BRUTUS May 2022 | The Fountain

BRUTUS MAY

RESPECT

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2022

INTEGRITY

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THE

UBUNTU

FOUNTAIN

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POTENTIAL

DEVEOPMENT

BRUTUS MAY 2022

Our Story Nerina’s name comes from the indigenous South African flower, Nerine Filifolia. This delicate, yet enduring flower brings colour to the open grasslands and humid locations in the Eastern Cape, Transkei, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Free State. It takes three years for this bulbous to bloom for the first time during autumn – and likewise most Nerinas are rooted here in our precious home in Stellenbosch for about three years before they need to exit into the world and start to bloom in their respective careers.

Nerina hosted our first residents in 1968. The residence was only completed in 1972 and for the first four years the residents had to use the back entrance next to the bicycle stands, as the front door was not yet complete. Mrs Rabie was Nerina’s first residence head. Her dog, Brutus, was a beloved resident of the house and unfortunately passed a tragic death. He is layed to rest in Nerina’s soil where he still finds peace in the purple shade of our beautiful Jacaranda.

Mrs. Kritzinger joined Nerina as residential head in 1995 and had to bid us farewell in 1999. Tannie Annette du Plessis has been deeply planted in our hearts as residential head and house mother since July 1999.

Although greeting Aunty A after twenty years was a heartfelt and difficult goodbye, we are overjoyed to have Joy Petersen as our current resident head. Her name is true to her joyful spirit and with her honest and practical servant leadership she captured our hearts. Oh, the stories our walls could tell...

Stories filled with love, tears, joy and growth. Since 1968 Nerina has been home to many. With every new face that she greets, her face changes as well. While striving to grow and adapt as time goes by, we also know that our firm foundation was laid long before our time and will stand long after we leave. We often say, “Nerina is such a big part of our lives” but in fact, for a little while, we have the privilege of being part of hers.

Today Nerina’s heart blooms with pride for our residence – a progressive and innovative homeaway-from-home in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch. We stand for respect, integrity, Ubuntu and potential development. In this house, true to the roots of our name, Nerinas prosper and flourish.

Nerina Residence

T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

BRUTUS Spotlight on Nerina Nerina through the Ages Newcomers' Committee The Story of the Fountain

Lifestyle

Exam Tips Culture Corner Thrifting Guide Food for Thought

Happenings Seniors' Dinner

Personalities

A Story of Hope The People we don't see Nerina look-alikes

Candid

Sweet Spontaneity in Stellenbosch

Crossword Photo credits: Nerina Photography Committee

letter from the editor Dearest Nerina How quickly this semester has flown by!

It seems as if it were only yesterday that we greeted 2022 - full of expectancy and excitement. Naturally, there have been some disappointments. Perhaps your academics are not where you want it to be; maybe you have not met some personal goals.

Of course, disappointments are not pleasant to deal with, but we are gifted the opportunity to try again every single day. Surely, that must count towards something.

As the seasons change and the leaves turn brown, I am reminded that everything is temporary. Our time in Nerina will eventually come to pass, as all things do, but while we are here, let us appreciate what we are fortunate enough to have. We are the sum total of all our choices and, somehow, all of our choices brought us to Nerina. That is no insignificant thing.

This year, I wanted Brutus to focus on the special elements of Nerina.

Last term's edition focused on our beloved bicycle and how it came to be such a revered symbol for our house.

This term's edition focuses on the fountain in the quad. The fountain provides a space where Nerinas can laugh and have fun together, and is, to me, symbolic of the essence of our residence, phrased so eloquently in our house song - Nerina is a house of love, where our friendship shows.

This term's edition of Brutus zooms in on the relationships within Nerina and the people who make our house a home. As we enter exam season, it is my hope that you can find some respite amidst all of the chaos and academic stress.

May we remember to appreciate what Nerina offers us, and cherish the moments we are able to share with each other. Ultimately, that is what matters in the end.

Anja Steyn

The Brutus Team Anja Steyn | Editor

Talyah Greyling | NCC

Emma Beckley

Jule Booysen

Inge Botes

Elmi Bruwer

Zoë Eyberg

Carla Ferreira

Mia Ham

Tianè Lötter

Mihl'emihle Mbandezelo

Liyabona Mqina

Siphosethu Nxumalo

Lara Opperman

Marise Schoonraad

Zara van der Westhuizen

NERINA THROUGH THE AGES Emma Beckley There’s a quote that says, ‘Change is inevitable; growth is optional’ which I think perfectly encapsulates the approach Nerina has taken in her development through the ages. Looking back 54 years to when Nerina hosted her first ever residents, it becomes clear that a lot has changed. Yet, in a strange way, it’s almost as if nothing has changed at all, at least not in the ways that matter.

Nerina’s name was inspired by the indigenous flower Nerine Flifolia which became the res’ main symbol. The first residents were hosted in 1968 and the building was only fully completed in 1972.

For these four years, the front door was not yet complete so the back door, located next to the bicycle racks, had to be used.

Between 1980 and 1990, the bicycle began to gain more popularity and soon replaced the previous Nerine flower symbol.

It is no secret that Nerina is a very soughtafter residence amongst prospective firstyears. Not surprisingly, this has been the case since the residence was first opened. Nerina produced respectable, creative and valuedriven women and was admired for doing so. On a more negative side, a previous title given to Nerina by other residences was the “snobbiest res”. Thankfully, that title has died down. Nerina's slogan has also changed. The residence's slogan used to be "There is no greater mystery than that of a woman". Now, of course, our catchline is "In this house we will prosper and flourish."

SPOTLIGHT ON NERINA

The strength and sincerity of the friendships made on Nerina’s property in 1968 are no different to that of the relationships formed today. There is something so beautifully unique about the connections made through sharing a residence with others.

The conversion of Nerina from a university residence to a home-away-from-home can only be attributed to the ever-growing thoughtfulness of each woman that enters her doors.

Merchandise at Nerina progressed from mainly red and maroon tones to blue over the years. This change happened around the time of the switching of the main

Nerina’s image has grown in grace over the past 6 decades and will continue to do so for as long as her halls are filled with the chatter, laughter, and occasionally, tears of its lovely lady residents. However, regardless of how many seasons our idyllic Jacaranda tree encounters, one thing is sure to remain constant. That is, the unbreakable bond that makes each past, present and future resident of Nerina Ladies Residence, a forever family.

symbol of the residence from the flower to the

bicycle.

Recently,

lilac

has

been

implemented into the house colours. Small changes, such as adapting the house song to include all 3 major languages in the Western Cape, ensured that Nerina stayed inclusive and celebrated diversity. Over the years, the house rules have developed significantly. Rules ranging from a 7.30 pm curfew for juniors to only being allowed to wear long pants on Fridays and Saturdays after lunch, were strictly enforced on the residents. We can be very thankful that this is no longer the case.

All these transformations, both gradual and sudden, will never be able to compete with the consistent growth of respect, kindness and love within the walls of Nerina.

SPOTLIGHT ON NERINA

Newcomers' Committee Elmi Bruwer

The Newcomers’ Committee of 2022 has been selected. This year's group radiates positivity and lives out all of our house values. We are privileged to have a committee who is purpose-driven, passionate and ready to help where they can. We are most certainly in for a year filled with fun and opportunities to grow and get to know each other better.

Jule Booysen Caretaker Jule’s determination, fire and her vision for Nerina is very inspiring. Jule believes in serving where she is planted. “I envision that Nerina will become the lighthouse for other residences. I envision that Nerina will be the leader in inclusivity, integrity and will continue making significant impact on its residents and the greater Stellenbosch community.”

Carla Ferreira Chairperson Carla is a go-getter and a hard worker. She stood for Newcomers’ Committee because she loves organising and helping other people grow.

Carla’s values, which include kindness and authenticity, are something that makes her perfect for her role on the newcomers’ committee. Her vision for Nerina: “That it will be a home where every family member is truly seen and appreciated for everything they are, and everything they are not.”

SPOTLIGHT ON NERINA

Vera Fölscher Secretary Vera’s contagious smile and welcoming presence is a great addition to the Newcomers’ Committee. Vera is a carrot cake and musical theatre enthusiast. Her favourite thing about the newcomers is their passion and zeal for life.

“There is such a beauty in our diversity, but even with all our differences, we all have this natural and genuine instinct to love and support each other in our journeys of discovering our own special place at university.”

Carmen le Grange Social Liaison This energetic Swiftie is very passionate about Nerina and her fellow newcomers. She decided to apply for Nerina because she knew it was where she belonged. To her, Nerina doesn’t feel like a residence, but rather like a family or a home. “Nerina exudes a sense of grace and joy that drew my heart to it the moment that I saw it.” Carmen wants to spread joy and laughter and motivate her fellow Nerinas by serving on the committee.

Tineke Wilcocks Treasurer Tineke has a bubbling personality and always knows how to make people laugh. Tineke decided to apply for the Newcomers’ Committee as a token of love. She loves everything about Nerina. “I love the relationships that I have gained so far.

Being able to feel at home in any room, not just my own, and greeting everyone in the halls.”

Tineke lives by the values of respect, integrity, compassion, honesty, and transparency.

SPOTLIGHT ON NERINA

The Story of the Fountain Mia Ham

Many a visitor to Nerina has commented on how lucky we are to have a fountain in our quad. The fact that we swim in the fountain on occasion, definitely adds to the jealousy.

But what is the story behind our iconic fountain?

In 2010, Ms Annette du Plessis, Nerina’s previous housemother, wanted to build a small water feature in the quad. She believes water has a big influence on people’s spirits and that the calmness associated with water improves concentration. Ms du Plessis hoped that the water feature would contribute to the wellbeing of the students. Originally, she wanted the feature to be a Koi pond. Plans were made and contractors hired, but then the project hit a snag.

The contractors Ms du Plessis hired, only dug a hole and never showed up again.

This was a big problem, as there would be a function at Nerina soon and the fountain had to be completed before then. Ms du Plessis decided to call in the help of her friend, Ms Ingrid Howard. Ms Howard loves building and, as a hobby, had trained her own buildteam. She, and two of her team, Phillimon and Izick, took on the project.

Ms Howard and Ms du Plessis did extensive research on Koi fish. They went through the trouble of finding

a Koi specialist and buying the correct pump, but they ultimately decided against the idea. Ms du Plessis reasoned that the Koi would suffer in a university residence, especially if men from certain residences were to put soap in the water; something that would regularly happen after the fountain’s construction.

The project still faced many challenges, especially with pumps and filters, electricity and waterproofing. Another challenge was the university regulations regarding water features. Luckily, a Mr Dirk Theart from Maintenance helped to work past the university rules and the fountain came to be as big as it is. Jess Edwards, a Chemical Engineering student at the time, was responsible for the beautiful mosaic tiling around the fountain.

Nerina’s fountain, like Nerina, was built by strong, inspiring women. Ms Ingrid Howard later started the very successful Drostdy Theatre in Stellenbosch, where she still manages productions today. According to her, it is a great advantage that women look at the world with a softer, creative and critical eye. She says that it is very satisfying to create something physical that can leave a lasting mark on the lives of others. To her, it is very special that things like the fountain or the theatre will be there for decades, bringing a bit of joy in everyday life.

SPOTLIGHT ON NERINA

The Fountain

Captured

Photo credits: Jess Holing

SPOTLIGHT ON NERINA

Remember to BREATHE Zoë Eyberg

‘Exams’ is the only word that has the power to turn students’ smiles into frowns.

Listening to our professors and lecturers preaching about how we are nearing the first semester exams is worse than the feeling of dread we experience when our alarms go off in the morning. Nevertheless, exams are part of your reality and whether you are excited about the inevitable or asking yourself how you are going to survive the next few weeks, the best way to start is to accept the fact that you are doomed. You did not expect that, huh? On the contrary, it will be alright.

Telling someone simply to “breathe” when they are in the midst of having a panic attack is completely silly. Do not at all think that that is the advice you will receive today. Rather see it as a simplified guide to remember the steps on how to ace your exams.

BELIEVE “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Secondly you will become contaminated with positivity. You will be an inspiration to yourself and begin to be excited about the things that you want to achieve.

RESILIENCE Believing in yourself does not mean it will be smooth sailing from that moment onwards. In fact, you might feel as though things are becoming ten times more difficult for you to succeed. If you have the ability to bounce back after failure, you will undoubtedly find success in everything you do.

Doubting your own ability to get a task done is the first step to failure. Napoleon Hill said, "Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

Believing that your strengths will triumph your weaknesses, will firstly have exams not feel like a burden you have to bear for weeks, but rather a chance to grow.

LIFESTYLE

EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS These two qualities go together.

Procrastination is something many struggle with. Hence, when studying three days before an exam, you will have to be effective and efficient. A key aspect in being an effective learner is discovering your own learning style. This should of course be established prior to studying three days before an exam. Studying for hours without end is not ideal. That is definitely not an effective learning technique. You will just lead your body into a burnout. That is what it means to be efficient as well. You save as much energy as possible, but get the prescribed work done in time. When you need help, it would be foolish to waste time trying to solve a problem, when you can seek help and save time. I cannot oversell setting up a strict routine and sticking to it. Having the feeling of being in charge of your life increases your productivity.

TRANQUILLITY Exams are chaotic. You do not know whether you are here nor there. At some point in our lives, we need to escape the reality in order to keep sane. Whatever makes you happy, find a chance to do it every day. Whether it is big or small.

Walking your dog. Drinking coffee on the balcony while watching the sunrise or sunset. Spending time with family or friends. Make the conscious decision to do something in benefit of your own mental health every day. That will fuel you during the tough times and give you the stamina to persist.

HONOUR Last, but not least is the word ‘honour’.

During the good and the bad times, you need to remember that you are doing this for yourself, your future self and for your toddler-self, dreaming of how successful you will be in the future. Honouring that little you, is how you will find happiness.

The feeling of being proud of yourself is unmatched. Knowing that you worked so hard and finally picking the fruit of your labour, makes all the blood, sweat and tears worthwhile.

“Obstacles and setbacks can never truly deter truly passionate people.”

During the examination period and other times of hardships, always remember to BREATHE.

ATTENTIVE

This should probably have been the first tip given to you in this article.

Obtaining good marks in the exams requires having paid attention in class.

Above all, making notes during lectures is most important. It is known that professors try to give you tips on how you should tackle a question. This is essential to know when you want to excel. So, start giving your full, undivided attention in class and be sure to see the rapid decrease in your stress levels before exams.

LIFESTYLE

Culture Corner:

American Dreams, German Tragedies and French Revolutions Inge Botes Movies, music, and literature play an undeniable role in shaping our lives – how important it is then to choose them wisely!

Firstly, The Great Gatsby is a must read – NOT a must watch. The novel is a comment on the elite American society in the 1920s, also known as the Jazz Age. A penniless young man, Jay Gatsby, falls hopelessly in love with the rich and foolish Daisy. He works himself up from rags to riches to gain her affection, but tragically loses it all, including himself. His life embodies the futility of the American Dream: it is a chasing after wind. Fitzgerald explores the vast carelessness of the wealthy and how social class seems to be inherent.

The historical drama The Boy in the Striped Pajamas produced by David Heyman seems to dive deeper into Fitzgerald’s societal phenomenon, “who decided which people wore striped pyjamas and which people wore the uniforms?”

The movie is based on the book by John Boyne, but I would say the film is a definitive must watch. The scene is set in Nazi-Germany and 8-year-old Bruno (Asa Butterfield), whose father had just become commandant, explores around his house one day and stumbles upon Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish boy his age. Their friendship grows through the barbed-wire fence of the concentration camp. Shmuel and Bruno exhibit childlike innocence as they become the unlikeliest of friends.

LIFESTYLE

The film evokes the rawest emotions out of every heart watching it.

But what could exhibit the weakness of humanity more than a struggle for man’s last words? The song Viva La Vida by Coldplay is written as the long-lost speech of King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. He too was once a revolutionary with a heart for justice, but his aristocracy eventually blinded him, and he ultimately failed his people. He was publicly executed before he could utter his last words of regret. The song humanizes the king and unveils him to be yet another weak figure in history that could not carry the weight of deity.

Dear reader, I implore you to give these pieces of art a try and allow them to touch your heart, change your mind and entertain your imagination!

LIFESTYLE

Food for Thought A Stellenbosch Cafe Guide

Tianè Lötter Here is a list of my favourite cafes in Stellenbosch. Whether you're looking for a delicious pastry or a cosy study spot, I've got you covered!

TO STUDY: MOOD COFFEE BAR Located on Ryneveld street, this cafe holds the motto "for coffee lovers from coffee lovers". Mood Coffee Bar is my favorite place to study because the baristas manage to keep a balance between good service and not being disruptive to your study sessions. I recommend their decaf coffee which is creatively named ‘no mood’.

Mood is open from 07:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and gives students the opportunity to grab something to eat before the 08:00 classes start.

TO EAT: JAVA BISTRO Java Bistro has been open for the last 15 years and promises good food and wine at affordable prices. Java Bistro serves from breakfast to dinner and their bistro style food includes an ample wine list and single malt whiskeys. Java was voted Trip Advisor's traveller's choice of 2021 and is also a good place to visit during loadshedding as their generators keep their kitchen and internet running. My favourite item on their menu is the Smokey Jo pizza. It contains smoked chicken, brie cheese and caramelised onions. Java is located on Church street, but their food can also be delivered to your door through Uber Eats.

LIFESTYLE

BEST PASTRIES: SCHOON Schoon is my favorite place in Stellenbosch and sells perhaps the best pasteis de natas in the world. Their croissant loaf creates the fluffiest French toast and the mouthwatering aromas draw you in from down the street. Schoon has franchises in Stellenbosch square and Church street.

Schoon offers free wifi and is another great spot for a morning coffee since they operate from 07:00-16:00 on weekdays.

This cafe is warm and welcoming; Schoon collaborates with local farmers to create a sense of community. Another favourite on the menu is the scrambled eggs on sourdough toast with slow roasted tomato and bacon. Schoon also has an app which can be downloaded on the App Store on which deliveries can be placed.

TO DRINK: TERBODORE COFFEE ROASTERS Located within de Warenmarkt on Ryneveld street, Terbodore Coffee is one of de Warenmarkt’s purveyors. Walking in, you are greeted by the friendly faces of Burlington and Guy who brew up the best coffees. Terbodore Coffee Roasters import beans from 13 different companies but also source from South Africa’s countryside.

Terbodore’s logo is a Great Dane which is symbolic of their values - heritage, courage, patience and dependability. I would recommend buying their instant spiced chai latte to spread the Terbodore joy to your home. The packaging is 100% recyclable and the chai latte contains no added sugars.

LIFESTYLE

Stellenbosch THRIFTING GUIDE

Siphosethu Blessings Nxumalo When Factorie and Cotton On's prices start to look like Louis Vuitton's, and H&M is too expensive for a student who feeds on noodles every day, thrifting becomes the next best thing.

I don't like wearing something everyone else is wearing and that's when thrifting becomes a go-to, as I tend to find unique clothing and accessories when thrift shopping. I will rarely find duplicate items, which means that I won't see my thrifted cardigan worn by everyone on campus; I can even become a trend-setter! A trendsetter at a discount, might I add.

What is thrifting? When you go thrifting, you go shopping for used items at discounted prices. When I hear the word "thrifting", my mind drifts away from the thought of second-hand items and focuses more on the only thing that matters to a student: "discounts". You would be surprised at the quality of items available to buy when thrift shopping.

I'm certain that you are catching the most common reason for thrifting: saving money.

Places like the Dorp Street Sunday Market is said to be fun if one goes early. The affordable prices and range of choices is what makes the experience enjoyable and memorable.

LIFESTYLE

There are various restaurants nearby which is perfect for a hot Stellenbosch day - after long hours of thrifting you can quench your thirst, grab a bite and make new friends. The Dorp Street Sunday Market is easily one of the best "thrifting stores" preferred by most students and residents of the greater Stellenbosch area.

Then there's Hospice with great hospitality, where profits are taken and used for good causes, such as donations to the less fortunate. Hospice is a thrift store that sells good quality second-hand books for all the bookworms and household items at bargains. However, if you're looking for "thrift-worthy prices" when it comes to clothes, most wouldn't suggest Hospice as it's a bit expensive for a second-hand, charity shop.

At Malaki Second Chances, the clothes for sale are well displayed and colour coordinated. Malaki is known best for its quality clothes and great customer service.

These are just some of the places where students can find affordable items to change up their style on a budget. No need to sacrifice that luxury meal from Java Bistro or the money set aside for a fun outing with friends - you can do all these things and be a fashion icon without breaking the bank. Thrift shopping to the rescue!

LIFESTYLE

SENIORS' DINNER 2022 Casino Night Marise Schoonraad “Life is like a game of poker, you have to play the hand you’re dealt. A wise player can play a weak hand and win the game.”

– Rick Warren

Being dealt with the cards of being a senior gives you the win of a night filled with friends, dancing, good food and even better conversation. Seniors’ Dinner – and this year the theme was Casino Night; a night where the odds were ever in your favour and the winnings were huge.

It was a good day. It started with the excitement of dolling up - there were high heels, good feels and food not coming from a microwave, obviously some dancing, a view of the valley we get to do life in and just some quality time spent with those we get to love.

Lucky

That is the word that comes to mind, surrounded by cards and dice, with people who are dealt to us by chance. It is events like Seniors’ Dinner that make me once again realise how lucky we are. Lucky because we can look how far we have come, and so lucky that we are able to continue this journey with the people around us. Lucky because for a little while the weight that comes with being a senior gets taken off our shoulders and we can consider ourselves jokers. Lucky because our lives are full.

HAPPENINGS

I know every day cannot be this luxurious, this exciting, filled with a full house on the dance floor – but it challenges us to raise the stakes, to take the risks and put in everything we have for a big win. Betting on our future, our friends and on our coming whole lives.

It is experiences like a Seniors’ Dinner that make us stop and realise how much the stakes have been raised, how much there is to win and get excited about. It challenges us to seek something worth celebrating in our every day life. The realisation that life is filled with fleeting moments of winning and that we can share these moments with the people around us.

We are thankful for our powerhouse project manager, Izél Schoeman, for making sure that the event was a memorable one and for her team being there to help and support her every step of the way. They truly aced it.

As the sun sets over the beautiful Bontevlei, cards hanging from the ceiling, wine spinning in glasses and Nerinas dancing, it is clear that we are winning the game called life - together. Together truly is a beautiful place to be. Nerina will always be the queen of our hearts.

Photo credits: Limrik Swanepoel HAPPENINGS

A Story of Hope Mihl'emihle Mbandezelo Meet Hope, a girl who walked into Nerina not knowing what to expect. You could see how she gazed around in confusion as though to ask, “How will this place be different from where I come from?” From a place where she always felt like she was secluded and not seen, all she ever wanted to find was an environment that would appreciate her.

Meet Hope, a girl with an eye deficiency disease, who has been in and out of hospitals to find a cure and whose only desire was to feel normal and be seen as normal. She had also been to one of the top eye hospitals in Africa, St John’s Hospital, and was fortunately advised to come to Stellenbosch University to further her studies due to its well-known hospitality to its students.

Here's one thing about Hope - seeing her vibrant smile, feeling her warm hugs, knowing how friendly she is and knowing her unending support to all those who shout to her for help, you would never imagine that at some point in her life, she felt socially excluded and was going through so much and has had little support from her peers in the past. All she has ever wanted was to be understood aside from her disability.

PERSONALITIES

So, meet Hope, who not only felt understood in Nerina but loved, supported, included and comfortable. One of the times she felt cared for was when she needed transport to attend her doctor’s appointment and house mother Joy availed herself and organised transport for her from Nerina and back. Countless other times, she has been supported by her housemates. Nerina has become her saving grace, so she says.

Meet Hope, whose real name and surname is Nonkululeko Ndaba. She has also taken it upon herself to be there for others, me included.

of all these qualities from having so many supportive people around me. All these people have given me hope that the world can be a better place, even to those who feel it isn’t and will never be.”

From Nonkululeko’s story I hope you have learnt that one of the ways to navigate life is through hope! That - being hopeful - you do by being shown by those around you that there is something to be hopeful for.

Your hopefulness in any given situation is encouraged by your environment. Nerina was that environment for Nonkululeko and it can be yours too.

Nerina is our story of hope.

When I asked about her passion to love and care for others she said, "I have learnt

PERSONALITIES

The People we don't See Liyabona Mqina Considering that Nerina is an especially large and diverse home, it is safe to say that some people’s efforts may go unseen or unrecognised. There are cleaning staff, door monitors and CSG staff trying their best to make our experience at Nerina as pleasant as possible. What could be a better way to appreciate them than by writing about them?

It is important for everyone to know that people who work here at Nerina are meant to help, and make things easier for us to cope at university. Imagine if everyone had to cook for themselves, clean their own rooms and take care of their own safety?

Believe me when I say it would be chaotic.

Hence, it is particularly important for us to remember to treat the Nerina staff as our equals and not see them as workers who are bound to fulfil our every wish.

When it comes to the door monitors, I feel like everyone recognises that there are people sitting at the door, keeping track of the visitors, but door monitoring goes

beyond merely making sure that visitors are signed in or out. Door monitors are not out there to fight anyone, but to make sure that the rules of the visitor’s policy are being followed. Being a door monitor can be demanding at times because this means that the whole safety of the residence depends on you. Because door monitors care about the safety of Nerina, they work from 00:00 to 06:00 just so they can make sure that the house is safe. They do all this and at the same time must keep up with their academics. These kinds of efforts should not go unnoticed – Nerina’s door monitors provide an invaluable service to the house and therefore deserve recognition for their hard work.

I do not think there would ever be an enough amount of gratitude towards the cleaning staff at Nerina. Not only do they clean our rooms, but they also make sure that our belongings are safe. Within the time I have spent at Nerina, I have never heard of a complaint towards a cleaner.

PERSONALITIES

These ladies go the extra mile for us - they greet us with smiles in passages and ask about our well-being. No matter how tired they are, they always make sure that every morning we use clean bathrooms. I would like to think that sometimes these ladies do more than they should be doing.

Cleaning so many rooms in one day can be tiring and I wish every girl in Nerina would recognise that and appreciate all the efforts they put in by meeting them halfway.

Food. The conversations that come up over nice meals are always full of happiness and CSG allows us to have that platform. Eating together allows us to get to know each other better and see who lives inside our house. What I like about the people of CSG is that they are open to our having various kinds of meals from which we can choose.

If you cannot make it in time for a specific meal that you booked, they are fine with dishing up your food in your plate if you supply proof that you booked. We should value and respect them in every way we can just so they can see that we see and appreciate them for being here.

I bet each one of us will take a moment to think about all the role players at Nerina.

Our life at Nerina is much easier because of them. Spread love every day - people are going through the most!

PERSONALITIES

Twinning is Winning Carla Ferreira

Many a time have I caught myself looking and looking at someone again in the hallways. At first I was sure I was seeing double, later just astounded by the similarities they share with someone else in Nerina. A few times during conversations I have gotten déjà vu, certain that I have heard scarily similar stories out of the mouths of other Nerinas. There are various types of twins in Nerina: actual twins, lookalikes and then there are a few pairs that look nothing alike but, taking facts about their lives into consideration, they are basically the same person in a different font. Needless to say, there are quite a few people in Nerina who are twinning and winning at it!

They enjoy the same type of music and movies, but according to Imivuyo one main difference between the two is that Emihle is more talkative in groups than Imivuyo!

THE ACTUAL TWINS IMIVYUYO & EMIHLE MALOTHANA

Imivuyo and Emihle

You have probably noticed these twins in our hallways, always stylish in matching outfits and always side by side.

THE LOOK-ALIKES SUZANNE VAN COLLER & CORA GROENEWALD

Imivuyo and Emihle are originally from Gqeberha and both are studying Bsc Computer Science. When asked whether they enjoy the life of identical twins, this was their response: ”Yes, because it feels like we are lifelong friends, we understand each other and often guess what the other is thinking. We joke about things only the two of us can understand and most importantly, we help each other out. It's always nice to know there is someone who shares similar thoughts to you and you can always rely on that person, so being part of a twin is amazing.”

Although this pair of beautiful Nerinas are in no way related, they just as well could have been twins! Fellow Nerinas say that the similarities between Suzanne and Cora’s striking eyebrows, length and cheekbones are unmissable. Both say that they can see similarities between themselves, but that there are a lot of differences as well. Cora is an Accounting student originally from Prieska in the Northern Cape. Suzanne, on the other hand, is a BA Humanities student from Pretoria. One thing that Cora and Suzanne have in common is their love for fashion.

PERSONALITIES

Cora (left) and Suzanne share more than just a love for fashion!

SAME PERSON IN A DIFFERENT FONT

Roommates Tineke Swanepoel and Julia Thomas may not physically resemble one another, but they have a strange number of things in common: 1. Both of their mothers are one of four daughters.

2. Both are the second child of four children.

3. Both are the owners of two Schnauzers.

4. Both of their fathers regularly speak on RSG (Radio sonder Grense).

5. Both LOVE coffee, cheese (even blue cheese) and Formula 1.

Julia Thomas

6. Their parents got married in the same year and month and had their first child at the same age.

7. Both got exactly 68% for their first Economics test this year.

8. Both have the same amount of love for clouds, food and sleep .

9. Neither has ever broken a bone.

10. Both are extremely neat.

11. Anyone who has ever met them can confirm that they also perfectly match each other’s chaotic energy.

PERSONALITIES

Tineke Swanepoel

Sweet Spontaneity Jule Booysen Spontaneity springs from a place of sudden impulse without any premeditated planning. As a person who prefers to have her day all planned out and organised to the last minute, spontaneity should naturally be my biggest enemy. However, during my time at Stellenbosch, which has been filled with ups and downs - spontaneous moments which can be seen as little adventures, have been the source of many highlights and memories. This will make fun anecdotes that I can nostalgically reflect on in years to come.

An instance like this occurred during welcoming, right after housewarming.

Housewarming proceedings had just concluded, and quite frankly, welcoming had been emotionally and physically overwhelming. To add to that, I still had some loose ends to tie up in terms of the move to university, so I was feeling quite unsettled and was not up to be around people. My mentor called us together and told us that we would be going “branding”, an activity which I had learned involved traditional inter-residence mischief. I was reluctant to go. I was even more reluctant to participate given that I was barefoot the entire time.

Our first stop was Dagbreek. The plan was to steal their treasured cricket bat, a plan which, might I add, failed. Our next stop was Huis Marais, to paint their protected rock. Upon the success of our venture, an unfamiliar feeling started to arise within me, but I just brushed it off as “welcoming hype”.

CANDID

We then went on to paint the Huis Visser anchor, which resulted in us being chased by the angry men of Huis Visser. Once again, that feeling arose within me, for me once again to brush it off as “welcoming hype”. Stepping on the Helshoogte chicken was next on our list and to end off our night, we ran over the forbidden Simonsberg grass. It was in that moment, feeling the Simonsberg grass underneath my bare feet, hearing my breath ring in my ears, running while fuelled by adrenaline, that I realised that this unexpected moment had changed the course of my night. It was as if everything transpired in slow motion, and all my senses were enhanced. If I could compare this moment to a scene from a teenage 90’s movie, it would be the ending where the protagonist finally reaches their moment of victory. When looking back on housewarming, this moment is engraved in my mind forever. What does this anecdote symbolise?

It symbolises that the greatest moments of joy sometimes originate from places we least expect - places without premeditated planning. As much as we try to perfect each day according to how we envision it, life always happens while we make other plans. Dominique Adonis once said, “There is a message in the mess.” So, next time you feel like your entire day has just been a mess and you haven’t lived up to your expectations, do not be afraid to say yes to those spontaneous plans.

You never know what memorable adventures it may turn into or what message it may bring. Through saying yes to a spontaneous occasion, I received a message to pick my spirits up and that carried me through the rest of welcoming. I learned that one should value the memory and the opportunity to do something you’ve never done over a feeling which will keep you in your comfort zone. What message lies in your spontaneous moments?

CANDID

If you're not wearing pajamas at house meetings, what are you doing?

Crossword

ACROSS 2. What always makes your Wednesday better?

4. During the second term, the newcomers had a social with...

5. The best place to study, except on Sundays.

DOWN 1. Where was the Seniors' Dinner hosted?

3. The best attire for house meetings.

5. "Dis altyd...", except when we lose to Tuks.

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