This time last year I had so many plans in place, doing my last few hours at work, doing presentations at Alderbrook Sixthform and organising my visa. I would then go to Cape Town, have a family holiday, come home and go to uni. Now all of those things have come to pass, and I look ahead at 2018 knowing only that my first year at uni will end, my second will start and I will turn 21 years old. Nothing else is in place, ahhh!
So what of 2017 is still permeating my life today?
Well, I still think of Cape Town often, I have now given eight presentations in total, two since starting Bath. One to the Knowle and Dorridge Lions to thank them for their generous support and the other to the Just Love society at uni.
I spoke about why we should even bother with justice, and used similar slides to the ones I put together for the Branch presentation Charis and I did about our Africa experiences.
*side note* thank you so much to everyone who came to that evening it was unlike any other presentation I have given before or since. The level of emotion in the room was tangible, it really felt like everyone had been transported to our memories with us. It hit be just how real everything I did was and how much I cared about the prison system in Cape Town and longed for it to change. Many tears were shed.
Back to Just Love, it is so me! It is a Christian social justice group that meets for lunch every Thursday to discuss social justice issues, plan outreach events and pray about the world together. It is the only place I leave feeling hopeful about justice, so one to keep going back to in my second semester.
I showed this clip: Is it even worth it? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpl84D-uNmY
( I have shared this before on my blog, but until you know it word for word then I think it is worth listening to again... and again)
And played this song to close: No Outsiders by Rend Collective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U25dcsIO87k
My lectures also conjure up memories of Cape Town, doing research on poverty, gender equality and race all come with images of people I met and worked with. This feels unavoidable but is not always a helpful experience. Sometimes it comes with waves of anxiety or made up scenes in my head of the people in prison I met committing the crimes they told me about. My exhaustion has stepped up massively, I thought I was tired when I was working but that is nothing to how tired I am day to day now. Luckily I have so many wonderful friends and family members around to support me, give me hugs and garlic bread (the essentials). The onesie I got for Christmas also helps.
The first thing I have said when people have asked me how uni is going, is that I have the best flatmates you could wish for. So let me introduce you to them:
Charlie:
Charlie is a psychology student and a fellow West Wing fan, veggie cooking enthusiast and all round lovely person. We have watched many films together, drunk tea and eaten too much stir-fry. Don't know where I would be without her.
Connor:
Connor is a politics and Spanish student and a fellow Lib Dem (wowie), microwave lunatic and excellent proof reader of ALL my essays. I would laugh a lot less if I wasn't studying politics with him.
Aled:
Aled is a economics student and fellow blackadder fan (our flat have watched 2 series back to back so far) he is moving up the road of redemption with the help of his mindfulness book and loves clean tea towels.
Niamh:
Niamh is a social policy student and fellow vintage clothes lover, I wish I had her wardrobe and edgy fashion sense, alas I will make do with my polka dot dress and Christmas cardigan. We have both studied international development together as firm feminists and enjoyed it.
Carlos:
Carlos is a economics student and fellow debater, there is little that we have not discussed from the ethics of bull fighting to random parts of religion, various views have been thrown across the kitchen!
Zoe:
Zoe is a honouree member of SE5 who actually comes from SE3. She is a fellow calmer of crises, our first semester has had a few stressful moments and Zoe is calm and sophisticated. We have studied law together and enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the English Legal system, contract law and tort law but are looking forward to emptying our brain of SO many cases.
These guys have all heard many a story from Cape Town and been kind when I have needed to rant or be distracted or go for a walk. Have missed them over Christmas and look forward to returning to Bath and living with most of them next year.
In other news I am still involved with Christians in Politics and run the Youth Engagement Board, this gave me the opportunity to speak in West Minister in December.
The event was held in St Mary Undercroft Chapel underneath Parliament, it was an amazing evening, hearing from Christian MPs, different Christian organisations and being able to share what the Youth Board has been up to. Still have to pinch myself when at 19 I had the chance to talk to so many interesting political people in one of my favourite places.
So who knows what this year will hold and how my journey in Cape Town will equip me to deal with the highs and lows. Thank you for reading this twenty second blog, I hope to do at least one more when it is my one year anniversary of going and maybe leaving...
If you are still reading my rambles then please let me know, always appreciate hearing other peoples thoughts.
Prayer Requests:
- For January exams to go well, and regardless of the grade to feel content with what I achieve considering my exhaustion levels.
- For my exhaustion to be more manageable, I long to wake up one day in the near future and feel awake!
- For my friendships for my flatmates and friends at Bath to continue to grow even as they get to know me better!
