Marie-wind! Take Four

Fun, Facts, and Follies From the Last Few Weeks...

• I sort of just assumed that cream soda is the same colour worlwide, like Coke or Sprite. Not so. In SA, cream soda is green instead of pink!

• ...also relating to soda: here, Diet Coke is called "Coke Light".

• It is common to see parking lots for malls, businesses, the airport, etc. have large canvas canopies that protect each stall from the elements. How nice would it be if we had this amenity back home?!

• South African high school students do not have a ceremony to recieve their diploma. In North America, we make it a big deal with speeches and gowns, but here, they simply have their high school diploma sent to them in the mail and then celebrate the end of high school with a formal. 

• Self-serve gas pumps do not exist. In order to create more jobs opportunities, gas jockeys service your car at every gas station. You are expected to tip them. You also do not pay inside but rather give the card (or cash) to the attendant, who then processes it for you.So basically you never have to (and really aren'y expected to) leave your car at all. Also, gas is referred to as "petrol" here. 

• You know how we are allowed to turn right on a red? In SA, it is illegal to do the equivalent of turning left on red (they drive on the opposite side of the road). You must either wait for a green or turning arrow.

• For better security, malls and businesses employ parking lot attendants to watch your car while you are away. They help find you a space, give you assistance when backing out, and are "supposed" to keep an eye out for vandals. It's akin to when you go to a big sporting game and find that the parking lots are crawling with event staff in neon pinnys. And like the gas jockeys, these guys expect a tip -- especially if it's crappy weather outside or if it's late at night.

• I cooked dinner for the Wright's the other week! For anyone who knows my limited skill-set in the kitchen, this was quite the feat for me. Tarryn coached me along and I made a whole roast chicken (!!), a feta/watermelon/mint salad, and a few other things -- all of which turned out perfectly and were enjoyed by all :) I must say that I am quite proud of myself!
  
  

Tarryn even made me carve the bird myself! haha and I didn't really take to it very well...