If not now, then when?

If I do not stopping blogging now? Then when? I can continue forever. But I can also use this time for my research, which is going really well! I can also fill this time with adventures things, like paragliding this Friday. I’d better work on my research towards my Communication Bachelor degree. If that is finished in two weeks I can chill and have a holiday till December 10^th, when I’m flying back to the Netherlands. But first my mother and sister are coming over to visit. Finally I will see them again and I can show them all the nice things here. And when they are leaving, I still have a month to do all the things I want to do here. Because if not know, then when? I have this date that everything must be done here. I think that will be hard for my South African friends, as they always keep inviting me and planning great things, which never happen. So lets do it right know! (After I said thanks to you Marian, for having this great experience in your class :)

The best medicine

What do you do when you are having a flu? I laid in bed for five days with a head full of snot. My boyfriend bought me painkillers, cough syrup, vitamin drugs, nasal, and a lot of tissues. It helped, I was slowly getting better. But normally it doesn’t take me so long to feel better. The thing was; my mammy was not here. Normally when I feel sick I go to my parents immediately. My mom and sister will take care of me and cook things which make me feel better. I am already in South Africa now for  101 days and I really miss my family. I miss my friends, the food. But maybe the most of all my bicycle. I have one here, but cycling here is so different! It is dangerous to cycle, I can’t park my bicycle properly and there can be mountain along the way. The best thing about a bicycle is that you can drink and drive. But not here, because cycling during night time is not possible at all. OK cycling didn’t make me better. It was a lot of rest, boring days in bed. I couldn’t read of watch movies or stuff. I felt to sick even for that. I think it was three years ago that I was so sick as this. Next time I hope I’ll be sick at my moms house again. Because I can have all the medicines of the world, but the best one is your mammy!

Watch this space

It is empty, there are no decorations. The only thing that it is here is one ugly couch, it doesn’t even sit nice. I parked my bicycle here, it looks nice, but normally you park it in the garage. Then we have one space with a bed, closet and table. There is no nightstand, mirror or chair. In the kitchen there are four glasses and three mugs, two small frying pans and enough plates. How can I cook a meal? Is it possible to have guests? Look at the sealing, its all brown and yellow; it leaks. Also the bathroom is leaking, I have a swimming pool around my toilet. The only way to the bathroom is trough the kitchen, that’s a weird thing. Last, but not least I have a grass bush in my garden, because the landlord doesn’t want to mow it. And off course those steps were I slipped off. Ach, at least I can park my car behind my electric fence. But oh, the fence isn’t under voltage. Oh and I am not a client anymore at the armed security company. And that is what they call a nice, save and furnished house here. I had to get used to it, its my house. You are welcome.

Howzit my bru? Talk like a South African

I was on trek in my bakkie to the dorp where my Cherry lives. My bokkie needed muti for a mozzie bite. I had to stop at the robot and a bergie with damaged takkies offered me a boerewors. I thought aikona, is he doff?! I’d like to have a lekker sammie. I said sorry my China, now now. Something further on the way I bought a biltong, but there was a miggie on there. My bru is a fundi in braaien, I called him and he said “ag man, izzit? I’m just jolling in my cozzie”. No braai just now.

My favourite cat is the hat book is; The racists guide to the people of South Africa

When I came to South Africa three months ago, I had never heard of South Africa being a ‘rainbow nation’. I knew that there were blacks and whites, but that’s it. I must admit, I didn’t red anything about South Africa, but still… I thought I will see what happens when I be there. After a while it didn’t seem to work out communicating with all the divers cultures. I was so happy that I found ‘The racists guide to the people of South Africa’ written by Simon Kilpatrick. The book is about putting all the races into boxes; “            South Africa is a complex land with a lot of confusing race-related stuff going on and, quite honesty, nobody really understands what the other races are up to. It’s always been a bit of a problem. Well, problem solved! Because now this racist guide is here to help you distinguish between our many races so you can better place everyone you see into a box (because people are easier to deal with when they’re in boxes)”. This book really helped me to see why South Africans act the way they do. But this book is not only nice for foreigners like me. Everyone should and can read it. Buy that book, its only 100 rand.

The best thing on earth

It is the best thing every human have and makes use of. It helps you with working, studying, or whatever you are doing. It is bright, it is yellow, it can be white. But it is always here, if you want it to be or not. It gives you vitamins, it lets things grow, it gives colour. It give power, electricity, it gives warmth. It gives light, it shines. It makes me possible to tan. It is beautiful to see it getting down, it is the biggest star in the universe and after all it will burn earth. You know what I mean.

Why I have conversations?

SA: Hi, how are you?
Me: I'm fine thanks, how are you?
SA: I'm good, nice shoes. Where are you from?
Me: I'm from Holland
SA: I could tell, those shoes are not from SA. Do they sell marijuana on the street in Holland?
Me: Uhm no?
SA: Where in the Netherlands?
Me: Utrecht
SA: Oetrekt​?
Me: No Utrecht
SA: Oeeetrekt

Why am I having this conversation over and over again? Why do I even have conversations? Because they are all the same. I really like talking, sometimes I talk so much to my boyfriend, that he is getting bored. Than we don’t have a conversation. What is the golden trick to have a real conversation? How can we really bring a message to people. I think this can be done by listening to people. If you listen to people you get to know their view of life and you can adopt your message to that context. A second thing that must be taken into account is the environment which the conversation is held in. If you want to have a real conversation, you need to hear each other and have the possibility to concentrate on what the other is saying.