Just Like Heaven

Good evening to all my avid readers!! I hope that everything is wonderful where you are. Another week has already passed, February is very nearly over, and my adventures in Cape Town continue.

This past week included a third (or maybe fourth?) visit to the Old Biscuit Mill. Anyone ever been to Eastern Market in DC? Yeah, well Biscuit Mill is like that, but so much better. Food options range from crêpes, to gyros, to mushroom kabobs, to pesto, to absolutely divine sandwiches. On top of all the amazing food, the atmosphere is mesmerizing. It is decorated exactly how I would decorate a party of a wedding. You sit on hay bales covered by blankets or on old painted wooden benches and the tables are made from old doors. Over head hang glass vases on a clothesline with a few simple flowers in each. The tables are decorated with candlesticks stuck into wine bottles. Surrounding the Old Biscuit Mill are shops with super cute merchandise. There is a furniture store that sells doors from Latin American buildings that were built in the 1800s- God only knows how they ended up in Cape Town. Other stores sell clothes by local designers and household decorations. In short, I absolutely adore this place. If I’ve learned anything from my time in Cape Town it is that it is never too early on a Saturday to start drinking. And sure enough at Old Biscuit Mill a person can buy sangria or champagne beginning at 9 am. We have gone for the past three weeks and will continue to go as often as possible.

I also went to a soccer game this week! The Cape Town team was playing… someone. I actually fell asleep for a little bit during the game. There is something about the constant sound of blowing vuvuzelas that lulls me into a deep, peaceful sleep. J It isn’t that the game wasn’t interesting, it was that the players were really bad. I’m not saying I could do any better, but it wasn’t like watching David Beckham or Landon Donovan play soccer.

I’ve gone to the beach twice in the last week. I would love to go more, but most days I am in class until 2:45 and we always try to be home before dark unless we are going some place in particular. I got a tiny bit sunburned today- just on the top of my legs and on my stomach. But some of my friends went to the beach on Friday when I was still in class and they were soooo burned! Elsha in particular. She came over when they got back and I immediately laid her down and put my frozen vegetables on her face. There is really something about the sun here. We aren’t that close to the equator- people always think when you’re in Africa that you are living on top of the equator and surrounded by dirt and sand. Not the case here in Cape Town. Everything is very green, but the sun is so strong. I was outside for probably four hours today and applied sunscreen three times. That still wasn’t enough.

One of the more challenging aspects about living here is having to cook for myself. At college, I’ve always lived in the dorms and had a meal plan. But I’m getting pretty good at it. I’ve been trying to eat lots of protein and vegetables. I’ve made stir fry and spaghetti. But I have also been eating a lot of my main staple- sandwiches.

Tonight we hurried back from the beach so that we could go to the botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch to the sunset concert series. Three acts played; one of which was an a cappella group that I loved! They sang Waka Waka (by Shakira. The song was used last year for the FIFA World Cup and has become the song of our semester), the theme song to the Lion King, and others. In general, we just had a nice time being together in the shade when the weather was nice. But in true South African style everyone brought their own booze.

While I’m on the topic, I should probably let you know about a place here in Cape Town (in Rondebosch, to be exact) that has become near and dear to my heart: the Pig and Swizzle. This bar is where we go for cheap drinks at the end of a long week. Want to go out on a Friday night but don’t want to pay for a taxi to take you somewhere? Head up the hill to the Pig and Swizzle. It’s just a typical bar with a pool table, a foosball table, and video games. But it’s fun because we are generally the only Americans (and the only white people) in there. It’s a great way to meet some locals in a relaxed environment. Plus they play really great dance music.

I really am surprised at how happy I am here. Of course I thought that I would like it, but I didn’t know that I would be so comfortable. I’m having so much fun and experiencing a world totally unlike my own. Culturally, it is very different. The other day in my politics class we were discussing the idea of modernity. The professor spoke about how in places where modernity has taken hold (as a consequence of industrialization) rules are generally followed. For example, in the US I always wait for the little green walk sign to come on before crossing the street. Even if you could probably make it my bolting across the road, most people wait. But here that is not the case. You walk whenever you feel like it. I have done more jaywalking here than ever before. And as I’m jaywalking, I will cross half of the street and stand on the line between the cars going in opposite directions to wait for the other side to clear. It’s so scary, but it’s just what you do! It’s like that with lines too. Or queues as they call them here. No one believes in them. It’s basically a free for all getting on and off buses. The thing that is taking the most adjustment is the way men will talk to you. Nothing has ever gotten out of control, but usually just walking down the street men will tell you that they like what they see. I really hate it. If someone said that to me in the States, I would turn around and slap them. But it’s just one of the consequences of a very patriarchal society.

I really am happy though. I’m so glad to be here and I am loving the people I’m here with. This week I’m applying to an internship at Nelson’s office in DC for the summer. Wish me luck!!

The pictures included in this blog are of my delicious sandwich from one of the vendors at Old Biscuit Mill, the soccer stadium, Kate, me, Arianna, Diane, and Amy at the soccer game, Fish Hoek beach, and Me, Arianna, Diane, and Elsha at the Kirstenbosch concert.

If there’s anything in particular that anybody wants me to talk about please let me know!

Love you all.

Be safe,

B.