New Experiences every day

2/13/11

Sawubonani!

Here is another update about my adventures in Durban, South Africa. On Friday my friend Esther and I made dinner for our families. Our mamas are twin sisters who live right next to each other. Therefore we decided to combine forces and fix a big dinner for the two households. It was my first time ever making a meal by myself.without my mom/dad/grandma telling me what to do. Anyway, we came out successful! I fried chicken which turned out to be excellent (I didn’t know I had it in me). We used Paula Dean’s recipe, and our families really enjoyed it Esther made creamed spinach and sugar cookies, and we both pitched in to make two huge pans of macaroni and cheese. Now I know I can definitely cook from scratch. I hope to exercise my new-found skill once I get back to the states….especially now that I know how to fry chicken! I’ll be set once I go back to school!

This weekend, my friends and I have been doing a lot of hanging out around the township getting to know some of the local people...and boy do we have interesting stories to tell! Friday night I was having a coule of toots at Charlie’s corner (the butchery which turns into a shabine at night). We were hanging around after a cookout that one of the mamas had for us. Unbeknowst to us, two Hispanic guys drove past us in a truck yelling something which we couldn’t understand. They drove around and came right back, and we had a lively discussion. The guys wer both from Peru, and we asked—Why are you in Africa? I don’t think I got an answer to that question, but it was fun nonetheless. My Spanish skills got a little workout when speaking to them..they were a very lively bunch.

Saturday night, I was hanging out with my SIT friends again… this time, we were at a house party. As I was walking back home with some of my friends, lo and behold do I see my homestay brother outside in the street, hanging out with Esther’s brother (I guess they are both related). Mind you, I haven’t spoken a complete sentence to my homestay brother..he’s very quiet and reserved, and most of the times, he is working until very late at night doing the sort of job that my dad does. I had a pretty fun time with them….even though they were a bit drunk. Esther’s brother was carrying a 6 pack of bottled Heineken and offered me a bottle. I asked how to open the cap…a bottle opener maybe? I was then instructed to use my teeth! I tried but failed to get the cap off. But then Esther’s brother opened the bottle. I just could not believe that they used their teeth to open the bottles! That can’t be good for their dental health, but then again, that isn’t a priority here when you don’t even know what you will have for your next meal.

Today I went to Zulu Church with Esther, her little brother (bhuthi omcnandi), and her mother. She was quite happy to show us off to the rest of the congregation. It was quite an interesting experience. The service itself wasn’t too entirely different from church back home. It was an interesting experience to look, and not wholly understand what was going on. At some points, we were to shake our neighbor’s hand and say something, but I always missed those ques. Children freely walked in and out of the open building, playing outside, then coming to sit in the back in child-size plastic chairs. We sat in larger lawn chairs, and welcomed the large fan that was blowing behind us. At most there were approximately 50 people there. The service was very lively, and one woman kept fainting. Overall though, it was a great experience. They translated the sermon to English, which was an added bonus for us.

I think that is about all for right now, I have to go and get ready for school tomorrow, and it is getting dark out. Another of our local friends is having a party tonight…which I might get dragged out to by my friends.. we shall see though.

Anyway, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

P.s. I've had some interesting inquiries about my race while I have been here. My mama asked me if my grandma was white, and said that my hair is very soft. One guy told me I would be classifed as "colored" because my hair is too straight. The other day, I was riding in a minbus taxi, and a guy asked me if I was "indian or colored" (colored refering to those of mixed race). I told him I was black, and he looked quite confused....

hmm. It's all very interesting