One Tough Commute

from Elliott
It was a beautiful day today so we decided to spend the Sabbath resting beside the Umtuvuna River which is the dividing line between the two provinces and distinguishes the more developed area from the tribal land on the other side where our ministry is. The spot where we went is actually a Caravan (RV) Park. We had a picnic, played along the river and enjoyed the spectacular views.

One view though, startled and amazed me. Toward the end of the day, I kept seeing groundskeepers and maintenance workers disappear into the reeds along the water. Somewhat alarmed, I went over to where they were disappearing and I found two rowboats full of people. They had finished their workday and were heading home. Now the typical 'commute' of the less materially affluent in Africa is challenging enough with long walks or rides in crowded taxi's but what I saw unfold was amazing.

The two rowboats made their way across the wide river with a fair amount of current. It took some time to cross and then as they approached the opposite bank I noticed that the next step in their commute was probably worse. You see, the side of the river that we were on had a gentle slope and rolling hills but the side they headed to was a bluff. Their path would take them up a rather steep ascent with numerous switchbacks to scale the perhaps 100 meters or so of the bluff. And then when they got to the top their journey would continue.

What a commute! I suspect they may have been looking at those bluffs high above the river in a far different way than I had - perhaps they did not see them as spectacular scenery!

Gecko's and other Critters

from Katherine

I am getting used to the variety of critters in Africa. A monkey was guarding the gate this morning as Cason and I went to school. We awake each morning (at 5:30am) to the sun and the call of the Hadeda (Ibis) whose loud call sounds exactly like the name Ha-de-da.

But this morning was different. After completing my ablutions (South African term for bathing) I noticed an unwanted visitor with my make up! A gecko had wandered onto the bathroom counter and was hiding amongst the items there.

As you can see, they are a bit colorless and bland looking so it did not surprise me to find her (or him) waiting next to the pink nail polish and mascara as if at the nail salon or spa.

The Land of the Small Footed People

from Elliott

As we were packing to move one of the items that did not make the cut in our limited luggage was a pair of walking shoes. Katherine and I had grown used to walking together for exercise and we want to continue that in our new home. So for the last 6 weeks every time we were out shopping I would look at any shoe store for walking/running shoes.

Everywhere I look I got the same answer - we don't have your size. Admittedly, a US 13 isn't the most common size even in the US. It was amazing that of 15 or so stores that I visited that no one had any that would fit. We even changed our strategy from choosing a shoe and then asking for the size to asking 'do you have any size US13 athletic shoes?'

It made me feel very out of place in what was beginning to seem like ,'the land of small footed people.' For some reason every time I went to a store I had this picture in my mind of "Big Foot" or "Sasquatch."

Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

from Elliott

I went to the market today with a single item on my list but I spent quite a bit of time just learning what has become our new story. I went simply to get a loaf of bread but I found myself fascinated by the experience.

First off, a loaf of white bread (perfect for making Cason's toasted cheese sandwich!) is price controlled by the government and is quite a deal at 72 cents. Secondly, the days allocation sits on the shelf, uncut and unwrapped. Just sitting on the shelf. Wait till the health department finds out about that!

Thirdly, because all white bread can mistakenly be seen as a commodity and hard to distinguish one loaf from another, our market has their name 'Spar' branded on the side of the loaf. It is hard to notice that when sliced.

Finally, you pay for the loaf and then you can go to a machine against the wall and have it sliced. That is if the attendant is there. Today was quite busy in the market and there was no attendant so I was left to decipher this rather scary contraption. Fortunately, a xhosa woman who appeared to be a domestic worker was in line in front of me with her loaf.

She speaking no English and me speaking no xhosa (not yet at least!) began this pantomime that must have been hysterical to any passerby. I can only imagine she thought I was either a moron or from another planet but she smiled sweetly as I waved good bye, nodded and said 'enkosi' - one of the few words I know but a good one to start with - "Thank you"

Who's Driving the Car?

from Katherine and Cason
South Africa has been influenced by its British past in many ways. One of the traditions that remains is driving on the left hand side of the road. Add to that the driver sits on the right side of the car and shifts gears with his or her left hand.

We have lived in South Africa for one month now and Cason and I continue to go to the wrong door when going somewhere in the car. It has become our joke...

We walk to the wrong door , giggle, look to see if anyone is watching and giggling and then I ask Cason if he would like to be my chauffeur. He would love to be. Unfortunately, the driving age here is 18.

Cason wants you to know that he does know how to drive. Only on a dirt road once and through video games.

The Three Scariest Words in the English Language

from Elliott
You have heard them before - Some Assembly Required - and they most likely struck fear in your heart. Well try that with the instructions coming from another culture. Yes, they were in English, but with a totally different perspective and a few new terms thrown in.

While many of the furnishings we have bought have come from a local thrift shop and others from furniture stores like beds and a couch, I got a computer desk and bookshelf for a Target like store and it came in a flat box. "A good deal of assembly required" is what I would have written on the box.

A couple of hours later and a bit of head scratching I was finished and actually quite proud of myself. It was kind of a right of passage. I was becoming African because I survived South African assembly instructions!

That was five days ago and it is still standing...

Looking Pitiful

from Elliott
I am not sure if I do it on purpose or just a subconscious response of mine. Either way, somehow in difficult situations we often have people come to our assistance. It is usually preceded with the look you give a lost dog or someone who is clearly out of their element.

It happened again the other day. Finally after much effort and misfires we took delivery of our 'new' used car. The dealer had said that he had taken care of all the paperwork. I soon found out that he had taken care of all the paperwork he was going to take care of. I had quite a bit to do on my end. So 45 km up the coast we went to the government seat with three pages of information. I had been told that all I needed to do was take those along with my passport.

Well it wasn't quite that easy. When we got there at 8:00am there was already a line but the line consisted of people sitting on a bench. The information officer instructed me that I needed to fill out some additional forms - four to be exact! I got to work; they wanted to know VIN numbers, engine numbers (seems like people steal engines here) , etc.

I then found out that my passport was only good enough to get a "Traffic Identification Number" My head was spinning at this point when I asked the helpful agent how I would get that. She said I would need to fill out another document and attach two photos. Where would I get those? "Go to Jay" was the response. "I don't know Jay, where is he?" I said. "Down the block on the left" I am sure by this point my eyes must have crossed and she immediately took pity on me, a confused foreigner. She came from behind her glassed booth and resurfaced at the other end of the room and motioned for me to follow her to the street where she then pointed down the street.

I went down the street amidst the throngs of people in the local market. There were lots of people having Jay take there picture - Jay had a job for life! When I went back, the agent immediately called me up and completed the process. For 180 Rand (about $25) I had registered my car. That seemed like a deal until I asked but what about the plates. She said, "Oh we don't do that. You have to go to the car plate dealer."

Down the street again, he is actually a locksmith that doubles making license plates with the number that the registration agent had given me. Once I had given him the appropriate paperwork he went in the back to make the plates. I looked in the back looking for the prison inmates that I had assumed made license plates just like in my home state of Texas. Not here, this was privatization at its best! For just 200 rand (about $29) I was in and out in 15 minutes!

Back to my original thought. I seem to attract sympathy when faced with challenging processes to jump through. Maybe it is the 'deer in the headlights' look or a clueless visitor look. I don't know if I am doing it on purpose but it sure does help navigating difficult waters!