May 7, 2004
-
TOPIC: HAHA, I TOLD YOU SO
Dan’s school exists!!! My ideas for what college could be, are in fact a reality. I just met an extremely interesting, normal, intelligent, passionate, down to earth girl who goes to this school called Johnston. It’s like no college you’ve ever heard of.
http://johnston.redlands.edu/learning/classes.php3
Imagine a school with no grades, but course evaluations instead.
A school where students helped design their own curriculums
A school where all students study abroad
A school where nobody fell in sleep during class out of boredom
This is that school. The question is, will it remain unknown, or will the likes of Traditional colleges change their ways?
And…I got the go ahead from Outward Bound to give a presentation on my idea for improving college, at the OB International World Conference in Malaysia this Oct. My hope is to inspire a way to merge OB values into college. Get pumped people, get pumped, because I sure am!!!
I’m talking online w/ some friends from college right now…there’s a weird feeling in my stomach of not being able to share my experience with them, and not being able to see how their lives are. I’m realizing how keeping in touch is cool, but at some point you need to see these people. I’m planning a huge bbq at my house when i’m home, hopefully see some faces, and a college reunion in the fall. At the same time, i’m meeting people here to fill the void, but soon, those people too will vanish from my lives. Life has so many of these passings and goings, it’s tough, but it’s life.
My hostel, the Green Elephant, just got a pizza maker. We christened it tonight, fresh dough, peppers, mushrooms, pineapple. Amazing.
Last night went to the Cape Town wine festival. Learned a bit, had some delicious woody flavored Chardonay’s, ate a lot of cheese, met some people, passed out at the end, and had some strangers drive me back to my hostel. The world is a friendly place. Just had a memory of me dancing with African street performers as well. My African dance class is really coming in handy now!!!
I’ve heard of people traveling around Africa w/ no money, so they had to rely on asking others for help. Sounds like an amazing way to get to experience poverty, as well as to experience humanity.
Met a guy from Jo’burg, 35, electrician and musician, but prefers music. Spent time in Scotland picking mushrooms and selling them to restaurants. That paid his rent. Now, he’s trying to make the leap into becoming a full time musician. Making a hobby into a profession takes a lot of guts and confidence in your work. Hope this guy makes it.
Met a guy, late 30′s from England. Went on an Outward Bound course when he was 14. Said he loved it. Came to South Africa in ’95 for the Rugby World Cup, thought that elephants would be running round the streets.
Just saw a commercial for South Africa’s bid for the 2010 World Cup. You sense that there’s such a thing as things being “a big deal,” in South Africa. I bet the average american has never heard of the soccer World Cup, let alone the fact that America hosted it in the ’90′s.
This girl Casey, who studies at Johnston College, spent a day w/ some township kids. The other American girls w/ her spent the whole time talking about their tans. She can’t understand how people can come to South Africa and not be interested in anything going on here. Then again, she can’t understand why every other college in America besides hers gives students grades rather than personal evaluations, or, why students don’t love school like students at hers.
Chelsea got knocked out of the Champions league to Monaco. After going up 2-0 on some amazing goals, they were tied 3-3 in aggregate goals, since they lost 3-1 in Monaco. However, a late header at the half put Monaco up, and a second half goal sealed the deal.
Writing…so much i want to write and say. I think i’m more focussed now than ever, especially about the book. Thinking of adding a wiffle ball componant to my book tour. Visit schools, and organize home run derby’s.
