The life and times of an International Student in South Africa

The life and times of an International Student in South Africa

Every student who migrates from their home countries to a new country they have one dream and one dream only. That dream is passing all of their prescribed modules in record time and be employed anywhere in the world and be able to lead a comfortable life for their families. In many cases that is not the case when it comes from an international students perspective. 

There are a number of red tapes that are aligned around any international student in particular if the student is an undergraduate. First and foremost as an international student the Study Visa that has been issued out by the Department of Home Affairs, in clear black and white clearly states that the student is within the bounds of South Africa solely for academic purposes and nothing else must be done by the student. Indeed the directive is practical and straight forward. That is to say, the student is within South Africa for the sole mission of pursuing one goal and that is the student's journey of attaining an A4 piece of paper that states that the student in mention has completed the courses offered by the University rather any University in South Africa. 

Upon observing the "International Student" as a subject one comes to note that the international student comes in many facets than one. The international student either hails from an affluent and well off family or the international student comes from the middle-class family that can afford to send their child to any tertiary institution of their liking depending on the child's grades. Then in the view of this blog; the primary focus or exploration is the middle-class family international student. 

The student in focus in this blog is a Zimbabwean international student. With no shadow of a doubt that it is a known fact that Zimbabwe the once former giant of Africa is now a shadow of its former self. The steroid infused economic meltdown that has mutated to become a chimaera of madness whereby the once bragging rights that the nation used to be praised about has finally become a mere folk tale that is narrated by hags who are still reminiscing of their days of youth. In as much as there is hope that still lurks within the hearts of Zimbabweans's that the future will be better than the past and now. The obvious reality on the ground is that the international student who aspires to finish his or her degree in record time is hanging in the balance if one pay's attention to what is happening in the landlocked nation. 

Zimbabwe is an income-based economy, this in layman's tongue means that the money that is earned by the majority who work in the public sector drives the economy. Indeed though there is the private sector too that plays a role within the countries contribution to her accumulation of revenue so that she can manage her operations smoothly. However, the uncontrolled inflation which adversely affects the households this means that the transfer of grocery money and rent is affected. This places the child or could note the student in harm's way.

In harm's way, one is inclining towards exploitation by landlords, one is inclining towards sex work in order to survive. One in noting must acknowledge that not all International Students reside in residences offered by Universities. Many of the international student's community either reside with relatives who are willing to take them in or they reside in private accommodation.  Those who reside with relatives have their fair share of their battles because some relatives are not prepared or willing to take in another person who in the relative's debate would note that the extra mouth is an expense. Hence they feel it is within their rights not to accept any relative into their residences. 

The focus of attention switches over to the student who stays in private accommodation, in the case of a Zimbabwean who is solely dependent on funds coming from home this means that the student when they delay payments by about two weeks into the new month they have to pay a ten per cent penalty fee for late payment; this means the students well being is in great threat. By great threat, the blog is paying attention to psychological, mental and emotional instability. When the mental state of the student is not balanced this, in turn, pushes the student to seek other coping mechanisms such as sleeping, erratic eating habits and distant from his or her friends. This means this affects the student's performance in class and assignments. This avalanche of problems cascades and pushes the student into a depressive state whereby "nothing else matters". Within the student's knowledge, they are aware of may of the helplines such as SADAG among other organisations that assist people who are facing mental issues in the view of the blog these issues that the student is facing are unique and they need a unique approach. Hence the student understands that it is pointless to reach out to such organisations because of the point of lack of relatability. In the text by Steve Biko "I write what I like", he notes the chant that was echoed during the seventies of "Blackmen you are on your own". Indeed the student is on their own, there are certain lengths that the university can do however there are some lengths that the university cannot do. 

Thus the Zimbabwean student in order to survive is in constant lookout for odd jobs of any kind to supplement their survival in South Africa; from sex work to drug mule to cleaning to anything that brings home any money in order to survive and to ease the pressure back at home. 

This comes after the stark reality that beholds the student by the throat like a noose of the harsh reality that haunts them right before their faces like the ghost of Freddy Kruger from Nightmare on Elm Street. Being a Zimbabwean is an extreme sport within the bounds of South Africa, a nightmare endowed in a white dress though the stench of misery and pain can be smelt from a mile away. Options of "side hustles" are available in South Africa such as being a waiter or waitress, or working for a fast food outlet which is perfect the money that comes out of those innumerable franchises is enough for the student to survive however there rises the tricky part the student is a fulltime undergraduate student who's classes that end at like at half-past four on an average day. 

With the above-noted factors, one can understand for a student alone who is in a fragile environment that expects nothing else but one and thirty per cent of the student's commitment to the studies. The student's performance is adversely affected. Let alone the student has to raise money for registration in order to be admitted for the following academic year. While his peers or academic colleagues are resting at home the student is working during the breaks offered by the University. 

Universities offer campus jobs like working in various departments which is wonderful it is a goldmine in the eyes of the student. However, nepotism has weaved its ugly head in the departments. In order for the student to get into the department, the student must know somebody who knows somebody that is how a student can be able to worm through the rigid system. 

Let us explore once the student has been hired by the university; the university takes time to pay the student. Furthermore, campus jobs are not consistent though they take time at least the student has a steady income. What is being delivered to light is the vitality of any source of job a student can get in order to survive in the toxic environment. In noting the environment can be juxtaposed to crossing a roaring river, for instance, the Zambezi river some are whisked away and never to return some will cross the mighty river while others have to fight to make it to the other side. 

A once-majestic dream mutates to become a living nightmare. The gruesome reality that gawks the student right through the cornea is enough to send chills right down the spine. As enshrined in the human rights charter everyone has the right to live in a safe environment however, it is mere rhetoric for the international student in South Africa who hails from Zimbabwe. 

With regards to sex working the student will offer what is available rather what the client wants, be it anal or vaginal penetration. This being exposed to a traumatic environment where the student is not prepared to explore the student is then pushed to question their own sexuality, their own cultural identity and also what their religious identity. As graphic as this paragraph is this serves to submit critical enlightenment of the adverse economic hardships that Zimbabwe is currently going through "god knows when they are going to end" subject the student to an eye gauging experience that only the walls who witnessed the horror will remain silent until the ends of time. Other students opt to give up their bodies as a means of sole transaction to get food, shelter clothing money. The student is being raped by people in power. In authoring this paragraph it is paying attention to both sexes it is not focusing on one particular sex but both sexes. 

The only thing that keeps the student alive is the human will, courage and hope that tomorrow is going to be a brighter day. 

These are the life and times of an international student living in South Africa.