Feels like heaven to be able to sit back and write something after ages :) Liking the comeback, needless to say! It's been almost three months since I moved to a new country, city and a whole new hemisphere...yeah i like to say the last one too! Being in the Rainbow Nation - South Africa - the Republic of South Africa - whatever, in the oldest city of Cape Town - Kaapstad - City of Cape Town - Ah..whatever, here are answers to FAQs...as I see it and as you like it!
- So, how is it in South Africa?
- Whatever the it is, this is a beautiful country. Very new in its today's existence (the new RSA was formed in 1994 after "killing" the apartheid system) and a lot of things to offer. The country is definitely in the state of "transition" - people are seeing colors, no more black and white, and there is definitely increased grey matter.
- Being in Africa, has your skin color changed?
- Putting this question quite subtly...No, not everything is black in Africa, the milk is still white and so are a few people! I am as brown as I was before coming here!
- So have you been to *XYZ* national parks and seen the lions and the elephants?
- No I have not yet! It is quite a disadvantage to be living in a tourists' city :( Most things are in the market for tourists and filtering the highly priced crap out of the lot is quite a task! But that said, local sightseeing is super affordable thanks to the buses and the trains! They do come at the right time and are extremely safe! Going far away from here needs a car which in turn needs a license that you can procure after an year of you landing here, unless you want to offer a help!
- Is it safe? How about the crime rates?
- Unfortunately this country clocks the highest numbers of rapes, murders and HIV in the world and they are form this vicious circle. There is inequality, thanks to apartheid. There is an attitude of You stole from us, now it is time we did the same. You can see magnificent buildings and envying infrastructure right next to townships that lack proper drinking water and sanitation. Like every city, there are places that you do not want to go to unless you have a solid reason. Being safe is as simple as 1-2-3. Just use common sense!
- Is it dangerous to be out late in the night?
- Honestly, I do not know! I have been super safe in Cape Town and when we move out we usually come back by 21 30, if we walk. Or take a taxi if it gets late. I have heard that things can get out of control when venturing around known "unsafe" places and there is definitely a reason to heed advices.
- How about the people?
- Irrespective of the skin color, most of them are sweet. No, they are not cannibals and they do not harm you, unless they have a reason to! I have had random people on the road ask me if they can carry my heavy grocery bag, or help me with my bicycle fixing, smile and say good evening, give a ride back home and wish a great stay here!
- Cooking...how do you manage Indian cooking? Are there Indian stores?
- This needs some history knowledge! Okay, so I do most of Indian cooking with ease and most stuffs are available here. This is not the Silicon Valley, so no Indian stores per se, but Durban (a city like Cape Town) has the highest number of Indians outside of India, most of whom are now South African citizens. Their previous generations did migrate from India during the British Raj and the world wars. And a few of them settled in Cape Town as well - so there are a few Indians here. Also, there are Cape Malays - a sect of people with Malaysian origins who were brought from Malaysia to work on the fields generations ago. Most of the spices that we use are similar to the Malay cuisine and hence there is no problem with cooking!
- So you are in the southern hemisphere, does the water turn anti-clockwise when you flush it down the drain?
- Okay, so this has to be a geek asking me. People do think that there is a dramatic difference when you go to the other half of the earth, but I have seen none. Neither the water turning anti-clockwise nor the sun rising in the west! Things seem all the same to me apart from a different view of the night sky. Because my husband is an astrophysicist, I do know that the axis of the Milky Way is visible from the Southern Hemisphere, the farther you go away from the equator, the better is the view. Since the city is so much light polluted, I can hardly see it yet!\
- Looks like everything is hunky-dowry right? Good!
- Well, no! There are same issues that plaque a developing country! There are bigger things like corruption, poverty, bureaucracy, inefficiency in the system, all kinds of mafias, power politics etc. There are also small issues like load-shedding and telecom outages. But I am not complaining :)
- Hmm...!?!
- Hmm...Its a great place and I am loving it!
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