How to go from being 'affluent English teacher (by affluent, I mean having a paycheck) in Seoul, Korea' to being 'poor college student in Grahamstown, South Africa'

Over the past couple of weeks is has come to my attention that I have become slightly...umm...cheap, as they say.  Two incidents really showed me how cheap I had become.  The first was when I found myself complaining that I needed a new sponge for dish washing but that sponges are just too expensive.  Well folks, sponges costs about R10 (which is about US$1.20).  While that may seem a bit much for a sponge, I ought to think that it is worth it for clean dishes.

The second incident that brought it to my attention was at the liquor store.  I saw a brand of wine that Ross and I bought when we were travelling here last year (weren't poor college students yet) and remembered how nice it was and thought that I should get some.  Then I looked at the price.  It was 80 Rand!!! (which is only about US$10.00).  I was quick to laugh at myself for ever spending that much on wine when I realized that I should really be laughing at myself now, as I have been afraid to spend more than $4 on a bottle of wine...

So I have written up this little guide to going from having a paycheck in a very affordable country, to living on limited scholarship money in a small town with inflated prices:

Step 1: Instead of going out like you did in Korea, convince your friends that it really would be more fun if they came over to your house:
"Yeah, guys,  it will be awesome...we can buy a R30 bottle (about US$3.50) of wine and play board games!" (still working on mastering this technique)


Step 2:  Instead of buying basic household goods (plates, silverware, pots, pans, towels, etc), just get engaged.  If you are about to get married, people want to give you presents.  It is absolutely wonderful.  (don't worry...that isn't why we got engaged.  Ross and I got engaged before we became poor college students--but it doesn't hurt)


Step 3: Re-orient yourself to appreciate smaller things.  Aka:
In Korea: Wow, I've worked really hard this week, and I've been saving so much money...maybe I should treat myself by buying a new Lomography camera that costs KRW100,000 (about US$90.00).
Now: Wow, I've studied so hard this week and deserve to treat myself.  I think I will buy a bar of chocolate.


Step 4: Unplug appliances when they are not in use (like the microwave and the stereo).  Just make sure not to accidentally unplug the fridge when you go away for the weekend and end up losing all your food.  Yes, we did this.  No, it wasn't fun and no, it wasn't cheap...


Step 5: Buy cheap toilet paper.

The Letter Z

As previously stated, the reason I'm in Grahamstown is to attain a Master's Degree in Sociology.  In order to get this degree, I must write an extensive thesis, which involves reading.  A LOT OF READING.  All this reading that I must do is entirely academic writing and I'm sure you know what that implies...

read, read, read

...

start to fall asleep

...

have some coffee

...

read, read, read

...

go to the bathroom

...

make a cup of tea

...

read, read

...

crack a beer

...

read

...

surf the internet

...

read for five seconds

...

surf the internet some more

...

check facebook

...

stumble upon

...

glance at the book on participatory development rhetoric

...

check email

...

beer

...

email

...

what was I supposed to be doing again?  Oh yeah, work.  Oh well, I guess 10 pages is enough for today...

But I digress...this post was not supposed to be a tangent about my pathetic lack of study skills and the beer/study program.  This post was intended to comment on the letter Z...or was it S?  I can't remember.

You see, I am attending a South African university.  That means that not much of the reading is published in America.  Most of the books and articles that I have to read are published in either England or South Africa, written by either southern African or European scholars; and, as some of you may know, people from such places do not often use the letter Z in spelling, as opposed to Americans who use Z all the time.

When I began my studies, I decided to continue to spell in my American way (so...organiZation, NOT organiSation).

This has come at a price.  After reading so much, I don't know anymore what words should have a Z and what words should have an S...and in the desperate attempt to not lose any little piece of my American identity, I have found myself PUTTING Z's IN EVERYTHING!  

And...what's even worse...I almost spelled the word "neighbor" like "neighbour"...don't worry, I caught myself.  Whew, close one!

...organization, utilization, mobilization, criticize, specialize, emphasize...yeah, it's a Z...I looked it up! :)