A Journal about Life, Love and Everything in between…

Posts tagged “studying

Studied. Studying. Study.

20 days.

Don’t you live it? Irony? For example… The awkward moment when you’ve handed in the essay that cost you five hours sleep during the previous two nights, then realise, upon walking back to residence like a scolded puppy, that you forgot to reference the bastard properly. Oh well. Oh shit. Que sera, sera I suppose. (more…)


Eight Internet-less Ideas for the Internet-Addicted Student

38 days.

As the current network maintenance period at Rhodes has shown all its Internet-addicted students, the likelihood of a “Digital Apocalypse” is all too real. Not only are we unable to book meals, check timetables or download work… we are theoretically left in the modern version of the Stone Age, just waiting for that inevitable power failure and water shortage Grahamstown blesses us so frequently with.

Take this time to reboot your life, and not your Wi-Fi, update your real relationship status and really write on someone’s wall… yes… literally. Why not? If you have no clue as to what I’m speaking of, here’s a list of things to keep you relatively sane until the servers are rebooted, and your digital life resurrected. (more…)


T.G.I.F (“Thank God! I’m Fine”)

Here in Grahamstown (yes, I’ve been back for about week now) life throws up (literally) many questions, problems and situations daily. In our quest as students to solve these, we often choose the wrong option that leaves us thinking: “What the hell did I do that for?”

It’s difficult to explain why we (as students in particular) do the things we do, or how we arrive at certain conclusions. Our motives and intentions are sometimes so jagged and illogical that it barely makes any sense at all.

Last night, for instance, was the culmination of many factors… We worked hard all week. We’ve gone to most of our lectures, waking up at 06h00 more or less every day. So, as a solution to the problem of “mental burnout” we all got completely mental. Why did we get completely mental? Well, because we could get completely mental. Other than that? I don’t know. Waking up with a headache and huge hangover is not exactly a good situation to be in, nor having to face the people you’ve scared off in drunken mindlessness the previous night. However, we seem to do it every single time regardless of the side effects. So then… why don’t we just not do it? Why don’t we stop?

The answer is… we don’t want to stop.

In all frankness, the memories remembered at the lunch table the following afternoon; Or the vivid pictures and videos taken that decorate our dorm room walls; Or the euphoria of a million different sounds and vibrations exploding simultaneously on the dance-floor; Or the stories told and the pointless, funny and meaningful things said when surrounded by the people you really care about…

That is reason enough to carry on.

If you ask me, I’d take a million more hangovers for the memories and experiences I’ve had in this little city. And you know what? I probably will.

- reddevilandy10


Confessions of a Struggling Sleeper

Warning: This post contains strong language:

I’m so scared. (more…)


How to Pull the Perfect All Nighter

[STUDY MONTH] – Post 223 days till vacation.

(Courtesy of memgenerator.com)

You know the feeling: you’re sitting at your desk watching the clock frantically tick past 11pm the night before your first exam, with a mountain of paperwork sitting in front of you, yet to be studied, faced with the stark realisation – you’re not going to be prepared for tomorrow. It’s awful. The only thing to do in a situation like that is, pull an all-nighter. Yes, although hit and miss, the legendary all-nighter has saved many a student from the jaws of failure and claimed countless casualties over the years too, but in some situations it’s the only thing you can do. This is a guide that I religiously follow whenever I attempt to beat the sun and make it on time, prepared, for that 9am hand in or morning exam. Here is a summarised version. (more…)


Are You the Storm, or the Sunshine?

Cape Town always looks gorgeous, even during a storm. (Courtesy of twitter.com/grahamandrobert)

That is what I missed earlier this morning. That is what I’ve missed for most of the year: Cape Town – my home; in all its glorious beauty.
This semester is dragging now. Seriously dragging. I have 18 days, 18 DAYS left in this stupid little hole-in-the-ground middle-of-nowhere town. During these 18 days, I write four dubiously simple exams.

*Sigh*

Apart from Paul Scholes announcing his retirement, (see my tribute here) which gave my morning an already melancholic tinge of grey, I’ve heard some more, somewhat more personal, and therefore, more distressing news today too…
Apparently, there are some things I don’t miss about home… Let me tell you about it, shall I? (more…)


“There Is A Time For Everything”

1 There is a time for everything.
There’s a time for everything that is done on earth.
2 There is a time to be born.
And there’s a time to die.
There is a time to plant.
And there’s a time to pull up what is planted.
3 There is a time to kill.
And there’s a time to heal.
There is a time to tear down.
And there’s a time to build up.
4 There is a time to cry.
And there’s a time to laugh.
There is a time to be sad.
And there’s a time to dance.
5 There is a time to scatter stones.
And there’s a time to gather them.
There is a time to hug.
And there’s a time not to hug.
6 There is a time to search.
And there’s a time to stop searching.
There is a time to keep.
And there’s a time to throw away.
7 There is a time to tear.
And there’s a time to mend.
There is a time to be silent.
And there’s a time to speak.
8 There is a time to love.
And there’s a time to hate.
There is a time for war.
And there’s a time for peace.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, (NIRV)

It is not everyday that I quote scripture, when I do though it is usually not intended flippantly. I’ve lost my religious beliefs during my gap year, about two years ago. But out of the millions and millions of readings in that massive leather-bound book known as the Bible, this is a passage that always seems to remind me of the fleeting nature of life and how we need to appreciate all of it.

Today was great. I was supposed to go to the beach, but woke up feeling like death, ironically. I went back to bed, slept for nearly four more hours, woke up at 15h00. Then, well, later that evening the most bizarre series of events unfolded.

Firstly, I discovered that my friend, Shane, had pretty much knocked his nose off (hyperbole) while playing soccer earlier. According to him, he hit his nose on the back of the opponent’s head resulting in a very swollen face. He’ll get better though, he’s stronger that he thinks he is and by far one of the strongest people I know.

Secondly, my other friends were to visit me again, but arrived at my house about three hours late. I asked what the problem was, apparently they stopped because they saw a car accident and knew one of the victims. But, unfortunately, when my other friends, Gabi (who I have mentioned countlessly in this blog before, hint) opened the door, her phone fell to the road and was later presumed stolen, as they went back to scout for it. She was taking it pretty hard. But then we had a little games night, playing 30 Seconds until we all forgot, well, tried to forget about the incident. We even went to Tantra afterwards. I just got home now from Claremont, at 04h30. It was by far the sneakiest mare ever.

Anyway, these all point back to the reading. There’s no doubt that life is one evil, sardonic bastard sometimes, but that’s just the way it is. We’re stuck in this cage, these bodies for the rest of it, and yes, things will happen. We will make mistakes, we will have a box of regrets, we will learn to love and hate, but there is a time for everything. No one finds this harder to believe than myself. I leave Cape Town for Grahamstown once again tomorrow, something that I am dreading to the very core of my being. I know the time there will pass sooner than later. I know I will be back home as soon as June. But I cannot get around the fact that when I come back, everything has changed. Coming home these holidays, I’ve learnt that my friends are more scattered than ever before. I’ve learnt that she has seen the guy I wanna punch through the face. I discovered that everyone has a whole new set of problems. Do you know how shit it is to have your friends, the cornerstone of your life, feel alienated from you? It’s awful.

I don’t want to leave, because I don’t want life to happen here while I’m gone. I don’t want to miss the changes. Meanwhile, however, in Grahamstown I’m changing too. It’s just and ongoing vicious cycle that doesn’t seem to end. But I know there is a time for everything. The question is, will I allow myself that time?

Speaking of which, I know the reason my relationship with her probably didn’t work – timing. It’s all a question of timing. She has a baby, she had other needs too, she has to think of baby and her future first. I’m in Grahamstown for most of the year, I hardly see her, I won’t be able to give her the support that she needs. It’s all bad timing. All of it. Will anything come of it in the future though? If I allow myself time to be where I want to – to graduate, to do my honours, to get a car, stable job, steady salary – will that improve my chances? Will holding on be the best thing to do, or letting go and tossing her back into the ether be best?

All I know is, when I see her, when I’m near her, when I touch her hands, hair, face, I know that that is my time, our time to be happy.


The Great Fail Carnival

So that was the last Friday mare until I don’t know. What a disappointment. I’d like to thank Anele, the worst South African DJ for delaying everything for five hours. Who the hell is she anyway? I’d like to thank the pointless SRC for rubbish planning both inside and outside the venue. And I’d like to thank the bouncers who continuously forced, pushed, jabbed, pointed and herded us like a flock of sheep into lampposts, pavements, walls and other people. Well done, genuinely.

Apologies, I had to get that out the way…

That’s the second consecutive night that I’ve gone out here and had an utterly terrible time. Not to mention that I feel pretty sick now too (awesome time to get sick) and don’t even have the text book needed to do my tut due for Monday, I’m in a pretty bad mood.

At least the masses had a good time, well, the one’s who stayed at res until nine, pre-drank, and got to the venue ready-pissed. Maybe if we had done that I would have had a good night, but, no. I could have been at the damn U2 concert back home rather. FML.

Clearly, the studying starts this week. No less than a hundred tuts a week, five hundred lectures, oh, and not forgetting the millions and millions of pages of readings to get through. God, I’m really in a bad mood. I’m gonna stop typing now.


Daydreams Of A Couch

I really should be reading. Instead, armed with a freshly made cup of brown and less that six hours of sleep, I sit at my desk, typing this. You get the most incredible sense of freedom in this place. Nowhere else have I experienced the joys of being alone. There’s some innate human tendency to accomplish goals by yourself, and here it just feels that much better. Well, for me anyway. I feel that I’m finally moving in the right direction in my life, and after the huge disappointment of not making it into Journalism 2, I think I dodged a pretty large caliber bullet there.

Today, it’s as much as 15 degrees Celsius cooler than last, much to the delight of the students, and well, the rest of Grahamstown I’m sure. This cloudy, damp weather always makes me think of Cape Town though. I tend to dwell in a daydream sometimes where I’m back home, in my own bachelor flat in the city centre, sitting on the couch with the person I love, hot chocolate in one hand, her’s in the other, mohair blankets strewn all around, watching, listening to the pitta-patta of the raindrops against the window. I love that vision. It’s pretty much how I’d want my life to be in five years time. Yeah, I know, you’re probably thinking that those x-year plans never quite work out, ever. Hell, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Hopefully, I’ll be done with my studies in three years, not including the current. The rest of that equation I am not quite sure of the workings but I definitely know what I want the answer to be. On that couch is where I want to be.

I can picture who I’m laying with too, as if life is dangling a carrot above my head hoping I’d finally wake up and snap at it. I’ve been snapping for a while, believe me, but I think now’s the time where I need to nurture the produce rather than ravish it. And I know the vegetable analogy is a bit vague and ill-described but hey, I had a dawnie today and I am so damn tired.

I’m off to town now, until later.

- reddevilandy10


Happy New Confusions

2011 is here.

Forgive my somewhat unenthusiastic introduction, but the difference between 2010 and 2011 is just one day. Yet, if that is the case, why does the prospect of a new year scare me so much? As much as it is just another second, minute, hour gone by, it’s a new year. It marks a new chapter in my autobiography, a story that never seems to have any type of consistency.

I have 20 odd days left in Cape Town before I go back to the academic stresses of college life. I’m out of journalism. I haven’t started reading the English 2 book list – my new major, shit, I don’t even know if I’m gonna stick with psych as my other major. All I know is that I have to go back, and I have to make a decision. I suck at making decisions.

Anyway, I hope that this year marks a change of plot, perhaps a new protagonist – female protagonist, and less ups and downs than before. I know, my blog is testament to all my mental and emotional breakdowns. I’m glad I keep it as my punching bag though, it really helps.

I guess nothing I say here though is really what I’m thinking. Unfortunately, my mind has once again been shaken and stirred so that even I don’t know what the hell is happening. All I can hope for is a dream of some kind. A sign that I can use to plot my next move. Until then, all I suppose I can do is all that I can.


Vacation: Nine Days To Go

In Grahamstown, there is nothing worse than a mid-day power failure. The power ironically decided to trip during my English exam this afternoon. It went well, in case you’re wondering.

Anyhow, I’m stuck here on battery saving mode, screen on dullest, all non-essential programs dead, all unnecessary hardware unplugged. That’s right. Just me and my notepad.

I end exams in exactly a week’s time from today. That means, all the stressing, all the late nights fighting with hoards of notes, the constant struggle to find the perfect pen, is no more. I will be done with first year at Rhodes, and there is hardly a better achievement than that. I have been able to get drunk on numerous occasions, enjoy life, flirt with endless amounts of girls whilst studying, attending lectures and tutorials and keep every single one of my DPs. That is no small feat.

It is easy to get sucked into the life and buzz of this student town. Just a few weeks back, my friends and I went out no less than four times in the same week, each of those days being more raucous than the other. I remember one day waking up with the third most intense hangover of my life with a psychology essay due the next day – and I finished it. I murdered it. I know I did.

This past year has been a blur. I met countless people, some who I believe are truly great friends. I have learnt countless things, from Freud’s curious psychosexual stages of developmental to speaking Japanese in linguistics. I have had many all-nighters, two of which I actually made without sleeping a wink. I have drunk hundreds of litres of coffee, Grahamstown tap water and other Grahamstown beverages, experienced new shots and mixes, and even ordered a “double coke and vodka” once.

After all the hectic assignment dates, Jude’s 9am hand-in time that I have missed by two minutes in the past; After all the late night study sessions, the pointless poolroom banter, the tiresome readings of Sozaboy and the like, and the never-ending tutorials that always seem to be stapled to your forehead… After all of these things, there is only one thing a Rhodes University student can say…

I regret nothing. Nothing at all.

Ultimately, the greatest reward for Rhodents is the knowledge that subjects have been passed, memories have been made but most importantly, that live has been lived.


Early Risings

As you can tell by the title and time of the post, I’m up rather early today. Granted I’m really really really tired, but I have to start studying sometime. I haven’t been up this time since the end of August when I interned for the Cape Times newspaper.

I just had breakfast – Rice Krispies, and orange, two slices of toast and a cup of tea. It was okay, but definitely not worth getting up at 6h40 for.

I’m actually pondering crawling back into bed and having a bit of a power nap. My eyes are barely staying open and I have this huge headache… but, I need to soldier on. I have to start studying today, and if I get four hours in this morning, I only have four to do after lunch. And then I can sleep as long as I want to!

So off I go. Studying begins now!

- reddevilandy10


Week Five of Six

Another week…

I’ve just come back from my first two lectures of the day. Sigh. It’s been quite a brisk morning so far, apart from the extraordinary wait between English and Ling. My head is throbbing, the result of falling asleep at 2am this morning. It was worth it though, decided to watch Leap Year which was a pretty good movie… well, it does make me want to go to Ireland now. Looks like a really beautiful country.

Speaking of which, the sun is shining quite proudly today. Even though the air is chilly, it’s nice to have some radiated heat for a change. The power had dropped a few nights ago again, due to the brute force of the random wind that seems to pick up here in the early hours of the morning. Last time that happened, the internet got knocked out for the best part of three days… pure hell here. Internet is the lifeblood of a university. Anyway, glad everything is online at the moment. I’m going to need it more than ever this week. I think I’ll manage all my work though, along with some random spurts of procrastination in the common room and planted in front of the television. Manchester United play tonight too… so I have quite a bit to get through before that game that starts at 8pm.

Anyway, I think I’m going to relax a bit, hopefully this headache will vanish soon. I’m having tea with some crushed headache tablets in it. Should work a lot faster! Wish me luck.


The Week-End

Today is the day, well not for me, but for the crazy friends that I have here… it’s Welcoming Drinks tonight. I will not divulge any sort of information as to what that entails, mainly because I have no information, but basically, it’s all about a bunch of guys getting plastered out of their minds for a night.

As to why I’m not going to be part of such a momentous occasion: I was invited (or forced, rather) to attend a ball which as now been canceled, leaving me without a destiny for tonight. Apparently, my other friends are planning a mini dress-up and go out evening for cocktails and the like. Suppose I could use a Long Island anyway. It’s been a rough week, it has taken so long to just blow over. But at least now, it’s finally drawing to an end. That doesn’t mean that next week is going easy on me. Not a chance! I have two essays due for Friday, a portfolio due for Monday (which none of the group members have told me about), the normal six tutorials and other reading material that comes with them. Sigh.

Anyhow, I will be home in two very short week’s time. For now, I’m going to wait and see how tonight turns out.

- reddevilandy10


Questions About Questions

I really don’t know what I want from my life now more than ever. I swear, it’s as if all my ambitions to become a journalist have just faded away. It doesn’t interest me anymore. In fact, I hate it. It’s so static, and theory based, allowing absolutely nothing for creativity. You just sit there listening to “narratives and genre” and how the “hero is the character who saves the victims” and all that crap. Seriously, I don’t even know why Rhodes is such a highly regarded journalistic school.

I want to do creative works, like writing, travel writing, travel writing and photography. I don’t even care that travel writers get paid absolutely nothing, and that it’s virtually impossible to get your stories published. I just want to be free. And feel that the work I am doing, is actually making me happy.

To be honest, I doubt coming to Rhodes was the smartest life choice I have ever made. I think the “you cannot study here” phone call meant something. Almost as if it was a warning that I would be totally screwing up my life, my ideas about my life and my relationships up so badly. For something that I find out halfway through the year that I don’t enjoy! SHIT!!!


The Parliament

Life is nutters

Things have passed by so swiftly recently. My friends are progressing in their lives, one, the owner of a brand new car, the other, a proud and very accomplished mother, others with new jobs and academic careers. It’s mind-boggling to think that we were all snot-nosed grade eight’s not too long ago. It’s amazing.

I had a very intricate conversation with three of my very close friends this evening, after a great movie night (once again, we all decided to watch I Love You, Man, again!) I can’t remember when last we’ve had such a conversation. Crazy stories about their lives painted again right before you, as you try desperately not to burst out in laughter, even tears for that matter. Of course, my life is a bit more melodramatic and egocentric at most, resulting in the conversation focusing on my self-inflicted woes. They’re awesome though. If honesty was the only quality you could choose in a friend, it’s the only one I’d want. It’s the kind of honesty that doesn’t kick you while you’re down, but helps you up and then, kicks you. That’s exactly what you need sometimes. Although it’s not the best thing to hear, it’s precisely what you need to listen to.

But anyway, I plan to get them all together for a braai either Thursday or Saturday. If some can’t make Saturday though, I was thinking of having a How I Met Your Mother marathon, just so we can all chill together before I’m shipped away again. And, well, we could probably do both regardless!

My eyes are just about to give up though, so until next time… from the famous words of Peter Klaven from I Love You, Man:

“I will see you there, or I will see you on another time!”


So Long G’Town

And so, the final post from Grahamstown for the best part of 50 days, I bid this awesome city goodbye. I will miss many a pub, tavern and club… not to mention the awesome people who scatter across South Africa. It’s been a long one, the journ exam today just proves that theory. And even though we may study in vain, never shall we ever party in vain!!

Rhodents, enjoy your well earned vacation, I’m sure as hell going to enjoy mine. Looking for ward to third term (aptly named O-Term).

Let the good times roll…

I wonder where my transport is?

- reddevilandy10


Personal Inspiration Post

My first post in two weeks is the result of a) trying to study and failing; and b) passing procrastination. I swear I studied for less than an hour today yet my head feels bloated. There’s a PowerPlay in the cupboard that I think I’ll hit later, but right now I need to suck some kind of inspiration and motivation from the air, or else I can kiss Rhodes bye bye. So, here it goes.

It’s two weeks, six days and about six hours until I am home. That amounts to 20 days, six hours; which is around 150 hours. Doesn’t seem that long, does it? I am at the top journalism university in Africa. I live in the greatest city on the planet. It’s not raining! Why am I not inspired?

Well, I don’t know. I feel tired. Apathetic. Sick of it all. I know I have to pull through these last few days – after all, I get a 6 week, 42 day, 1008 hour vacation this year! Do you know what I plan to do with all that time? Let’s have a look:

1. Have a beach day.
2. Have a rain soaked How I Met Your Mother marathon with my friends.
3. Hopefully, see Dizzee Rascal, Fatboy Slim, Roger Goode or Euphonik live at the CTICC during the World Cup.
4. Watch one of the big matches at a Fan Park (probably the Grand Parade one in the City centre).
5. Visit everyone’s favourite nightclubs in the city: The Assembly, Karma, Springboks, Galaxy, Club 91, Chrome, Deluxe and yes, even The Purple Turtle if we’re feeling it.
6. Track down and eat the best pizza, hamburger, tiramisu and SoCo & Lime in Cape Town.
7. Go tobogganing in Durbanville – sounds like fun and I’ve always wanted to do it.
8. A day dedicated to Lazer Tag with the friends.
9. Visit the Vodacom Funny Festival which i regrettably missed last year.
10. Intern at one of the fastest growing online magazines in Cape Town, capetownmagazine.com.
11. Continue the Pool League my friends and I created. I am currently last.
12. Picnic somewhere. Maybe Kirstenbosch?

Well, these are just a few things I’ve thought about. I really need some sleep so I think I will go to bed now, get up early tomorrow morning, and start studying. For real.

- reddevilandy10


Lost In Civilisation

Where the [expletive] is everyone nowadays? God, I swear, I’m 887km away from Cape Town but it feels like I’m on another planet.

This has been a really doleful week, to say the least. The weather is pretty much agreeing with me — it has been raining all day, and it’s that typical Cape Town rain too. I actually can’t recall if I’ve ever felt this isolated. And it’s pretty much affecting everything I do. Studying’s a mission. Eating sucks. Shit, even going partying isn’t fun anymore.

Friends, where are you? I need you guys.


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