Eleven strange things that are normal in South Africa

It has come to our attention that our last blog entry did not actually post to our site!  Some of you have been worried about our silence…now we know why!  Dan finally got my March 17th entry posted last night; he also tried hard to upload some pictures, but was not successful.  Nothing is ever easy in Africa!

 

Speaking of Africa, a friend and I were recently listing some of the strange things that are “normal” in our part of South Africa.  Here is what we came up with:

1. Men have to completely pay for 11 cows before earning the right to marry their special girl. (Yes, this still happens here, and often takes years!  Many people do not marry as a result).
2. Most motor vehicle accidents happen as a result of a vehicle (usually an overcrowded 15 passenger taxi van) losing a wheel or some other vital part. 
3. You cannot leave your garbage outside at any time because it will be enjoyed by monkeys.
4. A nice cup of coffee in the morning means boiling water poured over instant coffee crystals.  A sad thing when good coffee beans are grown right here in SA!
5. You must always turn on a light if you get up during the night…stepping on an unsuspecting frog beside the bed is unpleasant for all parties involved!
6. NEVER make rude gestures or wear an angry expression while driving.  You never know when the driver next to you will take it personally and pull out a gun.
7. The word “recycling” means throwing your “rubbish” into a pit in your back yard, or into the ditch along the road.  When the pile gets high enough, or you can’t stand the smell any longer, just cover the whole thing with motor oil and set it on fire!
8. Using an outhouse can be dangerous…especially in rainy season!  Since the outhouses get a lot of use (most people in rural areas have no plumbing) and the ground is often unstable, it is quite common for the outhouse to collapse.  Not a nice way to meet your Maker!
9. You may live in a mud and thatch hut with no electricity, but it is very important to wear designer clothes and carry a fancy cell phone. (We have had strangers knock on our door and ask if they can use our electricity to charge their cell phones!)
10. It is considered rude to walk by anyone without exchanging the following in Zulu: “Hello, I see you!” “Hello, I see you too!” “How are you?” “I am fine. How are you?”  “I am also fine”.  Only then can you introduce yourself and begin a conversation.  Our girls have gotten good at this routine!
11. When entering a room, women should generally choose a seat that is lower to the ground than the men in the room.  As you can imagine, I don’t go for this one!