Angola Has Arrived

I name it this, because that's my current catch-phrase. Thank you Africa Cup of Nations (worst sports tournement ever). I don't know where Angola has arrived but when players are being killed on the way to the tournement, it appears to me that Angola has arrived absolutley nowhere. Again, making me shiver at the idea of millions more tourists coming to this continent with (probably) little regard for the safety issues. We shall see.

Very little to note in the past few days.

I had a great long talk with a few Zimbabweans at a bar the other night. R7 drink specials really brings out the deepest political discourse. But, honestly it was nice to hear both sides of the story. I feel in the US, we really do get a biased view of many world issues and traveling outside I think I am getting a much more comprehensive of some of them. For example, one man I was speaking with was a supporter of Morgan Tshangari and the other a supporter of Robert Mugabe. The Tshangari supporter did say what you would expect him to, "Look what Mugabe has done to the economy," corruption at every turn, etc... Generally what we hear in the states. But the other man, as flawed as I felt his position may be coming from a US-style political ideology, argued that Mugabe was a national hero who has made a few mistakes as "all great leaders do." He argued that Mugabe's status as national hero was cemented after his dealings with post-colonialism and getting the land back from the British. According to this guy, Mugabe still has huge support in the rural areas (I presume because they aren't maybe as impacted by the economic downturn [read: disaster]) He said that all Tshangari's support is in the cities and they control the media. I don't know, he sounds pretty bad to me. Where I come from, when someone gets over one trillion times inflation, they probably don't deserve to be reelected. Eh, oh well. But, hey, it was interesting to hear the guy's point of view.

Asides from that, classes start Friday. Very excited for them.

We are doing a Stellenbosch wine country tour tomorrow. Should be a blast.

Still riding the minibus, still loving it.

Malls are still expensive. Lacoste polo shirt: R950. That's well over 100$. I guess I don't shop there in the US, and I guess that's why.

Slowly replacing all my things, got a new phone for 20$

Signed up for clubs/societies today. Signed up for soccer club, Mountain and Ski Club, and interviewed for a mentor position in a group called Ubunye. If I get the position, I'll go into townships and help mentor 12th graders on the possibilities after high school. Sounds like it could be a very rewarding experience. Hope I get it, will find out Saturday.