Over the past couple of months there have been plenty of times where something happened and I INTENDED to write about it, but given my enormous talent for procrastination, it just didn't come to pass, so now I'm trying to make up for it. In honor of David Letterman (the one who was funny 25 years ago) and in no particular order, here's the "Top Ten List" of my more memorable moments/discoveries in Cape Town.
1. Time Keeps on Slippin' Slippin': Americans are obsessed with time. Africans are not. This cultural disconnect plays out over and over again in ways that are hard to comprehend and even harder to convey but here's an example: I work with a diligent, committed, 2nd grade teacher named Lindi. We have a standing appointment every Wednesday at 11:00 - which means that on Tuesday I start prepping her for the upcoming meeting. I make it a point to drop by her classroom the day before, at least once, to remind her that we're getting together the next day. Wednesday arrives, the clock strikes eleven (metaphorically speaking - in actuality, there IS no clock) - no sign of Lindi. Somewhat exasperated, I walk across the courtyard to her classroom. "Lindi", I say, in a long-suffering tone, "You were supposed to meet me at 11:00!" Lindi shakes her head vigorously. "No Jan - I am meeting with you on WEDNESDAY". I respond emphatically, "Lindi - it IS Wednesday!". She looks at me quizzically and says "But no one TOLD me that."
2. Soon, Now, and Nownow: Along the same lines, there does not appear to be a word in all of South Africa that means "immediately". Instead, there are a PLETHORA (nice use of those SAT vocabulary drills, Jan) of words that mean pretty much the opposite of immediately. For your reading pleasure, I have taken this time to compile a useful guidebook to the complexities of talking about time in this country.
Next week = in the next week, or the next month, or maybe never.
Tomorrow = tomorrow, next week, or maybe never.
Soon (as in "I'll be there SOON") = maybe in the next 4 hours, or maybe never
Now = in the next hour
Nownow = soon.
A friend told me that nownownow is coming into vogue to mean "really really really soon" but I i'll get back to you NEXT WEEK on that.
1. Time Keeps on Slippin' Slippin': Americans are obsessed with time. Africans are not. This cultural disconnect plays out over and over again in ways that are hard to comprehend and even harder to convey but here's an example: I work with a diligent, committed, 2nd grade teacher named Lindi. We have a standing appointment every Wednesday at 11:00 - which means that on Tuesday I start prepping her for the upcoming meeting. I make it a point to drop by her classroom the day before, at least once, to remind her that we're getting together the next day. Wednesday arrives, the clock strikes eleven (metaphorically speaking - in actuality, there IS no clock) - no sign of Lindi. Somewhat exasperated, I walk across the courtyard to her classroom. "Lindi", I say, in a long-suffering tone, "You were supposed to meet me at 11:00!" Lindi shakes her head vigorously. "No Jan - I am meeting with you on WEDNESDAY". I respond emphatically, "Lindi - it IS Wednesday!". She looks at me quizzically and says "But no one TOLD me that."
2. Soon, Now, and Nownow: Along the same lines, there does not appear to be a word in all of South Africa that means "immediately". Instead, there are a PLETHORA (nice use of those SAT vocabulary drills, Jan) of words that mean pretty much the opposite of immediately. For your reading pleasure, I have taken this time to compile a useful guidebook to the complexities of talking about time in this country.
Next week = in the next week, or the next month, or maybe never.
Tomorrow = tomorrow, next week, or maybe never.
Soon (as in "I'll be there SOON") = maybe in the next 4 hours, or maybe never
Now = in the next hour
Nownow = soon.
A friend told me that nownownow is coming into vogue to mean "really really really soon" but I i'll get back to you NEXT WEEK on that.
3. Mzoli's: To celebrate the arrival of Fall/Easter Break, 15 or so members of the Ukhanyo staff decided to head over to Gugelethu (a huge township further up the peninsula) for an evening on the town. They invited me and Fran, the science lab director, along for what turned out to be one of the most fun evenings I've had in South Africa. Mzoli's is a Gugelethu institution, known for only one thing: MEAT. Jamie Oliver went there (and gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up). The main course is served on huge platters along with your choice of either bread or pap. You bring your own plates, napkins, drinks - and if you're picky, plasticware. When we arrived, at about 4:30 in the afternoon, there was already a traffic director sorting out the parking on the 2 narrow streets that bordered the restaurant. Seating was under an awning outside, at sagging plastic tables. Music was provided by car stereos, as we, along with everyone else, pulled our car up to the table, opened the doors and blasted the radio as loud as we could, to add the proper ambience. It didn't seem to bother anyone that every single car was tuned to a different station - everybody danced to the multiple beats while we waited for the food to arrive. Over the racket, I asked Mr. Hunono, a respected teacher, community elder and former ANC freedom fighter, about his experiences during the apartheid era. This guy epitomizes the meaning of "gravitas" and was kind enough to tell me stories of his life, competing with the surround-sound from the cars, while we ate what turned out to be a REALLY good meal. Mr Hunono is the dignified man in the ball cap in the picture below.
Dang - It's 11:13 (that statement alone is total proof of my American-ness) and I'm not even halfway through my list. To be continued now... .