Our first official day in South Africa was one to remember: it is not every day that you can relive that “first day on campus” feeling. Observing practice sessions, going to Neelsie Student Centre for iced coffee, getting official student IDs, lifting at the university gym, and attending our first lecture on South Africa’s social and political history had us feeling like Stellenbosch locals by the end of the day. Although, we are still itching to hop on the pitch ourselves. In the meantime, we still have lots to learn and we are eager to do so (like mastering the walk from the dining hall back to the guest house without Google Maps).
Greetings from South Africa!
Essay
Greetings from South Africa!
I
t can be hard to hit the ground running when plagued by the jet-lag that naturally follows a 14-hour flight, but us Wahoos are rugby tough. After good company and even better wine the night before –sharing one family-style meal with players, coaches, professors, and administrators alike to properly christen the trip we were about to embark on–, we woke up ready to face the day ahead of us.An early start at 9am (3am EST for reference) and we were off on a campus tour. Strolling down the streets lined with red and orange, our guide led us through the charming university town we would call our home for the next two weeks. Any Hoo can easily recognize the appeal of Stellenbosch, maybe insofar as it resembles our own picturesque Charlottesville: schools of higher education, scenic mountain views, surrounding wine country, and an affinity for good rugby. The only thing it seems we are missing is the stifling Virginia heat! It is surreal to experience a summer excursion in the midst of a southern hemisphere winter, but we are not complaining! The crisp, wintry air is perfect for a long day of rugby.
But this course is more about just rugby, exciting as it is to get to watch future Springboks work scrums and line-outs. Today marked the beginning of our intellectual journey into the complex and difficult history of South Africa. Our inaugural class was one that connected our broader themes of the course such as the importance of collective action and resistance, the significance of leveraging sport to build a collective national identity, and the complexities of political conflict resolution.In addition, applying the teachings of Dr Schalk van der Merwe, we began to decipher clear similarities between South Africa and the United States, both in their histories of racial oppression and the lingering repercussions of white supremacy that are still institutionalized today.
In order to be better citizens of the world, it will be our responsibility to take this opportunity to learn as much as we can in order to end the social inequalities that continue to exist in our modern societies through our own political attentiveness, education, and sports prowess.
Bye for now!
Carson Crenshaw and Patricio Anduaga
