World Cup, Cape Town and Rugby

I finished my last exam on Thursday and the World Cup started on Friday so it has been some very intense day's. 

The first picture is of me and my Bafana Bafana outfit, ready to go to Cape Town to see the opening match. 

I got to Cape Town 3 hours before the game, but the main fan parks where already full and the same with all pubs. We walked around for almost 2,5 hours to find a place but it was sooooooo much people. In the end we just tried to see at a big screen and it was ok for me, but those that where shorter did not see much.

The atmosphere was so great. Everyone was talking together, dancing, cheering, blowing the vuvuzela and I can't explain. All South Africans made it an amazing day for everyone and I am so happy the World Cup started so good. People are really happy and exited about it here.

When South Africa scored everyone just went crazy, screaming, praying, kissing, hugging, dancing and whatever you can imagine. The sounds of all the vuvuzelas at that time was intense but still it was impossible to bother about it because it was such a great moment. The opposite happened when Mexico scored, then everything was completely quiet for 10 seconds. Suddenly I could hear my own breath and people was just wondering what just happened. However, that did not last long, after a few minutes the party was going strong again and from then on people were just relaxing and enjoying the game. 

If it is one thing South Africans knows, it will be to have a good time, and before, during and after the opening game they did that like no one else.  
South Africa played a rugby match against France. I dressed up as a South African again, but this time in a rugby shirt and a Springbok hat (it reminded a little of a Viking hat) and went to the game. It was around 45000 people on the stadium and a great game. South Africa won 35 - 17 so they were very happy. 

Tomorrow I will relax a little, or that means play football in the morning and go to a restaurant/pub and watch football after. Just somewhere less intense and a little more quiet. And then on Monday I go to Cape Town early for the Holland vs Denmark game, and in the evening 20.30 South African time I be at Green Point stadium watching Paraguay vs Italy :) 

It is just great. 

But I also struggle to realize that it is really happening

The last note most be that one can only love South Africans

Some more pictures from SA

This picture is from the Stellenbosch mountain, again. I think it will be the last one since I know posted from the day, sunset and sunrise and cannot find any new way of showing it. I walked up at night, obviously in the dark, and it took 4 hours. Was very nice and the view over all the light are nice. The picture is from the madrugada and shows Stellenbosch partly covered in mist as the day slowly approaches. 

I will watch the Sprinboek against France on the 12 of June at Newlands stadium and I therefore bought a Springboek jersey. Springboek is what South Africa's national rugby team is called. In the Western Cape province and in Stellenbosch rugby is huge, as I mentioned earlier, and I am very excited about watching the game. Lately I spent more time watching rugby and I am starting to like it more and more. The Picture is from me tackling Matti in the bathtub. I was waiting outside the bathroom and surprised him when he walked out. I felt the need to tackle someone when I used the shirt. 
I made boller and cinnamon boller, naturally as the good house man I am. 
Hiking in Muizenberg, a small surfer place a little outside Cape Town.  
Watching seals in Hout Bay, a fishing harbor 15min walk from Muizenberg. 

Done with research proposal

I handed in my second exam today in research methodology. The exam was to write a research proposal on 2000 words. My plan was to do it on the topic I will write my thesis on later, but I still do not know what I want to write about so I ended writing about something I had a few essay's about before. It was good practice, but time consuming. I handed it in today at 11 and talked a little with the lecturer. She is in her mid-thirties and has made research methodology as fun as it can get. Today we talked about rugby and the World Cup and I will definitively ask her about my thesis later, and I know she will be happy to give advices. I actually feel that all three of the lecturers this semesters care and are talking with you when you have a question, something that is always nice. I actually have a deal to have a drink with another lecturer when she finish grading the exams. It is nice to feel that you are treated more as a future researcher, than as merely a student. 

So I am very happy about that, but also very tired. Even if I have been sleeping fairly well lately my head has been working constantly and I never had time to relax as it has always been an upcoming assignment or exam. But now I have almost two weeks until the last exam and I intend to read some non school literature. Yesterday I bought a book by Carlos Ruiz Zafon named 'The Angel's Game', I just started it and is very excited about that. I read another book of him before that definitely are amongst my favorites, namely ' The Shadow of the Wind'. 

Later today I will bake boller and cinnamon boller, before I have a early night. Then I have an even earlier morning tomorrow since I am planing on climbing Stellenbosch Mountain tonight and see the sunrise. Tomorrow we will have people over for coffee and karsk before I go watch rugby and football. It is the semifinals in the top 14 tournament (the champions league of rugby) and both Pretoria and Cape Town have reached the semi final. That starts at 5, then the second game at 7, before it is champions league final at 9 so it will be quiet a sports day. 

     

Exam's and rain

Yesterday I handed in my first exam :) It is always a great feeling. We had three days to write an essay, which is not a bad way to have an exam. With three days, in comparison to the two days we had in Oslo I never felt a big pressure around it. I worked from 8 - 8 more or less each day and relaxed the rest. Even if the I had little time pressure and slept well I was really tired when I handed it in. Strange how the head is a lot more nervous and occupied than it should. My plan of relaxing through the exam period and not be to stressed is therefore not going as planned. It is nonetheless really nice to be done with the first one.
My next deadline is the 21 of May and I started working on that now, or I am procrastinating a little, considering I am writing on the blog. I was very nervous about this next one a few days ago, but now I think it will go fairly well. I have to make a research proposal on around 2000 words, which is not much, but to use the right method, research design and so on will take some time. I luckily found my question and can now just do everything around.

The last week we have had a lot of rain. People are complaining about the winter, but the temperature is like a cold summer day home. I therefore find it hard to bother about it, considering that I like this temperature more. It feels a little fresh, and the air always is so clean after it has been raining. The temperature is perfect for exercising and I am exited about focusing more on that when the exams are done.

The first people have already left for the summer. Jos already left for home and I think Tove and Tonje leaves in a few weeks. Then Matti and I get the house for ourselves, which will be nice.

28 days until the World Cup and 27 days until I hand in my final exam.

Last day with classes

I find it a little hard to believe that I finished my last class for this semester. It is a little hard to believe I am almost half way through my master.

At class today with finished with a conference around Iran's nuclear ambitions. We where divided in groups a few weeks ago and was later given an international relation theory. My group had to present the Iranian situation by using the theory of offensive realism. That is not the hardest theory to use, but it is always hard to argue with arguments you not always support and by following the assumption of the assigned theory. Some of the group where present from a gender perspective, something that was more interesting and definitely more challenging. After each presentation we received or asked question about the presentation. It was very funny, the first two hours! Anyhow, I just have 1 paper, 2 home exams and one research proposal to do before vacation and the WORLD CUP.

Yesterday I had my last french exam, and my oral exam was better than my written exam. The written exam was not hard, but my talent for grammar once again proved to fail me. Regardless of what I understood. Today I will make crepes and watch a french movie with some friends, whom all speaks french very well. It will be a nice celebration of the end of the beginning on my way to learn french.

The last two weeks we have had amazing weather, blue sky and sun each day and not much wind. Even if the temperature are lower it was nice, like a Norwegian summer. However, two days ago it started to rain, and since then it has not stopped. I knew this is how the autumn and winter will be, but still, I would have preferred sun.
I also visited Kayamandi the other day. Kayamandi is a small township (ca 33 000) that lies in walking distance (15min) from Stellenbosch. People in Stellenbosch often say that Kayamandi, is a nice township. A statement that is quiet incredible. Half of its inhabitants lives in informal houses, or shacks. Which literary are tree houses that have lower standard then the one my brother and I built before we started school. It is really sad to see this less than 15min from nicer parts of Stellenbosch. Areas that consists of nice houses, huge, with pools, big gardens, garages to several cars and whatever you feels you need. One do not stop to reflect upon how this is accepted to such a degree and almost wonders why it is as peaceful. The only argument I find is that most people are peace seeking and not prone to violence nor conflicts, regardless of their situation. My sympathy for the Greeks and their protest also reached a low point.

I will also celebrate the 17 of May this year. ANSA is arranging an event with Den Norske Foreningen in Cape Town. I am actually looking forward to celebrate it. I have also updated the ANSA webpage for South Africa. It is fairly easy but with my limited skills it took me some time, back and forth. But I finished in the end.

It is also a little sad that the semester is ending. A lot of my friends are exchange students which will go home during the following month. I am used to the situation now, but I am looking forward to the day I can keep friends for longer than a semester or two.

JJ

Some hiking and Picture of the Area

This picture show how the valleys around Stellenbosch are. Fairly steep mountains surrounded with wine farms. To bicycle or drive around is amazing. You will pass several mountain passes, small towns and a lot of farms. On the way you can stop by one of the wine farms and taste some of what they offer, while eating lunch.
Me on top of Simonsberg mountain. I am pointing down at Stellenbosch. Above my head is Table Mountain and Cape Town. Whereas Cape Point is in the top left corner.
Pointing at Cape Town, Table Mountain and Lions Head. The plains between Stellenbosch and Cape Town are called the Cape flats. Huge part of these plains are now Townships, always expanding. These Townships are the home to about 2millions.
The sunset from Stellenbosch Mountain. You see Cape Town and Table Mountain to the left and the sun sets almost on top of Robben Island.
Here you get a feeling of how big the Townships are. The lights at the bottom are Stellenbosch.

Hey again

It has been almost a month since last time I wrote and I felt it was about time with an update again.

Firstly the autumn has arrived and the winter is approaching :( It is still warm during the day, but in the evenings and night I always use a sweater now. The sweet and easy summer time has passed for now! I must say it feels strange, mentally it should be spring and when I talk to people I usually say that the summer is coming, it does not feel right with winter now. Nonetheless, there is nothing I can do about it. At the same time I really like to wear a sweater and a hat sometimes. It is annoying with to much heat too long. I also asked my mother to send me some wool socks. There are no heating in the house and the floor gets cold, so I am excited about getting them.

I has finally got a chess friend here :) I and a Swedish student has bought a chess board and plays at cafe's, pubs or at school. It is brilliant. The only weird thing is that we attract the strangest people when we are playing. But besides that, its perfect.

I am also working with two associations now. The first is ANSA and the other is SPOSSA. The second is a political science association that we are starting at the university. It is good experience for the later life and I think I need to get some more things on my CV.

This also makes life a little more hectic. There is always more than enough to do and I am getting a little bit stressed about school. We have 1 presentation, 1 small paper and 2 big essays for the next three weeks. However, when this semester is over the World Cup begins and better motivation than that is hard to find.

Hope you are all doing well

JJ