A quick update

I'm nearing my second week in Durban, and I am still not officially registered at the university. This has a number of consequences, but the most relevant here is that I cannot get access to a computer without convincing someone else to let me in to the computer labs and give me their login information. Argh.

So, a brief update: I started class last week, and this week I am getting into the swing of things with studying here. It looks like the coursework will pile up here, with papers due almost every week, but it certainly looks manageable.

I am taking an elective seminar in addition the mandatory "New Economy" class. "Race thinking and thinking about race" has already become a favorite, and I think I will get along well with both the professor and the material quite well. Seems very relevant especially in South Africa.

The highlight so far has been a little "mini-safari" this weekend. Scott, Ilka, Nadine, and I rented a car and drove up to Hluhlue-Umfolozi Game Park last weekend. On the way, we stopped on many of the more deserted beaches along the Dolphin Coast. In the park, we were hanging out of the car windows and taking pictures of elephants, rhinos, giraffes, impala, warthogs, etc., etc., etc. I took 240 pictures in three days. An elephant crossed the street right in front of our car, we were followed by a giraffe, and we had to drive away from the rhinos because they were starting to fight close to the car. We spent all of yesterday on a beautiful beach enjoying the waves and watching waterskiiers in the lagoon.

Ok, that's all I've got for now. More soon (late at night when the connection is better).

Flown by mariposa at 01:29 PM on August 10, 2004