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'.
28 January 2007
25 January 2007
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
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
24 January 2007
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.
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.
17 January 2007
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.
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.
15 January 2007
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.
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.
11 January 2007
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.
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.
10 January 2007
08 January 2007
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.
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.
05 January 2007
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.
03 January 2007
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!
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!
02 January 2007
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…
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…
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