I'm not demanding I swear

I have nothing interesting to write about so I'll tell you the little story about my few days in Cinsta.

Cinsta was our last stop on the way down the wild coast, only got to spend two nights there and had to start our way back to Durban. We stay at Buccaneers Backpackers, anyone I've talked to says this is the best one in SA, and it was great! We had booked a dorm room before we got there, we had been so lucky and other than the first night we hadn't needed to share a room with anyone else, we kept getting upgraded or just had a whole dorm room to ourselves as it was off season. But unfortunately Buccaneers was a little fuller than the rest so we got to the dorm room released we'd be sharing with 2 other people so to get a twin room was like an extra 10R a night so we decided to treat ourselves. So I we went back and asked for a double room which was fine, she smiled and gave us the keys and sent us on our way. We go down to the cottage and into the room and there was 1 double bed - we had asked for a double and not a twin. So I was sent back up to see about a twin. Again the girl laughed at me, which I realize is par for the course and so we get a twin but they only have one available for that night, but we figured we could sweet talk our way out of that the next day.

So we again move (only next door) this time into our very own house! Very cool. The house was huge and had a balcony on the top floor looking out to the beach (pic 1). We get settled and go up to the bar for a drink and realize we have no coffee for the next morning so off we go to see the lady at the check in for the 4th time in an hour to get directions to a store if such a thing existed in these parts.

She gives us directions - go down to the beach, and walk along until we pass a lagoon and take the first right, and we'll run into it. Sounds simply right... so we get down to the beach no problem at all and walk pass the lagoon and stop realizing the directions weren't as simply as we thought (pic 2) - she must also work for Google map. So we’re standing just beside the lagoon thinking she just sent us to Columbia to get our coffee when we see this little path beside the lagoon in the trees that lead up to a neighbourhood so we figured we'd have better luck up there finding coffee than in the Indian Ocean. Up the path we go and we end up on a little street so we figure that maybe if we take the first right we may indeed find a store, and we did! It was small store but it had coffee and milk and cookies so we were happy. Had a great night just relaxing on the balcony. The next morning we go back up to the office to try and sweet talk our way into keeping the house and our twin room, no luck the house was closed so we got moved back to the double room which we had turned down the night before. We had to share the cottage with 2 NZ girls and realized that’s why the lady on the check in put us there, let’s just say the NZ girls fit a stereotypical look, which I is why when we asked for a double she had the smile. But it was still a great night we had our own room and still a beautiful view of the beach, couldn't complain. I definitely see myself taken a trip back to Buccaneers.

I Heart Obz

For those of you that don't know I live in Obz (Observatory) which is a suburb about 10 minutes from Cape Town City Centre, and I love Obz. It's a student mecca with a Bohemian type vibe (or so they say), I couldn't have found a better place to stay. But like anything Obz can get a little moody on occasion, most of the time it is in a happy go lucky place but it was in a mood last night when I was awoken on numerous occasions, Obz was in a crazy mood. Once Obz gets in a mood everyone whose around will pick up on it and exacerbate the mood, sometimes good sometimes not so good. The not so good is the crazy mood times because really the last thing you need is all of the people around to get a little bit crazier. Take Wednesday night, there was a few berkies who were a little drunk sitting across the road from my flat and they thought that a singing competition at 3am was a great idea. I've heard many of them break into song on occasion but an organised (4 drunks guys on a corner) idol competition was a new thing for me. Never did find out who won as they were deciding in Afrikaans but my vote was for the 2nd guy I don't think he even knew he could reach some of those notes.



A couple of weeks ago I went out at 8 in the evening to run to the grocery store and the moment I walked out the door I was surrounded by bad energy, Obz was in a creepy mood. The creepy mood doesn't happen very often I've only notice it 2 or 3 times in the last year and a half. Everything was quiet and you could just feel something wasn't right. So I walk to the store and watch behind me the entire time you could tell that everyone was on edge. I get home with no problems and a friend comes over a bit later and first thing I say is Obz is creepy tonight and she completely agrees. Later we go out and meet up with another friend who again agreed with us, he was coming in from the highway going to get cash and meet us at the bar, but as soon as he came off the highway decided to go to another banking machine because the bad energy was that intense. How weird is that, three people all feeling the same vibe and so much so that you change your plans? Nothing bad was reported happening that night but there was something around. I can walk home alone at 4am and not have a worry (still know whose around and watch behind me) but this was so strong I was edgy at 8pm.



When Obz is in a happy mood there's nothing stopping it. If you come home after a long day and I'm walking down the street and everyone is happy and joking around even the berkies are happy and will start walking with you just chatting (and not asking for money) it will automatically put you in a good mood. If if I don't talk to anyone on the way home its the energy in the air it just wakes you up and makes you happy.



I have never been in a place that has moods how does a suburb get moods, and how does it affect everyone else around? Just doesn't make sense. I've included a picture taken from my lounge window, so you can get a small taste of Obz....

When you just need a pitch fork

This cartoon that I just had to post... this is a excerpt from my old blog to understand why...

Got lock in my house last night, we have been having issues with our front gate for awhile and it has been fix for about week now but last night we got locked in, how weird is it that all this security is great but you can literally get locked in your house. Christine and I ended up taking a pitch fork to the thing and were able to open it wide enough for us to squeeze out. What a site we must have made 2 girls with a pitch fork and a torch pushing and pulling on this big old gate and laughing.

Sleep Deprived

Not a happy camper today, I was woken up 5 times last night over about a 5 hour period. There was the random guys in a car blowing on sports horn (SA must of won some game) they woke me up twice. Than I had the berkie idols which I would have enjoyed if not at 3am which was proceeded by a large fight accumulating in some guy pulling a 12 inch knife (no one hurt they all went home but still) and than the roommate. So here's a cartoon, today is a non thinking day...

Book Karma

Even in the short time living here I have been finding more and more american things coming to SA. Such as Fear factor SA and now there starting the biggest loser SA. I hate this! Globalization has its place but really the biggest loser, but I guess when a large population of people who are not obsessed about weight lost you have a huge potential market to push all of your weight loss crap on. People (referring mainly females) especially from what I've found black females are very comfortable with their weight and its not an issue. People on TV ie actors, presenters, news casters are not all the typical 'good looking' people they actually choose people for these parts for the quality of the work, its an intriguing concept. But there is nothing I can do about it but not watch it I guess since you know there already shot it and its premiering soon.

The last couple of weeks I've had bad book karma, I haven't found books that keep me interested and I keep settling on ones that are ok because I can't find anything I want to read. So this bad book karma has lead me to watching a lot more TV, you know like 4 or 5 shows a week. In the grand scheme of things this is not a lot of TV but it feels like it because I've watch so little in the past couple of years. But the increased TV watching also means increased commerical watching, commericals on SA TV are actually great.

The commerical themselves are not anything special but there simply and funny. Take one I saw last night its a commerical for cough syrup, there's a kid bouncing a ball in the house and coughing, mum yells from the other room stop bouncing the ball in the house. Than they say something about the #1 cough syrup or something and they go to the after... the kid is bouncing the ball in the house again and mum yells... but here's the thing the kids not coughing. That's where the commerical ends, nice and simple and thoughtful. So until the bad book karma works itself out at least I have my commericals.

Cows

As many of you may know in the past I've had a few cow issues, namely being scared shitless of them. I have to say my fear has subsided. I don't know if it is that I'm not afraid of African cows or that over the years of being forced to walk through a plethora of cow fields has finally de-sensitzed me.

For someone who is bascially a city girl I somehow manage to be surrounded by cows a whole lot, probably has a lot to do with my career choice. Surprized that geology would put you in the vacinity of cows, i've been in cow fields on three contients now due to geology, isn't that an accomplishment.

I always knew that I was not alone in my fear of cows, (its the tongues) but now I have documented proof I'm not the only one. I can feel justify in my feelings of superiority over these girls as I never called for help because of cows (I may in a few incidents hid behind people, thanks Jordanna) but I never ran away from cows (ok, once... but I was alone), but I can now stand near a cow and even want and are able to take a picture.

Science, orbs and skulls

I’m a scientist; it’s a simple as that. To make sense of the world around me I use science to figure things out, including my feelings on ghosts/sprits/ energies, the afterlife, if there is a soul and so on, you get the point. I would have to say that you would not have found a bigger cynic than me; well I’ve been made to reconsider this on several occasions over the past year. I have changed my views on few things, I never doubted that there is a lot we just can’t explain- not that we won’t be able to explain. There is so much we don’t know, but why is it that the general populous thinks that if we can not explain something by science at this point does mean that it won’t be able to, it’s not like we’ve hit the pinnacle of knowledge or anything.

When we were staying at the Hole in the Wall we went to the Hole in the Wall (pic 1) obviously. The day we got there we decided to go for a bit of a walk before it got too dark, we walked to the Hole in the Wall and started taking a few pictures but it started to get dark and we didn’t think most of pictures would turn out and we knew we were going back there the next day so we took off. The next day we go back take some pictures before we continue on our hike. We found a skull of what I believe to be goat beside a couple fire pits. We took a picture (not developed yet) just because it’s not often one finds skulls lying on the beach. So that all well and good we have a great hike and leave the Hole in the Wall. When I got my pictures developed the ones that we took the first day we got there were well look (pics 2, 3). Were on a rocky beach so there not sand particles reflecting, were far enough back that it wouldn’t be spray, and pictures taken seconds before and after these few photos which were pointed up and down the beach from this area don’t have the little circles, so it wouldn’t be something on the lens. Than I realized when trying to figure out what they were is that we would have been basically standing on top on the skull when these pictures were taken. Hmmm, I’m not saying there isn’t a perfectly logical explanation for these things but until recently I have to say I don’t think I would have even put together the fact the skull was right there and would have dismissed the orbs/circle as nothing but now I’m considering all the possibilities…. You decide yourself

But I wanted to see a tribal war

On a fourth day of our trip we left Port St. John's after travelling back roads (dirt) for about an hour to go up to an old airstrip with the most amazing views (pic 1). We were headed to Coffee Bay and the Hole in the Wall. We get to Coffee Bay around midday and realize that the only tar road in the area was the highway we had turned off of about 30 minutes back. We stop for a drink at the 1 hotel in the area because there weren't even any shops close by. We hung out for a while looked at the pretty views and took off for the Hole in the Wall where the hostel was. So it turns out that the little line on the map that connects Coffee Bay with the Hole in the Wall is not really a road at all but rather gravel and rocks that are about 1.5m wide for 30km or so, its not level there is areas where there is no gravel or rocks just patches of dirt and grass. We had found some bad roads but I think I can be assured that I will never come across a road like that one every again. So to travel approximately 30km it took us about 45 minutes. There were several locals walking the road so at least it wasn't completely deserted and they were walking just slight slower than we were driving.

After 30 minutes on a dirt road and 45 minutes on a so-called 'road' we reach the Hole in the Wall. And it really was worth it (pic 2), I love getting off the beaten track and finding these little areas. We get to the hostel and check in, the manager dude apologizes for not getting up to meet us but he has a spider bite on his foot and is having difficulty walking. Than he tells us we have our own dorm room because the only other guests around are cops from Mtata down to help out with the tribal war.... I kid you not. The two of us stop and look at the guy and 'your shitting us right' but nope. We were chatting (kind of of, their English was not very good and my Xhosa is even worse) with a couple of the cops later and we thought we'd check with them about this whole tribal war thing because it really kind of seemed that we should have heard about it some how if it was of any significance but there were about 20 cops around from Mtata so that's a lot of cops and they had been in the hostel for over a month already. The cops did call it a tribal war as well but I got the feeling it was more of a tribal dispute rather than a war but hey what do I know I'm a whitey.

We got so excited thinking we get to see a tribal war, with spears and shields and all painted up, but alas we didn't get to see any tribal war. When were driving back to Durban on our last day three boys did cross in front of us with spears, no tribal war just a couple kids going off to initiation school to get circumcised- not completely sure about this but it’s the right time of year, right area, and the boys were about the right age so through the process of elimination...

We did discover the spider bite the manager got had basically killed his foot. It was completely black and they were pretty sure they were going to have to amputate (got this from his wife, she was scared shitless obviously). The day we left they were going to the hospital to see if the medication was working or if his foot was coming off. I have to say we got a little bit paranoid of spiders for the rest of the trip but likely all of our limbs are still intact.

The pigs just wanted some bacon for their sandwiches

I keep meaning to write something but I have been writing up a few chapters of my thesis so the idea of doing un-productive writing is not compelling. But here I am. A few weeks ago went on holiday up the wild coast, one if not the best holiday I've been on. Everything went smoothly and I don't think you could find a more gorgeous area than the sunshine and wild coasts.


We flew into Durban hired a car and started driving. First day spent around Durban, than we proceeded to Warren's Beach, Port St. John's, Coffee Bay/ Hole in the Wall, Cinsta (about 20km from East London) and on the way back to Durban we stopped at Port Shepstone.

We were searched twice by police looking for pigs, seriously. Close to the border between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal is where the road blocks were set up they are having issues with swine flu (never heard of it).

We pulled up to the road block a police women comes up to the car and we think she says she's looking for pot, she says this a few times because although this area is well known for it marijuana (when the government basically gave the all the wheat farm rights to the whites a lot of the black farmers switched to weed - good ol' apartheid) it still didn't seem right that she was using the term pot and they weren't looking for any other drugs. After repeating herself several times she says looking for pork, this is when it clicked and we realized that in fact they were not looking for drugs at all but actually pork. Of course we both break out laughing and she realized I think that two white girls in the middle of the transkei are not likely pig smugglers and starting laughing herself. Although she still looking in the backseat of the car.

We continued our trip for the rest of the week, and on the way back (close to the border) we were again stopped and searched for pigs. This time though they even searched the boot! He made us get out of car and watch him go through the bags (so that we can't accuse them of stealing, he actually told us that). We got back into the car and we on our way again. I understand they have to check everyone but the two of us are the last two people you will find smuggling pork. Neither of us eat it and to top it off one of us was Jewish!

These incidents cement one fact for me, I will never become an international food smuggler. When I was caught by the fruit and vegetable dog in the Halifax airport with my apples I had my suspicions that my life as an international food smuggler might not be right for me but now I realize I get searched for meat products too - guess I'm sticking to geology.

Hey ho they must go

I know unions have there place but really strikers seem to do nothing but piss me off. Especailly this past week since the public servant strike started, the main components of the strike are the nurses and teachers, there are plenty of others but they aren't having such an impact on me or rather getting in the papers. I have nothing but the highest regard for teachers and nurses and I believe they should be paid very well but the way there going about...

The nurses are the ones pissing me off the most. They are considered essential workers for some unknown reason and so many hospitals across the country are working with skeleton staff and patients are taking care of one another. There were reports from one hospital where the able body patients were helping others to the bathrooms, or turning people in beds over so as not to get bed sores. I'm sorry but if you took on a job knowing full well it was considered essential, yes you have the right to strike and should be able to negoitate a decent contract but you can not not work! They have been barring people from entering the hospitals, at some unless it was an emergency the staff weren't letting you in, they even prevented docotors from entering. It got so bad at a one hospital the police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. I'm sure if one of the protesters were hurt the would demand to get immmediate help from the hospital they just prevented the docotrs from entering.

The teachers aren't much better, first you don't work you don't get paid but you are allowed to strike. Stupid! I think this way you put people in a really awkard position you need to feed your family but if you go to work there is a good chance that one of your co-workers will threaten you for doing so. Read in the paper today one school had to shut down becasue the prinicpal got threating phone calls saying 'they were coming and weren't responsible for what will happen' because the principal should not be there. Some teachers went into another school and started ripping up exams that kids were writing and when one girl refused she was assulted!

I say fire the whole bunch of them, if your going to use violence and intimation to get your way is this really the people you want teaching your children or taking care of the wellfare of your family in the hospital! Just to bad there is such a skills shortage because if you fire them there is absolutely no one else to take over. Why is it that as soon as people go on strike they forget that they are decent human beings, or is it that these are the people who are psychos and just use the strike as their opportunity to get away with shit. Either way I can't wait to the strike is over and I only hope it doesn't get any worse before its over, last years security guard strike was crazy enough for me.

here we go again

I knew I hadn't posted anything new in a while but not since March 20th! I didn't realize I was that bad. I had been think about restarting again (I've had a few complaints) but I got another little push from Leslie, so here we are.

I have a habit of naming people and things, sometimes due to the fact that to pronounce a person's name would be futile for me (when you have two distinctly different clicks in your name there's no real reason to tell me I will never in my wildest dreams be able to repeat it) and sometimes you just don't have a name to call them. I have several people that provide me my breakfast essentials, the muffin man, the coffee guy and the croissant dude. This morning none of my breakfast consortium were around! Three different people at three different location and they all disappeared. I did manage to get myself fed but not what I wanted, I realized the muffin man was gone and settled on the croissant dude only to be disappointed again. So I made my way to the coffee guy deciding that I needed a real coffee this morning since I would be going without my pre-determined breakfast, he wasn't there but at least he has others to cover for him so I got a coffee just not made by him and it wasn't as good.

Something that I have realize I really enjoy is the market shopping. The problem which I outlined above, is that you can't guarantee that the market people will be there when you want them or what stock they'll have. But instead of going to big chains or malls the markets can fulfill your every need. I am careful when I go to the major markets because with the accent I have to fight to get a decent deal (I suck at bargaining). I avoid tourist season in the market or go to the ones not so frequented by the tourists, and I go at the end of the day because if it hasn't been a very lucrative day they are more likely to let the price go a bit lower. I wish I would be able to even fake a have way decent SA accent, but there is no hope for that at all!

It is one of the weirdest accents, usually I can at least pick up a sentence or two in another accent (i.e. British) but not the SA one, I've lived here other a year and I could not for the life of me even say one word with the accent. The problem, you can not put your finger on what makes it different. I saw the preview for Blood Diamond on TV a little while back and I realized that Titanic dude was trying to do a SA accent, it sounds absolutely ridiculous, they should have just let him do another one and forget about the 'authenticity' or you know maybe get a SA actor its not like there's a short supply.

I do want to see blood diamond but movie get released to theatres here much later than in other places so basically as soon as a movie leaves the theatre its available for rent so why spent 4x as much when you only have to wait a week or two. Its winter which means rain (hopefully not to much) so I think its best that I've waited for a few movies to go to DVD I wanted to see so I don't have to leave the wonderful confines of my flat.

Ass Kicking

I have been scaring myself lately. I try and keep informed I pick pieces of info to store when needed or as little reminders, but you put it all together it just a kick in the arse. These inconspicuous tidbits have been picked up over sometime now but just in the past two weeks is when the ass kicking began. It started by getting hit by a car a couple of weeks ago, only got a bruise that hurt for a day, but funny enough it was on my ass as it was a bakkie grill that actually hit me and not the bakkie itself.

So I went on with life but took the advantage to complain for a few days, than last week a house down the road (dodgier area but only a 5 minute walk if that) was robbed and the girl there raped. I actually know these people, not overly well but its obz you know everyone. My friend used to live in the house and date the girl’s girlfriend who lived in the there. A couple of guys come up and say their cops she lets them in and… you just don’t do that, its bad because its not her fault but here the tendency is to sort of feel that way because you should have known better. I guy I know who was car jacked said it was his fault because he didn’t look behind him when he pulled in. That’s weird but such common sense in someway; it’s not the criminal’s fault (it is and they do report it of course) but your stupidity in those situations because you knew they were out there. To add to everything their house was again burglarised the next day when someone pried the security bars of the window apart to jump in – nothing you can to there, at least almost everything was gone.

Excuse that little side note, but as a result of that a few flyers were post around about it as a warning and listed a community website, so I went on. The have a lots of stuff including a neighbour watch section, to keep informed of what to watch out for and to keep better statistics, a lot of things you wouldn’t report to the cops not worth it but the website is perfect. They’ll even email you with updates if you want. I thought this was bull-shit but it’s not, a woman read the email 10 minutes before a knock on the door from ‘cops’, crazy eh! So they keep updating it with descriptions of people to watch out for, they were seen breaking into cars chased off properties, and roofs (yup roofs to avoid the 50kg rutwellers) or one that creeped me out and had me looking at all the walls around my building, a guy who climbs storm drains to break in. Well I finish up this one later because Seamore needs feeding and changing.

Use a little sense with your scent

Scent free zones or even the idea of such things is a completely ridiculous idea for any South African. In the past I have discussed this many people and they think that it is hilarious. I would say the majority of people here were perfume/ cologne on a regular basis and would never think twice about, it is unheard of that people are allergic to scented things. In most cases I have no problem with it, I haven't started wearing any just because it has been drilled in my head for so long that scents are bad and the only place you can really where them is going out to a bar, everywhere else is basically scent free. I just returned from a quick pee break and there was someone in the other stall, I was in the bathroom for maybe 30 seconds before I was inundated by the strongest perfume I have ever smelt, obviously the women next door was trying to cover up smells but for fuck sake I nearly died. I was only in the bathroom for about a minute and I left with a horrible headache, how is that possible. I realize that there is no rule against scents but give me a break there needs to be a least a little common decency.

It is very rare that people here have allergies it seems, there are some but nothing compared to NA. My old roommates were allergic to quite a bit, and gluten seems to be a pretty common allergy but really not much else. You never see packages that say may contain nuts, and half the time its difficult to even find out. I know I'm not allergic to nuts but they still bother me so I do try and avoid, so the other day a little outlet here on campus had cookies, you don't get cookies here you get biscuits so I was quite excited. They were even chocolate chip (my fave) so I ask the women is there nuts in them, figuring there would be, she kept saying no there chocolate and I said I realize that but do they also have nuts, no no no was the answer - guess what they did! Its not like they couldn't or shouldn't have know they were baked about two feet from where they were sold so really. But if I actual was allergic it could have been very bad. I don't blame the women she probably had no idea why I was asking and probably didn't even realize you could be allergic to nuts but still.

I wonder why the huge difference in the frequency of allergies between here and NA, is it that people are more likely to go to the doctor to find out, there just wimpier so they are bothered more, I don't know. But I was thinking (I have absolutely no proof or validation for this theory) that there are lots of people allergic to gluten here, and I was thinking that it has some connection to the fact that maize is used and is much more common than wheat for many. So people are not as used to it in there diets and have developed an allergy? Again no idea. But related to that, I read awhile back that there has been a huge increase in the amount of bread sold and a decline in maize (maize being the cheaper) so the government was using this to state that there has been an increase in low economic class income as they aren't resorting to maize and can afford bread. Crazy eh?

The Problem with being good...

Over the past few years I have stopped killing bugs, it just didn't seem right. I have mind you been made fun of extensivly for this, especially for my catch are release tactics that I used on fruit flies when I lived in Bridgewater. I have been continuing to do this even with the ginormous things that they call bugs here, do be proud.

Now here's the problem with my moral stance on murdering bugs, what happens when you become infested... I have not become over run, actually I've seen very few buggies lately although I still have several bites to prove that there still around. I just read an article (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=nw20070312091528444C682189) about these monks whose temple has become infested, and they are against killing and have tried several methods of removing the ants, and still have no solution. I hope beyond hope actually that I will never find myself in this position because I think I would find something to get rid of the bugs but then I have to live with the guilt of killing thousands of poor innocent creatures even if they do tend to be ugly and even a little creepy.

Jinxed

I jinxed myself I said I wasn't going to comlpain about the cold if I made it through summer well... I complained about the cold yesterday (I didn't mean to really) so of course today is over 30 and this heat wave is expected to last a few days. Maybe it was the new jersey I bought yesterday, just like sun glasses as soon as you have a pair you'll never actually need them.

The Law of Me

• I had one of the nicest Sunday's I have had in a very long time. A cold front has been around for a few days now which means that I was able to curl up with my blankets and read. I literally haven't been able to curl up inside a bunch of blankets and just read since August. Especially during the day it was not humanly possible to cover oneself with a blanket, so to be able to spend an entire day curled up under a blanket I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was even planning on working for a few hours but once I realized I was not going to be able to work while I was all curled up I gave up the work in favour of my blankets, now that's a great work ethic.
  
  I think I must be the denses person sometimes. Somehow I missed the Cape Town Festival street party this weekend (the festival runs for a few weeks so I can still do other stuff but still). The street party closes down one of the longest and busiest street in the city centre and has been called the SA version of Rio Carnival and I even read the paper almost everyday, I've heard people talking about it but I didn't realize it was Saturday, and I missed it, so very sad. But to make it even better a friend of mine held this event/ gig called pussy's on fire on Saturaday night as well, it's meant to promote and show case female bands, DJs, artists and whoever else had something to include. I think it was a great idea and they are going to hold them occassionally but this was the first one and they wanted to make sure a lot of people came so that there would be more, but me being the denses person around I completely forgot about it and spend the night watching movies with friends. How hopeless pathetic am I?
  
  I did go out on Friday night and so my weekend was not a complete homebody weekend but why is it that when I do have a homebody weekend I miss out on all the good stuff? It's like the law of me, something good's going on I don't want to leave my house, if I want to go crazy the only thing I find to do is stare at a wall. Now that the work week has started and my weekend of homebodiness is concluded I see a lot of wall staring in the coming week, this is also covered in the law of me (subsection 2), I have a boring/ relaxing weekend and during the week I get all of this bottled up energy that just wants me to take it out and have some fun, but to no avail as I am a dedicated student. Maybe I'll switch things up this week and do some watching of boiling water instead.

You did what now!?!

I have started to write a few entries over the past week and everytime I start to read it over I realize there crap and of no importance to anyone or anything so I scrap them, so like the little train that could I will try again because I figure that if I don’t keep writing people will stop reading

One thing that I'm very grateful for is the considerable array of people, friends and acquaintances that I interact with. The other night (last week when I started to write this) I went out to hear some live bands play at a local club, we knew one of the acts so it was a good opportunity to go, it was blues but really good blues. But sitting there not really with my 'usual' gaggle of friends and I looked around I realized I was the youngest one there, which made me realize that I have a very diverse and interesting group of friends. Diverse in the fact that they range in age from 20 to 70ish (at that point it’s just not polite to ask), there is every colour and nationality under the sun. How cool is that. This leads to the interesting part of these people (you know who you are), I mean the life experiences that all these people have and some in very trying times just amazes me. When I get into a conversation with someone about the weirdest off hand things somehow someone always has an incident/ antidote which applies.

A group of us had some how managed a conversation about gun running, I have absolutely no clue how we would’ve have gotten on this topic but I digress... so one guy I know fairly well pipes up and says that when he was working with the SA military a few years back and they were patrolling the border (with Namibia) and started to describe the different ways he’s seen people bring in weapons and guns. I just sat there almost dumb founded thinking well first this guy in the military and second of all what are the chance that someone in a group of 6 random people would actually have some real life experiences to inject into a conversation about gun running, seriously.

So if I get nothing else from my time here I have to say I have meet and talked to some of the most interesting people I think I’ll ever meet.

Arbitrary Things Cont'd

7. The rainbow nation: SA is known as the rainbow nation, and one of the major reasons I love this city/ country so much. The number of languages I hear on any given day can be upwards of 15, no joke. SA alone has 11 official languages although around Cape Town one usually only hears three. I know this is mainly because I live in Obz and go to university that I'm around a lot more international people, but still last week on the shuttle I heard 5 different conversions in 5 different languages. I'm only slightly embarrassed of my non-poly linguistic language abilities.

8. 'Rush week': I dislike the fact that are the students have come back and have taken over the campus and thus making me wait in lines for food and help. But I am so impressed with all the clubs and groups here that set up booths for a few days around campus. They had climbing walls, a bar, trampoline and so much more. It was a lot of fun and some very cool groups: surfing, underwater club (scuba), ballroom dancing, mountain and ski club and hundreds more. If DAL had this many groups and clubs I definitely missed that, but than again I'm such a joiner.

9. Colour Pens: I have taken a real liking to brightly coloured pens, pinks, greens, blues, purples etc... Main reason people don't steal them as much and those who do are easy to catch.

10. Film festivals: There are so many film festivals around Cape Town - and most are free!!! Canadian film festival starts today hopefully it will be good because after the Israeli one we went to the bar is set high.

Abitrary thoughts...

Here is a collection of thoughts and products I love, just don't understand, or things that aggravate me. I'm sure in the future when my imagination has run dry that I will expand on some of these things.

1. Zam Buk: the most wonderful cream like substance its like a wonder-drug. I just discovered it a few months ago it cures everything skin related. Cuts, burns, scratches, blisters anything and seriously within 2 days cleared up. Its not sold in Canada I already checked, so I'm planning to return with a life time supply. Interestingly enough they sell Zam Buk in Australia and England as well but not the same formula, I guess that one is not as good or so according to the message boards.

2. Leaded gas: This country still sells leaded gas!!!WTF!! They have to because there are so many cars that require it - they last that long, its amazing what the lack of winter and therefore the lack of salt does for a cars longevity. But leaded gas!?!

3. DDT: Yup still using good ol' DDT here. Again there is a good reason, the more DDT used the less cases of Malaria (by a whole lot- will actually find the statistics, they were in the paper a while back), but there has to be another way! Mind you with the amount I'm getting bitten less bugs and less Malaria the better, but DDT seriously!

4. Cheddar Cheese Simbas: Who would have guessed that these crisps would be so good and so addicitive. I just discovered them. Last week I went to the Boer wors stand to get a late night snack and they were the only crisps they had that didn't have meat or meat flavouring. So I grudgingly took them and TA DA, I have a new love.

5. Warm milk: Steamed milk in coffee is nothing new I realize, but most coffee places ask if you want cold or warm for your coffee. I have really taken to this, for some reason the coffee is richer and sweeter too, so much so that I actually use less sugar. Yummy!

6. Sour Milk: Nothing disgusts me more than sour milk, I think most people would agree with me on that front. But for some reason a lot of blacks here actually purposefully drink sour milk, ewww. I complain (yeah I do complain a ever now and again) about the expiration dates on the milk in the stores because it is always so close to the date. Than someone explained to me that they do that on purpose so people won't have to wait long for their milk to sour. The other day I had actual bought milk, only use it coffee so I don't buy it much, and of course it went off before I had a chance to use it all. I thought about and felt really guilty about giving it away to one of the berkies because it just seemed wrong to give sour milk to someone but I did it anyway knowing that may people like sour milk. I gave it to one of the berkies I know and told him it was sour and he actually said he preferred sour milk! He was really happy and even shared it with his friends.

7. To be continued....

I am NOT an American!

I soon as I open my mouth most people assume I'm an American, that's okay I would prefer if the didn't but what can a girl to do. Some people do ask where I'm from and when I say Canada I believe every single time the response has been Ohhh, which than is usually proceeded by a much friendlier interaction with the person. One of my favorites is a guy that runs one the food shop things here on campus. During the summer vacation they were one of the few places open so they got to know me. He was always friendly and chit chatted a bit, than a little while ago I was talking to someone else in line and they asked where I was from and when I told him the guy behind the counter kind of perked up and said I thought you were American (he's Lebanese - may have something to do with it) and ever since then he has been overly nice to me. He has given me discounts on my coffee so I didn't have to break a bills and stuff. His son is the one who owns the place, and his father just runs it and in the mornings his son is there before he goes to work, the first time he was there and I went in the first thing the guy said was you know she Canadian not American (he said this in English to, so obviously he wanted to me to hear it), and his son has been nicer since as well.

I don't hate Americans (especially now that I'm related to 1) but why do they have to keep re-enforcing the horrible stereotypical American. The reason this is coming up now is that the new term is about to start and a lot of Americans come to UCT for a term on exchange. I do not want to be associated in any which way with them, and I think I will start carrying a rather large Canadian flag with me. I ran to the mall yesterday and was on the shuttle coming back to school and there was the most stereotypical young American boys sitting in front of me. I was embarrassed for them, if they want to the idiots they are than fine, at least keep your voices down so the rest of the shuttle doesn't have to be subjected to the inane blatherings of young stupid Americans.

I always thought that at least the ones that travel are not so... stereotypical because obviously they have some inkling of the world around them because otherwise they never would have left. But sadly no. Out of the ones I meet here I have liked a grand total of 1, she was super sweet but she was living here doing her PhD so she was bit older and had done a lot of travelling before. To bad she's left, I really enjoyed her she was a very strong female and incredibly intelligent and great to argue with. But the same can't be said for all of the others, an 'acquaintance' of mine (through my old roommate's, friend's roommate- don't want to be associated to closely) was the worse I think so far. She was from Iowa but talked like a valley girl, and was so ignorant of South Africa and the world in general it astounded me that she was actually able to fly to SA with out the aid of parents or some type of qualified professional.

I do tend to meet a lot of Americans because as soon as they here my accent they jump on me. Because why would you want to interact with people from the 50 other nations sitting around you when you can talk to a fellow American. When I was on the shuttle with the 3 American boys someone had ask me the time, when I answered I was very quiet because I was only 2 seats back and I know they would have started peppering me with questions if they heard me - and I didn't not want to get involved in that. With this new influx of stupid Americans I have to be a bit more careful. Don't get me wrong in general (I think) I really don't a have a problem with Americans (just the government) and I would never judge anyone because of that, its just why are they soooooo stereotypical, when they leave does the government give them a list of things to say and do so that everyone within a half mile radius of them will know they are American, I just don't get it. Proud to be Canadian - and not having to be embarrassed by fellow countryman.

Watch where your stepping...

I broke my flip flop getting off the shuttle this morning :( but lucky I keep shoes in my office, so my only problem was to go from the shuttle to my office. The options I had at that moment were to do the one foot hop or just walk in my bare feet, I chose the bare feet of course. There is a few reasons for this (everything I do is a well thought out plan you see...), first off my hopping ability is fairly limited especially the for the distance I needed to travel, and secondly everyone walks around in their bare feet.

I really appreciated this when I first got here, as my hatred for shoes and socks has not been diminished. There was a few problems with this for me though, there can be lots of glass on the roads/ sidewalks around obz, a student area with lots of bars (no one will care if you walk around with bottles), and car windows get broken quite frequently. I have gone to the grocery store a few times without shoes but I spend the entire walk staring at the pavement looking for glass, so not really worth it. Additionally my feet are wimps. When I was young I could walk over gravel and pavement without a single utterance of owy, but now the few hundred meters to my office caused about 4 owies to come out. I do occasionally run to get a coffee without shoes just for the simple fact I don't want to put them on, and around the department I have no problem (my wimpy feet can handle tiled floors). I think I need to toughen up the ol' footies because this whole shoe thing really doesn't appeal to me, I don't have any real problems with flip flops as they protect me from the owies and don't make the feet feel claustrophobic but they have been know to break at unfortunate times.

There was this professor at DAL who always walked around with bare feet, I'm thinking he was probably a SAer, make sense now. A lot of people poked fun of him, I'm glad I didn't (but this had more to do with my aversion to shoes, than just being kind, so I kinda of got it) because I think that I may have the same issue upon my return - good lesson to be learned don't make fun because one day it could be you.

To Awkward to be Rich

I don't have a domestic worker, I do my own (and unfortunately my roommate's, a lot) cleaning. At times I'm very embarrassed of this, not the fact that I can't afford it or for the 'status' but because I probably could afford it and it means I'm not providing a job. A lot of people who are quite capable and willing to clean their own homes take on domestic workers just to provide a job for someone, its crap money but still its money and there are so many people who need whatever they can get.

This being said, I'm way to awkward to have someone clean for me. It just feels wrong. Take the cleaners here at school for example. She comes in (there's a few in the building but they have their regular floors) and empties the garbage everyday and about once a week will sweep and mop the floors of all the offices. Everytime she empties my garbage I always thank her, which she seemed a little surprised at at first. When she cleans the floors though I usually leave, first off its easier with me not around but I just feel so useless, there is absolutely no reason why I couldn't do it myself, it would take a few minutes once a week. I'm not to good to do my own cleaning. I almost feel like I should get her a gift or something but she's doing her job and I don't know if it would offend her or not.

At my old place they (we) did get a cleaner in occasionally, when it call for it or when everyone had a bit of extra money. But she was never there when I was, and she only came a few times during the period I lived there. My roommate has someone he calls when he needs to, but since I moved in the place has been clean enough not to have to, thankfully. If we needed to I would make my roommate deal with it, because at home you really can't leave the person alone (you can once you know them, I don't know how well my roommate knows his person). So what do you do, sit on the couch and watch them clean your place, and move occasionally to allow them to clean where you are. I'm sorry I don't think I could do that, its my mess if I can't clean it up myself I shouldn't make it.

If I ever get rich I couldn't become one of these lazy ass rich people who can't do anything for them selves except pick up a phone to get others to do those things that I deem to belittling or beneath me because simply I'm too awkward to just sit there and watch others do for me. Maybe this just means I'm a communist at heart, to bad that communism just doesn't work when put into practise, well at least on a large scale. Anybody know a nice commune that needs a geologist?

Rasta Away!

So the Rasta in a community just north of Cape Town are becoming their own little crime fighting consortium. There is a tik (crystal meth) problem in many areas in and around Cape Town, especially the poorer communities. As with any highly addictive drug tik usually causes more problems by the way of the user indulging in criminal activity to pay for the habit. So a group of rastafarin decided that the tik problem has become to bad and the cops aren't doing enough so the decided to do something.

First step they blockaded the known tik dealers homes and everytime a customer would come up they told them that the dealer was out of business and they should really stop doing drugs. The blockades lasted for a few days and now the rastas are working with the police (just take a second to appreciate that......) to help them locate the dealers and shut them down. I just love the idea of a strung out junkie coming back from scoring money somehow and trying to score from their dealer when a large group of rastafarins tells them that the dealer is shut down and to get off of drugs... i would have loved to see the look on the junkies face when the rasta guys are telling them to get off the drugs now that's priceless.

I have to say my impression of many of the local rasta dudes is very good, they always seem very involved in the communities and in general just nice people, and always great for a random conversation. Well not always great some you can catch at a and time and the conversations are not quite what I would call stimulating, at that point you just stay out of the way of the munchies and all's good.

Meat flavoured meat

Recently I've been lacking on the time front, as well as the imaginative and creative front as well. Therefore leading to a slight decline in the amount and quality of cede posts. Enjoy...

In general, South Africa is not the easiest place to be a vegetarian. I'm sure there's worse and in the last 5 years here I guess it has gotten a lot better but still. Thankfully I'm in Cape Town where the selection of non-meat foods is pretty good but I'm still surprised almost on a daily basis with what a meat culture it is.

Biltong, some form of dried beef, much like beef jerky but it doesn't quite resemble meat as much, you find it hanging in all the grocery stores, biltong booths set up and even the stalls on the side of the road. You have several flavours of biltong such as Peri Peri, biltong flavour biltong, chicken flavour biltong and so on. You don't just find meat flavoured biltong you also find meat flavoured with biltong and other meat flavouring. One of my favorites that I have seen (wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole even if I did eat meat) is biltong flavoured braai (bbq) sauce, that's right your pound of steak wouldn't be the same with that extra meat flavouring. Anything you want you can get in a meat flavour, such as crisps, we have these in Canada but not to the same extent, it is actually easier to find meat flavoured crisps/ crackers than non-meat flavoured. Any Afrikaner that finds out I'm a vegetarian always asks 'or so you only eat chicken and fish'. They tend to be very astonished when I tell them no, and than there is usually some stammering involved and the inevitable questions 'but but wait, what do you eat, why?'

A few more questions I get a on regular basis... 'where are you from', when I response, 'do you speak french', 'are you from Vancouver or Montreal' (take that Toronto... see not everybody thinks your the center of Canada- most don't even know about you - ha). On finding out I'm Nova Scotian, 'that's really north isn't it', 'wow it's really cold there right'.

With a side of extinction

I have been having some difficulties publishing my posts, sorry to all those eager beavers who wake up every morning just to read what I have to say.... :).

I was reading today that conservation groups have gotten the rebels in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) to agree to stop killing gorillas. These particular gorillas are of the silver back variety (as seen in Congo the movie) and are extremely rare, something like 700 left in the world with over 300 of them in this particular forest in Eastern DRC. What brought this about is that the rebels have killed 2 gorillas and than ate them. At least they ate them, they didn't go to waste but its sad because these 2 were apart of a habituated group, meaning they were comfortable with humans and would allow them to come very close therefore making killing them much easier.

I am very impressed that such a deal was made, these are very vulnerable animals that are most likely going to be extinct within my life time. But something just seems off about this whole thing. The conservation group were able to sit down with the rebels (living in and around the mountains) and relay the importance of these animals and how important they are and they rebels agreed no more gorilla for supper?

First off, these people are poor, starving rebels living in the mountains, I'm really sure that when they see a gorilla and are starving to death this agreement will hold up. But this also brings up a very important moral issue as well though... gorillas or humans. As you all know I don't think it is necessary to eat animals for survival, and in a perfect world (or a first world country) it isn't, but when it comes to somewhere like the DRC... I'm not so naive and I do realize that its not that simple. I can't say how many people a gorilla would fed, I'm sure quite a lot they are big animals, but there is only 300 or so left in those mountains so really how long can a large group of rebels really survive on that. If they do continue to eat the gorillas they will inevitably become extinct, but the people will survive, but for how long - especially if the gorillas are gone, therefore not only killing off all the gorillas but the rebels too. So does that mean you stop the rebels from poaching the animals because the rebels are going to die off anyway once the gorillas are gone? Moral question of the day. I did make that argument slightly sensationalized they do have food obviously because otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to stop killing the gorillas, and there is other food sources in the mountains, but it does still make an interesting argument.

That was my firstly my secondly is the fact that these rebels seem so easy to deal with and open for compromise. Where were this negotiators/ big hearted rebels during the years of war, the DRC just held its first democratic election in something like 40 years. It just seems wrong that the lives of the gorillas can be saved with good ol' talking but it took years of war and countless deaths of people to bring some resemblance of peace to the DRC? WTF!!! Did no one try this approach before? Come on people learn to live with one another, your at least trying to make it work with the gorillas, humans can be that much harder - well... I'll wait and see who it works out with the gorillas first.

Side Note: It got up to 37 degrees and I'm on the top floor of an un-air conditioned building...pity me

Independence Wanted

In general I have to stay I think of myself as a pretty independent person, but lately I have to rely on several other people to get things done and their beginning to piss me off. I have previously mentioned I tend to have difficulties finding people which hasn't gotten any better - just wait and see...

It's registering time again, which means a hell of a lot of work. I'm really missing the simplicity and efficiency of Dal (never thought I would say that). I wonder if it was this bad for international student there, because I can not imagine. I'm filling out paper work to have my international fees waived (a lot of money so worth the work, I think), but this means I fill out 1 form, get a letter from my supervisor, get the first form signed by three different people (in 3 buildings spanning 2 campuses) before it finally goes to the head of the science faculty for finally approval. I do understand that there needs to be safe guards and such but seriously this seems slightly extreme. This is all before I even beginning the registering process. I went to find signature #1 today and guess what, I couldn't find him - which doesn't bode well for the other 2 I have to find because at least this guy is in the same building as me. So tomorrow watch out because I'm not leaving without all 3 signatures- well that's the plan anyway.

My main problem with other people right now though is the Namibians. Not with all Namibians just the department of marine whatever. I'm working with them, mainly for sample collection as apart of my thesis. Originally I was supposed to go out on a cruise in December, which got postponed to the beginning of January because of a contract change with the crew of the ship. The January cruise got cancelled, or postponed to the beginning of February. This cruise, the one at the beginning of February has been on and off 4 freaking times!! Yesterday I was sent a invite letter, which I need to get my visa to get into the country (I was half considering skipping the visa and sneaking in but I figured my corer and cooler might scream non-vacation trip). Today I booked my ticket sent off everything for my visa and book my hotel rooms, was quite proud of myself, got everything done and felt much more relaxed. That relaxed state only lasted about an hour when I got an email saying there's a good possibility that the cruise will be cancelled yet again - it supposed to leave in 8 days WTF!!!! So now I'm trying to stop the purchase of my flight, there is no refund, my visa application has already been sent (which is not cheap). At least none of this is out of my pocket but out of my research funds so its actually not much better. If I could just get my samples myself I would have had them back in December and wouldn't have to worry about any of this crap.

Its nice to ask for help and collaborate on projects but I'm getting really tired of this and just want to do my work. Is this really to much to ask. I just want my independence back, or people that are easy to find and a boat that goes out when its suppose to.

Smirks of the Day

Just Now...

Time and time management is something of an enigma, especially here where everything is on African Time. African time does not follow any conventional clock it goes at what every pace it feels like and people organize themselves on their very own pace which can be slightly frustrating for someone like myself who tends to follow the conventional clock.

A prime example of this is the whole array of words used to mean a short period of time or a time coming. These terms include just now, now and the always helpful now now. I have to say I have picked up the use of these words and do use them quite regularly, but the problem which arises is that everyone has their very own concept of the amount of time these terms reflect. In addition to each person having their own definition of these terms they also change with the situation in which they are applied. Just now for example would, to me, imply a few minutes in most cases, such as in a restaurant when you wave down a waiter and they say they'll be with you just now, so you would figure in most cases a few minutes. But if I was meeting a friend just now could mean anywhere from 5 to 25 minutes, well in some cases even more, that usually depends on the nationality of the friend. Nigerians are exceptionally bad at this and in most cases will give you time in minutes but than a Nigerian minute is not actually 60 seconds more like 5 minutes, if someone was to tell me they would meet me in 15 minutes I automatically take it as probably closer to half an hour, or more... oh that tricky Nigerian minute.

Now as well is quite tricky sometimes, in most cases it basically means a minute or 2 but again it could mean up to ten minutes, all depending on who is using the term. Now now on the other hand means right this instant, well right this instant in African time that is. I use this relatively frequently especially at school, I'll tell my advisor I'll do something now now, which means when I leave him I'll go whatever there's no waiting period involved.

In general things do move a little bit slower with African time, no rush a very rasta type of mind set. I never except anybody to go running off to do something, even walking down the street I realize I haven't quite acclimatized to the pace of life here. I am getting better but I fly by people walking on the street, I don't have anywhere I need to be but there is a certain pace that one needs to keep so that at least you realize your still moving. It is nice to slow down sometimes but when your working with other people who are not on African time, you have to keep reminding yourself, no use the conventional clock not the African time.

Time does have a tendency to disappear on me though, I think this has to do with the whole mind set, well I hope or I may just be losing my mind. There has been many a night I go somewhere or even hanging out at home and I know I need to go to bed early having every intention on doing so, it's 7pm and say I want to go to bed by 11pm, 4 hours plenty of time to hang out and chat for a while or do whatever, but the next thing you know its close to midnight and you have no idea where the last 5 hours went, I always think its only been about 2 hours. The reason I think it may be the mind set (plus I don't want to think myself as losing it) is that you slow down and relax and move at the African pace but the clock just doesn't seem to join in with the relaxing and just keeps motoring on. If I go home I'm going to have a hell of a time trying to re-adjust to this whole real time thing, ah just another reason to stay.

BigBig Bug

Yesterday I had to deal with my first big african bug. I'm not all that squeamish when it comes to bugs but this thing is not actually from this planet. I have always been able to catch bugs and release them without a second thought, I was actually the bug catcher at the lab when I worked in B-water. But this thing, this thing was a bit eww.

It was about 4-5cm long and a couple wide, eight legs, two twitchy antennas, and black with silver spots. Very very creepy. The worse part, which I think actually creeped me out more than anything, I stood on the thing. I was standing at my door to my balconey looking for a comet (McNaught's- it suppose to be brighter than Hailey's Comet- didn't see it suppose to be around for the rest of the week though so fingers crossed) and a felt this wiggle under my foot and I lifted my foot and blahhhhh. After a short freak out I contemplated what was to be done with the creepy thing that was in my bedroom. So as embarrassing as it was I went to my roommates son and asked for help, what 16 year old boy wouldn't help out with the removal of a bug from a girls room (I hated doing this- there really is no reason I couldn't). Well it turns out he was actually more freaked out than I was. So after succumbing to the classic girl in distress moment I still had this creepy thing in my room I needed to deal with.

Be proud I did deal with it, and I didn't even kill it, I just dumped it in my neighbours balcony. I used a dust pan and a newspaper and removed the creepy thing but before I did dump it at the neighbours (I didn't want to drop it off the balcony- the creepy thing probably would have died) I made sure there door was closed, so its not as bad as it sounds. Creepy thing-0 (okay give it at least a 0.5 it did creep the hell out of me and made me ask for help), Me-1.

The beetles that everyone gets in their homes (haven't seen one inside yet-thankfully) are huge and ugly and bright red as well. They fly and are creepy but nothing compared to creepy thing number 1. So I know my big african bug coping skills will need to be improved, everyone gets these beetles- my roommate has seen 2 since summer started so were not immune, and I know I can deal with them but I just don't really want to. But I think I'm much better prepared now that creepy thing no.1 has been dealt with so I'm just hoping this newly found bug coping mechanism will endure.

Old and not so pretty

Can someone explain to me why as a day progresses the worse you look. I leave in the morning, just wearing t-shirt and jeans, nothing special but I don't look horrible, but by the time lunch hits I look like the biggest slob in the world. The clothes have stretched out, my hair is going in ever direction and I've seemed to have age about 15 years. I know the clothes look bad because I buy such cheap clothing and so it doesn't keep its shape but you would think it would last to dinner time. I mean 3 hours is just not enough good looking time to last you through out the day. But I guess this is why I always get re-ready before I go out at night because at least that way your 3 hours of good looking time is almost appropriate, because after 3 hours or so no one is sober enough to realize that your clothes have stretched, the hair is every which way and that I have aged 15 years. I can't think of a better reason to hang out in bars other than that.

Even before I age those 15 years I'm still official old. I never get IDed anymore, which is understandable as the drinking age is 18 (and there is no way that I can pass as 17 anymore) but its not even that, I feel old at times too. A couple of us went playing pool the other night, (R6 drinks- works out to be less than $1/drink... only slightly dangerous because it is Tuesday and I'm a responsible student) the place we went is for over 18 only. We were playing pool and this group of kids come in, they didn't scream under 18 until you looked at them. One guy was wearing a suit and tie, first of all no one wears a tie out if he had been coming from somewhere you'd take it off, secondly he was the only one of the group that was dressed up- again if you were coming from somewhere you'd all be dressed up. The girls in the group were no better, a pound of make-up each and slutty-ish clothing and crazy high heels. They then proceed to take the table between the bar and where the bouncer would be sitting in an hour or so time. Dumb! Are kids getting stupider or something, seriously use some common sense. I felt so old watching them get Ided, I swear I was never that stupid. We had my roommate's son with us who is under 18, he wasn't drinking and his dad knew we were there so it wasn't anything bad (defending myself). But we came before the bouncer was on, got a table in a corner and told him to behave. We didn't have any problems, but than again I'm sure that being with us he looked far less suspicious and we also knew a few of the bartenders so if they did realize I doubt the would have done anything, especially when we left before the bouncers arrived and the place got busy.

Nothing has made feel as old than hanging out with a 16 year old. Its not even the maturity thing or the different interests even, it is the simple every day things that I just take as such common sense or common knowledge. I do realize that some of the lack of knowledge I see is the cultural gap but still... he had no idea what 9/11 was even after I explained it, (it did happen in the US but they do refer to it here quite a bit about security measures and such), I had to explain that the cold war was actually not a real war and no shot was ever fired (he didn't really believe me, and was arguing than why do they call it a war- try and explain that simply!). I thought that these things were just common knowledge, maybe its the school system or maybe 16 year olds just don't know this stuff. When I try and remember what I knew at 16, and realize that it was a very long time ago and can't really remember I get a little worried. I have no problem growing old but to realize that you actually stop remembering what its like to be a teenage is freaky. By the time I get around to having kids and them growing up and becoming teenagers I will be so out of touch with teenagers I feel bad for my hypothetical kids, maybe I'll just need to marry a young guy so that way he can at least be a bit more in touch with our teenagers- or maybe I should stop worrying about my hypothetical kids.

Funnies

Land Mines... no prob I have a Isuzu

I'm not sure if this commercial is a international thing or just here in southern Africa, but Isuzu has this commercial where you follow this big bakki through jungle areas and off roading, than gives some statistics at the end about the number of weapons and landmines destroy by whomever up in Mozambique. And guess what, I'm sure that that particular vehicle is the only reason the weapons and landmines have been destroyed. I always find those commercials kinda of funny because they always make out that these great feats are only accomplished by using this type of car or battery or whatever.

Landmines are not something that I ever have taken into consideration concerning anything. There was a few of us hanging out the other night and one friend is planning a road trip up to Mozambique and was asking another friend about her trip up there. The majority of the conversation surrounded where it was safe to drive because of the landmines. I have to say I didn't realize Mozambique had had it that bad during the last civil war, I always thought of it as this nice quiet vacation place, kinda of slow pace and all that jazz, and very safe. Sure you can mugged or whatever but that can happen anywhere, its the idea of landmines that kinda of freak me out.

From my understanding as long as you stick to the highways and major roads you cool they've cleared all those but if you want to go to any of the smaller towns or off the main path you have to seriously be careful. There's all these precautions that you can take if you are off the beaten track, such as drive down the middle of the road landmines tend to be more on either side, I never knew. I was told that most South Africans were terrified to drive around Mozambique just a few years ago, but they have put in so many new roads and have cleared so many roads that it is much safer. It doesn't surprise me that SA-cans were afraid to drive around up there, they scare themselves so easily. Places where tourists or international people will go or how they travel there are not the usual for the locals, somewhat understandable but still very ignorant. Like the mini-bus taxis, perfectly safe during the day, one of cheapest and fastest ways to get around but if your white on a taxi, they basically know your not from around here. Local whites would hardly ever consider taking a taxi it wouldn't even occur to them, lots take the train to the city in the morning but they all go in 'first class' (its R2 more exactly the same train cars as third class but about half as many people, as well much fewer blacks). I do take the first class not because of the blacks of course but it is safer, as sad as it is. It might be bad to say but its the people who can't afford the extra R2 that are a bit more likely to mug you, not that all less advantage people are muggers by any means its just that when you have such a little amount mugging does become slightly more appealing.

I have basically decided when I go up to Mozambique I don't think I will be the one to do the driving. But than again would I not prefer to be the one responsible for blowing off my own limbs rather than someone else... a dilemma I never thought I would have. But that's right I don't need to worry about blowing off limbs when I drive my Isuzu.

Summer Lovin'

I may make it through summer yet! I have been having a few issues with the heat here recently, especially when I tried to sleep during the day. While not just than by any means, I bake at school and if I’m home during the day I am so lethargic, me + heat = bad…. I’ve had to I’ve had to give up walking to school in the morning, I was considering giving up having very late nights because I can’t sleep during the day, last week I had the worse day of my life! I went to bed at about 11am, slept for about an hour before my room became a sauna and I spent the next 5 hours in a complete state of pain and regret. I had decide to give up drinking and move to Yellow Knife, not sure why I choose Yellow Knife at the time in my state of sleep deprivation, drunk/ hung-overness it seemed like the most logically thing to do, I was actually thinking how long it would take for me to get there. I figure 3 days max I could pack everything and quit my thesis and say good-bye to who I had to and leave for Yellow Knife. You know reasonable planning. But following some sleep and soberness I realize I can just make it bearable here at home. You know simple things like a fan, and covering all of my windows so that way the sun doesn’t boil my room. I actually sleep with a blanket the last few nights! Its only the beginning of January and real summer hasn’t started yet, but hopefully soon I will become a little more acclimatized and I can become a ‘normal’ person again.

Bubble Girl Part III

This is the final post for the bubble girl series, just two more accidents and a little more blood. I went to school one day last week just to pick up a few things, but I was still on vacation. I was on the shuttle on my way to school and it makes a couple of stops before it gets to upper campus where my office is. All the residences have gates that you have to go through to get in, so they shuttle always pulls up and waits for the gate to open. I guess our driver got a little impatient and decided to get through before the gate had completely opened, therefore ripping up the one side of the shuttle along the gate. No one was hurt or anything but the driver had to get out and check out the damage and call whom ever, so it took me forever to get to school.

Not all that exciting or anything but the reason I mention it is because not 2 hours later I was in another accident, thus making it a great day. I decided to go into the city center to complete my three week search for a fan. I grabbed a minibus taxi, and I ended up in the very back, smooched in with 3 rather large men. This taxi wasn't in the best condition, not unlike any of the others, the seat in the back was higher on one side than the other so even my head was basically touching the roof. The ride was fine, nothing unusual I was leaning a bit forward because the 3 big guys had big shoulders so I didn't fit in well. We get to the taxi rank in the CBD and there was a little line up of taxis to turn in, that's when we get hit from behind (no pun intended). We weren't hit that hard at all but because our side of the seat was higher the guy beside me hit his head on a metal beam-thing that runs across the roof. Luckily because I was leaning forward and had a bun in I hardly hit my head but the guy beside me must of hit something because he had a scratch on the back of his. I didn't realize this until I look down on my arm and there was a few drops of blood. He was fine and we all got out of the taxi and left as the two drivers were screaming at each other.

Neither of these accidents were all that significant its just in a matter of a few days that's a lot of blood and crashing for 1 person. This is when I decided I'm going to make myself a bubble wrap suit, because I'm not getting hurt in this country! Don't get me wrong there is decent medical care here, especially if you go to private hospitals, even at the public ones but it just takes you for ever to get seen, especially if its not that serious, you know not stabbed or shot. My problem comes in with what happens to me before I get to the hospital because after I saw that motorbike accident, eeks!

The bubble suit hasn't come that far yet, I haven't figured out a ventilation system for it yet. I think I may actually be in more trouble with a bubble suit if I don't because I'll die from heat. So any ideas for a ventilation system would be greatly appreciated!

Bubble Girl (Part II)

This is the part that really creeps me out (along with casually flipping a guy over after flying 20m through the air) my roommate was calling the cops and ambulance and I as I go over to him a cop did drive up. Richard said that he’s been on hold waiting to get through to the ambulance, on hold for over 5 minutes! The cop comes up to us and Richard tells him two people are hurt and he can’t get through to the ambulance can he call them. He says he’s sure their on the way, and than proceeds to get back into his car which he did park across the street so no one could get by, he than proceeds to drive up a few meters again park and place orange cones across the street (without even looking at the hurt people). Just before that this guy who had been driving behind the bike moved his van (it was right in the middle of everything, fair enough to move it but…) and drove right through the all the parts of the bike, a few cars had already done so before a few people began to stand up the street to wave cars away. The people lying on the ground, and the smashed motorbike wasn’t enough for people to turn up the side street (right beside them and the smashed bike) and go up 1 block to go around, no they drove through the smash and around the people lying on the ground. Several minutes later a emergency service car shows up, they are paramedics but can’t take anyone to the hospital and have limited supplies, i.e. no back board and stuff. He yells at the guy standing beside the huge puddle of gas next to the bike to put out his cigarette or leave, (well that’s better than the cop did we’re getting somewhere). Richard and I go up to him as he’s grabbing his stuff and tell them there’s two people hurt, one with the helmet says its just his ankle is hurt and the other guy was unconscious, not breathing well, and bleeding. He says thanks and walks over to the guy with the helmet. More cops show up they look at the bike and the car in the patio and stand around helmet guy but not a single ‘professional’ person came over to the other guy. One of his friends even went over to them to say there was another person hurt and they said that they would be there just now, bab! This guy was sitting at this point (yup his friends help him sit up) than he started to try and stand his friend did tell him not to move but yet he got half way up before I saw his leg jump to side (eww!) and him fall to the ground screaming his leg is broken. After close to 10 minutes after the emergency people showed up this guy still had the opportunity to stand up and discover his leg was very very badly broken. This is another friend went to the paramedic and told him what happened and he came over. Not to forget the other guy but he had a helmet and a broken ankle/ leg or whatever maybe just look at this guy. The ambulances and fire brigade showed up and we went inside. This is where my new slogan comes from “I’m never getting hurt in this country”.

Bubble girl (Part I)

In the last while I have been bleed on twice and have either seen or been apart of 3 accidents. Two not serious at all (the ones I was in), the other was completely hectic. There are several stories in one so this will be part 1, additional parts to follow :).

It all started x-mas night well actually boxing day morning, my roommate and I just got home from the x-mas braai we just went to and were just hanging out and all of a sudden we heard this huge crash we looked out the window and saw this car going into the patio of the restaurant across the street. Right under the window there is a smashed motorbike lying on the ground and two guys lying sprawled on the pavement one was wearing a helmet the other wasn’t. So we run down stairs I go over to the guy wearing the helmet because there were a few people already around the other guy farther down the road. There was no visible blood on the guy, he was conscious and told me it was only his ankle that hurt. I told him not to move and went over to the other guy (I do have first aid, a little old but I know enough if something has to be done right away or not, at least that something). The people that were standing around him were literally standing around him saying to each other ‘his breathing does sound good he may choke on something we should turn him over so he doesn’t choke’. I was thinking this dude just flew 20m off a motorcycle not wearing a helmet and they just want to flip him over because he’s probably choking on something, and that’s why his breathing was bad. I heard this on my way down to them and a few people actually bent down to turn him over and people on the balcony above started screaming don’t touch him! When I got up to them everyone was again just standing around the guy again, I bent down and they all started, don’t touch him, don’t touch him, I just said I know…(the miss know it all I am) he was not breathing well, very shallow, his forehead was covered in blood and he was unconscious. I was thinking fuck what do I do now, lucky his breathing started to level out a bit, so I check his head, there was a huge and gross chunk out of his forehead but it wasn’t bleeding to badly and it didn’t seem to have anything stuck in it (it looked worse than it was there were several little cuts beneath the gash). Than he started to come around and his friends ran up and could all crowded around him and I backed off because there was nothing I could do at this point and I knew there was ambulances and cops on the way.

I had gotten a little blood on my hand, so not quite bleed on but I still creepy another person’s blood on me considering I'm in a country where over 10% of the population has HIV/ AIDS…