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.