It's not the same when it's hot.

juxtaposition

It would seem that I left the UK just in time to escape the snow. Not actually entirely sure whether I'm pleased about that or not. I don't fancy the struggle to slide into work without falling over, scraping the car and waiting for the damn thing to warm up along with you in it, or the cold, cold, cold. However it's been a while since I've been in snow and I love that child-like excitement of waking up to a white bright blanket of  stuff reflecting the light of the sky.

The weather in South Africa has been a bit nuts. We've had some truely magnificent lightening shows with huge claps of thunder that rattle your teeth, along with driving rain that just slaps you all over depending on which way the wind is blowing, but especially when on the top of a hill. I made the mistake of going to the loo in this weather (a ten metre walk from my hut) and I was soaked before I even got there. Not gonna bother trying that again. I shall hold.

There is always talk here of different cultures as the tour guides provide village tours where you see more of the local area and learn more about the culture and traditions of the people living here. I think this is my cultural moment as a Brit. A whole damn post chatting about the weather. But that's fine. I have no intention of losing my culture despite living here. I'll take the best of both, the best of British and enjoy my weather ramblings.

getting with it

I live in a small community in South Africa. Community or “ubuntu” is an important concept in the culture here. Everyone pretty much knows everyone. I know some. Everyone knows me.

I have to consciously remember not to be a miserable Londoner... avoiding eye contact, definitely not greeting strangers, walking fast... all this I must now forget so as not to cause offence.

I quite like it. But not when I’m running late which is frequently, because then it is very hard for me to have the time to enquire after someone, their mother and their grandfather’s dog. But I do anyway – a short short version.

I’m still playing chase the visa. I wish I could say it’s been fun. But it hasn’t. And it’s not. But I will have a huge party if the illusive visa comes to me. Everyone’s invited!