My ‘sour pop’ experience
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, international student and global citizen Charity Hutete speaks to Fezani Khumalo about her experience at Wits. Charity holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Applied Economics. She is currently completing her Honours degree in Development Studies.
My time at Wits can be likened to a sour pop. The experience has been sweet and pleasurable for the most part while the not-so-sweet and somewhat bitter aspects of this journey have added flavour to the full experience.
The Sweet Stuff
Undoubtedly, the highlight of my Wits career has been the many brilliant personalities I have encountered over the last four years and the resulting friendships, fun incidents and activities. I have enjoyed working through my list of ‘places to go’ and ‘things to do’ in Johannesburg. From clubbing my way through the city, shopping widely, visiting theme parks, throwing impromptu braais to the six to eight hours spent at the postgraduate pub each week, I’m impressed I’ve managed to squeeze in time to get two degrees. Not bad ha? I must say I do love the people at Wits.
The Not-So-Sweet-Stuff
As an international student I have to pay the full tuition fees at registration which always results in panic and sleeplessness nights mulling over any possible ways to beat the system. Wits’ unending hidden costs and expenses often infringe on my freedoms, my freedom to party, shop and do other more worthy and exciting stuff with my limited spare cash. Like I said, this isn’t altogether bad because it has taught me to be very creative and find ways of entertaining myself with only R50. Wits’ admin also frustrates me. Being sent to a hundred-and-one offices, only to be given an ambiguous answer to my inquiry always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Bile rises up my throat as I think about this wasted time that I will never get back. Time I could have spent doing more fun stuff like lazing on the Great Hall stairs or watching Grey’s Anatomy in the computer labs. Again, even Wits’ malfunctioning admin isn’t irredeemable, I’ve made a lot of good friends standing in the fees and financial aid queues and I must have dropped a few kilos with all the walking.
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Camu
Very insightful and funny. You must be sad though that its all coming to an end?
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omega
hahaha carefull on admitting that you watch greys anatomy at the labs hey girl. You’re supposed to be doing academic research in there. *wink* Great article though think it expresses much of everyone’s sweet sour wits experience. especially the part about the tedious admin stuff. I mean does it get any worse than the constant running and queing all around these campus offices each year only to be reffered to another office and another one and another one after that one?? Good thing we do all that after the long summer vacation break. that way we get to loose all the christmas bulge involunarily. haha
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Pozi
Good writing, uni is no fun at all and i think they make it a point to have a sour part of the experience. Its all over anyway and u did manage to get 2 degrees. Well done Girl
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