Now that I've been here for awhile I've begun to experience the culture of South Africa. Here are a few of the funny things I've noticed that are very different from where I call home:
1. All the "bakkies" here are stick shift. They call their pick up trucks bakkies. Its pronounced "buckie" (Its Afrikaans)
2. You "plait" the horses manes. When Ilse told me that I can help "plait" I was like, "What? What are we doing to the horses?" She said to me, "I don't know what you call it overseas but its where you make the manes fall to the right side." I thought she was talking about pulling the manes but then she showed me and I was like, "OH! Braiding!" They call braiding "plaiting". Update: I've actually been informed by my Mom that using the word plaiting for braiding is really common. Am I the only one that has never heard this word in their life? Anyone?
3. I was at the grocery store today and was looking to buy some crackers. I asked one of the employees where the crackers were (they do speak English) and he had no idea what I was talking about. I tried again by saying biscuits and he showed me the cookies. I said no, not sweet. You try and describe a cracker! Its really hard! Eventually, I did find the crackers!
4. They have the most delicious dessert here and its actually quite healthy. Its crackers with cream cheese and theeee most delicious fig jam. I bought some to snack on. Its so yummy and sweet!
5. Right now I'm wearing "Gumboots" or rubber rain boots because we've just had a powerful thunderstorm. They had to special order me my own pair of gumboots and raincoat because they didn't have a size small enough for me. They also had to special order a raincoat for me. All the staff here wears dark green raincoats, but I have to wear a BRIGHT yellow raincoat because the green raincoats don't come in a small enough size. On the bright side (haha), at least they won't be losing the intern. I will stand out like a sore thumb!
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