lingo & observations

This unorganized list that may be of use to you if you decide one day to visit South Africa. If not, I hope you find some of these observations and differences interesting :)

LINGO (some is South African, some is Rhodes)
-tomato sauce = ketchup

-dawny = a first period class (at 7:45am)

-jersey = sweater/jacket/cardigan

-hectic = anything that isn’t normal, easy, or status-quo (I generally hear the word in almost every single conversation I have with a South African student: “that lecture was quite hectic” or “She is a very hectic person, hey?” or “I hectically ran to the grocery store through the rain”)

-queue = line (i.e. at a store)

-marks = grades

-hash key = pound key (on a phone)

-SMS = text message

-surname = last name

-18/2/09 = February 18, 2009 = 2/18/09 (that is taking some getting used to…)


OBSERVATIONS
-Everyone drives on the wrong (left) side of the road here. Therefore, when crossing the street, instead of looking LEFT first, it is in one’s best interest to look to the RIGHT first to avoid being run over by a car (and they don’t stop here – I don’t think there is a law to “yield to pedestrians” like we take advantage of in the states).

-Unlike the crazy “hectic” northeast, everyone walks rather slowly here. One might even call it “meandering.” As many of you know, this is quite an adjustment for me as I am a speedwalker back home (and still sometimes unsuccessfully attempt to be one here)

-Rooibos tea is as common as normal tea and coffee here, and is the most amazing herbal tea EVER. It is packed with antioxidants and is really good for you! Rooibos, in Afrikaans, means “red bush” and is grown here in South Africa. I generally have 2-3 cups a day, or even more if there is the opportunity (it is THAT GOOD).

-Another note about hot drinks: coffee is always instant (even though I don’t drink it). I also found that throughout Burkina Faso last summer.

-Unfortunately, it seems that mayonnaise shows up more frequently in food/recipes than I might otherwise prefer… (mayonnaise isn’t really my favorite condiment, in fact I generally avoid it at all costs)

-The fruit is much smaller here. Like many other agricultural countries, South Africa ships its biggest and best produce to Europe and the US (next time you buy produce, check the sticker. You may be surprised at the number of miles it has traveled before actually consumed. I think that the bananas in the BC dining halls actually come from South Africa. Can anyone confirm that??)


Much love to all!
Love,
Linda

p.s it is 100 degrees here today.