The Rainbow Nation

So, I have really exciting news! I saw my first gay couple yesterday! I have to admit - it did make me a little homesick.

Rekindling the Fire

Last week grew into an extended weekend so sorry for the lack of posts. I ended up staying in Durban until Friday and then my girlfriend and I came back to Pietermaritzburg. We had an amazing dinner on Friday night with a few of my friends. We actually had great service!!! Waters were refilled without asking, food came up within a reasonable amount of time, and our waitress came by to check up on us a few times as well. South Africa is a great country but minus this one experience, the customer service leaves something to be desired. For example, my girlfriend was told that she would get internet at her house within a week. She went back to the provider after two weeks and they told her, "well, it'll be about two weeks to six months." Yep, T.I.A. - this is Africa.

The extended weekend was really good for my relationship too. We were getting tired of the "hello, goodbye" quick visits. For school, it didn't matter since I only have 3 classes over Thursday and Friday and 2 were cancelled. In my other one, it was the last day before a week cancellation so we could work on a project. So it wasn't like I was missing much in PMB anyways. My girlfriend and I also were able to talk. Here in South Africa, you have to pay per minute since we're only here for a few months. For cell phones, in order to get a plan, you have to sign a contract for over a year. So, calling people can become costly. I have to say, talking in a relationship is probably the most important part.

On Friday, I am leaving for "holliday" with 11 of my friends (including my girlfriend) to Swaziland and Mozambique. On the way, we're going to see the St. Lucia wetlands as well as Kruger National Park. LOTS OF PICTURES! Animals, scenary, people, beaches, etc. My camera is going to be exhausted!

Crash and Burn

I think I am too old for these clubs. Why? I'd rather go to a nice jazz club, sit, eat, drink, and relax. Or even better - a dinner for two by candlelight with a nice piano. The best - a quiet midnight picnic where you can see the stars and soft beats are playing from the car stereo. All of this crazy rave music and/or hardcore screamo rock has become bitter to me. This club called, "Burn" had a few live bands and some interesting people who I appropiately titled, "high school people." It was fun but I feel like I'm too old for this.

I saw a dead body for the first time last night. I was in a cab going to the school from the bus stop when I saw a man in handcuffs being led away by the police. I saw a pole nearly about to tip over, bent in at about a 45 degree angle near the base. I then saw a man lying still, on the ground, with a plastic bag covering his head and upper body. Still. Alone. In the middle of the field. The paramedics were there but why hadn't they taken him in? Hidden the man/body? To hide the...shame? pain? grief? annoyance to everyone else's night? Why was his body displayed there for all to see, half covered with plastic? Had his entire life led up to this moment where he would lie there? All those years of childhood, all those times his mother cooked for him, all those grades he received, all those nights where he hung out with his friends, all those times he sought and questioned God, all those times he cheered for a soccer team, all those moments - had they led to this?

What do we do? You know - with our lives? "Live life to the fullest." Someone said that. "Carpe diem." Someone said that. What did they do? What do I do?

I'm going to a jazz club on Wednesday.

Rain

This week has left me in a weird mood. It could be the after effects of the illness but I just cannot seem to focus or concentrate. That and there is the feeling that I'm walking in a daze. Things are just kinda a blur right now. It's like driving in the rain while the windshield is fogged up.

The good news? It's supposed to be partly cloudy tomorrow.

The Flu

No, I'm not dying but I do have the flu. I am recovering at the moment from that and from the two tests that I took yesterday while having the flu. It was very interesting to go to the Chemist (aka pharmacist) to get some medicine. I told the lady my symptoms and was given about four different things to take. I just wanted some night-time medicine since I already had Sudafed. I ended up merely getting some lozenges and one of my friends gave me their stash of Tylenol night-time meds. I love that medicine. I slept for about ten hours during the day and still managed seven hours for the night. I feel better today so hopefully I'll be fully recovered by tomorrow.