The British, Dutch, German, Portuguese, and more settled themselves around this area. According to Maria, these communities’ influences have continued to draw Europeans here for over a century.
My first day continued with a trip to a nearby mall. Accompanied by my coordinating professor, I strolled through a bustling urban shopping center near the sea. As I walked, I heard new languages left and right. I discovered that the languages I was hearing were predominantly Xhosa and Afrikaans. The Xhosa are a South African indigenous ethnic group, while Afrikaans is a creole of Dutch, Malay, Portuguese, Indonesian and the indigenous Khoekhoe and San. Hearing new languages, seeing new sights and learning all this new information within just a few hours of arriving was not only exciting but also intimidating. I spent the rest of the weekend attempting to adjust to the new time zone (nine hours ahead) and imagining what my first day at Pearson High School had in store for me. Sneak peek—school uniforms, the title of ‘sir,’ a rotating schedule and a view of the sea. More from me next week at Whiting High School!
