End of Semester!

This past week was the last of the semester; I spent the week marking my students' examination and finishing up other administrative responsibilities for the semester.

One new development that I am looking forward to next semester is teaching a compulsory course for first-year students called "Becoming a Teacher." I talked to one of the lecturers with whom I work on a research project about my interest in teaching "Becoming a Teacher," not knowing that she is currently teaching the course. Not having taught before, she asked if I would want to switch teaching responsibilities next semester (not teaching before makes teaching "Becoming a Teacher" a bit difficult, she admits). This is a course that I am much more interested in and I feel like I will make a much larger impact teaching this course, rather than "New Literacies for Teachers" (the course I taught last semester). Honestly, I feel that this class has more purpose and is much more influential on the future teachers in the class. The aims of the course are: 1) to explore and clarify conceptions of teaching and learning; 2) to establish foundations for subject-specific methodology by establishing foundations for the development of pedagogical thinking; 3) to enhance the students' abilities to observe and understand classroom teaching, 4) to provide students with models of coherent materials and the opportunities to analyse these learning materials, and 5) to develop a professional teacher identity.

I continued on my documentary-kick, watching Dancing with the Devil this week. It's about the drug trafficking in the favelas (shantytowns) in Rio de Janeiro. Somehow, the filmmakers were able to interview three of the most powerful leaders of the drug-trafficking gangs. The documentary aimed at showing both sides of the "war" on drug trafficking, by interviewing and following Rio de Janeiro police as well. It was really insightful and eye-opening.

Next weekend, Giulia, Gerhard, Marlize, the girls, and I leave for our road trip around Southern Africa. The 4500 km journey will take two weeks - it will be an incredible trip and we'll be able to see much of the country (and Botswana/Namibia). We'll first head to Kimberley (with the large diamond pit), stay the night, and then head north to the Kalahari (see the map for a visual!). The first night, we're staying in a bed and breakfast about an hour away from the park. The second night, we'll camp in the Kalahari Transfrontier National Park (a la Boy Scouts), then stay a night outside of the park in a bed and breakfast. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Kalahari. I read a book called Kalahari Days and Hyena Nights about a scientist who lived in the park and tracked the hyenas (both brown and spotted). Reading the book helped me to picture to landscape and learn more about the amazing wildlife there. From the Kalahari, we head west to Namibia - staying at Ai-Ais, a hot spring near the Fish River Canyon. The next night, we'll go to a lodge near the canyon, which is the second largest in the world aside from the Grand Canyon. Gerhard and family then head home, with Giulia and I traveling down the western coast of South Africa toward Cape Town. We'll stay a night in Paternoster, a beach town on the Atlantic, about two hours north of Cape Town. We're staying two nights in Cape Town (spending a day in Stellenbosch/Paarl to do wine tasting). After Cape Town, we'll head to Oudtshoorn by way of the Garden Route, stopping at Betty's Bay to see the penguin reserve. In Oudtshoorn, we'll ride ostriches, go to the Cango Caves, and pet cheetah/lions at a nature reserve (Giulia's pick!). Before heading to Port Elizabeth, we'll stay a night in Plettenberg Bay, a beautiful little town on the ocean. The next day we'll go to Port Elizabeth and stay with wonderful family friends, Raymond and Sylvia (they/their families were both members of my Great-Grandfather's church in Frankfort, South Africa). Then, we'll head to Addo Elephant Park (there are more than just elephants - it’s a national park!), see the wildlife, and then go on a safari in a private game reserve. The next day, we'll head back to Johannesburg! It should be an incredible trip and I hope that there aren't any unexpected problems. Rest assured: I had the car checked before leaving and I'm a member of the South African Automobile Association!

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/yTIY

During the trip I don't plan on updating the blog, but rest assured, I will write a massive update when we get back.

Starting in Johannesburg and going counter-clockwise

Jabulani Africa ("Rejoice Africa")

The end of the semester is within sight with my students writing their examination this past week. The examination for the 600 or so first year students was held in the examination hall on campus - a gigantic space with enough desks to accommodate such a large section. I've never seen anything like it: the students wrote the examination for about four hours, of which I proctored, walking up and down the long aisles to ensure that they were using the correct testing booklet, answering questions, and ensuring truthfulness (cheating). This upcoming week I have to grade their examinations (no, not all 600) and then I'm officially on break!

Simple equation: Italian Post + South African Post = Disastrous service. This week I received a note in the mail saying that I had a piece of "registered" mail at the post office waiting for me. Concerned that it was (yet) another speeding ticket, I hesitantly went to the post office to find that it was, in fact, a letter that Giulia sent in mid-April for my birthday (1 May). What made the two-month delay in delivery more ridiculous is that she sent it expedited from Rome (~5 euro for a letter!). 

One aspect of South Africa that I'm continuing to appreciate is the weather. Now, I don’t want you (the reader) to think to yourself, "why do I care about the weather and why is Scott writing about this?" I think weather has a major impact on your life, whether consciously or subconsciously. Winter been in full-swing and although it is cold in the morning, everyday guarantees warmth and sun. It's amazing to me that the sun shines everyday … the lack of sunshine, I feel, is the real issue with winters in the Midwest.

"Encounters: A South African Documentary Festival" is from 12 June to 24 June at the Bioscope Theatre, an independent theatre, downtown in the old manufacturing district of Johannesburg. I was able to catch three films this week: Island President, Progress, and Under African Skies. I thoroughly enjoyed each film and I thought that the Bioscope picked a nice variety to show. The Island President is about (former) President Nasheed of the Maldives and his attempt to bring to light the effect of climate change on his country during the 2009 Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. With a rising sea level, the Maldives, a chain of 2000 islands at sea level, will predictably be destroyed. The documentary followed him as he campaigned to find consensus among world leaders - and the extraordinary actions he took to help develop the movement. Progress is about a rugby club from Uitenhage (Eastern Cape - north of Port Elizabeth). It chronicled the players' lives, the impact of rugby in their diverse, manufacturing community and their victory over one of the most decorated teams in the country (Stellenbosch, the "Maties"). Under African Skies was about Paul Simon's 25th Anniversary concert in South Africa for his album, "Graceland." The album is highly controversial due to Simon breaking the artist ban in South Africa (he claims to be "invited"). Many South Africans view the album as a way for Simon to take advantage of the situation in South Africa, the end of the Apartheid. The album, recorded with many South African artists, showed the diversity of Simon's songwriting and was well received (in both album sales and awards).

On Saturday, I went with Gerhard and Marlize to Maike and Tasmin's (their daughters) orchestra concert at a local school. Again, I was very impressed with the skill level and diversity of music they performed. It's obvious that the members of the orchestra are passionate about music and the conductor is doing great things. Afterward, I went back to their house for a braai (cookout), watched the South Africa versus England rugby match, and spent the night. It was really nice to spend time with them and relax. Also, we finalized the plans for the road trip (we leave in two weekends) - its amazing that its almost here!

Literature Review: A book that a fellow Fulbrighter recommended that I read is R.W. Johnson's South Africa's Brave New World. I started reading it this week and couldn't put it down. Overall, it chronicles the less-than-fairy tale end of Apartheid with corruption, graft, assassination, and power struggles that are not part of the mainstream notion of the "1994 Election."

The Amazon Book Review writes: "The universal jubilation that greeted Nelson Mandela's inauguration as president of South Africa in 1994 and the process by which the nightmare of Apartheid had been banished is one of the most thrilling, hopeful stories in the modern era: peaceful, rational change was possible and, as with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the weight of an oppressive history was suddenly lifted. R.W. Johnson's major new book tells the story of South Africa from that magic period to the bitter disappointment of the present. As it turned out, it was not so easy for South Africa to shake off its past. The profound damage of Apartheid meant there was not an adequate educated black middle class to run the new state and apartheid had done great psychological harm too, issues that no amount of goodwill could wish away. Equally damaging were the new leaders, many of whom had lived in exile or in prison for much of their adult lives and who tried to impose decrepit, Eastern Bloc political ideas on a world that had long moved on. This disastrous combination has had a terrible impact; it poisoned everything from big business to education to energy utilities to AIDS policy to relations with Zimbabwe. At the heart of the book lies the ruinous figure of Thabo Mbeki, whose over-reaching ambitions led to catastrophic failure on almost every front. But, as Johnson makes clear, Mbeki may have contributed more than anyone else to bringing South Africa close to "failed state" status, but he had plenty of help."

This book really challenged the traditional notion I had (and I believe that many Americans/"Westerners" have) of the end of the Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, and South Africa today. 

Fulbright Alumni Indaba Conference

With my students "writing" their exams this week and next week, it was a relatively low-key week at Wits (it's odd to say "writing" exams - another South Africanism). I spent time working on a few projects and preparing for a presentation for the Fulbright Alumni Indaba Conference later in the week.

On Thursday morning, Mariann (the other Fulbrighter) and I went to the US Consulate in Johannesburg to be picked up by a State Department bus to take us to the conference. The conference was about an hour northwest of Johannesburg, in Magaliesburg. Magaliesburg is a little village in a mountainous region - a good escape from the city. We (about 300 conference-goers) stayed at Mount Grace Country Home & Spa, a beautiful resort with conference facilities. I had never been to such a resort: each person had their own bungalow (see pictures) and the bungalows were scattered along the hillside, with golf cart tracks for the staff to taxi you to-from your room.

The aim of the conference as to bring together Fulbright Alumni in South Africa, current American Fulbrighters in South Africa, South African Fulbrighters getting ready to study in America, and other Fulbright programs (like President Obama's Young African Women Leadership Initiative). On Thursday, the Fulbrighters in South Africa (from the US) presented their research and/or what they've been doing so far in South Africa. I enjoyed presenting - reflecting on the last five months and refocusing on the next five months. I also appreciated hearing about what my colleagues have been doing in their respective institutions. The remainder of Thursday, all of Friday, and Saturday morning consisted of guest speakers, break-out sessions, and networking. Overall, I was impressed with the caliber of attendees - some of the leading business people and politicians in South Africa. We heard speeches from the former Chief Justice of the South African Supreme Court, the CEO of the South African Football Association, and a famous South African journalist (all alumnae).

In the evenings, after the sessions, I enjoyed talking to the other Fulbright Scholars (both current and former). I spent a good deal of time talking to a researcher from the University of Florida, who busy modeling elephants in Kruger National Park. An engineer by trade, he is setting up computer models to best track and analyze elephants' behavior to maintain biodiversity (elephants are notoriously destructive to the environment). We talked about the "solution" to elephants and maintaining both populations and the environment (elephants are gaining numbers exponentially). Oddly enough, one suggested method is to shoot elephants with chili-filled paintballs, to discourage (and annoy) the elephants from going to watering holes during the day (supposedly they linger and cause more damage). It was also nice to catch up with all of the other ETAs - all of whom were flown in for the conference from Stellenbosch, Port Elizabeth, and Bloemfontein.

Overall, the conference was much better than I anticipated. I wasn't too terribly excited to go (except to see everyone), but I feel like it was worthwhile and helped me to refocus.

And…Forza Azzurri! (Euro 2012 Soccer has begun, exciting!)

T.I.A. Bru (This is Africa)

This week was the last week of classes and my students have two weeks of examinations before the winter break. Unfortunately, I cannot stay with my class next semester; although the students are still in the same (overall) class, they have to move to a different lecturer. Unlike American university students who are typically encouraged to express their views, ask questions, and even debate in class, I notice that South African university students are much more hesitant to participate (possibly due to the British-style education system?). In any event, I felt that in the last few weeks I had a "breakthrough" with my class. My students were comfortable opening a dialogue with the entire class, participating, and even debating one another. I think it is incredibly important, especially at "varsity" (university), to be active in learning - questioning, debating - overall, challenging yourself.

I spent the latter half of the week working on applications for next year, both from January - August (before London School of Economics) and possible positions beyond the nine months … My overall thought: why not apply? As my grandfather always said, and my grandmother reiterates, "you won't catch any fish if you don't throw out a line."

On Friday night, I went over to Micah's house, a South African who is dating a Johannesburg Fulbrighter (Ryan). He lives in a beautiful, modern home on top of a hill in Parktown, which overlooks the city. It was great to socialize with the other Fulbrighters and Micah's South African friends. Interestingly, Micah's father was a political refugee in Rhodesia during the Apartheid government. Micah was born in Salisbury (Harare, Zimbabwe) and his family returned to South Africa after the end of Apartheid (I blogged about him a few months ago when we went to see the documentary: Robert Mugabe…What Happened?).

I taught on Saturday…"stick shift." Mariann (my fellow Fulbrighter) is renting a car when her friend comes to visit during winter break. Fun side-note: Her friend is on the same flight as Giulia from Cairo to Johannesburg. With manual transmissions being the overwhelming choice in South Africa, it is very expensive to rent an automatic (nearly double the cost of a manual). So, we spent Saturday afternoon driving around Houghton, a beautiful neighborhood near Wits, and the same neighborhood that had the "Hogwarts" looking school that I did my teacher observations. She did really well! We practiced: first to second, third back to second (downshifting), easing up to cars, and even hills (accidentally). I think that we'll have a few more lessons, but she's almost a professional now! Overall, I think once you understand the concept and what you're doing to the car, it just takes practice (and a little bit of confidence). It's amazing to me to think that I've been driving a manual car for nine years! Mariann asked, "so why did you get a manual for your first car?" I replied, "Well, my sister told me that if I was going to be a man, I should drive manual." J I remember the first time I drove manual by myself: I was taking my car off the lot at Yark Nissan. Rather than try to turn left to head to McCord Road, I turned right to go by way of Holland-Sylvania (still nervous to drive manual by myself). Well, I pulled out with my emergency brake up and I stalled at the light (South African: "robot"), only to have a truck-full of construction workers laugh at me (or was it with me?).

Sala Kahle! (Sa-lay Ga-h-lay … "Stay Well") 

A fun South African diversity advertisement (surprisingly, for a fast-food chicken place): http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_R7vu9SuxaQ