.

I love you all!
B

Welcome to Africa, We Got You A Snake

2009-01-26T04:48:00.000-08:00

This morning, while walking to my first day of classes, I nearly stepped on a snake. As you can imagine, that doesn't happen to me very often, so when my flat mate Carolyne calmly told me to watch out for the snake less than a foot away from me, I responded in typical Brittany fashion and released a scream so shrill I am almost positive that you all heard me in the States. I then ran/waddled away as quickly as possible, flailing and squeaking the entire time, looking comparable to a large wingless bird trying to take flight. And thus began my academic career.

After meeting my classmates (there are 22 people in the Media Studies MA program) and attending this mornings orientation with the head of the Journalism department, I believe that I will really enjoy my courses. Each day's coursework is rather intensive and lengthy, but the classes are discussion and seminar based, and they are only half day, so the workload is manageable. I am also excited because the students in my program are from all over Africa (Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Cameroon, and South Africa), which will lead to a variety of perspectives and should make for wonderful discussions (and friendships)!

Aside from the excitement of class, I also purchased a bicycle from a local shop which I am super excited about! I hope that riding my bike around campus will be a bit more bearable than walking, because currently, the temperature here is around 137 degrees. True, I might be slightly exaggerating, but be forewarned - there is a good chance that I will melt. On the plus side, the sun has been shining brightly and beautifully, and since I am presently so pale that I am indistinguishable from a ghost, I am hoping that the summer sun changes that. Tan Watch 2009 has commenced.

I also had a chance to snap some shots of campus, and as soon as I clean my room, I will make sure to share pictures of my residence as well!

The Clocktower at Rhodes University

The African Media Matrix, where I will spend a large amount of time for the next two years!

The view from the balcony at my residence hall.

Love,
B

She's Alive!

2009-01-22T01:12:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I am currently sitting in the Rhodes University Library Computer Lab writing you all to let you know that I am safe, sound, and settled in!

After my departure from Houston on Monday, I flew to New York, then to Dakar, Senegal, then to Johannesburg, and finally, about 28 hours later, I landed in Port Elizabeth, South Africa! The flight was brilliant; there were absolutely no hiccups, and the in-flight entertainment was sweet. I slept the majority of the way, without the aid of numerous Tylenol PM, and was able to contort my 6 foot tall body into a comfortable position within the 3 feet you are allotted on an air plane. The entire flight experience was really lovely and I am incredibly grateful!

Side note: I have a tendency to talk to anyone and everyone, as you all know, and so of course, I made a new friend on the plane. He was a young man from Zambia who worked in the mines and was quite possibly one of the nicest people ever. In fact, since my arrival in South Africa, everyone I have met has been amazingly kind. Rock on.

After I landed in Port Elizabeth I was greeted by my Rotary Host Counsellor, Lydia, who is a complete doll. She and her husband Mike retrieved me from the airport and then we all went to stay the night at Mike's sister's home in Port Elizabeth. Finally, yesterday morning, Lydia, Mike, and their daughter Jo and I all made the trek from PE to Grahamstown. Lydia spent the day helping me register at the university, check into my residence, and run errands to get the essentials (like peanut butter and pillows).

So all in all, I am incredibly happy to finally be here in Grahamstown, and feel so lucky to have received such a warm welcome. Today I am going to have lunch with the Grahamstown Rotarians, and then, I guess I will force myself to start hanging up my clothes.

Bad news bears update: I am nearly out of circus peanuts, and much to my dismay, I have left my favourite pair of tweezers back in the States. For those of you who have had the arguable pleasure of living with me, you know this is a tragic turn of events. Alas, I will find a way to go on!

Also, notice how the spell check corrected my spelling of favourite. I feel very sophisticated right now.

More updates to come soon, but for now, know that all is well! And mom, I did those silly leg exercises during the flight, so rest assured that I do not have deep vein thrombosis.

Love to you all!
B

South Africa, Here I Come

2009-01-18T20:59:00.001-08:00

Hello friends, family, Rotarians, and random visitors from the world wide web!

I am Brittany. I enjoy chocolate, napping, daschunds, and laughing. However, more than anything else, more than free food and cheesy 80s pop music, I enjoy service and traveling. Thanks to Rotary International, and specifically to the Greensboro Summit Rotary, I have been appointed a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and have been offered the opportunity to travel to South Africa and study at Rhodes University. During my two years at Rhodes I will be earning my masters degree in Media Studies and hope to work with various service organizations that focus on women's rights and HIV/AIDS education. I am incredibly and overwhelmingly grateful that the Rotarians have given me this amazing opportunity. There aren't enough thank you’s in this world to express how much this scholarship means to me.

Tomorrow morning, I will board a plane, take a short flight (which is approximately 462 hours in length), and arrive in Grahamstown, South Africa. I will then begin studying, serving, napping, and seeking out free food in South Africa. I promise to update this page as frequently as possible to fill you all in on my life in South Africa, but for now, I simply wanted to say to all of my family and friends: I will miss you.

Side note: There is no need to worry about me. I have packed an entire duffle bag full of Kashi granola bars and circus peanuts (those candies that I am pretty sure are made of plastic, but taste like absolute heaven). My packing priorities are obviously in order.

Much love,
Brittany