Attitudes about Americans

Every response about me being American has been positive that I can remember. All the guys my age that I meet ask where I am from as one of the first question. 99% of the time, the conversation goes like this:

Durbanite: So where are you from? (keep in mind they have not heard my "accent" at this point)

Me: America

Durbanite: [unbelievingly] America?!? Really?

Me: [laughing] yeah

Durbanite: Where in America?

Me: Ohio, it's sorta in the middle

Durbanite: Thats so cool (having never heard of Ohio before), I wish I could go to America...my (insert some type of relative here) is from America

I have talked politics with some of the people here, and the general consensus is that Bush was a jerk, Obama is a god-send, and Zuma is a crazy, tyrannical man with way too many children and the wrong priorities. One of the funnier exchanges I had was when Kelly mentioned online banking.

Kelly: I am so angry they switched to online banking!

Me: What's wrong with online banking?

Kelly:....Don't you mean "What's wrong with online banking in South Africa"?

Me:....oh...you have a point.

I find the most interesting conversations I have with people is about the differences between countries. Last week I had to pay to use the toilet, and today I found out that waiters are not only not paid other than tips, but if an order is messed up, they must pay for the new food with their own money. My South African friends find it quite funny to hear me say lekker (good), bakkie (pick-up truck), jolling (partying), now-now (very soon), and as well (I now say it AS-well instead of the American as-WELL). Also amusing to them is my apparent rolling of my R's and "funny" pronunciation of my vowls. I once asked a man where the bathroom was, and when met with a puzzled face, I rephrased and asked for the bahhhhthroom (SA pronunciation), to which he smiled and said something about my funny accent.

Reflections

Before my trip, I was so excited, so confident, and so ready. After arriving, I became petrified and said to myself, "What on earth was I thinking?" The first couple of weeks at CROW were difficult as well, I was adjusting to new people, and new place, and a new time zone! Over time though, CROW really did become my home, and I am so sad to leave. My confidence in new places has grown in leaps and bounds, as has my willingness to try new things and my ability to direct others. I had many things planned for my trip that I came nowhere near to doing, though I am quite happy with the things I did end up doing and would do it exactly the same were I to do it over again. I have been given many chances I would never had back home and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart that Linworth allowed me to do these things. The staff has taken to constantly asking me if I plan to return, which I always answer yes. I am hoping that while at home, I can play some part in helping CROW until I have saved up enough money for a return vist, hopefully the summer after my second year of college.
  My stay at CROW has reaffirmed my desire to make a career out of working with animals and has also widened my horizons as well. Looking back, I cannot exactly remember what I expected CROW to be like, though I do know that the reality is even better than I could of hoped. I dreamed about fostering a monkey, but I never truely thought it would be a reality. I cannot thank the CROW staff enough for giving me, still young at only 18, a chance to do something most people will not accomplish in a lifetime. I feel so blessed and lucky.

The Golden Mile

Sorry I have not been able to write for awhile, the internet connection around town is not the most dependable...anyways, I recently have been spending all of my days off at the markets or on the beaches along The Golden Mile, Durban's premier stretch of coastline. During the weekend nights, us girls in the volunteer house have taken to going out dancing, as it is one of the only places we can go after dark and otherwise we just end up in bed by 9. The days are spent lounging on the beach or listening to the live music while eating ice cream or sipping smoothies, life here is pretty much a paradise and I am actually upset just thinking about leaving, though excited to see the people I love.
   While writing this blog, I have found it impossible to convey all of my feelings and experiences as I would like to, there is just too much to put into words. The center is still great, though I wish I could help the staff reorganize to volunteer program to make things better for both parties. A couple of days ago, I got the job of serving cocktails at a very very posh golf club where CROW was holding a fundraiser. The golfers were very nice and quite interested in CROW and what it does for the community. Thinking about the military precision that goes into organizing the Columbus Zoo's "Zoofari" fundraiser, this even was the total opposite. After sitting reading in the shade for 6 hours waiting for the golfers to finish, I helped present prizes and got tons of pictures take of me. Speaking of which, when I was walking along the beach, these three black women with a baby walked over to me and just started posing around me, it was very surreal. I was reminded of when I was on a ferry in NYC and approached by three Asian women who wondered and marveled at my then bleach blonde hair. I was asked to take several different positions, most of which involved me holding the baby of the hands of the women. They seemed gleeful and kept on going on "Come stand here my friend!" It was very cute and touching when they beamed and thanked me when I left. Everywhere I go, I seem to get attention, mostly because I'm the only white person around. There is definitely still racisim in South Africa and the white population seems the most guilty, labeling all the "black" beaches and taxis as dangerous and not worth my time. It is so sad to see this go on around me.
   Since my trip is coming to an end, I am asking for those of you reading to post any questions you may have about my stay, or if you wish for me to elaborate on anything, hopefully the internet will be working next time I attempt to get online!

Getting Out to See the Sights

For my trip to the nature reserve, I was joined by local fellow volunteer Jessica and her boyfriend. The reserve was much bigger than I expected, being surrounded by houses, though it must have been more than 10 square miles. We hiked for around three hours through fields and forests, the likes of which one would expect to see in Africa, being more like a jungle than anything else. For the first bit of the hike, we saw no wildlife, but eventually we sighted duiker, huge monitor lizards, monkeys, freshwater crabs, springbok, and many different types of birds. As I was a bit disappointed that I had not seen any zebras, Jess's boyfriend took us in a ride up one of the trails in his bakkie, and we saw 9 in total. The first set we came upon consisted of a female, a young male, and an older male. They got quite close, and I could have reached out and touched them at some point. They were extremely beautiful animals, and their stripes blended quite well with the surrounding grass if you were not looking specifically for them. I got lots of good pictures and wish I could upload them!
    Right now, I am typing this in an internet cafe a floor above the hostel in Durban where Michelle and I stayed last night. We came out to Durban early Sunday morning and spend the morning browsing the local market. I bought lots of things including a new outfit but the rest are hush-hush because they consist mostly of gifts :) During the afternoon, we spent time at the same outdoor eatery/pub and watched reggae music again for several hours. With all of our walking around, we are getting quite good at navigating Durban and have lost most of the tourist look. We at dinner (a large plate of roast pork with really yummy rice and zucchini, plus a bubblegum milkshake) for only around 6 dollars each. Unfortunately, by the time we finished eating, it was dark and we were still 6 blocks away from the hostel. Still in our beachwear, we hightailed it back home, walking in the middle of the street if we felt threatened. A very concerned looking woman stopped and ask us if we were in trouble or needed a ride, as women just do not walk around after dark in Durban! By then though we were only one block from the hostel and still in one piece.
   Though it was dark, it was only around 6 o'clock, so Michelle and I decided to go to a local dance club. We called a taxi and spent the rest of the night listening to blend of American and South African music while eating good food and watching the white boys attempting (and failing miserably) to dance while trying only a bit of dancing ourselves.
   The next morning, we went to breakfast at "Waffle Express" and I though it was quite odd that they had a breakfast menu that didn't include waffles or pancakes, which were only listed on the regular menu. I ordered some chocolate mousse pancakes (really more like crepes) that were divine, as well as a girly chocolate coffee drink. After eating, we gave our leftovers to a man on the street and spent the rest of the day before returning at 4 on the beach. The beach we chose was an all black beach, and we got a couple of odd looks though we did meet some nice men from Zimbabwe who asked to use my sunscreen and talked about how nice the local markets were. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend and I hope to have another adventure next week.
   Back at work today, I was royally ticked off to find the kitchen a mess in the morning; meat left out on the counter coated with fly eggs and maggots, cutting boards and knifes left out covered in food and unwashed, and trays of food sitting around attracting flies. As the day went on, I was angry to see some of the animals had also be improperly fed (monkeys were given a bowl of dog food!)and the clinic staff reported that the other volunteers wandered in a half past 8 instead of bothering to show up and feed the hungry animals at 7 o'clock in the morning. The clinic staff does not have enough time to police all of the volunteers and it angers me so much that the volunteers around me see this more as a holiday rather than the chance to care for these amazing animals and had trouble controling my anger when voicing my opinions. Hopefully this was a wakeup call for them, and things will get better.

A House Full of Females....

Well, including me, there are 8 volunteers in the house now: Shelly and Sara from Kansas, Michelle and Amy from the UK, Julie from Australia, Cherie from Jo'burg (South Africa), and Eva from Germany. We still also only have one bathroom, and there is DEFINITELY tension in the house. I overheard some of the girls complaining that I am always telling them what to do, I am not sure if they realize that I did EVERYTHING they are doing by myself for the past couple of weeks, have been at the center for quite some time, and have been instructed by the clinic staff to oversee and instruct all of them. I am trying to be patient, though this task is difficult when the majority of the volunteers dig their heels in whenever they are asked to do something that involves dirt, droppings, worms, or dead chicks (99% of the work). I don't exactly know what they expected...as if the constant state of  being covered in dirt or poop that goes along with animal care never crossed their minds when becoming a volunteer.
  Enough of my complaining. I am still enjoying myself for the most part, though I feel a wide hole where Robby used to be. I make up for it by watching the adult baboons, which luckily led to the discovery of a large gash on one of the females bum's (which the vet will check out tomorrow). Tomorrow, I am going to a nature reserve where they have zebras and I am quite excited! Hopefully, I will get some good pictures.

Finally Getting to See Some of Africa!

Though saying goodbye to Robby was sad, I was quite excited to get out of the center for a bit. I went with Sam, Mabel, and Robby, and the trip lasted about 3 hours. Most of the time we were driving through the mountains, and the view was spectacular! When it came time to hand Robby to his new "mom" I was in tears. I was shocked and angry when the woman tried to lift Robby out of my lap saying "Come to mommy! Yes you love me don't you?". I thought how unsensitive of her it was to try and take him from me when I was clearly upset and still saying goodbye. I didn't say anything but firmly held him in place and took a small step back.
   On the way back, I was tearful, but Mabel and Sam surprised me by taking me to vist Howick(sp?) Falls, a beautiful waterfall. There I took some pictures and haggled for another painting similar to the first one I bought of elephants. While on the trip, Mabel also invited me to her 40th birthday party, an invitation I of course accepted.
   Mabel's house is located in Pinetown, around a half an hour from Yellowwood Park. It was quite nice, and there were around 30 people at the party. It was a true braii, where the food isn't actually ready until late and the main attraction is standing around the braii(grill) and talking. They cooked so many different kinds of meat, and I tried quite a bit. I also politely accepted a sip of wine, though it is definitely not my thing. I spent a large portion of the party playing with Mabel's puppy and her neice, it made me miss the kids I sit for at home. We didn't head back until around 1 and I was exausted.
   Yesterday, Michelle and I ventured to Ushaka Beach by way of minibus taxi (a total fare of R10 as opposed to R150 for a 'proper' taxi) and spent most of the day there. The minibus taxis are said to be unsafe, but I like them. They always blare music and people are stuffed inside like sardines (23 in one the size of a van, I kid you not) but all the people are friendly and offer you directions and advice. After arriving, I walked along the beach and in the water, quite warm, while I looked for shells and beach glass. For lunch, we went to a nearby pub and sat for 3 hours listening to live music and watching drunk people dance. We also picked up some ice cream and browsed the overpriced shops before grabbing some cotton candy and heading home.
   Today, 4 more volunteers are set to arrive and I am not looking forward to sharing a shower with 7 other people...wish me luck!

My Baby is Leaving Me!

Sadly, as well as happily, Mabel and I will be driving Robby to the 'Burg (Drakensburg area) to live with other young baboons so he can grow properly. As much as I moaned about him, I know I will be in tears. I am happy though that he has the chance to become a wild baboon and has managed to escape the black market pet trade he started out in.
   Aside from this news, there are 3 new volunteers at the house. The first is from the UK but the other two (daughter and oh-so-controlling-over-everyone mother) are from Kansas. I have already been told by the mother that I am not eating well enough (since when is granola and yogurt not healthy?) and had to push her to do every single cleaning task we are presented with. I am frustrated that I had been doing all of the work by myself for the past few weeks and now someone else is trying to come in and tell me how to do it better. Besides that, I am happy to have some company in the house as it was getting lonely.
   I miss the zoo, my family, and home, though I love it here and have no desire to return any time soon.

Death at the Center

Recently, there have been several very sad deaths at the center. A hyrax that came in having been attacked by a hawk, was found dead yesterday morning. I was upset because despite its killer teeth, I had grown attatched. What was even worse was finding out she had been lactating, meaning she either had young or was getting ready to. A beautiful darter that came in also died, as well as a couple of birds in the baby room.
   Today, some workmen brought in a box of 42 baby pigeons. I helped look them all over, and we put aside ones that looked a bit worse for wear. After feeding all of the others, I found that the 6 set aside would need to be put to sleep. I decided, for experience, that I would help out. It was a terrible thing to be ending the life of a small helpless baby, but they would have died later on. I told each one in turn that I was sorry, but I didn't falter. I know these experiences will help me in the future, despite today's sadness.
   Robby is still growing like a weed. The center has decided that if we do not get another baby in soon, he must be sent away to others so he can lead a proper life. His teeth are quite sharp now, and he can really bite hard when he is ticked off! Hopefully, he can stay here with me, but ultimately I must do what is best for him.

Motherhood has its ups and downs

Sorry I haven't been able to post in a bit, but that's partly due to my duties with Robby! He is growing, and gains new skills everyday. Since my last post, he has learned to dig, jump even higher, strays even farther from me, and is less nervous around other people. His canines are almost all the way in, and he has another pair close behind! Since it is a Sunday, the computer lab closes soon, but I hope to have more information later!

....It's a Boy!

  Yup, thats right, despite the efforts of my parents, I have become one of those teenage mothers. I mean, the baby is a baboon, and I didn't have to deal with the physical birth aspect, but I promise you, other than that it's the same things. Actually, I would say that it is harder. Though Robby is cute as can be, he is also a bundle of endless energy and trouble making all wrapped up in a devilish little package.

5 Reasons Human Babies are Easier than Baboon Babies

1. Baby baboon= two year old olympic gymnast in a body the size of a newborn human
           While this means you don't have to worry about supporting his head, you do have to worry about him pulling full coffee mugs off the tables, attempting to eat everything in sight, running away, and anything else dangerous you could imagine.

2.You cannot cut a baboon fingernails
           Not that he would let me, but even if he did, baboons have primitive nails. This means the skin underneath grows out with the nail, like a claw open on one side. It is hard to explain, but I would seriously harm him if I were to cut them, no matter how much it hurts when he pulls on my eyelashes or crawls up my legs.

3.Robby is literally on my body for 99% of the time we are awake (5 AM to 9PM)
           Unlike a baby human, Robby cannot be "put down for a nap." He must stay in contact with me because in the wild, the baby is on the mom 24/7 for around 6 months. Not that I don't try to get a bit of peace...I'll tell you, getting dressed is something I now consider a herculean task.

4. He has a tail...
           Robby's tail has created several difficulties. First off, I have to cut holes in his diapers (I've gotten into the habit of calling them nappies). The problems with diapers do not stop there. Have you ever tried to wipe the bum of someone who just wants to whip his tail around and create a giant mess of everything? I didn't think so. Also, Robby has taken to clinging to my leg when I walk around. This is difficult because I have to be very careful I don't step on his tail!

5.There's no hope of him eventually being able to talk.
           Finding out what Robby needs is all trial and error. With human parents, they can look forward to the day when little Suzy learns her first couple of words and can ask for what she needs, though I will never see the day when Robby talks.



More on Robby later (as he pretty much now consumes my life)

-Becca

My Daily Life

As I have resumed regular duties at the center, most of my days follow a general pattern. I get up around 6, have breakfast (my diet consists mostly of grains, fruit, and veggies now) and put on my 10 cups of sunscreen and head up to the center by 7. The morning is spent in the kitchen preparing food. The center caters mostly to mammals and birds. I have developed the ability to separate my mind from my body in order to prepare chopped chicks, exactly what it sounds like, for the carnivores. My favorite part of the food prep is setting out the romix, a mix of grains for the waterfowl. The mix is the sweetest smell, similar to a barnyard, and allows me to escape both the heat and somewhat offensive smell of the kitchen.
   After feeding, we sit around waiting for someone to tell us if they need help with anything. On Sunday, I helped turn the ground in an exhibit in preparation for a new resident. Lunch runs from 12 to 1, and is a welcome break from the heat and sun. I have found several books, mostly British, in the house that I have taken to reading in my free time, and have gotten through 6 already. Obviously, we cannot leave the center after dark, so there is not always much to do. After lunch, there is another feeding, then more waiting for assignments until 3, when we get off. I like spending time with the staff and learning more about the different cultures of the people around me. Something that really surprised me to learn is that there is no curfew in the U.K., my roomates laughed and laughed at the concept.
   Robby, the baboon, is being testing for TB (deadly to primates) so hopefully it will be negative so I might resume my nanny duties. The staff can see I am quite interested in primates, so I was allowed to go on a vervet rescue, only to get there and find the male had died from a pellet gun wound.
   Death is a daily shadow over the center. I am saddened by the amount of deaths that I deem unneccesary. The attitude of South Africans is that a wild animal cannot live a full life in captivity, so even if an animal could live a full life, say as an eternal educational resident at the center, it has to be put down if it would not be able to be released. Please keep Robby and myself in your thoughts, and keep warm!

-Becca

Tough Times

   These last 48 hours have been quite hard for me. First, I was told I was going to foster a baboon, and got used to him. Then, I was told I was to foster a baby vervet, and I got used to her. Later, my brood expanded to two when a newborn (literally, with umbilical cord and all) vervet came in. I had just got the two settled, when I was told someone was coming to pick them up. What? This made no sense to me, everyone who had talked to me had implied that I would be keeping the babies for several weeks. It turns out that CROW was well past its legal limit for baby vervets, and had to call on a foster to help. This is not what bugs me, but simply that I was given the false impression of hope, as well as just enough time with the vervets for us to bond. Not only am I upset, but Snookie was terrified when the lady came to take her away, bouncing from foster mum to foster mum is definitely not good for anyone.
   I do however have some pictures of the babies that I should be posting later today, and hopefully things will improve for me in the days to come.

Motherhood

   For the first two days, I had the same duties as the 5 other volunteers: preparing food, cleaning cages, checking on animals and the like. After I was settled in, I was pulled aside in a meeting with Estie, Sam, and Daryl, where they proposed I become mom to Robby, the infant baboon at the center. I was thrilled, and ended spending a day playing with him so he could get used to me. Sadly, Robby was suspected of having an illness, so I am no longer able to care for him. Instead, I am now caring for Snookie, a baby vervet, around the clock.
   Last night was my first night with Snookie. She's quite a beauty, and has a much prettier face than some vervet babies. I have to stay inside most of the time, for if the wild vervets saw me, they would attack. She gets bottle fed every 3 hours, though she thankfully slept through the night (starting at 1 am)! The rest of the girls seem a bit put out that they had not been asked to do such an exciting thing, though they do enjoy "sitting" for Snookie occasionally.
  The center itself is beautiful, with lots of trees and the sounds of birds follow you everywhere. It is gated, and looks a bit like a prison at night when all the security precautions are in place, though I'm happy to know I'm safe. There is a spar not far away, and I have absolutely fallen in love with its chocolates!

Well...

Internet is a bit hard to come by here, although I still should be able to post every week or so. I reached the wildlife center safely, and because of my previous experience, I have been entrusted the care of a baby vervet monkey. Some of the other animals here include: a baby baboon (was mine for a day, that story later), LOTS of baby birds, tortoises, storks, and many more. Wish me luck with my new baby, and that I at least get a bit of sleep!

-Becca

Victoria Street Market

   To give you an idea as to how it feels to walk around in Durban, imagine you are a celebrity. Everyone looks at you, some approach and try to start a conversation, some are too nervous to approach but talk about you in hushed voices. You get compliments wherever you go, especially from the men, things such as "Hello beautiful,"  "Pretty dress my lady," and "I love your hair!"  I was instantly recognized as an American, with my light skin, blonde hair, sunglasses, and blue eyes. I got several calls of "Hello baby! Beautiful, come inside, I know you must be from America!" Somehow, none of the comments I received the entire day carried the same inappropriate undertones usually present in the comments I receive from American men, rather they seemed friendly, even if their motive was to get me to buy something.
   The market is certainly something to see, and smell! The streets, both sides, for several blocks, are lined with stalls and shops. There were fruit stalls, vegetable stalls, clothing stalls, wholesale stalls, as well as several stalls that contained various animal body parts such as hooves, skulls, skins, and buckets of organs. One of the nearby buildings contained a fish and meat market. The smell was very overpowering, and the sights a bit shocking. I saw many types of fish, cuts of meat, and also several less appetizing things such as tripe and intact goat heads. Needless to say, I only spent a few brief minutes inside. Also common were grocery stores which I quite enjoyed browsing. Throughout the day, I purchased a flavored water, water, a strange chocolate bar, wafer cookies, and frosted flakes (called frosties here, but Tony the tiger is still on the box!). I wanted to buy a mango, but didn't fancy trying to eat the fruit while walking around, so I settled on some nectarines instead (4 for 5 rand, about 75 cents).
   My original reason for wanting to go to the market was to buy an Indian sari, which I am happy to say I accomplished. There were several shops selling saris, but I finally settled on "The Sari Experts." Inside, as most shops I have visited here, I was followed as if by a hawk. There was a large selection, but I finally settled on a very pretty purple pattern for only 129 R (around 17 dollars). Little did I know, they don't actually sell the cholis (the cropped bloused that go under the sari) but that they give you enough fabric to make one. Because of this, I also bought a choli lining, and plan to get it made at home, or maybe even in Yellowwood if I can find a good seamstress.
   Along with the fish and meat market,  there was also an indoor craft market which contained the typical African tourist crafts. I was interested in the beadwork though I thought I might be able to get a bit cheaper elsewhere. I did however end up buying a beautiful painting of elephants walking.

 The Indian woman running the shop was very nice, and gave me a reasonable price to start off with, whereas the previous stalls I had gone to would start insanely high and go down "to give me a special deal." I ended up paying 25 R (around 3 dollars) and am very happy with it. I plan to buy several more paintings as gifts, and to decorate my room. The colors are so vivid and beautiful, I was very happy with my purchase.
   Before going the market, I was cautioned by Teeze  not to carry much money, or a visible bag. I had also heard stories of theft and mugging in that area, so I was quite cautious and brought my moneybelt and passport pouch with just some chapstick and a bit of money. By the end of the day though, I felt very comfortable and safe, everyone was friendly and I felt no threats at all. Of course, I was followed several times by men trying to start a conversation and show me around, though they were not overly clingy and easy to shake off if I wanted to. I was also grabbed by the hand once by a hawker, though I quickly walked away and he did not follow. I enjoyed talking to the shop owners, as well as various other people on the streets. I carried on a 20 minute conversation with a  two year old boy who knew little English, though was very talkative (in Zulu) and endearing. I ended up giving him one of my wafer cookies and he gave me the biggest, brightest smile. I wish I would not have been afraid to take my camera as there were so many things I wanted to take pictures of.
   Tonight is my last night at the hostel, and I arranged to meet my mentor at the Pinetown spar tomorrow for my trip to CROW. I am sad to leave, as I have felt very comfortable and happy here, though I am excited for the next part of my trip and getting to work with the animals.

-Becca

South African Coat of Arms

   During my first ride through Durban, I noticed that this same coat of arms (above) appeared on many of the buildings. Pictured are two animals: the springbok and oryx. Written below the shield is "Ex Unitate Vires" which essentially in Latin means "Strength from Unity." After doing a bit of research, I discovered that this is the old South African coat of arms, recently it has been replaced with a much less medieval-looking crest (right) that replaces the Latin motto with a phrase in one of the Bantu languages. The original crest contains imagery that represents the four original areas of South Africa;the maiden represents the Cape of Good Hope, the wildebeest represents Natal, the orange tree represents the Orange River Colony, and wagon represents Transvaal.
   I have also seen several other crests with Latin phrases including: "E Caelo Scientia," "Agricultura," and "Corde ac Manu." I wouldn't want to deprive Mr. Day, Danny, or the Dream Team from translating these phrases, so I won't be provided the translations of those.

Ubuthongo, Ubuthongo, Ubuthongo (Sleep, Sleep, Sleep!)

Today was a nice, slow, and lazy day. I had planned to go back to The Pavilion, but that didn't exactly work. I woke early, around 6. At that time, no one else was up other than the cleaning lady and the animals. I had the chance to talk to a couple of people on facebook, but then my laptop battery was running low and I decided to copy my roommate, Simon from Scotland, and go back to sleep. Next thing I knew, I heard Simon walking down the steps saying, "You still asleep? Its already two!" Groggily I got up, read for a bit, and then went walking outside.
   I haven't seen much wildlife yet, though I had noticed a couple of stray cats around Durban, as well as heard large amounts of birds, only having sighted a couple. I went down to the little pond at the hostel and saw it contained fish that looked similar to a bluegill though thinner and more colorful. I also noticed a group of tiny tadpoles as well as water-bugs. I am kept company by the resident pets, and had a feline bedmate last night. He is such a funny tabby with big greenish eyes, and a penchant for begging for meat scraps (he did get the fatty parts of my lamb chops!).
  Along with the cat, the dogs are sweeties but are not allowed inside. I've noticed it's quite common to have several outside guard dogs as well as hire protection from an armed response team; though the lab and the Rhodesian Ridgeback seem much more likely to lick you to pieces! Rhodesian Ridgebacks were actually developed in South Africa to hunt lions, and have a very unique 'mohawk' in which the fur on their back forms a ridge. This evening, I was pleaded with by the dogs to play fetch with a log, even though it was raining. Here they are poking their heads through the widow for attention.

   At around 4, I had 'breakfast' which consisted of eggs, bacon (more like fried ham here), and toast with peanut butter (yes, I did bring my own along). It was very good, as is most food here I have eaten. I spent most of the rest of the day, or what was left, sitting outside, talking, and doing things on the computer. I was excited for dinner though, as a braai (barbecue) had been planned. Unfortunately, the high humidity turned into an "electric storm" and boy, did rain pour. The power ended up going out, so I spent some time looking out the window at the storm. Lightning illuminated the entire sky, which I could see a vast expanse of, being in a hilly area where my vision isn't blocked by surrounding houses. The braai eventually did get cooked, and I ate a boerewors (similar to bratwurst) and lamb chops. The power also came back on, and hopefully I'll have another go at the hot tub tonight. 
   I didn't end up going to The Pavilion because I woke up late, though I have already made plans with Teeze to take me to the Victoria Street Market tomorrow where I am hoping of buying a sari.


-Becca

Shopping!

Ok, well I actually didn't get much shopping done, though I did spend a good seven hours at the mall. Apparently, Hillcrest is known for its shopping and rightfully so. Along with a couple of other hostel guests, I visited The Pavilion (one of the biggest malls in the Southern Hemisphere).

(Image provided by Wcities) The place was packed! I spent my day with a British couple from the hostel, though I did go to several shops by myself. My first stop was the mobile phone store. According to South African law, each cell must be registered to a person and an address, and this takes some time. In short, I have a phone, but it doesn't yet work. Surprisingly, this seemingly simple task that would have taken me 15 mins in the US, took up 75% of my time at the mall. The remaining portion of the time I spent following around the British couple and at the grocers. I found a nice adapter for around $6, sunsilk shampoo for $3, and biltong (a sort of South African beef jerky). Unfortunately for me, everyone else in the store seemed to be buying a months worth of produce for 20 people, so I had to jump out of line early to meet back up with my companions after waiting for 30 mins. I have noticed much of my time is spent waiting, especially for shopping/services. These kinds of waits would be unheard of in the US, as no doubt the consumers would start some sort of a riot. Even I had some difficulty remaining calm in line to get my phone.
   After a lunch of KFC, we decided to head back to the hostel. The British couple had been traveling for 6 months, and had made their way down to South Africa in the process. They were backpackers, and extremely nice. Instead of calling Teeze to come back and get us, we decided to take one of the taxi-buses used by the local blacks, though often spoken of as being very unsafe by the white population. I definitely would not have done it if alone, though I felt comfortable enough with two other people with me, and the ride went very smoothly. We had to make a connection in Pinetown near a street market. There were great crowds everywhere, though me and my friends were the only white people for blocks. I seemed to be of special interest to passers-by, wearing a simple wrap dress which I heard several women comment I must be freezing in. Of course, used to cold Ohio winters, I wasn't, but rather enjoying the nice breeze. I had never really been a visible minority before, though it wasn't as if I received ill treatment. Most everyone, especially the men and young boys, would smile and say "Sawubona" (pronounced like sow as in a pig, bone, ahh) which is "Hello" or literally, "I see you". Being in a poorer part of town, we were of course cautious, though nothing happened and we arrived back at the hostel safe and sound.
   I had had a long day, and tried to take a nap, though both Teeze and another one of my roommates kept asking me if I was ok, and seemed shocked that I didn't want anything to eat. Rather groggily, I finally gave in to their niggling, and sat down for a dinner of pasta in salad. I was again bugged until I consented to remain up and socialize and sit in the hot tub, which was really quite nice, especially when Teeze added the bubble bath. Having showered, I now sit in my bed listening to the techno music being blasted upstairs, and watching the twinkling lights of Durban from my window.  Hopefully tomorrow, I will finally get my phone working, and get my adapter and such.

-Becca

Here...Finally!

Well goodness, I feel as if I left home forever ago! I have decided that it should be illegal to subject people to sit in cramped air plane seats next to grumpy racist women, especially on a 18 hour flight. While I got through the flight business just fine, I did have a run in with an airport 'guide' who helped me check my bags in, and find my gate. He of course wanted a tip, and I obliged, though I got a bit miffed when he tried to get me to give him a 20 dollar bill for 20 R in change (less than 2 dollars). Arriving at Durban, I somehow missed the person who was supposed to pick me up and take me to the hostel. I waited for awhile, trying not to panic. That didn't work so well, seeing as I was in another country, at 11 at night, and had almost no way to contact people. Luckily, I had skype installed on my computer, and was able to arrange things through their phone service, technology saved me once again.
   I ended up staying last night at a nearby hotel. I thought it was just alright, and pretty disappointed that I hadn't made it to the hostel, though that was before I looked out my window and saw the beach across the street. This morning I went for an early beach walk, it was wonderful! Although humid, Durban feels nice and warm, especially compared to the cold Ohio winter. On the beach, I enjoyed the wind as well as the singing of a group of Zulu women. I looked for beach life, but I didn't find much more than various mollusks. On my way back to the hotel, I was approached by two guys who asked if I knew of any nearby places they could get a drink. Besides the fact that it was 6 in the morning, I didn't know anything to help them. Along the way, we eventually found them a bar, and the offered to buy me a drink. I declined, laughed, and continued walking. One of the guys decided that he was going to be stubborn, and walked all the way back to the hotel with me. He was persistent, but not annoyingly so, finally giving up at the door telling the doorman to "take care of this beautiful lady".

(The view from my hotel window)

    I eventually got in contact with my hostel and after some more confusion, Teeze came to pick me up. He is one of the owners and extremely nice, as is the hostel itself. It's located in somewhat of a gated community, and is just beautiful. I also like the fact that it is home to a cat, bird, and two dogs, making it even more so welcoming. Since I got in too late to buy the cell phone and power adapter I had been counting on, I was lucky to find a backpacker nice enough to lend me his power adapter so that I could charge my laptop. I have noticed how friendly everyone is here, people always say hi on the street, and I have talked to several people that seem genuinely interested in my travels and ways to help me.


Becca

List of things to do

Even with only 1 day left until I leave, I am still finding interesting things to put on my potential "to do" list.

1.uShaka Marine World

2.Fitzsimons Snake Park

3.Victoria Street market

4.Durban Beachfront Market

5.Tour the Indian District

6.Durban Natural Science Museum 

7.Minitown

8.Brighton Beach

9.Addo Elephant Park

10.Bloukrans Bungee Jump

11.Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms

12.Kruger National Park

I'm working on creating a map to show where all the places are located, look out for it soon!