Lessons Learned

By now my time here is past the winding-down phase and entering into the circling-the-drain phase. Today I finished my last writing assignment (of my junior year!) and tomorrow I will be presenting on this assignment for my academic director and classmates. As one final act of procrastination that would make the Honor's Program proud, I decided to jot down nearly everything I've learned over the past fifteen weeks.

o Watch out for jellyfish.
o When a minibus or truck bed looks full, it can always fit at least two more.
o When it comes to guava picking, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
o Cows belong on the beach. And on the road.
o Children are a cross-cultural, cross-lingual godsend.
o Anyone will be your friend when you come bearing bubbles.
o The rosetta stone to understanding Zulu-speaking two year olds: funa = want and buka = watch.
o Celine Dion’s heart is still going on in the southern hemisphere.
o Everyone wants a piece of Barack.
o When in doubt smile.
o The world needs some saving.
o I can’t save the world.
o They’re not joking when they say the milk is full cream.
o They are joking when they pretend that tomato sauce is catsup.
o When watching pap smears, if you feel like you are going to pass out, you should probably sit down.
o If someone says, “F*** you give me your phones,” you should probably give them your phone.
o When attending Zulu weddings, come approximately 3.5 hours after the advertised start time. Things might be underway by then.
o Zulus aren’t kidding when they say they will party all night.
o On a hot day, a homemade icy pop is the only thing (spare a Black Label) that will hit the spot.
o Cars can and will get stuck in the mud. Sometimes you just can’t push them out.
o Sometimes the trick isn’t knocking on a lot of doors but knowing someone who can get you in the window.
o On rainy days in rural areas, don’t drink the water no matter how clean they say it is.
o A basin and a few pitchers of water can get you crazy clean.
o South Africans don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
o You can prepare a feast with just a double burner and a lot of love.
o You can go anywhere in a minibus taxi.
o Doing what makes your heart sing is a luxury.
o 2-ply toilet paper is pure indulgence.
o Cheese sandwiches are best enjoyed after several hours of strenuous hiking while overlooking the edge of a continent.
o Joe Cool’s is not cool.
o Coffee Bay does not have coffee.
o Hole in the Wall is, in fact, a hole. In a rock wall.
o No one has heard of Ohio.
o Keep a tally of the number of cows you have been offered in labola. It’s good for your self esteem.