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
