I am Zulu

1/23/11
Sawubona! (That means’ hello in Zulu!)
I’m actually writing this entry on MS word right now, because I don’t have internet access (I have to pay for it, and I am incredibly cheap so I don’t want to pay right now). I will have access tomorrow when we go to our lecture house, so I will upload this entry when I get there. So much has happened since the last time I have updated. I’ve been in SA for about 4 days now... All of us were complaining originally that we felt like we weren’t getting the real South African experience. We went to gas stations and rest stops that were nicer than most that I have been to in the US. The restaurants that we went to thus far were really nice, but fairly expensive for South Africa. It just didn’t really quite African (Whatever that means). Everything is just so Westernized and clean... in part because of the World Cup (which involves some politics that I will get to hopefully later, if I don’t forget)

The interesting thing, though, is that I am black, on a continent where the majority of people are black (Something that I have never experienced before). Even though there is that solidarity based on skin color, however, I still feel a bit disconnected. Even though we (meaning me and the Africans here) share the same skin color, and probably the same ancestry, we aren’t the same. This is due, in part, to my lack of Zulu Knowledge. Almost all of the black people here in SA speak Zulu. Since I am black, people assume that I speak the language as well. I think people are a little bit disappointed when I say I don’t understand, and continue to speak in English. I know they aren’t really...but I have realized I have an appetite to assimilate—which could make life so much better when the time comes for me to work on my indepent study project. I can be as South African as I want to be, until I open my mouth… but that will change soon, hopefully.

We started our first Zulu lesson today, and there is Soo much that I need to learn. Reading the language isn’t that bad… it’s just different from the Germanic/Latin based languages that I am used to. I have the clicks and sounds down, ON THE FIRST DAY! Not bad. I think I just have it in me really (or I would like to hold on to that romanticized notion that somewhere I will awaken my inner African). Anyway, my desire to learn Zulu has grown tremendously and I will do everything I can to make sure I am conversational in the language by the time I leave. My homestay will help me with that.

Speaking of Homestays, I meet my Mama and the rest of my family tomorrow. I am really excited. My mama lives with her two adult children and one 11 year old grandchild. I really have no idea what to expect. Cato Manor is definitely not the most affluent township in Durban, so it will definitely be an interesting experience. I heard from one of our drivers that we won’t even have showers, but will bathe out of a basin. At first I was shocked by this notion. But then I thought. It’s not that different from ‘taking a wash-up” as we did when we were younger to avoid taking a bath. That shouldn’t be too hard for me, but for the other kids on the program… I’m not so sure.

Today I feel like I have gotten my first true study abroad experience. After our Zulu lesson, we were driven to the city with a specific place to go. We were to find the place, find out information, explore the city a little bit, and find our way back to our current accommodations. Sounds crazy right? Especially when you have been in a city for only two days. I loved every bit of it though. I had a partner, and we were to find the tourist information center. We talked with a university student there who also lived in Cato Manor (he said he did not like it). We then spoke to other South Africans, rode public transportation, visited a few museums, and went to a few local shops. The experience was incredible. People were EVERYWHERE. And there are so many Indians, you would not believe. We actually had very good, very cheap Indian food for lunch. It was a good time, and I feel like I got a lot out of just exploring on my own.

Durban is such a nice city with a lovely beach front. It isn’t nice, as SA’s crown jewel, Cape Town is, designed particularly for tourists. Durban has its own unique qualities that remind me much of the more run-down parts of New York. But there is so much cool stuff to do here. I hope I get to do it all. This will, after all, be my home for the majority of my stay here in South Africa.

A few tidbits and interesting things I have observed here: Durban is REALLY hot! And if it is not hot and humid, it’s raining (it is going to rain really soon). The cars drive on the left side of the road, and are crazy at that. Pedestrians have no rights here. Hmm I had much more to comment on in this section, but it completely slipped my mind. OH, there is a famous Durban dish called Bunny Chow. Now, It is Not made from bunnies.but is a mobile-snack with curried meat stuffed into a loaf of bread. It has Indian roots, and is pretty darn good.

I think I have covered everything I wanted to say right now. I get to go to my homestay tomorrow! I will try to post pictures as soon as I can. Bandwidth is very limited right now, unless I go to a net café or something and pay for it… so, just look out.

-until next time!