Kharys Laue tells us about her Study Abroad Programme at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee.

I left for America on the 6^th of January 2012 with languishingly low expectations, the sad result of my own stereotypes and the reassertion of them by everyone who heard about my trip. I was going to Memphis, Tennessee, and everywhere I turned pre-departure mouths were muttering, “...bible-belt of America”, “...impregnable conservatism...”, “...fundamentally religious...”, though intermittently these were intersected by exclamations of “Ah, Elvis!” or “You must go see Graceland!”, “...great music...” or “the Southerners are very friendly.”

And indeed, Americans – the dreaded Americans of my imagination – turned out to be an exceptionally friendly species of creature, seeming to view geniality as a kind of duty. I was received at Rhodes College like... a new puppy -- with excitement, with warmth, with a curiosity that made me the constant subject of amiable interrogation. The sameness that classified me a South African in South Africa was suddenly transformed into a glowing difference that set me apart, making me a stimulating intrigue. I expected that the initial status of interest would wax and then wane as the months went by, but right to the end I remained something new and different to Americans. According to my roommate, when she told people about me and my being from South Africa, I was immediately imagined as black in their minds. An African, and African meant black to them. And then they met me and I'm not sure what I became, but no doubt something completely contrary to their expectations. Those that I met on my own terms responded differently: "Are you from England? No? South Africa? Oh word, that's so cool!" followed by a volley of questions. Where in South Africa am I from? Have I been to America before? Do I like it? Why did I choose Rhodes College? What is the climate like in South Africa? What am I studying? etc etc. Most of my first encounters so exactly followed this format that I came to expect approximately how these conversations would run, and I was able to edit or add to my replies as I deemed fit. I was impressed by the general lack of stereotypes in their questions, and their open-mindedness; I did not have anyone ask if I rode lions to school.

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I was, if anything, exposed to a more radical and stimulating way of thought than ever before. Especially in my Queer Theory literature course. Why is it, for example, that society demands this compulsory heterosexuality, why are all sexualities that don't fit into the comfortable category of heterosexual, monogamous, procreative, marital somehow deemed 'deviant', 'gross', 'unnatural'? And sadly it seems that the very definition of sex, penetration by the phallus, is a patriarchal construct, for it means that it is impossible for lesbians to have sex. The phallus, then, is a prerequisite of sex, which does seem slightly unfair. So, indeed, yes, the course was provocative, and I enjoyed it. Medical Ethics covered similarly controversial subjects, such as abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy and the medical health act. 19th Century Philosophy consisted of Hegel, Nietzsche, Marx, Kierkegaard, and 20^th Century Literature covered the early modern writers.

Despite the ease with which I settled down, I also had my fair share of misunderstandings. I confused my roommate by asking where I could find the dustbin. Dustbin? she asked, bemused, and offered me a dustpan. After explaining at length what I meant she eventually clicked, exclaiming, "Oh trash-can! You mean trash-can!" and thought dustbin was a most hilarious alternative word. And then she thought my using the word 'passageway' instead of 'hallway' was fascinating, as well as my reference to a cupboard rather than a closet. When they heard me speak about robots instead of traffic lights it was indeed a subject of much hilarity. Americans also seemed to have a different method of greeting. In South Africa it's "Hello" -- "Hi, how're you?"-- "I'm fine thanks and you?"-- "I'm well thanks". But Americans didn’t seem have the time for that kind of prolonged discourse. Innumerable times people greeted me with "How d'ya do?" with the rising inflection and everything, and I replied with "I'm well thanks and you?" and either they didn't respond at all, or they realised too late (and with confused surprise) that I had asked them a question in return, and, having far passed me by that point, had to call over their shoulders, "Good thanks!". So I never figured out what my response was supposed to be. Possibly, "How do YOU do?" or "Well!" or "Fine!".

One night I went out with some of the girls on my floor to a basketball game, which was quite an American experience. I didn't realise that a sports game could incite in me so much enthusiasm, or than a real game could come so close to the cliche of American sport as portrayed in the movies. There was even a collection of cheerleaders arrayed in one corner, although I must admit that they didn't have the stereotypical prettiness and verve that composes the ones in the movies. They did, however, have the little tight uniforms, the minutest of skirts, and bows in their hair. At one point, as part of their display, they threw one of the girls into the air and she did the splits, but she looked so nervous and blanched (as though it was the last place in the world she wanted to be) that the act lost all semblance of spontaneity.

During Spring Break I was fortunate enough to go travelling with an American, and we explored Chicago as well as Lousiville, Kentucky. After I had finished the semester I spent a month travelling the country, and saw some of the most beautiful and exciting scenes of my life. I spent a week in Louisville before flying to Los Angeles, where I spent a week with one of my sister’s friends. While there I was able to see all the touristy stuff plus Pink Floyd! This was definitely a highlight, for Roger Waters did the whole “The Wall” album. I then flew to San Francisco: my Canadian cousin picked me up and we spent two days exploring the city before beginning our road trip up the West Coast. This trip consisted of Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and finally Vancouver. Finally, after a fantastic five months, I flew out of Seattle on the 5^th of June.

All in all, my experience of America was phenomenal. I met a wonderful group of people who I can quite confidently refer to as friends, and with whom I have remained in contact. I connected with my professors on so many levels, and as such, have gained an advantage in the sense that if I would like to study in America again, their words will have a strengthening impact on any application. I cannot recommend exchange with enough emphasis; it is an experience of a life-time, an opportunity to engage in another culture, learn, make friends, and travel.