Sociology Lesson--Don't get ripped off, American.

It was our first “real” full day in Cape Town today. We went to go visit the University of the Western Cape. The University was really influential in providing advocates wishing to end Apartheid. According to Primesh, (if that’s how you spell his name) Mandela, the first democratic president of South Africa and an all around amazing guy, picked a quarter of his Presidential cabinet from staff and faculty at the University. It was also very influential in starting protests around anti-apartheid issues. Last, it was also one of the first sites of resistance against the government sponsored physical segregation called apartheid, i.e. “black” and “coloured” and “other” people couldn’t live in the city, but instead had to live in designated areas that were usually not very nice, by breaking the laws and accepting all people, regardless of race, into their school as it was originally designated for only “coloured” people.

About Primesh, he is a professor at the University of Western Cape in History. He obtained his PhD from the University of Minnesota and is our connection to the University.

Now, about “races” in south Africa. Although these “races” don’t necessarily exist in South Africa anymore because apartheid is over, it is still necessary to explain them. In apartheid, black people consisted of the indigenous black people that were here before Europeans came, e.g. the Khoi Khoi, Khosa, etc. Then there are whites, which consists of British people and Afrikaners. Afrikaners are Europeans that have mixed backgrounds consisting of Dutch, German, French, and Portuguese; although they claim to be the “original” South Africans. Now, Coloured people are of mixed blood, like mestizos. They originate from the interbreeding of the early settlers, Afrikaners, and the native people, but now anyone of mixed bloodlines is considered Coloured. This doesn’t mean that they are dark necessarily because as Primesh stated, “there are Coloured that are whiter than the whites.” There are other “races” here, but the most prominent are Malaysians and Indians.

Sorry, for the sociology lesson, but it really puts into context what’s going on and the society that I am living in. Anyway, today we went to the University and took a tour—a very very eye-opening one I might say. Then we went to dinner. I was rather jet lagged all day. I got up at 7 AM, but my body felt as if it was 1 AM. I fought to stay awake, and now I am planning to go to sleep. Its 11:09 PM here, but my body thinks it’s 4:09 PM.

Oh yes, today I was officially ripped off. I went to get a coffee from our apartment at “Café Mimi,” a cute and cozy shop right downstairs from our place. I was surprised at how friendly and talkative the barista was to me and even more surprised that she was American, although she had never head of a Depth Charge. After a short chat, she said that it would be 42 rand, I quickly gave her a 50 Rand piece and told her to keep the change; she was nice enough and deserved it. However, once I saw Helena, our instructor and told her my story she was shocked and told me to make the calculation to dollars. Let’s see, there are 7 Rands (R7) in 1 dollar, so... Oh crap! In that second, I realized I had been dooped. Another American ripped off! I paid 6 dollars for a coffee. Helena informed me that coffee should never be above R20 (close to three dollars). I was dooped. Lame, but no worries, I am going down there tomorrow and DEMANDING a free drink or else I plan to boycott and leer at them whenever I walk by. Lame!