I did not choose this life - but I must choose to live it.: July 2007

Ok....so I haven't written on this stupid blog for AGES. I am writing now...why? Because I've had about 100 requests to do so -- to tell everyone my experience thus far in South Africa.

I can't say there is TOO much to write about so far but I will say that this place is different nonetheless.

The huge differences between the US and here that I have witnessed so far is the obvious disparity between blacks and whites. It's unbelievable. Imagine the nicest neighborhood in your town . . . . they have gorgeous houses here .... only one minor difference. Every SINGLE house has a tall gate/wall/fence and many have barbed wire on top of these high barriers. As a South African family, you would be absolutely out of your mind to not have a security system as well. The crime can get pretty high and many of these uneducated homeless people WILL absolutely take advantage of you if you do not protect yourself.

Black peasants roam the streets like no big deal. They are everywhere...see a nice house and some open land next to it? They will set up camp there. They walk through the streets...sell things everywhere... many do not have a home or anything to hold onto in life. Each family has a maid and a gardener (or some kind of worker) that works for them. Many families have sheds or small little houses in their backyards where these laborers will live. The gardener in one shed and the maid in the other. You would think that it is perhaps cruel but these people are giving them a place to live and food to eat where they may not have otherwise had it. In reality, it is somewhat a sad existence for both. Whites live as prisinors for the most part in their homes and are unable to walk outside of their gated front yards. You don't see runners, you don't see people walking their dogs, you don't see any of that. They are forced to exist within their barriers.

On a more positive note...many things are much like the US. I've been out to a couple of bars and the people here dress, act and look the same. They obviously love American music as it plays incessantly in the background. They drive LITTLE cars. Almost everyone!! They are teeny compact cars that save a bundle on gas. The whole driving on the left hand side of the road thing still creeps me out and I have yet to gain the confidence (or anyone else's confidence) to allow myself to even attempt to drive. The wheel being on the right side of the car and 90% of these vehicles being a stick shift..well -- attempting to focus on all things is a recipe for disaster.

The malls here are huge and the same as ours.... addicting actually. The prices for things may be high to South Africans but to Americans? Much of the time it's chump change! Our dollar goes a long way here and I like it that way!!! :) For example...you may go out to a restaurant and a meal is R35. (35 RAND) Well lucky for us...you divide that number by 7.5 and what do you get? Oh yeah ...I just scored a yummy meal for $4.60!! This is a meal at a restaurant ...none of that fast food ISH.

The weather you would think would be SCORCHING hot because it's Africa. That's a negative. It is chilly! Imagine the chilliest day in October....it is like that here! It is their winter and they do not have heat due to most of the year being rather hot...so nights as you can imagine are cold in these houses!!

They speak a different language here...one you probably haven't heard of. It is called Afrikaans. It is actually pretty interesting...sounds like a mixture of German and Dutch maybe? I feel sometimes funny when I can't understand what is going on but it's interesting either way. Oftentimes when I speak...people do double takes. Although they listen to American music and movies...I've been informed that it is not often that Americans live here so they literally love to stare silently. :)

The food here is GREAT!!! Much healthier and really delicious. They don't have rows of fast food places placed all around the area.... much less chance of getting that late night meal when you're a bit tipsy after a long night out. In turn, I hope to lose weight haha. I have visited Johannesburg once and while many people in Pretoria (where I'm living now) hate "Jo'burg"...I like it! Joburg is one of the most dangerous cities in the world but if you stick to the right areas, so far -- it has been rather enjoyable. It is certainly not as enjoyable and nice as New York or Boston but there are still fun times to be had. Where I am living is pretty much the typical suburban life. Everyone asks me what I'm doing as if I'm traveling all around S. Africa and partying it up but I am not....since I'm living here with my boyfriend...I live a pretty quiet and calm lifestyle thus far. It stinks because my friends in Jo'burg are a half hour away and since I do not drive here...I'm oftentimes just relaxing in Pretoria.... going out to the movies, out to eat and shopping. The same thing that most would do....I really look forward to going to Kruger Park to see all the crazy wild animals and also I look forward to going to Capetown but so far I will say it is just a relaxing time in a new place..... :) I've gone to the zoo and seen some pretty interesting animals but no, they do not run wild here.... they are all collected in "game reserves" ...large areas of open land where they can kind of roam free.... there are supposedly ostriches and zebra's across the street but I have yet to see them yet. It was quite funny to see meerkats and wild boar or whatever (the two main sidekick characters on Lion King) other than on the movie...I realized that much of my African animal knowledge was based on that movie.. ha.

Well...here are a few pictures below...

Here's the smallest car I saw...