A nice day

So today was a pretty good day. Nothing really went wrong at my job and I feel like I might be getting a better handle on things. I mean I think that my assignment in the Peace Corps will definitely be a major challenge and an overall rollercoaster, but I think it will be good in the end. I hope I can cut it here.

Good things about living in South Africa compared to the US:

-The need to chase cows out of your yard with a broomstick waving your hands in the air and screaming. This may happen in Anne of Green Gables America (I can kind of remember that happening anyways), but not where I am from. It’s pretty fun to do and is kind of a stress reliever. Haha.

-Playing with makeshift toys that random children who live on your compound or hang out every day for hours play with. Today I played “catch the old piece of foam and throw it at someone” game for about an hour with Lusanda, a bubbly two year old who is extremely adorable and Ndodonga, a 3year old who is ALWAYS here playing with Lusandla. The game just involves him throwing the sponge/ piece of old foam at me and i catch it and throw it back at him and he attempts to do the same. During the game Lusandla just laughs hysterically like it is the greatest thing she has ever seen. Awesome. Ndodonga is really cute and walks over here by himself. I always think about how this would be considered child abuse or neglect in the US, but here it is totally normal. Also, I am not exaggerating when I say he plays here about 6 hours a day and longer on weekends. Sometimes he comes into my room and sits on my chair and just stares at me. It’s pretty adorable.

-A random bakkie (truck) driving up and down the road blasting LOUD Zulu music while 5 guys are dancing intensely in the back of the truck like it is their own dance club. I really don’t think that will ever get old to me. A great thing about KZN is the variety and amount of music in Zulu. American R&B and rap are popular here, but not heard 24/7 like in Limpopo, where there isn’t a whole lot of indigenous music, except for the Culture Spears—where you hear everywhere. But they are totally awesome. I’m going to buy their music video DVD just to show people how sweet they are. Haha.

-No matter how long it takes to find one, or how squished you are in a taxi, riding in them is one of my favorite activities. First of all, the ride form Pietermaritzburg to Sweetwaters in breathtakingly beautiful. Second, I love to people watch in the taxis and watch people’s reaction to me being there. Something always happens that is hilarious while I’m in the taxi. Usually it involves someone asking me why the hell I am there and me telling them that I live in Sweetwaters. Next, they usually start laughing hysterically or saying “Hoa” which is actually just a large exhale of air, like their surprise has taken the air out of their lungs. A taxi here is like a small VW bus that fits usually 15 but can sometimes squish in about 18. It’s a pretty tight ride, but on these rides I usually take up a conversation with someone who is brave enough to talk to me. Once I get better at Zulu I think these rides will be even more fun because I can listen in on conversations (which are many times about me and why the hell I am there) and then subsequently talk to these wondering people in Zulu. It is one of my motivations for learning Zulu. Another motivation is being able to talk to everyone of my coworkers and making sure that they actually understand what I am saying. Third, I like the freedom of being able to go wherever I want on my own. I have gotten more comfortable taking taxis as the days have passed, which is nice.

I have started to make better friends with people in my community. There is a 20-something Auxiliary Social Worker at my work who lives on my road. She is really nice and seems really interested in hanging out, which I am excited about. I’m really excited to be forming my own community. I feel like the other Auxiliary Social Worker and I are already friends (she is 20), so I am starting to freak out less about interacting with my community. I am doing it, even though some days I don’t realize it.

However, I think I may be getting a the flu or something, so I am going to go lay down. I miss you all! I get to see my first fellow PCV from my group on Saturday, which I am really excited about as well. It will be nice to hang out with someone in my exact position for a couple of hours.

<3