I Wish I Was Michael Corleone & Buster Keaton Combined

Today I had Thanksgiving Dinner. Yes, in August. Yes, in Africa. YES, with lamb! And it was a fabulous Thanksgiving; lamb, squash, green beans, caulflower & cheesy thing, the works. I asked what the occasion was and the response was, "none, we just have a huge leg of lamb sitting in the freezer!"


I drove for the first time! Opposite side of the road, opposite side of the car, everything opposite! It's not too difficult, I just constantly feel like I'm about to crash into another car, a pole, or a human being. I also found my first real BUG. It was BIG. Just picked up a pillow, and KAPOW! The largest cockroach I've ever seen in my whole life. It had two-inch feelers and the whole bit. *shudders*


Wednesday was really, really nice weather-wise. A bunch of people from the hospital went to Long Street (the shopping/dining/drinking area) and then to Camps Bay beach. Camps Bay is gorgeously amazinggingly gagorgeous. Mountains, ocean, sand, and a book. We also found two starfish! It was much much too cold to swim (unless you're Canadian), but it was the most beautiful day since I've been here. Looooved it!

World Cancer Day was this week. "Spiderman" was there. He ate popcorn and was more interested in the magic show than the kids. It made me laugh. And as for work, although I'm bummed to have my assignments switched, I'm really anxious to get to work on the tracheostomy handbook. I looked through the current one, and it's rubbish. It actually bothers me how bad it is, so I can't wait to fix it up.
There was another excitement at work this week when a kid infected tons of people with a stomach bug. We were walking down the stairs and a doctor comes running up them and says to us, "Did you get the message?? Are you sick yet?" Yeah - pretty intense. They're calling it the African Yip.

A collection of facts, for the interested

I think Cape Town smells like salt, wind, gasoline, and a faint twinge of cigarettes. It's GOOD.

The hospital smells like tile (though there is none), disinfectant spray, and bodily fluids.

I live in an apartment where you lay your head down to sleep and you hear sirens and feet from the upstairs apartment. Which is also quite nice in its own way.

My favorite time of day is about six AM. Because the sun has just started to pour in through the shades and I know I have another hour to sleep.

You cannot turn on red lights.
Prince Harry, Richard Gere, and Hilary Swank are in town. And me too.
High School Musical is JUST as big here as it is at home.
In South Africa, your 18th is for every privilege: driving, drinking, smoking, etc.
You pre-pay EVERYTHING: internet, cell phone, electricity.
I realized that come December in South Africa, the sun will set at about 9, maybe later. Then I'll go home to Michigan, where the sun will be setting before 5.
Movie theaters have assigned seating.
I love hand sanitizer.
Get Skype!

The food section of facts (I could go on for ages)

Cupcakes and cake are eaten cold (this makes more sense, because nothing crumbles that way).
I'm single-handedly going to introduce the country to eggnog and s'mores.
At the movie theater, popcorn is not buttered. There is just many flavored salts.
Does anyone in the States eat condensed milk like ice cream? 'Cause here they do!






I think if I were Michael Corleone, I'd be able to handle the intimidation of South Africa. If I were Buster Keaton, I could make sick children laugh much easier. If I were the two combined... I'd be the greatest hero known to man.


The news from home has been rough this week. I'm thinking of you all.
Love!,
Erin

wish you were here