MIDP Faculty and students potluck!

hello everyone!

For some reason, people love to have potlucks here in the USA! I think I went to like 4 potlucks already and I have another one this week-end! The photos that I am about to share are from our faculty potluck that was held at our Director's home, in her front garden! Everyone brought dishes from their home country which was tasty and interesting!! I thought this would be a good oppportunity to share with you some of the people in my class and my new friends!

This is Jimin, the cutest Korean ever!

This is my Korean bro, Jeongmin &  Jimin, his wife! Aanyeong!

My Japanese friend, Ai Tachikawa! Konichiwa!

My American friend Sophia!

My Argentinian bro, Matias! his in a bad mood :(

My 'peeps' Oliver, Matias, Cary, Mike & Sophia!

Sushi that someone brought!

Turkish food!

Salmon!

My Colombian friend, Johanna!

 

Johanna gave me a lift home! Cool car!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duke 41, Eton 27!

So 2 Saturdays ago I went to my first Duke football game! You might have heard that Duke is the National Champions for basketball but they pretty much suck at football, so I didn't know what to expect! but apparently I am the good luck charm, and 'we' won, 41-27! It was the first game of the season and a great way to start the season. College sports is tken very seriously here in the States and you have to really get into it when you go to these matches! In a later post, I will tell you more about 'campout' a system where you camp out for the week-end to get Duke basketball tickets! Its crazy man!

So here are some pics of the football game, the atamosphere was really amazing and I had a great time!

Me at the football game

 

 

 

 

 

My Philly Cheese Steak!

Game in action!

Cheerleaders when a touchdown is scored!

Nadia & Mandy at the Football!

Drumline!! Marching band at half time!

Fireworks display at half-time!

Getting thirsty from all the cheering!

Blue Devil! The mascot! bad pic sorry!

Will have to go to a game you all come visit!

xoxo

Fabulist! Fav Fast Foods in the USA!

Hi everyone!

This week has flown by so fast, I can't believe that its almost Thursday! This week-end I move into my apartment! Yay, can't wait! I had to buy a new bed the other day and some bedding and it cost me $550! I'm still in shock and on a strict budget to make it to the end of the month!

Saying that, I thought I would share with you my favourite fast food restaurants here in the US so far that I would eat at everyday if I had money to eat there! You will be pleased to know that I have actually lost some weight since being in the States despite being in the land of fast food! It must be the fact that I have no car and I am carrying the equivalent of a small person on my back everyday!

Ok, back to the fast food! There are only 2 on my list so far:

The No 2 spot goes to....Chick-fil-A!! So good and so cheap! yum! Its like crumbed chicken burgers with these waffle fries but you can get your burger in spicy so its nice and hot! I have decided to stay away from the waffle fries though! That stuff is too addictive!

And...the No 1 spot goes to Chipotle! Its a Mexican Fast food chain, a bit like Panchos at home I guess but in fast food! Yum! I-would-eat-there-everyday-if-I-could-seriously! Thanks Cyrill for introducing me to this place and adding possible cm's to my hips!! Actually, I don't think it can be that bad for you...(that's what I tell myself anyway)

Ok so there you have it! I will let you know if I make any more discoveries, please let me know if you have food places that I should try on a students budget!

XOXO

PS. Lets all try and remember that it's Nadia's birthday month! hee hee

I survived week 1 of classes!

Hi everyone

Shoo! I am breathing a sigh of relief as I have made it through week one at Duke! I have 5 modules for this semester and each class happens twice a week, so every second day I have the same subject. Which means reading and homework is always for the next day! But more about Duke and classes to follow in a later post.

Right now, I thought I would share a pic of my new friend, Mandy's cute house that I am currently staying at until I move to my apartment, just a few km away.

Mandy's house and her car

Its so cute and beautifully decorated inside. Mandy does all of her own artwork so most of the rooms either have lovely paintings on the walls or cool photo's that she has taken. She is quite and artist and the two of us get along fabulously. She is actually a good friend of Debbie's and so Debbie put me in touch with her and she has been amazing in my first weeks here. Debbie also gave me a bike which you can see below, that I have not yet ventured out with. Its SO hot here, no sane person would be caught riding a bike to class!

This is my bike that I have not yet used!

I have however driven Mandy's car by myself this week to Walmart and then to college! I was very proud of myself for driving on the opposite side of the road and changing the gears with my right hand! I was just following the other cars in the road and telling myself, long lefts, long lefts. So yes, that was an experience! I did also take the bus twice this week. Even though Mandy's house is only about 10 mins from campus, it takes me 1hr14mins with the bus cause I have to take a bus to Durham station and change onto another bus to the house. And then walk for about 20 minutes in the 36 degree heat. And there were some very interesting people on the bus I might add!!

My favourite thing to do for supper at Mandy's is grilling on the gas barbeque! Now don't get me wrong, I am all about the SA braai but this is just so convenient and so much faster! Doesn't have the same braai taste of course, but it will do!

Cooking chicken on the grill!

This week-end I went to Southpoint Mall and went to a Duke football game which was amazing! Another post about that to follow soon!


XOXO

Durham - Week 1 Update!

hello everyone!

This is just a short update on my first week & a bit in Durham, NC! I will post more soon!

For those who didn't hear, I flew out of SA on the 18th of August from Cape Town to Johannesburg to Atlanta and then on to Durham to study at Duke University for 2 years. The best part of the trip was that I got upgraded on  my Joburg-Atlanta leg which was awesome!! Those chairs in business class massage you!! I kid you not!!


I'm staying with Mandy who is a friend of Debbie's  for a few weeks while I am looking for an apartment. She is a really lovely person and I am so blessed to be stayig with her. She works at Duke hospital doing a very complicated procedure on children's hearts! She has really been good to me, driving me everywhere and showing me stuff! I just got a camera yesterday so i will post a few pics of Mandy's cute house soon. I have found an apartment this week and will be moving on the 10th of September 2010.


Duke's campus is absolutely amazing! I wish you were all here so that you could see it for yourself! My favourite part must be the chapel. Thats in the aerial pic I posted. I went on a tour of the campus last week but I want to do it again with my camera so that I can take pics to post for you all.

Classes start this week and can you believe that I my classes start at 8:30am every day! I think Duke is trying to turn me into a morning person!! Life will also become more hectic here from this week onwards but I will really try to become a regular blogger to keep everyone updated!

My fablist (highlights) from week 1:

• Mandy's hazelnut coffee that she makes us every morning...yum!
• Duke's amazing campus 
• Finding a cool apartment
• Buying everything online and getting it delivered to the house in 2 days!! ( I was made for this!)

Miss you all! xx

5 Days to Durham!

Hello Lovelies!

I know that I have been gone for a long while, I have been hectically busy! As some of you may or may not know, I am starting at Duke University in Durham, NC next week!! I am so excited but also sad to leave my hubby and my home for 2 years!

So thats the reason for the new blog title " The Duchess of Duke" as I will be using this blog to keep my friends and family (and blog family)  updated on my antics and experiences in the United States of America! I hope to post weekly at least, but possibly more often if my studies are not too hectic.

I hope you will enjoy reading my about my African experiences in America!

Please feel free to leave me a question if there is anything you would like to know about the studies, travels, etc!

The Duchess is Back!

XOXO

Oxford - Week 2 Update!

Hello lovelies

This will be a quick update, mainly with photos cause I really dont have much time to write long posts! My stay here in Oxford has been absolutely amazing and I have a feeling that the last 2 weeks is going to fly by!

On Tuesday I went to watch Ruth, the lady of the house play hockey! 'Our' team won 2-1! Go Pilgrims! It was freezing out but the hockey was quite enjoyable!


On Wednesday, I did a presentation about our project to 45 heads of schools and that was intimidating but exciting! On Thursday, I did an assembly at this school below about the the project and South Africa and the World Cup! The most embarressing moment happened when I could not blow the Vuvuzela in front of the children! It took me 5 tries!! I really need to practice!



On Thursday, the staff came over for a barbeque (braai!) and it was good fun. This is a pic of 2 of my new friends from the office!

This is the newly acquired fire pit! Bear in mind, this is not where the meet gets braai-ed, its essentially for heat and socialising! The meet gets cooked on the gas braai. Cool idea actually...


This is what we had for supper which they call 'tea' here. Confusing...I know! It was delish!



Loads more pics but not enought time to share...Will try and do a week-end past post soon.


XOXO