Life and School Update

I have started my fifth class for the semester called International Institutions. I really enjoy the class because it is a smaller, upper level course and very much related to what I am most interested in studying. Thus far we have talked about the legacy of colonialism and its role in the underdevelopment of Africa. We have also talked about the erection of different institutions that are trying to unify African countries, unsuccessfully I might add. It is a difficult situation because individual countries in Africa are not equipped to participate and thrive in the global capitalist system. It is necessary that at least regional unity is reached in order to advance countries developmentally. However different countries have different types of governments and different allegiances to post-colonial powers. My professor already knows my name and he is a very interesting lecturer. I am doing well in the class and enjoying it as well. In Women and Gender Studies we have been talking a lot about masculinity and violence and the legacy of apartheid on South African society. It is very interesting stuff that I am able to apply to the United States as well in terms of a violent culture that is perpetuated by poverty. In my ethics class we are into heroes and villains of human rights such as Martin Luther King Jr and Hitler. That class is very straight forward and at times a little tedious, but every so often I stumble upon good bits of information. In class last week we were discussing Mo Tzu and Moism. His philosophy stemmed from Confucianism about 400BC and teaches that there should be mutual love between all in society and we would all live well. Therefore the problem with the violent world is that some do not love as they should. I think it is a good philosophy, but I need to read more of it. It sounds a lot like Jesus Christ and his teaching to “love one another as I have loved you.” Life otherwise is very good. I am starting to get stressed or sad or something about how little time I have left in South Africa. I am very grateful that I still have eight weeks because I am nowhere near ready to come home. There was a good moment today when I was walking around our neighborhood and had to remind myself that I was in South Africa, because it truly feels like home. We have had some birthdays in the house and it is really fun to celebrate with everyone. It is actually incredible how well all twenty one of us get along. The other students in this program are all very cool people, unique and I learn much from each of them.