my narrow escape ::

When people from America come to South Africa and are going through culture training, we tell them it’s important to be gracious when accepting things like food or seats [often grandmas will give up their seat for you and sit on the floor--which can be uncomfortable for us]. When we’re out in the villages, people will offer you their best..their best chair, their best food, etc.

Inevitably the question comes up…What’s the worst thing you’ve ever had to eat? Sour milk, cow intestines and chicken feet are probably at the top of the list.

Personally, I’ve been lucky. A lot of tea, biscuits, canned peaches (amazing!) and occasionally coca cola or fanta.

Until today. I was just outside the kitchen door when I heard the words I dread, “oh, they are chicken feet….here, try them.” It was a moment of panic…until I saw the kids jump roping around the corner. Although, I am a miserable jump roper, and I made a fool of myself in front of a few 12 year olds, it definitely beat the alternative!

whew. close call!

done.//

where in the world? ::

So, since I’m staying in South Africa for a few more years, I figured people might want to learn more about this country I now call home. Here’s the first in a series of posts…

We live outside of Harrismith. It’s not known for much other than the one-stop (a gas station, a few restaurants and shops) people stop at on the way between Johannesburg and Durban. There are about 7,000 people that live in town, they’re mostly Afrikaaners [Afrikaaners are generally of Dutch decent, so they're white] and English. The neighboring township, Intabazwe, has about 65,000 people living there. Intabazwe has a large Zulu and Basotho population, so both Zulu and Sosotho are spoken in the township [also called a village]. 

Harrismith reminds me of many small towns in America. There are a couple of grocery stories and a few furniture stores. KFC is really popular here, they just revamped the one in town. There are a few other South African chain restaurants, Nando’s [although, I think Nando's is a worldwide chain], Wimpy and Spur. It was named after a British Governor, Sir Harry Smith, and established in the 1800’s. Apparently, Harrismith is “the capital of the country’s top red-meat producing region.” [...um, slightly humerous since I'm a vegetarian...].

 

Intabazwe has a much larger population than Harrismith, but lacks infastruture. It’s considered a village because it doesn’t have everything you could consider standard in a city. Most shops are small and many are out of people’s homes. Tuck shops are common; they are small convienience stores that carry things like some food, sometimes produce or cleaning products. Shabeens [bars] and bottle shops [liquor stores] are generally the same, either out of someone’s house or a small shop. 

Although places like Cape Town and Johannesburg are generally fairly intigrated, because Harrismith is in such a rural area, it hasn’t kept up with the cities when it comes to integration and diversity [in JoBurg, for instance, it would be common to see a people dating outside of their race, I think I've seen one or two mixed race couples in Harrismith since I've been here]. Although there isn’t blatent hostility, there still seems to be a distinct separation between black and white people*. Part of the reason there aren’t a lot of black people that live in Harrismith, although they probably would be welcomed, is because they can’t afford it.

*Also, as a side note, in South Africa, it’s culturally appropriate to call people black, white and coloured [South African's use British English...]. Coloured is a term not generally offensive here, it was one of the racial groups designated under the Apartheid system of racial segregation, along with “Black”, “White” and “Indian”. 

done. //

today in 1950… ::

…my dad was born.  I tried calling, but I’d missed him. He’s already out for coffee. I really hope he’s having a cinnamin roll at Bill’s with his coffee…that way I can live vicariously through him. 

My dad turns 58 today. I’ve gotta tell you, he makes 58 look good. I’m pretty sure he works out more than I do, I know he reads more than I do and he’s definitely up on current events and sports more than I’ll ever be. 

Happy Birthday Pops!

done. //

confession ::

There is a guest here from Michigan this week. BUT, he grew up in Iowa. When I found this out yesterday I was a) not surprised [there is something about him that made me think that immediately after meeting him] and b) excited. Maybe because he reminds me a little of home…

Tonight’s dinner conversation revolved around 4-H, FFA [and no, I never really wanted to be a future farmer of America--it was more out of a favor to my ag tech teacher, okay, that doesn't sound any better...] and the increased cost of farming equipment. And I loved it! 

Granted, I think I got my fix tonight. I’m okay if I don’t talk about the price of soybeans and corn for awhile. But, I did enjoy it..

done. //

my family days non-family ::

I live pretty closely with 9 other people. 5 of them had family members arrive today. 5 of us did not. So, for the next 2 weeks, we’ve decided to make our own family. Crys announced that she’s the hot sister, and Peirce is our new big brother (although I’m a few months older than him…I’ve never had a big brother, so I’ll go with it). 

Tonight, after short introductions, we (the family days non-family) pulled out ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate frosting. The family inside jokes have begun…favorite quotes have started…and, another episode of Grey’s is on. 

It’s a good night. I’m excited for my family days non-family. Maybe it’ll stick…I’ve always wanted sisters [mom, I'm not still bitter that Erik was a girl, it's okay...], and now I have 3. 

done.//

brr…. ::

It was a cold weekend. It even snowed a little last night. A weekend where bundling is key and the idea of doing much other than spending time on a couch seems ridiculous. 

A perfect weekend for Season 2 of Grey’s Anatomy.

So, here I am, 6:30 on Sunday night…20 episodes later. Excessive? Probably. Enjoyable? Absolutely!

fresh kicks ::

where would you go? ::

My cousin Luke is 5. I was talking to my aunt tonight. He came home from school this week with a book, it was 3 pages. 

if you could drive anywhere, where would you go? Luke’s answer…Florida (he said it was to “see Katie”, he knew i didn’t live there anymore, but said “he could still go on the rides…”). 

if you could take a airplane anywhere, where would you go? Luke’s answer…Mexico

if you could take an air balloon ride, where would you go? Luke’s answer…Africa

that makes my heart smile.

a dose of reality ::

Jace and I are teaching Love, Sex & Relationships to our LaunchPad class. It’s been a good 5 weeks, and it’s hard to believe we’re halfway through the book!

With a language barrier (we use an interpreter), I often wonder how much is getting through to the kids, how much they are actually applying to their lives, to their relationships.

Yesterday in class I talked about HIV/AIDS. We went through truths and myths about the disease. One of the myths is one that I’ve heard many times before, but didn’t think people actually believed…you can cure yourself by having sex with a virgin.

During our discussion after class, we asked the kids what they had learned in the class and through their small groups. One of the girls was quick to talk about the myths, she said, “we learned that having sex with a virgin won’t cure AIDS.”

Wow. It kind of blew me away. They are gaining knowledge from the class, they are applying it to their lives. I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to see first hand how myths are being shattered and lies are being dispelled with truth.

does anyone have a typewriter? ::

My grandma spent years working at the Forest City Summit. She wrote the society section [I think that is what its called...].

ie. Mr. & Mrs. Jones had their daughter, Shirley, for dinner Friday night. They exchanged birthday gifts and had cake. 

She took early retirement when they wanted her to use a computer. 

I’m totally identifying with her tonight. My friend told me to get twitter. So, I did. A mix between blogging and instant messager, I’m told. I’m so confused! And then, I’m told to get another application to use it. So, I download something else so I don’t have to go the website [at funkatron.com, no less...].

On the plus side, despite my confusion, I was able to check my messages today…I got a message from a friend I haven’t talked to in months. That was exciting! So, maybe this will all be worth it…

Oh, and I have plenty to do tonight, but instead I’m spending time “twittering”.