Mirror Miglactic

By: Asanda Maki

When convincing a tutor, lecturer or your fellow students about something you think twice about what to say because your English is broken. Sometime we tend not ask lecturers questions after lecture, because you are afraid they will find it difficult to understand you, your English is broken! Sometime it seems like it (your English) doesn’t want to come out. “At University welcome to the “English” the main spoken language on and off campus”. Well the have their reasons to do this in which I’m not interested in.

It may be unfamiliar for students whose English is their second language at University, because saying if you are coming from your home country or town and you were used to the idea of convincing your teachers or your fellow learners in your native language in academic terms here; its different. Because at University especially the one I’m studying at….Rhodes University, things are different and quietly unfamiliar. “You wake up and say hello in English, you go to lectures you greet everybody in English, lunch and supper you greet everyone in English, even when you are going to sleep, you have to say “goodnight” in English”…..Okay maybe I am a bit sarcastic here…but this happens and trust me I was almost get bored up until some of my friends I met were speaking my home language.

I hope I don’t sound racist, but I think English is dominating because lecturers are predominantly whites in Universities……. “Its just an opinion” I want us to look at this ridiculous statement……”it’s not a good idea to speak your own language on campus, if you are not English”. I don’t mean to be vulgar in terms of language but I’m trying to clear something some of us don’t understand. Maybe you can think I’m damn good at English, no I’m not…I just dropped it after my June examinations, actually I was advised by the Rhodes Head of Department of English to give it up because of some reasons.

At Rhodes University or in any other Universities internationally; if English is not your first language you may experience some problems when you first begin studying your first year. This is what they said to me, if English is your second language, it is not unusual for you to find it difficult at first to understand the English spoken by lectures, tutors or other students satisfactorily. That is very frustrating for me. They say you simply need time to get used to spoken English, because it’s a normal experience. You find it difficult in contributing in tutorials; maybe they may seem very daunting for you. Reading through the course material that you are expected to get through as part of the course in English. The worst and extremely daunting one is essay writing in which you are expected to write about 2000 words academic essay. Its difficult for a number of reasons. First the length (you may not have had previous experience of writing anything longer than 250 words); second the style and lastly the correct use of English language just like a native speaker is expected.

I believe that as a first year student, speaking your own language on campus is cool. They say speaking English enables you to get through what I have just mentioned above and to boost your spoken English. Yes I agree on that but I think saying it’s not a good idea to speak your own language on campus is completely a ridiculous statement that makes no sense.

Ndithetha isiXhosa (I am speaking isiXhosa) and I wish if I meet someone on campus whom I know s/he is speaking isiXhosa would do the same. “I’m tired of ama-coconut” offense but really I wish someone could speak his/her native language. I also wish that every subject I do was taught in my native language, not that I don’t understand they way I am being taught by…but I wish my son/daughter one day can be taught in proper Xhosa. It is a good idea to speak your own language on campus even if you are not English, it’s important to speak your own language too on campus.

Its 2008 for crying out loud….14 years of democracy….we can speak our own language nobody is going to laugh at us!!

By Asanda

I miss the short and long breaks at my school, where we used to eat Amagwinya (vetkoeks) with pilchard fish inside them and drink irhemele (ginger beer). It costed R 1, 50 only. We would buy them from Auntie, we named her Sis’Thami the word comes from her real name Nomathamsanqa, and it was a nice lunch to have. Two “vetkoek” were enough for me and I was sorted. Her business was located next to the school entrance.

At home my mother would cook Umgqusho (samp) my favourite supper; Umphokoqo (African salad) my favourite lunch if didn’t attend school for some reasons. Those were/are my favourite meals of the day. I was lucky because she taught me how to cook, how to clean the house and numerous things to do at home.

I came at Rhodes University, it all changed, i eat at Smuts dining hall. My breakfast in which I usually unbooked is fair. Sometimes I get annoyed by different menus for lunch and supper. Today it was worse I even asked the Auntie in the kitchen if she can manage to eat the meal she gave to me. It was one fried potato and quarter leg of chicken and guess what! I was starved; my lunch didn’t go well up until exceeded and took six slices of brown bread to rescue my soul, I admit I obeyed the policy that you have to take not more than four slices of bread. I mean one piece of meat and one potato is not enough for a guy like me. Honestly sometimes I get tired of getting small amount of food whereas I payed thousands and thousands of my fees.

I am saying that I eat differently from the way I used to eat last year. But still people are recommending that I am getting fatter and fatter. A secret is….I always wait for “seconds” in the dining hall and get enough food as I can. I don’t complain I am satisfied with the food I get in this Varsity, its fair…but I promise you go out there and ask students about how they feel about their dining halls and the food they get…and wait for answers!

Oh the time is 18:25 pm its time for my Sunday supper……

By: Phetane Rapetswane



This narrative is about Mbongeni Allan Magubane, a young man who hails from Estcourt - a small town in KwaZulu-Natal about 200kms north of Durban and it is a town surrounded by the picturesque Drakensburg Mountains. When asked to describe his home town in one word he responded with a twinkle in his eye as he simply labelled his home town “Beautiful”. He further went on to describe Estcourt as a small, private town which has an aura about it”, and he takes great joy and pride in calling this town his home.



Allan is doing a BA law, a course which he is thoroughly enjoying, and he has termed his brief stint at Rhodes as “living the dream”. When quizzed about why he came chose Rhodes university, he said that he enjoyed the fact that he would be going to a prestigious university in a small town which is similar to his own town, he also chose Rhodes, because of its academic culture, and because it has a very chilled nature about it. He also mentioned with great delight that all the perceptions and reasons for him coming to Rhodes, turned out to be the right one, and so he has no regrets what so ever about joining this institution.



Allan who described him self in five words is “always trying to be Christ-like” as this is what he believes is the very foundation of what being a Christian is all about. This is of relevance, because in all he does it is his faith that keeps him going, and it is his faith that has helped him adapt to life at Rhodes in Grahamstown, which is well over a 1000kms away from where his heart always lies. He has describes his experience as Rhodes as Awesome, as he has met new people, and has enjoyed the diversity that Rhodes has, especially since KZN really only had Zulus. He said that Rhodes has taught him how to be independent, and it has taught him how to be patient, and him how to defend who he is as a person, and what he stands for, yet he keeps an open mind to growth and change if necessary.



It is this exact kind of attitude that has helped Allan take Rotaract by storm in Grahamstown, as he is now the secretary of the society in his first year which is definitely an achievement not to be scoffed at. He really enjoys helping people, and he said that Rotaract gives people the opportunity to help others whom are less fortunate than most Rhodents, especially here in Grahamstown, as this is a very poor place in the poorest province in the country, so there definitely isn’t a shortage of people to help.”


Allan believes that his character has definitely changed since he arrived at Rhodes. He believes that he has matured, and that he knows far less than what he thought he knew which has made him willing to learn, and embrace some of the change that being at this Institution brings. He feels that coming to Rhodes was a timely reminder of the fact that if he works hard, he’ll eventually reap what he sows, as he continues on his journey towards achieving greatness and even more importantly finding peace within himself.

By: Asanda Maki

Charlie loves smiling, he is always smiling, “smiling comes from my love for people and I believe smiling can make a difference in someone else’s life” said Charlie with a baritone voice; “And I’m people’s person” he added. He says the way he smiles at people can even irritate them, besides he also believes laughter is the best medicine.

We met just after he finished writing his Economics 102 test; wearing his jean-to-jean jacket in hand holding his 30cm yellow ruler and a question paper, he suggested that we could go to my place close by instead of walking up the hill to Piet Retief house where he lives. In the chilly wind of Tuesday evening we walked from the labs straight to Adamson house, where we got into my spacious room number 10 and Charlie was fascinated by my opera stars posters on the wall.
Nkosoxolo Charlie Mzimane is eighteen years old. He is a relaxed person who does not worry a lot. He says he loves having fun but he does not let that interrupt his life, although he says he is a very responsible person whenever he is having fun. Charlie doesn’t mean having fun as in “clubbing” every Wednesdays until Saturdays as most students at Rhodes University would do, rather he spends his time on his knees praying to God.

He was born in Gcuwa which is also known by its former name Butterworth, situated about 100 km north of East London in the Eastern Cape, but grew up and studied in Margate, south coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Charlie is in his first year studying BCom in Extended Studies program, he says he decided to do BCom through this programme and he thought about that very carefully. It will probably take him 4 years to finish his degree, according to him this will give him more time to think about his career and he thinks it’s beneficial. He loves this course. However he wants to make some changes next year in his choice of academic subjects.

Charlie describes his first year at Rhodes University with one word “hectic”. Because he says there have been a lot of work and lot of personal issues, referring to his relationships at Rhodes, which he refused to mention, overall it has been a good learning curve for him although he had faced countless difficulties. Afterwards I spoke with his close friend Solomzi Ndzumo who sees Charlie as his brother, and says they have shared so many experiences, happy moments and difficult moments. “You see mfowethu Charlie is like a brother to me, he is my diary and he is the only person who understands me the best, we have so many things in common” he said. Solomzi says he knows Charlies’s family and Charlie knows his. Charlie even informed Solomzi about his mother’s illness few months ago and that made him to be depressed. Solomzi says Charlie’s mother’s illness didn’t bring Charlie down to such an extent he wouldn’t cope with his studies instead he became stronger. These two friends say they were in the same class since from school, starting from Grade 7, 10, 12 until in their first year in BCom1F.

Charlie says the main reason as to why he has managed to survive his first year at Rhodes is because he is Christian- he believes in God. He has not found a church in which he belongs in but has currently visited His People, River of Life, SCO and Christians at Rhodes; however he has not joined any of Christian Societies at Rhodes. “All I can say is that God has helped me to sustain and survive my first year at Rhodes” he said. He thinks he is brilliant but at the same time he loves socializing and that is why he doesn’t have enough studying time. “This is where I found God helping me” he said. Other than that he hasn’t achieved any academic achievements besides passing few tests and the recent examinations “in which I didn’t study for” he said, but he achieved a lot.

Charlie is not someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth, “The silver spoon was more like 200km from my mouth and I still haven’t got it yet” said Charlie with laughter. For him life was difficult to such an extent he did not realise he’d be able to make it to Rhodes. Charlie is the Vice-President in Public Relations of Rhodes Toastmasters. Being in this society has made his first year a challenging and exciting year; he says it helped him to juggle his social and academic life. “Being elected in a position of leadership is not something to be excited about, because leading is serving and I feel I could serve better” he said.

Charlie says he is not a hero, but having friend that he has chosen well has been a great deal of help, “because it meant I had formed a support system and I also met some inspiring people that helped me to be encouraged and develop my character and skills at Rhodes” said Charlie.

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By Courteney-Jade Gillespie

Julia Dowejko is nineteen years old, and in first year, has achieved more than most people do in their entire university career. She grew up in Krugersdorp and attended Krugersdorp high school, where she left Matric with six distinctions. She came to Rhodes, with the same reasons that many of us have, “I wanted to get away from home and expand. I have wanted to come here since I was a tiny-winy tot and love the historic feeling of the town.”

Miss Dowejko received a Bursary in order to attend Rhodes, this Bursary is from the Mogale City municipality which pays a sum of money for her overall school fees (work and residence related). It is a no-strings-attached bursary, Miss Dowejko smiles, “ I just had to do well at the end of matric to stand a chance of getting it. The top 10 students in Mogale City (where Krugersdorp is situated in) were offered bursaries by the mayor. I just had to fill out a form and speak to the mayor and that was that.”

Miss Dowejko has always been a hard worker and obtained above excellent results, in grade eleven and twelve she received her academic colours as well as the ‘Dux Scholar Trophey’ at the end of matric. All this work and no play? Unbelievably not, Miss Dowejko finds time to compete in almost every inter-res sport that has been held this year, as well as go out with friends, attend outrhodes protests, run for fun and play table tennis… all whilst obtaining marks over 70%. Julia Explains that her time management allows her to gain balance in her stressful life, “ I work hard, really hard, then relax a lot. You need to work hard to get somewhere in this life but it is worth the ride at the end when you have gotten where you wanted to get to. Otherwise, I don’t let myself get carried away: eat a lot of good, sticky food but exercise and stay healthy; work very hard but don’t sacrifice your friends, love the person you are in love with but don’t grow dependent on them; try be as different as you can but don’t get locked up in the loony-bin, Time management. You just have to get the work done as quickly and as best you can because there’s no point in trying to relax knowing that you have got a two-thousand word essay due the next day. I try to appreciate every minute that I have free”

Among the things that make Miss Dowejko outstanding and iconic is her achievement of becoming sub-warden in Oriel House for 2009, this is a prestigious title as she is the first, first year to ever claim this title. However with this achievement she states that she has received plenty of criticism and many people claim that somehow the elections were rigged, but remains positive and happy with her well deserved accolade. “I followed the same procedure as everybody else that applied for sub-warden. I managed to get short listed after handing in an, and writing a very dramatic, application form. I somehow made it through the interview unscathed and they must have thought I was competent enough for the job. It’s an amazing feeling knowing what I’ve achieved and knowing that, despite the negative remarks I received about applying as a first- year, I made it. I’m not sure why I was chosen but I don’t really think it matter whether you are first year or not. As my warden told me, there are some Honours students who she would never even consider for the job. I suppose it just depends on who you are, not what you are.”

Miss Dowejko is an inspiration to all first years and a hero amongst her friends, and as sub-warden next year will make many reliable and honorable footsteps for all her peers to follow in.

They would sit there all night with books of information; stressing and typing essays due the day before its DEADLINE...this is likely to happen on Thursdays. Because the Main Library, the now called Stephen Bantu Biko Building laboratory and Guthrie laboratory closes at 22H00 pm and they will be chased to leave those apartments by either CPU security guards or the librarian assistants...so they would run to other labs like Jacaranda or Fountain labs and they would fill those two labs like never before, it will smell stuffy sometimes because the air-conditions will be switched-off...its difficult to breathe becuase of the smell. I don't blame them because not all of them have laptops in their residence but because some can't even afford laptops. I don't blame them because they have every right to use those computers..those are public computers...they are even used even by outsiders.

I am ONE of them, i feel the same (should i call it a pain?)...pain. Of course its a pain...imagine if it was you...sitting on the computer screen 24/7 typing a 2000 words essay. But on the other hand..its our own faults...students don't plan, not all of them but i know a few...rather they enjoy writing essays on last moments..guess what..they rather pass or fail. Its not something awkward...it happens here at Rhodes! and not by miracle. They do it all the time...I AM PRAYING TO STOP IT BEFORE IT GETS TOO MUCH FOR ME...."Oh dear God help me out!". I know this is getting to much for them but they seem to enjoy the "nights out" in the labs than the "nights out" at Equilibruim or Rat and Parrot. I am talking about students who spends their "Picinics" in the labs with flasks of coffee, packet of simba chips or chocolates and/or slices of toasted bread from the dining halls..whenever they are hungry. The worst part of it is they would spend the whole night typing essays, in the morning they would go to breakfast...while others are attending lectures. Another annoying thing are students who spends lot of time on non-academic stuffs like Facebook wasting time for others who wants to finish typing their essays....Also its not like in high school..writing an essay here its different because you have to do a thourough refencing...while at high school you would collect information and write it all down and give it to your teacher.....

To Asanda

Greetings! I hope your plans for finishing your matric are coming together and that you have been studying hard for your trial exams at my former school, Indwe Secondary School in Mossel Bay.

For people like you and me, the gap between a high school and a tertiary institution environment is huge. It is a changing and growing process. It’s where you mature and make new friends, but I advise you never to forget your old friends, keep in touch with them, that will help you keep loneliness at bay. Like growing up, making friends has many challenges and responsibilities. They say you don’t have to be a superstar to be considered fun, but you need to be positive and friendly so that people can feel good when they are around you and make sure any time you talk to someone you have a chance at making a lasting friend (Don’t be picky).

You might ask yourself how you would know if the people you meet are true friends. In your first year of study in tertiary institution, you put yourself out there because friends don’t just come knocking at your door. You always walk alone because you don’t know anybody. In the meantime you meet this guy, he introduces himself and he asks to be your friend. Two weeks later the two of you become close friends; he is easy to get along with. You do the same subjects, walk to lectures and eat together. But you never talk about each other’s “love life”. 8 months later he tells you that he has developed feelings for you. You considered him as a brother but now you are confused and you don’t know what he expects you to do. Both of you ease your way out of the friendship as gracefully as possible.

I thought maybe you should take into account these issues whenever you are coming to Rhodes University and you want to make a new lasting friend. I will leave you to it. We’ll see each other in my second year, that’s if I make it through.
Regards

Asanda “Mshefi” Maki

Hello Young and Innocent Fresher

As a young and Innocent fresher, there are certain things that you must be weary of in your first year, and your first week on particular (O-week). O-Week is a very turbulent, but necessary week as it sets about breaking down vital barriers and stereotypes that one may have about this ‘prestigious’ university.

I am sure that for example you have been told that Rhodes is a brilliant university that is politically conscience with excellent sports facilities, societies, and even brilliant res system. Well all those ‘excellent’ facilities are pie in the sky, especially if you end up in a Hall like Smuts hall, where half cooked suppers and dirty cutlery are accepted as the ‘chilled’ nature of the hall. It must also be mentioned that it is necessary to stay away from some dodgy societies who all have a common goal, and that is to take your money at the beginning of the year, and throw functions with something that tastes like cheese, and cheap box wine, especially ovameer and that abomination called crackling (stay off that stuff... IT’S deadly). The sports facilities are hardly ever used and when they are, some of the most sub-standard crap is on display, with even public high schools at times displaying more professionalism and enthusiasm to sports so if you’re looking to be a sports star then Rhodes definitely isn’t the place for you.

The closest thing to Political awareness or consciousness that you are going to find at Rhodes is perhaps at the local pubs, Olde 65, and The Rat and Parrot, as you’d have to be stoned to be caught talking about such boring issues as it is an indication that you and your mates have run out of interesting things to chat about. Rhodes is a really chilled place, where you are more likely to find more Hippies and Out Rhodes members (Brace yourself for that one because it’ll be a real shock) than politically aware future leaders were leaders learn.

Kindest Regards
Phetane