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.