Today, I woke up around 7:20 AM and had a delicious bacon and egg quiche with a cinnamon muffin and pineapple juice. I have to make it a point to bring my camera to breakfast starting tomorrow, I always forget!
Anyway, today was the first day I felt stress since I’ve been here. I am definitely still jet lagged, and my lack of sleep seems to be catching up to me. I feel a cold coming on, but I just keep downing rooibos tea and super c. Super c, a South African goodie, is a small tangerine flavored candy that Dr. Bhayroo shared with me. It tastes just like Pez! They seem to really be helping - and are very tasty too!
Later this morning, after we had a short group meeting, I went out with Siena, Nick C, and Zach to get calling cards so we can make local phone calls to set up interviews.
This is a granadilla.
The other day Dr. Bhayroo shared a granadilla, also known as passion fruit, with Lauren W and me, and I craved one every day since. Passion fruit doesn’t grow in the US! It is a small fruit that you bite into and suck the juice and seeds out. Very, very delicious! So while we were out, we stopped at the grocery store to pick some up. Of course, I totally forgot the name of it, and while I was searching, all the workers were trying to help me find this “mystery fruit.” At the same time, there is a language barrier, so me not knowing the name of something, and trying to describe how I eat it to someone who can hardly understand my accent, was a much more difficult task than you’d think.
Finally, a man called me over and figured out what I was talking about. Later he said, “So where are you from, besides America?”
Really though... everyone virtually looks, acts, and dresses exactly the same as Americans here, but once I open my mouth, my identity is instantly given away!
For example, I was making a call this morning and as one of the hairdressers was handing the phone to her manager she said, “The phone’s for you - She’s American.”
It was really difficult communicating over the phone with the South African hairdressers. Everyone speaks English, just not the English I am used to hearing. I’m sure as time goes on I will get more used to it though.
Having this experience as a foreigner is really eye-opening.
I went into a few salons in Melville to do research for my Hairdressers of the World Against AIDS story, but none of them participated in the program. It is difficult doing a story on an organization that I have never been exposed to before, and especially difficult doing it in a place where I have no idea where anything is.
Since I was unable to travel to Soweto this afternoon for my interviews, I went to the Rosebank African Craft Market and The Mall at Rosebank. I found a salon in the mall, Just Georgie’s, that participates in the program, and I plan to interview the owner tomorrow.
The Craft Market was full of really cool, authentic crafts. The salespeople were all so friendly -- it was impossible to walk past a shop without being talked to.
We had a long meeting in the Bed and Breakfast’s conference room tonight summing up all of our progress and giving each other tips for current stories.
Tomorrow is going to be very busy for most of us because it is our last day to film our stories. I will be traveling to Maponya Mall in Soweto for the day to see the area and interview a few hairdressers. Very excited!
Stay posted for my first news story coming later this week!
Hope everyone is doing well in the states!
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