Marie-wind! Take Eleven

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

• Any idea what someone means when they say, "I'm grafting" or "I've got to graft this weekend"?. It's the word South Africans (and I believe the British) use to mean "work". 

• Money laundering is a big problem here and because of it, business are always asking for your personal information (full legal name, address, birthday, etc.) to track who is buying what. For a Canadian who's always been taught to keep a tight grasp on those type of personal details -- it's downright ridiculous! When I went to buy a cell phone (not a contract, just the phone), I was asked for full disclosure including my passport number! Doesn't that seem a little invasive/unnecessary? Even to buy a gift certificate at the mall you need to provide such details as your full legal name, proof of address, and I.D number. 

• I've noticed South Africans drop a syllable when pronouncing the follow two words. So random. 
• Med-i-cine = Med-cine
• Prop-er-ly = Prop-ly 

• I was convinced we'd be car hijacked, but eventually I gave in and last week Dids and I went to the Joburg drive-in to see Fast & Furious 5 and the new Pirates movie.
  
  I love drive-in movies. Nothing beats snuggling up in slippers, blankets, and pillows in your car and stuffing yourself silly with hot dogs, slap chips (thick cut french fries with vinegar & salt), and candy. The fact that Didier has a sound system in his car that can be heard all the way to Egypt doesn't hurt either. And! They have guys waiting at the entrance who will clean your windshield for like, 3 rand! Thankfully we came out of the nighttime adventure unscathed. But I still flinched every time a stranger passed by my window. 

• It's taken me a while to hunt down proper North American yellow mustard. You know the kind: French's mustard in the yellow bottle. Well, here they tend to eat flavored mustards like Dijon and hot. Either that, or it's watery, sweet mustard from Wimpy, a local fast food place. But lucky me! I've found a French's mustard equivalent and can now eat my boerewors roll in peace :)  

• Automatic cars may be the norm back home, but here nearly every vehicle is manual. Didier has taken me out for two lessons... and I managed to learn how to get it into first gear! Woo, go me! But I may just stick to what I know haha. The whole clutch, gear, hand brake thing is a wee bit overwhelming for a lifetime auto girl to handle :P 

• Sooo, I just learned that SAA charges a flat rate of $100 CAN for extra baggage weight. Yeah. Regardless if you are 1lb or 20lbs over the given limit. FRIG. This is going to be one expensive suitcase to get home...  

• I got the flu this past Sunday-Wednesday. It's been years since I was that sick. I was dealt full-on body aches, chills, fever, vomiting, cough... the whole works. I suppose it's not too bad though, considering I've been in Africa for 10 months and this is the first serious illness I've had to deal with *knockonwood*. At least I got it out of the way before my birthday weekend begins! I turn 24 on Saturday :)