Are Rhodes Students Snobs or They Are Influenced By The Gtown Environment??

Looking at ones background you will get the sense of different indigenous cultures and traditions at Rhodes. However coming this little gurgle like – “world of fantasies for many students” Rhodes turns a blind eye and students adopts the aura of Rhodes, because Rhodes is predominantly white, being civilised, western and having the famous Paris Hilton’s accent is becoming a norm and regarded as being a snob.

Transformation and development in one’s life is not being snobbish but exactly progress in ones existence. Walking around campus with your iPod singing your favourite Britney Spears “Oops I did it again”, using the latest apple laptop for your assignments and diminishing from the typical Xhosa broken English to the “posh” Paris Hilton accent is not being snobbish. However little Grahamstown seems to be the world of dreams for many students as they are free to be what they want to, and allowing themselves to be transformed and venture into different cultures but yet adopting the Rhodes Culture is not being snobbish but letting the environment have an influence on your personality but not your values, roots and morals. But people outside of Rhodes see me as being snobbish just because I am part of the elite Rhodes students.

“She is such a snob and does not know her roots” my cousins would say just because I used the word expatiate instead of qonda (expatiate in Xhosa) in my sentence. Having to tell my cousins about my handsome boyfriend from Rhodes that I speak highly of is actually a “white” boy. “Are you serious?” “Are you crazy?” “Do you want to be white?” “Rhodes has turned you into a snob?” I was questioned about my “white” boyfriend by my cousins and the rest of the Port Elizabeth (my hometown) who think having a “white” boyfriend is snobbish.

I am not a snob now because I am at a posh or fancy varsity where public phones are referred to as Phone Booth or having to have a cheese and wine instead of “get together”. I do not understand how my pronunciation of the word determine without using the political accent of the word (de-te-mine) can identify if I qualify to be a Rhodes snobbish student or is my posture and the manner in which I interact with white people and have themed white dinner parties with The Thompson Family from Sandton.

I strongly believe that my presence in Rhodes amends and revive ones philosophical strategies but not in one’s being a snob. Coming to Rhodes has not changed me into a snob but into a better person that can easily influence the managing director of Media24 to let me shadow in his company for a week. Rhodes moulds its students by giving them the spotlight and letting us shine as bright as twinkling star in the dark sky. Rhodes is where leaders learn and creates the element of leaders with same level social standards and courtesy. Rhodes turned me into an independent, confident, philosophical balanced and well groomed with courtesy and negotiating skills and a perfect degree for my international ventures. Over and above, Rhodes hasn't changed us into a snobs but. On the divergent, it has given you a lease of life and the energy that goes with it . It is this characteristics that set you apart from other people who are less enthusiastic about this gift God gave to man – that is existence.

Moreover over the years Rhodes is regarded as the best institution for higher learning that accepts posh students from rich and powerful parents from all works of life. The good reputation of the institution is bound to spill over to its witty students. Contrary to popular believe, Rhodes hasn't changed its students into “snobbish” adult brats instead it has fine tuned the different personalities and broadens student’s horizons. Rhodents view the means of survival (this thing we call life) differently. However, the “snobbish” Rhodents still hold on steadfastly to their norms and values as we have not shunned our background. The body language and the manner we carry ourselves is not of snobbish or posh manner but exude our confidence. This buoyancy is misconstrued by some people as being snobbish, posh and bordering on utter arrogance.

Coming to Rhodes has not changed me into a snob but into practicing cultural relativism (accepting other cultures and not putting your culture as being superior).

Heredity is nothing but the Environment is Everything to ones personality!!!!!

Cheers
..........Molly.........

Standing next to an old rusty braai stand with nothing but her cigarette and an iPod whispering the lyrics “I wanna tell you something” in her ear to keep her company The grey white cigarette smoke flowing around her shaved off head that’s swinging to the sweet and slow rhythm of “I wanna tell you something” by Alicia Keys.

A first year BCom lass at Rhodes Cathrine “Cathy” Dlamini*, lives for smokes, shots and only met her lecturers twice in the first week of the first term. Its first term and everyone is buzzing around like bees with excitement to be in lecture halls and starting their degrees but Cathy had only met her lecturer twice in five lectures and her absence was of thin air like the wind with no direction, this 19 year old survived first year by taking risks. Not attending lectures in a first year is risky, periling you being excluded by Rhodes, by the faculty of BCom, by your folks and by your Equilibrum friends. Being a risk taker makes you realise and learn what kind of an individual you really are but yet it’s scary to find out who you really are after 18 years of your life being this one person but being another in only one year and it challenges yourself being and picking out the perfect but yet cool friends is a challenge on its own.

Freshman is all about challenges with risky businesses to survive all the obstacles and traumatising scenes that you are exposed to and explore your true self. The most risky thing in first term is being myself and coming out of closet and admit to being a lesbian. The risk of being looked at in a different way, being pushed disrespected by fellow students at Equilibrum just because of my sexuality and being called a “Moffie” and “Sqepe” (My short skirt) says Cathy with a humbled but sad tone. Homophobia is implied on campus, having to get ugly looks and whips after you walk by just because of your sexuality. “I am going to die a painful and sad death because of student apathy” she says with pain and tears in her brown eyes. “The death of Siwe – my brother hit home, could not work and dated many girls for the pain to fade away become a junkie with dull black clothing for two months” says Cathy* with a tears dripping like an open tap.

Cathy* befriended tequila shots and apple sour in times of need, 20 smokes a day damaging her lungs to feel better after all the “moffie” “Sqepe” calling and emotionally embarrassed most of the time, punching trees and walls. “I survived the atrocious looks for being myself by just being myself and not changing me because of other lost souls now after seven months of my survival of being herself I LOVE BEING GAY IN GRAHAMSTOWN” Cathy* says with a sigh of relief.

“You haven’t been eating!” say UMama from the dining hall, Molo sis” the housekeeper would greet in a very polite and motherly register the care, support and love in Grahamstown I made it, and survived my first year.” Says Cathy tossing a gold ball in the air and a big smile.

Yep that’s me!!!!

* not real name.