On the road again

Well that "holiday" just flew by. I'm off to varsity again and it really makes me feel like I'm living two completely separate lives, one at home with my family and school friends and one in Grahamstown. Now I'm not saying I'm a completely different person, but I certainly live very differently.

At home there is nothing like cuddling with your dog on the couch all day watching crazy people on TLC or old romantic comedies and the Ellen show of course (my favourite). And the thought of getting all dressed up to 'go out' is just strange. Maybe that just because I live a small town where the closest thing we have to a club is a sokkie bar where unless you are gifted in the art of lang-arm there really is no point. My friends and I would rather get together and have a braai than go somewhere where we can't even hear each other speak.

At Rhodes on the other hand, if I'm not running around with academic and other extra-mural activities then I'm dressing up and attempting to have a good time with friends surrounded by 100 other people I don't know. This can be awesome don't get me wrong, but when a weekend tires you out more than the week, then whats the point.

I love both my lives and I really feel I have two homes, but it has made realise how 'coolness' is most definitely a culturally defined term. At home I'm no less cool because I choose to spend my Friday night at home with friends or family, yet at varsity it feel as if having a quiet Friday night is lame and boring. What makes one thing 'cooler' than the other? Why should meaningless activities define our social standing?

This is a frequently asked question and one that has bothered me since I have been called lame and uptight because I don't go out every Friday and I have no more than one drink a night and I don't care for making out with strangers, but sit down and have a conversation with me and all of a sudden I'm just as cool as anyone else.

I guess this is a personal struggle and I'm sure (or at least I hope) many people struggle with it two. We all just need to come up with our own Idea of "cool".