Weekend, President Jacob Zuma, and More...

I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing at the beginning of the weekend but I was hoping to go to Plettenberg Bay with a few others. However, the rental car was already full and so I decided to stay back and just surf and try to plan a scuba dive.

Cowabunga, dude!

On Friday, most of us hung out and just relaxed. I have made a few friends here and one is named Simba. Yes, Simba. He is from Zimbabwe. So he, Sam, and I went out and got some fish and chips for dinner and then met some of the girls from our group for a late night game of mini golf. I love mini golf! After, some of us headed out into town. 

On Saturday, Maddie and I both went out and surfed. The water was a little chilly but with the hot sun it became perfect. The waves were great and there was a ton of surfers out.  I can now officially
say "dude" now that I am a surfer ha! Even though I said it a lot already. I love surfing and it's so cool to finally be able to go and hang with everyone in the water. I got up and surfed a pretty big wave which was super exciting. 

When you see a wave you must start paddling and then when you hit it, it propels you down really quickly and you have to pop up fast so you can get your feet planted on the board before the wave crashes over. It seriously is loads of fun and a pretty good work out considering you are paddling all over the place. The only frightening part is when there are surfers out farther than you and they catch the wave and you are in there surf line. Meaning that they are coming directly for you. It happened once but luckily we both were able to dive out of the way. 

So we surfed for a long while and then decided to head back and see what everyone else was up to. When we got back I happened to go on Facebook and see that NMMU had posted something about the South African president, Jacob Zuma, coming to speak on campus. It is election year here (election is May 7th) and so he is campaigning to be reelected. When I saw the post, I freaked out and immediately changed and went out the door. Maddie wanted to come so we both hopped a kombi  (taxi) and rode to school. We both found it very funny that the president was coming to speak and the university was just letting people know a few hours in advance. Very African like ha, laid back and taking their time with alerting people. All I know is if President Obama was coming to speak at CSB/SJU we would know a few months in advance!

Anyways, we were lucky to see the post and were happy to make it right on time. When we arrived on campus, the students and members of the ANC (African National Congress) were having a rally

Maddie and  I with our ANC shirts on!

and singing and doing lots of cheers. Jacob Zuma is a part of the ANC party. So the atmosphere was lively and exciting. Maddie and I ran into a few SCSU students who are also studying down here. We talked to them and a few people from Europe before the doors opened. Once they did, we all poured into the auditorium after going through security scanners/metal detectors.  We happened to be one of the first people in so we got great seats in the fifth row. The auditorium became extremely loud and jam packed even though most students had just learned about his speech. When we were all in the auditorium, some ANC supporters came by and started throwing "Vote ANC" shirts into the crowd. Both Maddie and I grabbed one. We practically became celebrities after putting them on too. I guess there is something about two white American kids wearing ANC t-shirts in the middle of the party's rally that makes them love us. It was super fun to be in the middle of everyone, a great cultural experience.

After about an hour of parading around the auditorium singing multiple chants, the president entered. He walked by only 10 feet from Maddie and I. We were so close to the South African President! He was dressed very casual, unlike how our president would be, however, the security was similar. Fairly certain the entire police force was there along with multiple soldiers and ambulances.

Zuma got up and gave about an hour long speech on how he and the ANC had been doing good work

for South Africa and how they have improved health care, the economy, education, housing, employment, and equality among people and will continue to improve them if reelected in May. He didn't touch on how they would improve them, he just said they would. 

It was interesting to hear another president speak and talk about foreign countries like the USA. Being from the US, this speech made the world much smaller because it seemed as if everything became so tangible and real - like being so close to the South African president. It's a neat feeling, I liked it. 

South African President, Jacob Zuma

Once the speech was done, President Zuma became very much a politician (a charmer) by standing up and singing chants with the crowd and winning everyone over through excitement and enthusiasm. I loved being there and experiencing this because I think the ANC is great, however, there is some unrest with Zuma as president so it was hard to completely give into the chants. If Mandela was still the leader, we would have been going crazy! In South Africa, you vote for a party and that party elects the president. So tons love the ANC (which is why they were cheering and singing) but they don't all love Jacob Zuma. He has done some things that you wouldn't want your president to do. So it will be interesting to see if the ANC wins this election and whether or not they elect Zuma for a second term (each term is 5 years). 

Maddie and I left about 5 minutes before President Zuma did so we could get out before the crowd. We were walking down the road when we heard the sirens of police cars turn on and were able to watch the presidents caravan stroll on by. Tons of police cars, ambulances, and of course, the president's jet black and tinted car. 

It was such a great experience. I was bummed before because I couldn't go to Plettenberg Bay, but now I am happy I didn't. This was a much cooler experience and it related perfectly with what I have been learning in my political science class. Pretty sweet. 

The President's caravan

Side note: On the way home, there were multiple cars that passed and honked because of our ANC shirts ha. They got a kick out of those. Also, we passed a few friends of ours that we have made since we arrived. It's great having people wave and yell your name out their window as they drive by considering we have only been here for a month. Making connections around the world! Also, there are so many foreigners here because it is a very diverse campus. I have made friends from just about every European country (lots from Holland, Germany, the UK, and Ireland), South Africans, other Americans, and people from Zimbabwe, Mexico, and China. It's one thing I love about study abroad.

In other news, I have been talking with Pro Dive which is the scuba diving center here in P.E. Hoping I can get out in the water and go diving with them soon. I think that would be so much fun. 

This coming weekend my Aunt, Uncle, and their 4 kids will be visiting. They are taking a family vacation to Cape Town, flying to P.E. to see me on Friday and Saturday, and then going to Johannesburg by train and leaving from there. I am excited to see some familiar faces and to show them around!