Soaking up the culture - Part II

This weekend, we are taken to the township for a homestay and, as they put it, to live the “real experience” of being one of the people. We had no idea what to expect and were all excited, with a little bit of anxiety mixed in.

On arrival, we were, by pairs, introduced to our “mamas”, who were generous enough to put up with us for the night. Maddie and I arrived at our “one-night” home, a simple one-level house, typical feature of an African township “urban” architecture. The place was quite simple but extremely cozy and definitely had features of a quite well-off family with a spacious living room and dining room, one kitchen, two bathrooms and three bedrooms. Rooms were painted with different colors, the recognizable color palette of this country: orange, pink, green, blue and purple. I can’t say enough how much I love the colorful aspect of everything. It must be one of the reasons why they call this the “Rainbow Nation”. The thing that captured my heart completely was the smell of homemade bread that filled up the hallways and every corner of the house. Brown, crispy, and freshly baked homemade bread, nom nom nom. I wish I had asked for the recipe, but I felt like this was such a simple and common thing for them they would raise eyebrows at me for asking how to make break. Probably would be the same reaction you would get for asking an Asian how to cook rice. Regardless, I think the secret is the sugar coating that gives the break its color, crispiness as well as the sweet taste. My goal before I leave South Africa: learn how to make bread. 

After being served a cup of hot tea, Maddie and I were taken around to “visit the neighbors”. The sun was setting, the street lights were already lit up and the delicious and mouth-watering smell of dinner filled the streets. Children playing, teenagers having conversations and even adults rushing home all stopped to wave and greet us. We were taken from house to house, mostly less comfortable and more run-down than the house we were staying at. I thought to myself: “We are taken to experience the culture, but pretty darn sure they picked the best houses for us to stay in and avoided the more ‘troublesome’ ones”. Maddie and I exchanged looks when we walked into this gorgeous 2-door garage house, in which the living room was furnished with leather couches, flat screen TV and fur carpet. Definitely opposite to the house next door where eight people shared the same common area. Oh, life of the riches.

After a tour around town, we went back to our home and got dinner ready. Both our mama and her daughter worked in cooking related fields so our dinner was, without said, beyond delicious. I was excited to find the first local person who shared my love for sushi. We went on about sushi and Asian food forever. I actually realized that many of the people I have encountered here has had been to some kind of Asian countries, for some reason.

The night went by pretty uneventful with us just exchange small talks and watched some TVs. Maddie and I was in bed by 9:30pm, lol. It was so cold and apparently they don’t use heaters in their house, so we were under three layers of blanket that were as thick as the mattress itself. I was trying to read but that didn’t last for long because my hands were freezing. As a result, we didn’t really sleep that well that night, and apparently same with the others. Early sunshine Sunday morning, we all gathered in the main house, looking tired while sharing stories about our nights.

10a.m., we were taken to church, and as far as I know, it was the first experience that I did not particularly enjoy, even with the cultural difference in mind. Church was mainly divided into two parts: first part involved singing and dancing, and second part involved “inspirational speech”. They actually had a stage, with a basist, guitarist, drummer and a singer, like a rock concert. For the first hour, all we did was singing and literally dancing. It was fun and interesting at first, when we were still enjoying the fact that we didn’t have to sit through all the ceremonies and such. However, it got long and I missed the traditional mass. Our service that day, interestingly, was on “Dating and Relationships”. To be honest, I zoned out on most of it. The few pieces and fragments that I caught were: “You can only date with the intention of looking for a lifetime partner. You can’t date just to have fun” (huh?) and “Sex makes people stupid” (Mean Girls?). Not to be mean or anything, but I was tempted to give them all 6 seasons of Sex and the City as a gift, just to see how their reactions would be like. I never have problems with people expressing their faith and beliefs before, and I always try to avoid discussion on religions and even relationship-related stuff, since my perception of relationships is somewhat twisted. It was the first time it hit me that beliefs can be really different and people can have really strong opinions on things that you never would have thought still existed.

Anyways, moving away from the serious topics, after church, we walked to our supposedly “hot spot” for lunch, M’zoli. We have heard all about it from everyone and it seemed like a popular spot, so we were all excited. Besides, we were starving. We walked across the railroad, which is the “border” that separates a colored township and a black township. It was amazing that the architecture ultimately changed, reflecting a different culture.

M’zoli turned out to live up to its reputation. It is the hot spot but not only for lunch. With amazing food served by the restaurant, which is famous for its butchery and barbeque, and with the alcohol sold for cheap and everywhere along the street, this is no doubt THE place to be. Despite the fact that it was 1p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, people were enjoying their barbeques (which is served in a huge bucket, and not even lying, that kind of irked me a little bit, as a vegetarian), drinking beers, taking shots, smoking hookah or even drugs, dancing. It was just like a club in daylight. We lost our table for being late, so we chilled outside, bathing in the sunshine, enjoying our cool drinks and having a time of our life. I got an amazing cool bag for less than $10, and a delicious vegetarian meal. There were people everywhere, tourists, locals, Europeans, Americans, etc. There were expensive cars, girls and guys in stylish clothes, and the smell of smokes and food. It was an extremely chaotic atmosphere, but I loved it. I felt like I was in a middle of the 60’s hippy movement or something. I like it when things around me are lively and exciting.

Our weekend ended with me and my roommate moving to our new apartment. I now have a room double the size of my dorm room in Rochester, a queen size bed, a balcony and UNBELIEVABLE closet space. The area that we live it is also adorable. However, I miss the house we stayed at. I miss our afternoon time that filled with stories and laughter, and the smell of dinner that Wes and Megan cooked (I don’t cook obviously, so I watched them). I miss sitting around in the living room watching TV, being on our computers and listening to music, and many more. But I’m sure I will readjust pretty quickly. Plus, school has started and I’m already piled with readings and quizzes. My volunteer trips to the clinics also start from Monday to Wednesday from 6pm to 11pm so that will be enough to keep me busy. I’m excited about the Health and Community Development class, in which we get to visit the real problematic refugee and relocating area of the cities and come up with a project to help improve their condition. We will also get to learn about the health care systems as well as hospitals of various types. My professor hooked me up with an ambulance shadowing and also more shadowing work in any department at any hospitals, or with Red Cross if I want to. This is what I come here for and I can’t wait to live it.

Instead of spending time at the library this afternoon, I made an escape to a café. As I write now, I see the city lights beneath me, and hear songs of love strumming on the guitar beside me, accompanied by the signature African drumming/

I've fallen in love. And so quickly, I'm almost ashamed. 

I’ve picked up the habit of waking up in the morning, to open the curtain to the breathtaking pink sky, and a foggy blanket over the mountain tops. Up until now, afternoons are spent lounging in the kitchen, sharing stories and laughing with the locals and foreigners alike. To laugh, to sing, and fall in love.  

 An innocent kind of love. A “can I hold your hand?” kind of love. A love you can't comprehend until you've lived it. 

Sometimes I forgot I am a student going to school, but imagine myself as a tourist on a spontaneous get-away trip in paradise. True paradise is not beaches, snorkeling, and beautiful faces. True paradise is finding beauty in a place. Seeing prosperity and poverty, the indigenous and the tourist both dwelling as one. I can hardly put to words why I've fallen so hard. But I suppose that's how love leaves you.

       Speechless. 

[az]

P/S: pics of my place to be updated later, need to finish decorating first