"If you want it, come and get it, for crying out loud"

A letter to my younger, more naive, self.

Dearest Plakkie


Fitting all that I would like to tell you in one letter would be like squeezing on a pair of your “thin jeans” when you were 10. Impossible.

It is nearly the beginning of a prospective new adventure. Prepare yourself for sensory overloads, all nighters, copious amounts of coffee, junk food, life changing conversations and an initial acute awareness of yourself and your surroundings, which will give way to that rollercoaster we call life, and more personally, your unique first year experience.

All your trepidation about the “small town bubble” factor of growing up in Grahamstown and coming to Rhodes is appeased by the fact, (albeit Grahamstownian advocators) cliché that the experience is refreshingly different. No longer feel claustrophobic.

If the occasional mild cabin fever sets in, take yourself back to the train ride, David Gray’s “Babylon” streaming through your Ipod, afternoon sun on your face and blue sky above you. The epiphanic moment when striving to become a journalist became part of your being. You’ll feel a lot better.

You won’t steal your parents’ car to go clubbing at EQ and get caught. Your drunkenness won’t leave RAFSOC in the red. No fun, you think? On the contrary my friend.

If first year is like a circus, your forte is that of juggler extraordinaire. Time, there never seems to be enough. Know when to catch the ball, and to next throw it in the air, balancing work and play.

The key to becoming a master juggler, and a successful one at that, is if you can look back and say “I pulled that off – really well”.
One day you will learn how to work hard and party smart – all without severe negative consequence (mild hangovers excluded, the remedy for which is Cream Soda – a gift from the gods). Until then, revel in the fact that you’re young, passionate and driven – chin up, head on your shoulders. Now, fly.

Good karma heading your way.

All my love,
Moi

P.S. Check out David Gray's video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDh1x38osHs

A letter to my younger self

My dear other half
It has been a really rough couple of years hey! You’ve had to deal with your parents’ mistrust and their over protectiveness. Oh, and you know you can’t forget the time that your innocence got snatched away from you…
Now that you are in Matric, I need to warn you about certain university encounters. You won’t find this kind of information in the university information booklets. You have just started partying and drinking, but I can tell you now that parting in Grahamstown really sucks!
There is one major aspect that I know you would really want me to advise you on: Overwhelming Change.
Obviously you know that you need to grow as an individual and that change needs to happen but, it’s extremely overwhelming at Rhodes! Ok fine, it’s like Louis Trichardt but damn girl… it’s only one campus and the people here are just so… weird. The workload is hectic and then they give you tut work on top of all the assignments. Oh and the best part is that they make tut work essential for your DP purposes, which allows you to write exams, how ridiculous! The Grahamstown environment can be perfect if you will really focus on studying but knowing you, you’ll want to explore instead.
So now you’re wondering what to do huh?
Well… Firstly you need to breathe! Secondly, you need to prepare yourself for hard work. It’s really hard to get grounded and to find yourself at Rhodes but you know what sweetie, you are a strong, beautiful young woman with an amazing personality and I know that you’ll overcome all the challenges. Oh and by the way, you don’t need a guy in Grahamstown because you are happy with Mulalo!
Best of luck with your Matric exams, I know you’ll pull through!

From your loving and caring other half