The international women of mayhem are no longer together. I have moved back to South Africa for a while, and Tara is still in New Zealand. But we are still the IWM, and since we're being so very international right now, we thought we would keep blogging.
I got to Cape Town on the evening of the 4th of February, and by the 13th, I was already moved into a place and had started a new job. How's that for organised? So here's a little something on my stay here so far.
I am living with a friend in one of the better areas of cape town, in a house with quite a large, if shallow, pool, and I am staying rent free. They have 3 great big german shepherds, which I still have to get used to, but I am not going to get killed between the gate and the front door.
I have bought a car that - shock horror! - cost me more than $1500. But then you need a good car here, so you don't break down and get killed while waiting on the side of the road for the AA.
And I have a job. In IT. Yes, I am one of you losers now.
It's a good job though, challenging and with loads of freedom to do what I like.
There is free and secure parking, so my car is safe...ish. Only problem is that the shuttle bus that takes you the 500m to the office is a bit slow, but I have been warned not to walk, in case I get mugged, or fall in the river and drown, or something.
Not sure if you noticed, but there is a theme developing here.
Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be back here, seeing everyone, experiencing SA, and the weather is devine, but...things are pretty bad here:
1. You can't walk anywhere without someone telling you it is unsafe. I've not felt unsafe, seen anything unsafe or been stabbed yet, but it's easier to drive everywhere so that you don't have to hear people tell you the many ways in which you could have died.
2. Yes, people are getting killed everyday. In their cars. Because they drive like crazy people! Fast and reckless. Not to mention all the bloody pedestrians walking across the highways.
3. People are not as laid back as I remember, or maybe I've just been living in NZ too long. They seem to think they are living in a world of instant gratification - they can't get to places fast enough and expect things to happen NOW (there's no now now or just now anymore) - yet they don't realise that they are, essentially, in Africa. Africa time is worse than Island time.
4. You have that wonderful South African accent, in all its many variations, in 3D. All the time.
But enough complaining, or moaning, or whatever it is we South Africans do, let me go lock up the house so that we don't die tonight.
