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After reading this letter I was reminded of the emotions and worries that were part of my journey when I arrived here at Rhodes. This letter helped me conjure up those emotions and although my letter did not focus on the emotional side of coming to Rhodes and the struggles we’ve faced since then (like many of the letters have). In my letter I chose to focus on one aspect of the rhodent lifestyle which everyone becomes accustomed to when arriving here, rather than the general view of how one feels when they arrive here. By focussing on issues such as academics and the social life at Rhodes I tried to pave a way for my younger self so that she could choose the kind of lifestyle she would adopt when she got here. The letter to Kaz seems to focus on the emotional side of first year experience; I found it ineffective because compared to my own she seemed to be focussing on what had occurred in the first semester of the year, while I was focussed on the social transition from high school to varsity with an emphasis on social and sporting life.
http://www.bungeemylife.blogspot.com
Hey Dan
I heard that you’re coming to Rhodes this year; you must be nervous about O-Week and moving into res. I will tell you my story. Excitement, fear and anticipation were what I felt as I drove all the way up the hill to my new home. I saw my fellow first years, all looking pale from the night before, walking ghostly past me as I entered my residence: Centenary House. The experience was frightening because I knew I was going to have to say goodbye to my family in a few hours. Residence- life was going to become like home-life and I couldn’t understand how I was going to cope. To ease this experience I should have know a few things. I’ll tell you what I wished I had known. Your res-mates will become some of your best friends who you can count on through thick and thin. You will be exposed to cultures far beyond your own. Your previous conception of partying will be changed forever, when you meet your first real Rhodent at the Rat. Residence life will lead you to use legendary terms and to learn about how to survive your first year at University. Terms like naps, pre-drinks, average, dawnies and the impervious pull of the one they call DC++, a dangerous sounding drug to you on your first day, but now a good friend who gets you through those times of boredom i.e. Swot week. In order to truly help you through your days in residence, you should know that learning as you go is the best way to experience Rhodes. If I was to map out every aspect of my life now for you, I would ruin it for you. All I can say is that it will be surprising when you will realize that you can cope easily, when you realize that living in residence is not that far from home-life. You don’t need to worry about passing either, because res life not only provides you with some of the best times of your life, but also has a good support structure if you cannot cope academically. The best way you can settle in, is by being chilled when you arrive and not focusing too much on leaving your parents. Remember every other first year is feeling exactly the same as you.
Cheers Mate…
Dear Rose
So you made it out of high school and straight to university you went, right after the pit stop you made at college. You are probably thinking what an amazing waist of time that was. But hey, if you think about in depth, it was a blessing in disguise. The time you oh so ‘waisted’ at college enabled you to refer to yourself as a Rhodent. Besides you have many friends back home who would kill for the opportunity of being in university, so be grateful.
Now let me fill you in with the general things I feel you might face. Varsity life is not what you think it is it is a whole lot different I tell you. No one reminds you that you have assignments to hand in, or readings to prepare for, and no… they do not take register, so whether you make it to lectures or not, it is your own loss or maybe even your gain, unless if you are an aspiring lawyer. You face real political, religious and sexual issues. Where you meet people like Suzie who arrive at Rhodes being virgins and ‘staunch Christians’, only to leave Rhodes having degrees in ‘Equilibrium’ or better yet ‘Friars’ and have been ‘laid’ during O-week for crying out loud. Ntombenhle who signed up for all the societies she has ever dreamt of, and thinks it is okay to do so only because her friend is adventurous and only has a dog as a sibling. The difference between them is, her friends father is loaded… well being CEO for Unilever he must be. And she has five brothers and four sister who are all still under her parents care, so she has to go easy on that financial aid. Tshepo tries so hard to adapt to varsity and pulls the whole fitting in stunt by playing rugby, when he knows very well that black people are born into soccer or nothing, and being like him growing up in Soweto playing soccer with a tennis ball was the best way. Sthembile, who has probably never used a shower before and the boys at his res seem to be having a good laugh about it, well it is not his fault the Waskom did his family justice.
Basically what I am tying to say is that you are privileged enough to have someone like me to warn you about things like these. Do not laugh at Suzie instead take her to church with you once and she might get back on track. Invite Ntombenhle over for supper at your place when it is society sign up evening, trust me she would appreciate it. Buy Tshepo a soccer ball kicking oval balls is not his idea of enjoying sports. And all Sthembile needs is a little white lie, all he needs is someone to laugh at for a change. Rose my dear many enrol only to be excluded and have their DP’s taken away. The secret to conquering Varsity is trusting in Him who has had mercy on you and showered you with His grace. And remember those who leave everything in God’s hand will learn to see God’s hand as everything. Janis Joplin says, "Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got".
Your Loving Better Half
Nomzamo
11A Celeste House
Cnr Somerset & African Street
Grahamstown
6140
25 September 2008
Dear Little Mpho
Remember that day when you were telling your friends that you couldn’t wait to go to university so that you could finally choose what you wanted to study, and finally do what you love? Well university is really a place where one gets such a chance but it is hard work hey. To save yourself any disappointment when applying at Rhodes University make sure that your Grade 11 results are outstanding, just in case the June matric exams don’t turn out the way you hoped they would okay (there’s a big chance they won’t be that great).
When you get to matric make sure you go all out with your subjects as well as your social life, because there’s a big chance that you and your mates won’t be as close as you currently are after matric. The one thing you realise when you get to university is that no-one has time to run behind you nagging you to come to practice, the onus is on you to make the see that you are dedicated to the sport. There are societies and sports clubs you can join when you get to varsity, the membership fee is a once-off price (about R120) and the best part is that you don’t even have to go to any of the practices and no-one will reprimand you.
The other thing about these clubs is that there’s a social team and the official one, so depending on your laziness you can decide what you want join. Everyone’s favourite part about societies and clubs is the events they host; a lot of cheese n wine events, plays, concerts, marches, protests as well as a whole lot of parties. That’s one thing no-one ever told you about Rhodes, this place is full of alcoholics watch yourself so that you don’t become one as well.
Love you tons and Best of luck
Big Mpho :)
Dearest Jess (Fresh out of Matric)
I cannot tell you to leave your day dreaming at the door because you never will. If a time-machine existed and this letter could go back to you I know that you would not stop idealising University life. I know this because in the past months at Rhodes I’ve gotten to know you a lot better than ever before. I didn’t leave you behind at Fairmont, but instead I was forced to deal with all the problems that you had times one million.
Your first term at Rhodes will be alright. You’ll get homesick but still believe that you made the right choice. In the second term you will break down and want to go home. You will hate the person that you have become. You will wish that you had gone to AAA and moved downstairs with Christine. You won’t tell anybody this because you will not want to admit that you made the wrong decision. You will go home for the long weekend and make a stupid mistake that disappoints everybody, especially you.
Third term will change all of that. You will start to do the things that you want to do and not just what is expected of you. You will have so much fun and make so many mistakes. You will learn how to control your moods. You will accept the way that you are and start to enjoy it. You will realise exactly how drastically you have changed for the better and realise that it was all worth it. You will also find out how hard you are going to have to work to get where you want to be. You will force yourself to stop hiding behind your day dreams and face reality. Then you will go back to day dreaming.
Your first year at Rhodes University is not going to be easy. You will revert back to your old ways of dealing with things more than once. That voice that narrates your life with a condescending tone will still be there but you will learn to shut it up once in a while. You’ll grow as a person and then go home where you’re expected to be the same. Your first year at Rhodes will challenge you to re-evaluate who you want to be. It will also be the best year of your life so far.
I was going to warn you and give you advice that would help you to avoid all the mistakes that I have made but all those mistakes will shape you into somebody that you might actually like.
Have fun breaking all the rules you set for yourself.
Jess (First year Rhodes student)
P.S. Listen to your mom’s advice on New Years eve. She may know a thing or two.
My Darling Sam,
Firstly, welcome to Rhodes! You don't realize this now but this next year is going to be the craziest, most exciting roller-coaster ride of your life! You have the most fantastic Residence with friends that turn your world upside down and inside out. University is a time of your life where you'll learn who you are and who you want to be. The only learning institution you know right now is St. Mary's school for girls- you'll soon realize how protected your life has been so far and that you'll uncover the path to discovering who you are without the influence of your school friends . Rhodes may be situated in a small town a long drive from most cities but Rhodes will show you the world, it's up to you to take full advantage while you are here.
If there's one thing I can pass on that I wish I was told when I started, that is to have a rubber arm! This is your first year away from home and the novelty of independence is rife. You'll face decisions that normally would be completely out of the question at home such as, going out and drinking during the week, watching movies on your computer until the early hours of the morning, going to lectures with a throbbing hangover and pulling 'all-nighters' learning for tests you've most likely grossly under-prepared for! My advice to you is never back down. Work hard and play harder! Go out and have fun at every opportunity, make memories with your friends that you'll never forget, explore things you've never tried, play hockey, tennis and any other sport you've wanted to play. If there was one year in your life to completely break the barriers it would be now. Have a rubber arm and fully embrace everything there is to Rhodes because I know there's an inner 'wild child' in you and I know that what you're about to experience will rock your world! So never back down from an experience because how often do you hear people comment that their fondest memories at university was the quality of their work?
Have this year and embrace.
All my love,
Samantha
My dear friend,
Life as you know it is about to change, you have no idea what fantastic life altering stomach lurching experiences are in store for you; so my advice is to come prepared. What will shock you the most about Rhodes is the abundance of alcohol, and the incest that cannot be avoided by the end of O-Week.
Balancing friends, your boyfriend and work is going to be one of the most difficult things you will have to do, don’t worry, practice makes perfect. You are going to meet the most beautiful people, don’t be afraid to open yourself up to them. Let yourself go, be free, be a first year! Go out with your friends, get rip roaring drunk, but make sure you come home to your own room. Have a bucket next to your bed, a bottle of water and intense painkillers for the morning. This is when you will experience something known as “losers”, when you have these occasional nights out don’t worry chances are no one will remember. Make sure you find time for your friends; they are going to be the people you are going to spend the next three years with (hopefully).
The most important advice I can give you is DO NOT get drunk when you are emotional, rather watch dirty dancing and cry your eyes out!
Things to Remember:
1. Cane Trian-R25.00 at the Union
2. Digs formals: dressing up like a stereotypical slut and having to lose some dignity
3. Look after yourself; you are young but not invincible.
4. Avoid having naps (when you sleep in a boy’s room) in o-week, first impression last.
You are starting a new chapter in your life; now is the time to go wild!
Sincerely
Kate x x x
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