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Published: December 4th 2006
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Translated, it means: Cops eat raw flesh, suck blood. Feb. 8,2006
I was in a better mood this morning, I should have written then. I think Maggie and I are both suddenly having a moment of homesickness. That’s to be expected of course, but today it’s intensified by Maggie’s stress over the amount of homework she now has, and mine is intensified by her stress and two glasses of wine.
I haven’t had any bad wine yet, I’ll say that. The white wines have been particularly refreshing in this heat, and there have been a couple lovely roses. We had a particularly yummy red last Sunday: from Lourensford, vintage 2003, that Mum had got a good price on at one of her craft fairs. Unfortunately I left it on the counter the next day and it COOKED; must get used to the heat and how it affects everything.
It’s been in the low 90’s I’d say; a fairly dry heat though, and the wind usually comes up and provides some welcome air circulation. We are going to get terribly spoiled by our little plunge pool…but of course we also need to learn how to clean it. We also are getting used to the tiny other inhabitants of our home that come with the heat: ants, beetles, and a large cockroach that the kids squealed at the other night. We were welcomed as well by a gecko on our wall last night; it looked just like my tattoo with a nice curled tail.
There have been some bureaucratic challenges this week; to be expected when one moves across the world. The Bank Of America in particular has made it very difficult for us to buy a car; the asst bank manager at the Greenwood branch managed to enter our information incorrectly so I couldn’t access any of my online banking and they didn’t seem to be paying any attention to my frantic e mails or telephone messages. So if you’re in the neighborhood, just pop in and tell Sherilee that she’d better do everything she can to make things right for us and by the way we’ll be switching banks when I come back in the Fall.
But banks here are no less complicated; because of all the money laundering that went on in the last ten years or so, banks have become very very careful, and will slap a fee on you for pretty much anything you do, including a FAT fee for depositing cash (!!!!).
The telephone company is amusing as well; my brother in law Lawrence had a particularly entertaining conversation with a customer service rep the other day while he was trying to get information for us. From his end on the phone, it went something like this:
…Yes please we would like to have the location of your branch nearest to Kenilworth?
…OK Claremont. That’s fine. May I have the telephone number for that branch?
…You don’t have a telephone number for that branch? This IS the telephone company isn’t it?
…You are. Well that’s reassuring. How about the main Cape Town branch? Do you have a number for that?
…No? No telephone number? Tell me: how do you communicate with them?
…Ah by telephone. Yes well could I have the number YOU use?
…No. So how would you suggest I get the information I need from them?
…AH; go in personally I see. And could I have the address for the Claremont branch?
..Thank you. Ok. And a phone number for that branch?
…No all right I see. Thank you…
GOD. He was so dry and cutting and TERRIBLY polite but Mum and I were killing ourselves giggling while listening to him.
Later that day we had an adventure trying to find the right place to order Broadband DSL from; after many misinformings and drives to various locations, we were finally ushered into a private, windowless office via numerous security entrances, and had a nice discussion with a rep, who was stunned to find out from me that one can access wireless by just driving by! In fact, I had been connecting with somebody else’s wireless network occasionally while at the flat. She was shocked! Never heard of this!
There’s a strange Old World/New World dichotomy to life here. Almost all banking is done online, and it all seems pretty sophisticated, but I suspect a smart hacker could do some major harm. Everybody has a cell phone, and you can purchase more minutes at a counter at your favorite grocery store, where you can also pay your electric and water bill, your rent, and buy a lottery ticket.
The prices have been a little disappointing to me; I suspect that’s the fault of the weak dollar and a strong rand. The South African economy seems to be on an upswing, although of course unemployment is a massive problem. Lots of craft vendors and just plain beggars at every big intersection; they come right up to your car and interrupt your conversation and insist that you buy their lovely beaded elephant.
As much as there are things that are difficult to get used to, there are lots that are very easy to get used to and enjoy:
- Wine: as I said, haven’t had a bad bottle yet, and it is cheap. Can’t buy it on Sunday though, so plan ahead.
- Fruit juice: hands down, has got the US beat on this. Delicious, abundant flavors, affordable. Not concentrated in the freezer section, but ready to drink in handy boxes.
- Views: everywhere you look, there is the mountain nearby. It’s a great way to orient yourself (“Walk towards the mountain, take a left on Main Road, etc…”) Then as you drive and gain a bit of height, there is the deep blue ocean and white beaches curving along the edges.
- Beaches: not exactly pristine, but white and sandy and always 15 minutes away, or half an hour by train. And now in post-apartheid integration, much more equitably enjoyed. More crowded of course, and those craft vendors roam them and try to encourage you to buy a metal crafted giraffe, but they are very pleasant.
- Cars: they are small, and not the huge variety of them. Almost everybody drives a middle price range car, or at least they look that way.
- Resort attitude: everyone dresses like they’re going to spend the day in the backyard with a book and a beer. Even in the office buildings; thin strap dresses and sandals, or shorts and open neck shirts. There’s a relaxed pace, sometimes a bit too relaxed, to most transactions.
- Opportunities: Maggie & I went into a boutique the other day; it reminded me SO much of my short-lived boutique; and we were both struck by how easily we could probably sew and sell. We can’t wait for the sewing machine to arrive. Every day there is something else I can see that makes me think, Hmmmmmmm.
I probably won’t be able to work legally for many months, unless it’s for a US company. So I’m thinking of odd ways I can make a few extra bucks. Soon as we get broadband I may just try the Ebay thing. Right now I have lots to keep me busy with bank battles and filling out forms for container delivery and cleaning the pool. Sigh. What a life.
Love and miss everyone;
Kris etc.
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