So I've been bringing my SA blog up to date and now it is finished. I am sure there is tons of stuff I missed.
I do love Africa. I also find it a very strange place - full of contradiction. There is so much beauty (the land and the people) and also so much brutality. I also find that I am drawn to politically "interesting" places like SA and Cuba. It makes me think. And that can only be good, hey?
Now that is a real South African-ism. Adding "hey" in a questioning manner at the end of sentences or statements. I am trying not to copy it in everyday speech, because it irritates Roy when I do!
Other things they say are "oh shame" all the time. And not only if you're telling them about some mishap or unfortunate incident. And "is it?". Another question, but not always used in that context, or "correctly". I'm trying to think of an example. Here's one.
Me: "We're going to Durban next week".
South African person: "Is it?".
The one I like is "we'll make a plan". This is said all the time - and sounds really grand and formal, but can be as simple as "Let's have coffee. We'll make a plan and meet up". I love that one!
And "ja" is used a lot instead of yes, even by non-Afrikaners, I think.
Finally, "just now" is a commonly used phrase. As in "we'll see you just now". With "just now" meaning any length of time - not immediately. Actually, they use this in Scotland a lot, too.
My personal favourite expression was one often used by Korbie, the Afrikaans lady who we met on safari with her British husband, Brian. As we drove around, Brian would often point out birds to her. She was a very calm, relaxed lady. Slowly, she'd raise her binoculars to her eyes, look at the bird and gently sigh out "Stunning". With absolutely no enthusiasm whatsoever! It was so funny. "Stunning" became one of the catch phrases of our trip, thereafter.
I think I went to SA thinking that it would be a good place to live in. I've changed my views about that, largely due to the political situation and also the crime rates. I think it would be nigh on impossible for a white couple like us to emigrate there now - unless of course we had our own business and were self sufficient. I don't think immigrants are wanted. The government is trying hard to rebalance things (racially) and opportunity is granted only to some.
Many parents are actively encouraging their kids to get qualified and then get out of the country. SA is losing talented people to the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It's so sad.
I guess I had in mind that things were on the way to being "mended" now, post apartheid, but the truth is that they are nowhere near resolved. There is a long, long way to go - and I don't quite know how it will all work out in the end.
But I'll be back. Definitely.
