Hello from SA

I am currently sitting in a computer lab waiting for my friend Erica to get to campus so we can look at the society tents. There are literally hundreds of societies here and they are all trying to recruit people to join. The societies range from a Wine Society to a Catholic Society to a Linux Appreciation Society. I am keeping my hand from signing up for anything until I find either a Book Society or a Disney Movies Society. Wish me luck.
On the plane from London to Cape Town, I got my camera out to play around with it (it was, well, a really long plane ride) and discovered that it was broken. Not in a major way, just a little flap broke off that has to be detected by a sensor in order for the camera to function. So, I am going into week II without a camera to be had. Of course, there are many camera shops around and I will eventually purchase a camera to last me my stay, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. This means that all the places I've visited in the last two weeks will have to be revisited so they can be photographed meticulously. Just kidding. But probably. Throughout my blog, until I get a camera, I will add "insert picture" in all the places that warrant a descriptive photograph, so you the reader will be forced to use your imagination.
The UCT campus is absolutely beautiful! (insert picture)
I think my leg muscles have strengthened dramatically over the last days. Por ejemple: On Saturday I missed the shuttle to campus, so I walked about 40 minutes to my destination. Once there, my friends and I hiked up to Table Mountain to Rhodes Memorial, and then up further to the Blockhouse. Later that evening, I figured out that the Jammie Shuttle (the free UCT transport service) stopped running to my area at 2:00pm that afternoon. So I walked home again. I got home and Jenny, my host-mum, remarked on both the sweat on my brow and the extreme dirtiness of my Chaco-wearing feet. They were pretty gross. (insert picture)
My first week here consisted of orientation orientation orientation. And then the second week consisted of...orientation! The second week was voluntary, because I accompanied my housemate, Andy, to his "official" UCT orientation.
This week is a free week, so yesterday and couple of girls and I went to Kalk's Bay, a nice beach with a yummy fish and chips place called Kalky's. There is an abundance of really cute stores and even a Rare Books store! The beach was super nice and filled with surfers galore. The scenery....was nice. (insert picture)
Last night was one of the best nights, though. Andre (my Brazilian housemate), Andy (my Joburg-ian housemate), and I ate ice cream and Moon Pies (my gift to my host-mum) and then ended up in the living room watching Spongebob Squarepants. Afterward we found ourselves in the kitchen, each person in a different corner, chatting for a while. We have now made a joke that every night at 10:00pm we will meet in our corners in the kitchen and chat!
This morning I rode with Andy to campus and after checking my email, discovered I had a package waiting for me at the CIEE (program that facilitates me coming to SA) office. It was a package with Valentines cards from my family! I cried a little.
I am also chewing the Bubble Yum they sent along.
So far things are going well. My updates of this blog should be pretty consistent from here on.
I don't miss home, I don't miss anything about the States or Rome or even Georgia. I do wish my family were here to experience the things I am seeing. I miss Sam and Anna alot, and I talk about Seth and Julie too much. And of course if I could I would chat with my parents every night.
I am happy here right now, and I hope it will continue for as long as possible. I know once school starts next Monday there will be a nice schedule and rhythm to my days, so I am looking forward to that.
Cheers,
Bonnie