So the strike got a lot worse. After I last wrote the administration expelled the student body president and other student representatives. In retaliation students were parading around with baseball bats and two by fours, breaking car windows and throwing bricks through the windows of the some of the dorms. Also, the students tried to march to the government center and were forcibly pushed back onto the campus by the police and some got tear gassed and hit by rubber bullets. We of course were at Kagisong for all of this, for which I am begrudgingly grateful. Yesterday they officially announced that the school was officially closing down. That meant all students had one hour to get off campus or else face roving police vehicles armed with gas masks and guns. I was worried about my local friends but as assured that they were all safe and heading back to Francistown (in the case of my friend Katlego) or more frequently “my village.” Because the campus is closed down and the strikers have been removed, campus has been deemed safe and international students were allowed to move back into their dorms. However, since we realized that we have all week off of school Avery and I immediately began plotting our escape. Tomorrow at 6 am we are heading to Cape Town and then to Lesotho. Todd was a little worried about how we were going to complete our independent studies: I weighed the options….stay and get one extra week on the independent study….or go to Cape Town and Lesotho when I may never get this opportunity again in my life…hmmmm. In all honesty it will be a little stressful getting my research done, but I can do it in 8 weeks, if I absolutely have to, I think…I hope…whatever, I am going to Cape Town.
Honestly though, this strike has been poorly handled. The students are not conducting themselves in a way that will allow the government or anyone to take them seriously. And it’s too bad because some of their concerns are legitimate, and the government/university administration is totally ignoring them.
But basically I am very excited about the upcoming trip and will be madly packing tonight!
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OOOOm G! So what does it mean for you now that the school is closing? Does it affect your studying there? You said you're doing an independent study right? That strike sounds pretty crazy and interesting. I want to see some pictures of where you're staying and your trip!
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