An important element of any introductory course is starting from the beginning, so a few pointers to start out with:
*Enunciate. 'T's really should be pronounced as such and not as 'd's. I was once asked if I could speak in less of an accent by a first language Afrikaans speaker. I giggled inside.
*If at first you don't succeed, try try again. I overheard a conversation that went like this: "Hello may I speak with Dr. X?" "Dr. X is not in." "Do you know when Dr. X will be back?" "Do YOU know when Dr. X will be back?" "Do you have the number for Dr. X?" "Do YOU have the number for Dr. X?" "Can I leave Dr. X a message?" "Why don't I just give you his cell phone number."
*When reading the text of the average male, don't be too hasty in writing him off as gay. Texts contain an average of 2.5 :)'s and 1 muah. These will also be extremely long, as you have to get the best bang for your buck with pay-as-you-go phones.
*If all else fails, smile. No one can resist the charm of a happy foreigner.
And on to the all-important list of phrases, sayings, and isms.
*Howzit = What's up
*Just now = As close as South Africans can get to "in a second"...unfortunately they're perpetually slow so it's more like in a Texas minute.
*Tomato Sauce < Catsup (equal sign does NOT apply)
*All sorted = Good to go
*Umlungu = Zulu for white person. Very helpful for understanding what little kids pointing at you in Cato Manor are saying.
*Stylin' = Super sorted...people will be jealous
*Take Away = To-Go/Take-Out
*Packet = Plastic bag
*Robot = Traffic light
*Tuck shop = Snack shop...could be run out of anything from a house to a
*Air time = $$$ for your pay-as-you-go phone
*Hawu (shame) = Expression of empathy
*Haibo = Expression of surprise/other strong emotion
*Yeesh = Expression of badness that crosses all linguistic boundaries...especially helpful for haggling and for explaining to a homestay mama that you are sick
Now you're all sorted...Zulu lessons come next!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Disaster Week Check-In
So according to culture-shock experts (and yes, they exist) this is the week when everyone will forget I exist, my pet will die (and I will be mysteriously informed of it by those that have forgotten my existence), and I will find out that my favorite vegetarian hang out back home was secretly slipping bacon shavings into everything I ate. All of these lofty promises considered, I figured it was high time for a status update and inventory.
Idealism: relatively intact. Last week (contrary to the rules of culture-shock that say this should have happened this week) I was dispossessed of my cellular telephone. I was walking with a group of six girls who were kindly asked to give up our phones, which we obligingly did in exchange for our continued safety. I have since decided that I will carry a bigger, crappier phone and fork over the twenty rand for a taxi ride here and there. My academic idealism has yet to face any big challenges thanks to the lefty feminazis I surround myself with and the fabulous host mamas that make us feel as if the world has already been taught to sing in perfect harmony.
Suntan (read farmer’s tan): check. We have now gone on two fantastic hikes, the latter of which was to see some Khoi-Sans rock art. I also am now living in a furnished apartment on the Durban beach, so I was able to celebrate with a pre-class barefoot jog with my roommates. Beyond that, we’ve been able to shadow three different sets of community health workers (including our Amatikulu mamas) on their daily rounds.
(Self-appointed) craft demigod status: in progress. We actually got to learn how to do some beading from Zulu women on Thursday. I made a lopsided AIDS ribbon pin. Fingers crossed, I will be able to learn a craft for a part of my Independent Study Project (during the first three weeks in April). If not, I am at least living vicariously through my Cato mama’s survival crafting.
Love for tofu: ironically intact. All of our homestays are now over, but during these, I was happy to eat whatever food-love was put before me. This usually included half a plate of starch (either rice, pap, or jeqe steam bread), a piece of protein that was more than likely a chicken leg, and a tad of curried vegetables thrown on top. I learned how to clean a chicken bone like a pro, although the mamas who eat the cartilage and all still showed me up. All of that said, I crave vegetables, tofu, beans, lentils, and catsup. We all may or may not have fantasy foods lists started that we work on in lectures. All but one of my items are vegetarian. About a third are desserts.
All things considered, I think I’m going into disaster week strong. Touch wood.
Idealism: relatively intact. Last week (contrary to the rules of culture-shock that say this should have happened this week) I was dispossessed of my cellular telephone. I was walking with a group of six girls who were kindly asked to give up our phones, which we obligingly did in exchange for our continued safety. I have since decided that I will carry a bigger, crappier phone and fork over the twenty rand for a taxi ride here and there. My academic idealism has yet to face any big challenges thanks to the lefty feminazis I surround myself with and the fabulous host mamas that make us feel as if the world has already been taught to sing in perfect harmony.
Suntan (read farmer’s tan): check. We have now gone on two fantastic hikes, the latter of which was to see some Khoi-Sans rock art. I also am now living in a furnished apartment on the Durban beach, so I was able to celebrate with a pre-class barefoot jog with my roommates. Beyond that, we’ve been able to shadow three different sets of community health workers (including our Amatikulu mamas) on their daily rounds.
(Self-appointed) craft demigod status: in progress. We actually got to learn how to do some beading from Zulu women on Thursday. I made a lopsided AIDS ribbon pin. Fingers crossed, I will be able to learn a craft for a part of my Independent Study Project (during the first three weeks in April). If not, I am at least living vicariously through my Cato mama’s survival crafting.
Love for tofu: ironically intact. All of our homestays are now over, but during these, I was happy to eat whatever food-love was put before me. This usually included half a plate of starch (either rice, pap, or jeqe steam bread), a piece of protein that was more than likely a chicken leg, and a tad of curried vegetables thrown on top. I learned how to clean a chicken bone like a pro, although the mamas who eat the cartilage and all still showed me up. All of that said, I crave vegetables, tofu, beans, lentils, and catsup. We all may or may not have fantasy foods lists started that we work on in lectures. All but one of my items are vegetarian. About a third are desserts.
All things considered, I think I’m going into disaster week strong. Touch wood.
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