Classes.

Today we had our first day of classes. The day started off with chapel which was very good. Since I didn't have any of the first sessions of the day, I had a long break to relax. We have two tea times each day where they call us into the dining all if we want and they have all these teas made along with coffee, muffins and a few other drinks for us to choose. It is pretty nice because usually whatever anyone is doing they'll stop in and drink tea for awhile. There are breaks for classes during tea times as well so everyone can show up if they want!

We went for a mall run which was the first one of the semester and I guess they happen pretty frequently! When we got back from that however, my classes finally started. I had an Introduction to Zulu class and an Intercultural Communication class today. But while I am here, I am taking Zulu 1, Zulu 2, Intercultural Comm, Cultural History/Travel Study, and Principles and Practice of Community Engagement. Here is a brief description of the classes from what I understand.

Zulu 1 & 2- This is one of the popular languages spoken in South Africa. During my time here, I am taking a pretty intense class where we do both 1 and 2 of the language here. Along with it, we go on field trips and visit different people that speak Zulu and we practice it with them. It is also something that will be useful once we start our community involvement where we work with other South Africans while we are here.

Intercultural Comm.- This class seems like it is going to be my favorite! The professor is so rad and for class we did this activity outside. He seems like he integrates all kinds of teaching methods into the class so it seems like it will be easy to concentrate during it. We will focus on differences of cultures and the different ways we can better understand others and also why the we do what we do. In America, South Africa, and all different countries.

Cultural History- This class doesn't have too many lectures with it, but there are tons of field trips and things that we go see in order to learn more about the history of South Africa. I have learned so much already from just being here a few days and the different excursions that we have already done for it.

Principles and Practice of Community and Engagement- This class doesn't start for a little while and I am not really sure what this class is going to cover. However, I think they are going to teach us how we can give other people the tools they need in order to help out in areas that they need it. So instead of us going to a different country and saying, "Man, they all live in shacks I bet they would rather have house houses so we should build them for them." We can go in and ask them what they think they need and then show them how they can accomplish it. It broadens our view and helps us not push our own agendas on other people?

The one thing I really like about all of these classes is that a huge part of it is actually experiencing it. With each of them, there are many excursions and field trips we are going to go on so that we can fully understand and learn the different things we are supposed to for the classes. I feel like integrating this into them will help me to retain information and learn more then I would just sitting in a classroom. I don't really understand why schools don't do this for all of their classes. It seems stupid that they don't.