Update from East London

More then half of our time here in South Africa has passed now. I have not wrote here for long mostly because I have not feel motivated to do it; I have had few ideas about what to write.

Some month ago I didnt feel so good. I was a little bit bored and quite lonely. It was not so much about lack of things to do, it was more that I didnt feel that I connected to anyone really and thus I felt lonely. However, the last feew weeks have felt much better, mostly because I have got to learn several people that I enjoy to be with and have meaningful conversations with. Some of them I have met through meetings with the new queer group at campus. It is really interesting to be a part of the forming of the group and we had a surprisingly open discussion at the last meeting.

Another nice thing is the surfing – I have taken to surf lessons and will do it again in Sunday. I have developed pretty much in these two sessions so I hope I will learn more onwards. Although it gets cooler here now I am really keen to surf.

I have also started attending a dance group doing different kinds of ballroom dancing at varsity. It has been too less real dancing and a little bit too much step practicing but I am motivated to continue and I think it will be really fun.

Yesterday we had a cultural day at varsity (university) where different cultures where supposed to be shown and enjoyed. Although it was sad that it was mostly Xhosa culture that was represented and no white students attending apart from me and it therefore didnt get very multicultural, it was a lovely idea and I had fun.

During the Easter I will follow my friend Mzoli (who was in Umeå to years ago as a part of the same exchange) to his family in the rural areas in Transkei. I dont know really what to expect but it feels really exciting and I look forward to it!

We are free from varsity next week so then I and Sabina will go to Cape Town. I suppose that will be an interesting experience as well. Will meet and interview some animal rights activists.