The Ultimate Rhodent

Kirsten MacGillivray and I chat about nothing as we walk the few metres from our Res to the Kaif. Affectionately known as Kirst, she is the girl with the infectious laugh and knack for playing pranks on the unsuspecting the residents of John Kotze House, and is one who I have come to know and love these past nine months. We arrive, find a secluded spot and Kirst begins to speak about the University that has enabled her to follow her passion, acting. Drama is the reason Kirst came to Rhodes and also why she has grown to love this little place. She considers herself a typical, fun- loving, wine- drinking Rhodent, and is not ashamed to admit that she falls under some of the stereotypes associated with Rhodes students. However, Kirst comes with a twist, although she loves to visit the Union, Rat and Parrot and Friars every weekend and get involved with sport, she also considers herself, “one of the drama kids” and this gives her the opportunity to let her alternative side show. Kirst looks the part today in her emerald green cardigan over a bright green T- shirt, a multi-coloured scarf, dark jeans and sneakers, and a bright yellow badge with a cheeky mouth on it.
While slowly sipping a strawberry Sterrie Stumpi, Kirst gazes at the passing students through her huge black sunglasses and chats about the people she has met at Rhodes thus far. The person she believes to have had the best influence on her is another J.K. native, Mia. She says this is because of Mia’s “no stress, no judgement” outlook on life and her ability to be herself and be happy with who she is. Kirst also admires Mia’s self-confidence, something that Kirst feels she lacks, despite having to perform in front of other people every day. She says her best qualities are her willingness to help a friend in need, her creativity and her unconventionality. Speaking of unconventional, Kirst chooses the night she was found asleep in the bathroom of the Rat and Parrot as the craziest thing that has happened to her while at Rhodes, “I was just in there taking a nap”, she laughs.
Although Kirst is mostly content with life at Rhodes, she has had her share of highs and lows. One particular low that she remembers is when she doubted whether studying drama at an academic institution was indeed the right path for her. She was contemplating whether going to a specialized acting school such as AFDA, or trying to make it in the international business would not be a better choice. However, Kirst has set her doubts aside and has decided that Rhodes is definitely the place to hone her acting skills and have a campus life at the same time. Still, there are times when she feels discouraged, “Like now, when my drama group is falling apart” she sighs. At this point our good friend Cit joins us at the table, the Kaif, after all, is the social hub on campus. Kirst and Cit both light up a cigarette, a habit Kirst picked up from hanging around outside the drama department.
Kirst has an adventurous spirit and describes her best day at Rhodes as the day she was thrown into a pit of mud after Botha House’s “Mud Olympics” and ended up having to walk home coated in the gooey, brown substance. She describes Rhodes as a University with a great campus life and a place that “allows you to make good friends quickly”. Advice she would give to incoming first years is to learn to balance work and play and also to take any opportunity they are presented with. However she says with a laugh, “Don’t stress about anything, it’s just first year, you’re only expected to pass”. This tongue-in-cheek statement encapsulates Kirst’s happy-go-lucky personality and is why she has been so successful in becoming the “ultimate Rhodent”.

Have a look at Kirst's Facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=670510714&ref=ts

Lady's Man

Down two flights of stairs, right down a long passage to the second last door a knock on a standard issue Rhodes residence door, and this is where I find Mvuselelo Gcaba. I sit down in the arm chair next to his neatly made bed and he returns to his chair at his desk. The desk is covered in books and it is quite obvious that this is someone who takes their academic career seriously. It is 10:30pm on a Wednesday night and while I was watching TV series not thirty minutes prior to the interview, Mvu has been working. When I tell him the interview will be short and to the point, I fail to realise the contradiction these words have to his stature. Mvu is far from short, his bulky frame takes up a large portion of the room but intimidation is the last thought on one’s mind. “Would you like something to drink?” he asks before I begin my cross-examination thus affirming his reputation as being kind. As cliché as it may be to say, he is the epitome of a gentle giant. I politely decline as I am a man on a mission and letting him stray from the task at hand may lead to long and lengthy conversations about anything and everything.

Mvu hails from Manor Gardens in Durban. When asked if he surfs or not he laughs and says, “Not a chance, black people and water don’t mix”. Despite this phobia of water he goes to the beach quite often when he is back home in Durban. “I go to the beach a lot but I don’t go in the water, I go cause I know there will be girls in bikinis”. One needs do nothing else but take a look at his profile picture on Facebook to know that Mvuselelo Gcaba is a lady’s man. While we are on the topic of women I ask him if he expects to find his wife at Rhodes and he says, “My wife is in Durban, the one thing that has disappointed me most at Rhodes is the women. I expected them to be much hotter. I heard there was a high ratio of women-to-men but high numbers mean nothing when there is limited talent.” He is a man of great confidence who clearly knows what he wants. Putting two and two together I ask if this means his long term aim is to work and live in Durban and he says, “I’m not a Jo’Burg person and I’m Definitely not a Cape Town Person!”. I ask him what else he expects to gain from being at Rhodes, despite a degree and he tells me that, “I plan to learn how to deal with life more effectively, I’m here to meet new people and create contacts in the business world for when I’m done.”

To end off my interview I ask him a bit about his personal life. He has a brother whom is 11 years of age, he quickly tells me his brother was not planned but that his parents love him more. Usually this statement comes from a place of bitterness but in Mvu’s case it seems to come more from affection than anything else. It is quite evident he is happy to play the role of big brother and to give his brother something to aspire to. And a good role model he is. He excels at Academics at Rhodes, he was voted on to his residence’s House Committee within 4 months of living there, and he even manages to find time for Sunday afternoon basketball. Mvuselelo Gcaba is someone who has stayed grounded and stayed true to himself but has also embraced the title of “first year” whole heartedly. He works hard, he plays hard, and he’s rather hard to miss in a crowd. The nickname “Baby Shaq”, says it all.