Living here, I’ve come to realize exactly how far the east is from the west. The true meaning of a natural disaster, having your home flooded by a Typhoon, ironically leaving you with no water and with winds so strong it blows billboards and scooters all over the place. The garbage truck that sounds like an ice-cream van, where you have to throw in your own bags…everyday, and where fireworks are as common as Blue Bull supporters in Pretoria.
Something as simple as ordering food or taking a taxi results in unexpected “little adventures”. Feeling like a character in a comedy movie when trying to act out “where is the bathroom?” is nothing new. Road signs, newspapers, TV shows, menus, instructions, everything incomprehensible, fortunately there’s always a willing soul to help this poor lost white foreigner…and as a reward might ask for a photo taken with you.
Teaching is no child’s play, but the children have their angelic moments, even though it’s not considered rude to break a wind (on top or below), I will put up with it all, because it pays for more exciting explorations throughout Asia.
Luckily, like every other place in the world, you will find South Africans. You immediately become each other’s family, have braais, go camping and enjoy the company of people that understand your sense of humor and where you come from.
