NELM - No one Even Likes Museums

We had our second on-site Journalism practical this week, and we found ourselves in yet another historically rich museum that I had never heard of: NELM - the National English Literary Museum. So, like, I'm not really a huge fan of museums, right...? Other people are though, and that's okay too.

People from all over the world have visited NELM. Imagine 

we had something like the Internet?

But, when you don't have a choice when doing something, you just have to make the most of it. I think the most significant thing about that day was the blistering heat, and the best part of the museum was that they had air-con (in one of the rooms only...). The exhibition in the foyer was nicely done though, and I appreciated the fact that all the printing was done on recycled materials, and that, in trying to preserve the environment (/landscape) that they were promoting in the exhibition (literary landscapes), they avoided some unnecessary irony.

Environmentally friendly displays of the African landscapes

As far as content goes, I thought that it was rather interesting that they had the actual works of famous writers, great writers, and most of all, South African writers. I think what put me off was the fact that I would never use this institution: if I need to get a hold of a piece of writing, I will get it off the Internet. I am glad, however, that the original artefacts are somewhere tangible though - everything needs a home, and it's not as though you could just throw away the original manuscripts of Herman Charles Bosman!

Some of the writers whose works are kept at NELM

Considering the historical relevance and significance that many of their artefacts have, I was not impressed with their filing system. It's not that big of a deal for now though, as they will be moving to a more "state-of-the-art" facilities, where there will be appropriate preservation methods put into place. It kind of reminds me of the Vatican Archives (and scenes from Angels and Demons).

The most interesting thing I learnt about this place was that it existed. And that some guys discovered diamonds and scratched on the windows, with the scratches still being visible today. I also learnt about how significant Guy Butler was to Rhodes and Grahamstown. I think I need to learn more about this character who seems to have started every little thing at this University...

Photographing the diamond-scratched windows for the assignment

The History of Printing

Newspapers hanging up to dry

This week took us to the Eastern Star Museum in Grahamstown. It's the centre and origin of much of South Africa's printing history, with regards to the press.

It was quite interesting: it definitely gave me a renewed appreciation for computers. Thank goodness we have proper printers now! Setting up each individual letter in the forms was just far too finicky. I can't imagine having to do full sheets for the real newspapers, and the letters are even smaller! What a dirty job as well...

Because we love to cut loads of copies of newspaper manually

I suppose it was somewhat beneficial for us to visit this place. It was interesting to see where we, as journalists, came from, however, I don't think that it is necessarily imperative to us being good journalists.

I did find myself wondering, though, why Grahamstown was so important and at the forefront of so many social and economic advances, yet we find ourselves still stuck in almost the same kind of time! We seem to come up with all these amazing companies or discoveries or progressions, only to have them passed on to some bigger and better place, not advancing this town nearly as much as the other city (often Johannesburg) we had just advantaged.

Finicky, finicky, all the time

Now, it is time for me to make a postcard. To no one in particular... Using on of the pictures you see in this blog post. Fun times!!! :D

But no one even reads backwards anymore, anyway! 

My first time(s)

This is definitely the week of firsts. I gave my first tutorial this week, as an official Human Kinetics and Ergonomics tutor. That was fairly nerve-wracking, but went well, I think. As an introvert, I found it very strange to have fourteen people watching me and hanging on my every word for a whole 45minutes. But it's definitely a position that I think I can grow into, because it is driven by my passion for the subject and for the human body. So that will be able to guide me nicely.

Practice makes perfect from the instructor's bike

On the other hand, however, I took my first Indoor Cycling class today. This will have to take some getting used to. I think I am going to need a lot more practice, so I must definitely get myself some more studio time. I had issues with music (even though I was prepared, you know when you just over-anticipate things... Well, that). As I said, I am an introvert, for the most part, so voice projection was also a bit of an issue. I'll just have to remember to lower the music when I want to talk, until I become one of those intensely energetic and loud spinning instructors.

There were a few other firsts this week, but none quite as substantial as those two. This is going to be a great year. :D

This is my home (kind of...)

And at the beginning of my final year of Undergraduate studies, I decide to blog about my experiences, and to share some of the going-ons of this small town that is trying so desperately to steal my heart from big-city Johannesburg.

Grahamstown: a quiet University town in the middle of nowhere. I had never been here until the very first day that I was expected to be here. The Eastern Cape? Where was that even? The province even cost me marks in my final Geography exam when I couldn't remember that it existed.

Being here serves as a frequent reminder of why South Africa still can't be classified as a first-world country. As a city girl, this small town life took quite a bit of adjustment on my part. I think I am slowly getting into it though, ever so slowly becoming a part of this historically-rich and unique town.

I am undecided about my future path (aren't we all), so what I am studying will keep my options open. Maybe at the end of yet another year here, I will be a little closer to knowing what I want to do?

Join me as I experience this town for another year. This will be a writing platform, hopefully expanding my writing abilities, and it will serve as a note to you, the reader, on some of the goings-on in this town. Maybe it will grow on you faster than it has grown on me.