Stellenbosch university

An update on what Stellenbosch university is like so far :) minus any boring pictures of me slaving away at a desk...
I play 6 a side soccer. Just for fun because i love the bonds we form as a team. Hockey too. even after all these years of injuries, like balls in the face, its completely worth it.

Our lovely pink erica soccer team :)

BAREFOOT DAY! if you were near campus you would have seen at least half of campus walking around barefoot. Donate your shoes. it was to promote awareness for poverty, some people can't even afford bread nevermind shoes.

Barefoot

First Years Dance: had a lovely time with a lovely date. my first real dance ive been to. long story but i missed all my school dances. such a shame but making up for it now :)

first years dance

out and about. hitting the clubs because dancing is the best destresser ive ever experienced. even if we might get a bit carried away and end up on tables sometimes ;)

happy birthday jes

 Planking!

planking

 Maties Rugby! we made the finals... just couldnt win

supporting Maties rugby

 feeling quite decadent sipping wine with this kind of backdrop :)

Wine tasting in Stellenbosch

i truly live in one of the best places in the world :D proud to be South African!

the plan unfolds

God has answered my prayers. or rather patted me on the head while his plan unfolds and i sit in despair and frustration. I have a job

it's not so fun but i have one and i'm making money (well i will be after training). I am now a waitress at a steak ranch. The training is so different, not like England at all. no froms, no procedures. i must just stand and listen and learn. that's their philosophy. hmmm not sure which i prefer.and i have come to the conclusion that i must basically train myself.
my only hope is impressing costomers to get good tips.

anyway i have a job. i am better off than most in this country.
The people of Japan are in my prayers. God bless

frustration doesn't even cover it

no I don't have a job yet. yes i'm still living joburg with my family and yes i'm frustrated out of my mind!
both my mother and i are searching for jobs, hers obviously more important. she's had an interview. didnt get it. she applied to others and got responses like "this position is only for black applicants" WHAT THE HELL!
South Africa is not over it's racist past, don't you believe it what people say!
while i'm happy to be home. recent events highlight why we thought we could find a better life in England.
i'll keep trying and hold my head high.

in the mean time, we're sorting through family junk which has accumulated over the years and i found some old diaries. it's strange to read back on them but it's so enlightening. my teenage mind was so insecure. there was a lot i worried about. a lot has changed but not so much either.

P.S. my results for exams come out this month. hurry up already :)

frustration

every single plan I've made since i've got here has crashed and burned (and then exploded for good measure)!

working as a camp counsilor in america apparently cost between R9 000 and R12 000 WHY do they advertise less?! maybe that's a stupid question but it would have saved me a lot of typing about my qualities and skills if they just advertised truthfully. I think one of the skills they test is essay writing. the amount of personal statements that I wrote...

anyway the other option in a working holiday somewhere so i look into New Zealand. South Africans aren't welcome -_- we are not allowed visas!

now i'm looking into australia or maybe even china or maybe i'll just explore good old south africa some more. i haven't seen a lot of it. i'd like to see the drakensburg mountains, maybe even climb some of it if i feel active :)

so i'm keeping my chin up and my eyes open for opportunities

on other matters; i went fishing yesterday. ok we didn't catch anything but while i was standing thigh-deep in the water, i thought "this is nice". we had a braai (barbeque) behind us and the sun above us. it was idyllic.

It's good to be home

home sweet home

First blog from Africa :)

sorry took so long. been a bit lazy like
i made it. long hours flying. sat next to an american girl who coughed all over me for 6 hours but i did have some space on the other flight. was scorchingly hot when we arrived. bliss
just recovered from a cold (probs from airplane girl) and internet is a bit slow so i'll try my best with posts :D

nothing to do yet. just enjoying the sun. looking into uni applications.
APPLIED TO DO CAMP AMERICA TODAY!! EXCITEMENT!!
i had to write a personal statement. ok so i haven't actually finished it yet hehe but i will. so exciting :)

laters
kez x

so close!

i leave on WEDNESDAY!!! only two and a half days left and in that time i have to write a Maths exam ¬_¬
not impressed.
but alas i will see the SUN soon and i'll be happy.
SOUTH AFRICA here i come :D

empty house

slowly but with increasing speed, the house is emptying around me. in a couple of days i will be sleeping on the couch because we have sold our beds. haha might set up a tent with a sleeping bag for the full effect.

i have my last exam on monday and then i'm jetsetting to AFRICA, my home :)
it's been strange trying to balance everything. i've said goodbye to everyone and now i'm kind of in limbo. i want to see my friends again before i go but i know it won't make a difference. it'll just mean more goodbyes. i've had excellent control, not a single tear in their presence. i hate crying in front of people, i usually leave it for when i'm alone.

so everything is finally coming together. now to just fit everything in my suitcase :/

2010

i got bored of doing the 2010 posts so for the rest of 2010. just look at the previous posts :D
it's been a good year
2011 here i come. home again in SOUTH AFRICA

remembering

i was wasting time on facebook, as you do, and i got an invite to join HHPS class of 2005. i was so excited, this is my primary school that i went to, so i joined and almost immediately i was chatting to old school friends. it's amazing how much people can help you remember.
we shared stories about classroom days and it was wonderful to chat to everyone again.
this just confirmed that going home is the right choice... back to where i belong

savour

i've just read a post on rockstar diaries ( i would tag it but i don't know how). She was talking about how she's savouring every single moment of being pregnant, and before you freak out, no i'm not. i just starting thinking that that's what i'm doing too. although i'm looking forward to moving to South Africa in January, i'm going to miss England.
there's so much english people take for granted. public transport, being able to walk down the street and not worry too much, school is for everyone, central heating, plenty of shopping opportunities.
of course i'll miss all the lovely people i've met too. it'll be fun to go back and get used to that type of life again. SUN, beaches, unique SA accent (have you ever heard one? there's nothing like it), watermelon in summer, biltong.
i'll savour everything right here, in this moment.

going home

it has been decided! can you feel the earth shift. i am moving back to South Africa
yes back home, where i feel i belong.
i love england with it's music, pubs and football obssession but i miss home.
i'll miss my not so new friends but i'm looking forward to seeing all my old friends and finding a uni place in cape town.
EXCITEMENT

update

just to let you guys know what i'm doing in case you thought i'd given up on life or something.

at the moment life is pretty monotonous. i'm studying for january resit exams : this i fear is not going well. i'm not motivated enough because ive done all the work before so it's lost all the excitement. but i'll try my best
i've still got my job at macdonalds, saving for a trip one day. maybe apple picking in new zealand with my friend sean or a summer camp counselor in america or maybe even the thailand trip or trip back home to SA.
and i'm still playing hockey, i'm much fitter than i was so thats good :D

the future is still wide open

London ACT TWO

so back to London i went. 3 hours and 55 minutes on the coach to get there with a layover at birmingham coach station, where we played cards. i have bad luck with cards, i don't think i'll ever step foot in a casino lol

Trafalga square. it took a lot of effort to get up there.

at the SA consulet we waited for an hour and a half just to be told that i forgot to sign one form. typical. but that's done and now i wait and prepare for my travel which WILL happen, i'll make sure of it.

choices to make

To move back to South Africa or stay in England?
that is the question.

old new memories

My south african friend and her family came to england on a holiday so i met up with them in birmingham for a few hours. probabley not the wisest thing i've ever done seeing as i have a very important chemistry exam tomorrow but i had to see this special friend of mine. she hasn't changed a bit and now i realise how much my accent has changed :D
after not seeing her for two years i thought it would be awkward but it was like we just picked up from where we left off.

me waiting for the train to go. it was too hot to sit inside it.

good couple of hours

p.s. england are out of the world cup 4-1 to germany

Kez*

SA game

let's make it a hatric >> three posts in one day
So in case you were wondering, SA lost miserabley against Uraguay 0-3. It was so difficult to watch, the supporters looked so sad, i was heartbroken with them. South Africa dreams pretty much crushed. Maybe if we win against france we might stand a chance. fingers crossed.

Proud to be south african

WOOOOO! go south africa. Bafana bafana made us proud today at the opening game, against mexico, of the world cup.

1-1 draw is a great result

family

I recently spent some time with my cousin Travis. He moved to England before i did.

anyway i realised upon spending a couple of hours with him, how much someone can change in a small space of time, but also how much of a person stays the same. He was the same slightly cynical person but he had long hair and an eyebrow piercing. The once moody teenager has now grown into a mature, self-assured young adult although he's only 15 well nearly 16. Big changes in life can do that.

I just hope he doesn't lose his roots. I hope he remembers the berg wind of port elizabeth, the street hawkers with the naartjies and the beautiful sunsets of Africa. I hope he doesn't push that back and just put on a new face because that will always be part of him as it is a part of me.


The first picture is in titsikama with my best friend michelle, and the second a beach near Port Elizabeth and the last the only picture of travis and me with his girlfriend emily at his mom's wedding. I'm on the left.

I wonder what people at home will say when they see me next, how much have i changed?

Je vous envarrai une carte postale

Kez*

sunshine in england

yes, it's a miracle, a oxymoron in itself >> sunshine in england

today was apparently the hottest we've since i don't know when but then again they say that quite often. maybe to compensate for the constant cold.

so today i donned a dress and sat outside in the warm sun to soak up some rays. TIP: don't be niave and think that you can do this and study. yes i may be able to multitaks but i ended up with a huge headache not the best end to the day.

and here is my bella, she brings entertainment to my life xx

today made me realise that i miss the hot climate that was South Africa. can't wait until december.

je vous enverrai une carte postale

Kez*