Valentine's Day

Valentine's started rather early this year. First there was the MSC selling roses for charity. I was really astonished to see girls and guys from my class buying roses for each other, even if they weren't in a relationship. It taught me something important about the people in my class, for them Valentine's isn't some commercialized holiday. It is a special day for them to show someone that they are loved. Perhaps I took part in this year's Valentine's Day rose buying, perhaps I didn't. You'll have to wait and see.

Yesterday brought another interruption to the usually monotony of life. It was the Valentine's Day night race (10 km race). Feeling rather underdressed (I didn't wear any pink or have any fairy wings), I had a really great race, breaking 40 minutes for the first time. I hope that that is merely a dry run (no pun intended) set up for the actual Valentine's Day on Monday. Hopefully better things are to come.

Aaron Motsoaledi is coming to medical school on monday and I dare say that I am in fact looking forward to it, even if he is just there to launch an HIV awareness campaign. He has really turned around health care in this country and, although that wasn't really hard, I really respect him. I'm looking forward to the expected Valentine's Day joke (surely there has to be one with these politicians).

Finally there is street party. Sport's admin is convinced that people have nothing better to do other than help them sell alcohol. I don't really care that it would make my club money, my problem is that they expect five people to be there from 3pm until 1am. Absolutely ridiculous! What a farce! Oh well...

May everyone find love this Valentine's Day and to the person destined to be my next Valentine (in the non-commercialised version of the word [girlfriend]) I will always say that I wrote this for you. Do not argue that I wrote this year, just accept that I realised that bigger things were still to come :).

The concrete walls hold fragile values,

the library the power to kill,

the cafeteria the delights of many,

the second floor only deadly still.

Yet within the minds of students taught,

there lie the words from textbooks bought,

to uphold the values for which they fought,

and find the peace of mind they sought.

But the halls of tables and the chairs,

hold both hope and despair,

to free the minds of those who dare,

to challenge people, not compare.

Values, minds and free thoughts,

that fight for place in parking lots.

To change the perception of them all.

Just you and me against the world.