The crossing straight from hell

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Each and every week, I am forced to cross a four-way stop, which I personally named as the Crossing from Hell. I don't have a car, so I am forced to cross it by foot. I have to cross the Crossing from Hell, because on the other side lies my groceries and needed study material for the beginning of a semester.

I cross this Crossing from Hell, at least once a week maybe twice or three times. 

Crossing from Hell

Each time the crossing looks quiet but as soon as you want to cross it, there are 1 000 000 cars who have to cross it as well. I gave this crossing its name, because I had many near death experiences here. Students say that they know how a four-way stop works, but it's a lie... They don't. I know it because I have had too many near death experiences... So, to save everyone who crosses this crossing or any other like it, I decided to make a guide on how to cross it.

How to cross the Crossing from Hell:

1. Run. I repeat: RUN! 
2. Make sure there is a group of people who want to cross it as well. (This helps that you don't make mistakes and walk in front of a moving car)
3. Make sure you are in the middle of this group (If a car hits, you are the safest)
4. When crossing, close your eyes and walk as fast as lightning.
5. RUN! I repeat: RUN! 
6. Imagine you are walking to 'I'm walking on sunshine', but put it on fast forward and move your buns!
7. If you see a cute guy/girl, keep yourself together and RUN! Once on the other side of the crossing, you can smile at him.
8. If there is a bicycle who also wants to cross, you better put on your takkies, 'cause you're gonna run for your life and keep up with him/her to not get hit.
9. Make sure you wear bright colors (Neon colors, Red, Cerise Pink, Blue, Lime Green, Yellow) any color that will make visible to drivers.
10. RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!

Have you ever crossed a crossing like this? What is your experiences?

Marching for our rights

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today, we made history! We, as students, fought for our rights to be educated in our home language, Afrikaans and to have English and Tswana, as interpretation services.

Merieke and I at the march
Second poster translation "Media stoking anger, what about my degree?"

Our university has been receiving bad advertising from newspapers and television since the beginning of the year, making false accusations of the university endorsing a Nazi-culture, which is rubbish!

The university was forced to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor after all the bad media, but this Vice-Chancellor made promises that he will not change our language of instruction. So everyone was happy, until he made statements on TV that he had other motives. Yes, he was considering to change our language of instruction.

Now, here is the defense of the students and the university:

Since our country became a democracy in 1994, we had 11 official languages. Talk about a rich culture and traditions of a country! I absolutely love it! There are so many types of people here and each and everyone is individual. We all have different backgrounds and we are a Rainbow Nation. One of our rights in this Rainbow Nation, is that we have the right to be educated in our home language.

Why not go to another university to receive education in your home language?
Because we are the last Afrikaans university in South-Africa. All English and Tswana students have translators in EACH and EVERY class.
There are so many English universities, who provide interpretation services for all languages of South-Africa, except for Afrikaans.

Lizanne, me and Merieke

Thousands of students marching!

It will still take some time for the Vice-Chancellor to realize what he is doing to our student culture. He will cause the separation between students and friends, because of this. And Nelson Mandela, his hero fought so hard to prevent exactly the things that are happening now at the university.

How do you feel about this? Please share your views.

Funny campus signs

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today was the first day of my last semester as a final year student. Yes, it was the beginning of the end... Feels great even writing this. Next year is still a mystery, but it's not today's worries.

Point being, it is great to be back and it is great to see that students haven't lost their sense of humor. These are two posters which were on campus, everywhere:

This translates to: "Have you maybe seen this dove?

I met this dove in front of the SS (Student sentrum) and we chilled for 5 minutes and he flew away.

Within 5 minutes he became my best friend.

If you maybe see him, tell him that I miss him.

Thanx

Gerrie"

"Free pieces of paper"

Thank you random students, you made a Blue Monday a little less blue! I love being back!

Day 12: What makes me laugh most?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I'm posting yesterday's post for the #writersbootcampZA. The task is to write about the things that make me laugh most.

My clown of a sister

What makes me laugh most?

• Lame jokes! Yes, you heard me... LAME JOKES! I always try to imagine what the people were thinking when coming up with that joke. 

Boy to his teacher: Will you punish me for something I didn't do?

Teacher: Of course not!

(Drum roll please)

Boy: Good, 'cause I didn't do my homework!

• My baby sister- she does funny things which I find hilarious, but she still has to find her sense of humor...
• Me- I really have blonde moments and would give blonde jokes a run for their money... Yes, I do stupid things (A LOT)! But I can still laugh at myself.

Yes, these are the three things that make me laugh most! What makes you laugh most?

Trip to the zoo

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today, we visited the Johannesburg Zoo. Here are some pictures:

Lions tanning in the winter sun

Baby sis throwing a tantrum

Fish over head