The first week back in Pretoria, having started the second (and final) semester has been one of the most memorable weeks in a long time. Interesting and exciting course work lies ahead in both my modules--some of what I have explained in a previous post, and not only on the academic front, the socializing has been fantastic! On Wednesday evening the girls and I got ready for the annual "Around the World" party--held by House Curlitzia this year which was held on the roof of Menlyn Shopping centre's parking lot--the old Rooftop Drive-In. We all had to dress in a way that represented a country of our choice. So, owing to the fact that I own a significant amount of striped clothing, I suggested that we choose France as our inspiration! Red lips, red shoes, neck scarves and stripes--Check!
They could not have chosen a better location for the event. There were hundreds of people; Tuks students, residence students and then, everyone else who heard of the event. The soiree was backdropped by all the lights, billboards, neon signs traffic lights Pretoria had to offer and in the distance one could see the bright blue Telkom Tower, the Union Buildings and a few other noteworthy landmarks. We were greeted by different themed stalls all offering their own, unique potion-potent-punch; everything from hippies (who strangely enough promoted the non-alcoholic punch) to German bar maids, scooping up our plastic goblets out of huge vats and passing them around to whoever was awake and sharp enough to take a cupfull first! There really was something electric in the air that night. The music and the disco/strobe lights made it feel as though we were in some strange open-air festival with added mardi gras beads and the urbanity of an event that would typically take place in Mary Fitzgerald Square/ Town Hall. People wearing Mexican sombrero's, a couple of people who've opted for the Where's Wally guy (which was really appropriate considering how many people there were), someone who thought they'd come as Harry Potter, the three French ladies with the matching outfits...too many faces to remember! At some point during the shenanigans, I think I remember a group of people next to us dancing with a white, plastic mannequin, tossing the poor thing in the air, like some sort of crowd-surfing effect. The impromptu after party was held at a venue called "Ty's"; a club across the road from the rooftop party. It was bursting at the seams with party-goers and carried on late into the night...and early the next morning. When the girls and I eventually had enough of dancing (or more accurately, our high heels got the better of our feet), we decided to bow-out gracefully and retire to our beds. Needless to say, by the time we got home, Stef and I were past ravenous, so I MacGyvere'd my way through the kitchen and made some scrambled eggs (what one could now very appropriately call a Sunrise breakfast...) and presented it to my compatriot. The next morning... hmm, (I will put diplomatically that) neither myself nor Stef were our usual bubbly selves. But the feelings of tiredness soon faded away as we grew more and more excited for our first "Ladies Nite" which we were to host at our house! We invited more or less twelve girls to come over and bring any snacks with them which tickled their fancy. Stef and I didn't have much time to get ready, as she finished work late and went to the shops for a couple of last minute "schnacks" and my anthropology class only finished at about 5.30ish. The girls started arriving as we hung up the fairy lights in the living room and dismantling the couches to arrange seating all around the living room floor. We lit the candles, played a mixed CD (proudly brought to you by a certain beau in my housemate's life) and poured the wine (and yes, someone brought rose wine...). What a roaring success of an evening! Apart from the electricity tripping every so often (due to our power box being an artefact from WWII), it was quite apparent that everyone had a ball! The most interesting part of it all was that while some of the girls were mutual friends, the majority of the girls had only met each other for the first time, and yet everyone got along swimmingly. I wished that I had taken a photo or two of the setting, but to be honest, I believe that if you're enjoying yourself enough, there's no moment to waste on taking copious amounts of photo's. The best way to remember a realllly good gathering is by being fully present in the moment. In the practical sense, photo's help for memory lapses perhaps, or factual evidence for court cases (depending on how hard you party), but if you have a blackberry like I do, you know that being able to take a good picture means sacrificing at least ten minutes of party time on trying to find the best "Scene Mode" in which to take the picture, let alone if the flash of the camera helps make the photo look good or not. And, by the time you've located the best possible combination of photo settings, the opportune moment has long passed and everyone has left the frame to refill their wine glasses (or the battery is dead). It was so refreshing to meet a new group of girls. Learning about everyone, where they are in their lives and the crazy things they get up to; in an environment where everyone is relaxed and not focused on trying impress anyone, there is no better way to connect and unwind than how the ladies did last night . One of the highlights of the evening was hearing about one of the girls' recent trip to Cyprus. She gave almost a full report on everything from the geographic conditions of the country to the best party locations and social tips. It was with true conviction and something just shy of a slideshow presentation that she told us about her holiday there. Crystal blue waters and beautifully-bronzed boys. We were sold! Oh how a night of oestrogen does a gal good every now and then! Not only on a level of being in the company of girls only, but more generally-speaking, around a group of such positive influence and humility was what really stood out for me and what made it so special. Sharing stories and laughing, cringing, EATING (another highlight), one remembers that it's simple to be happy. All you need to remember is to be exactly who and what you are, and to allow others the freedom to be that too--in their own rights. The rest follows on its own. I cannot wait for the next Ladies' evening, I'll be sure to write a follow-up post on it! Stef and I have a few more aces up our sleeves...
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AuthorHi there, my name is Judete Fourie. I am a twenty-something-year-old writer living in Stellenbosch in SA's Western Cape. Follow my day to day adventures that involve wine, wit and braaibroodjies. Archives
June 2017
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