Just to clarify last post...It's ot that there are only white people on Long St., far from it. We've met tons of black and colored (NOT a racist word here) in Cape Town But a lot of restaurants and bar tend to lean touristy and/or white, especially a lot of the restaurants we go to. I totally admit to living the western tourist lifestyle here.
March 29 (continued)
Mama Africa was sort of underwhelming, although ostrich meat was quite good (like steak, not chicken). The we hung out with the Medill kids interning here at their super-posh apartment and at a bar on Long St. THEN I was tired (from the hike, you might remember) so I went home early , and went to bed around 1am. Shortly there after when I was trying to fall asleep a man and his girlfriend (who I'm going to assume are German unless I hear otherwise) just WALKED INTO MY ROOM! They just started going on the balcony only accessible by my room. ummmm, not ok. I told them this and the man explained "it's the only way to get there." I told him it was not ok to walk through my room, and kindly suggested they use the public balcony. "It's too noisy there" he said like that was ok. Later they climbed out the window of their own room to get to the balcony. ugh, some people are so rude.
March 30
We woke up early and took the train to a beach in Muizenberg. Public transportation here is suppoosed to be horrific but the train wasn't worse than the L in Chicago (though that's not saying much). The water was warmer there, though it was still a little cold.
At night we went out with the son of a woman Tina knows in Joburg. He goes to University of Cape Town (UCT) and he and his friends were very nice and nerdy (in otherwards, people we'd hang with at Northwestern). We went to Cubana (different than the other one we went to- apparently a chain) where there was drinking and dancing, thoguh the Cuban food is more like Mexican.
I'd like to note that I ask people here a million questions about their culture. Yet people here know so much about the U.S. their questions are hyper-specific and really just clarifying what they've learned from the media. Per example, one of his friends, who was black and quite well-off himself, asked me if black people in America are as spoiled and materialistic as they appear on tv, particularly music videos. I said no, some people are spoiled and materialistic of course, but rap videos don't speak for everyone.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
more cape town
Tuesday March 27
I woke up early to go to a Parliament meeting. A source of Steph suggested she go, and Tin aand I went, thinking it would be interesting. It wasn't, but now I can cross South Africa parliamentary meeting off my to-do list. I also had an interview with a nice man at a government think tank who put AIDS activism into context. At night Steph and I had sushi dinner with a nice (but boring photographer)
Wednesday March 28
Early interview with an American working on AIDS activism in the am, who discussed the comparison of U.S. and South African activism. Then Steph and I attempted to
go to Robben Island. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out. We bought tickets for Monday am, and went off. Steph was meeting someone at 3, so I went to the beach. Lovely of course. Since I've been spending sooo much money, on the way back I took a mini-cab,
which is a group taxi that has stops. I was one of three white people, and the cab got dropped off in a neighborhood not far from where I'm staying. It was weird, because everyone was black, which is normal for South Africa, but most of the people on Long Street are white. It's a pretty segregrated city. But so are most cities, I guess.
At night we went to a club Fashion TV where all the beautiful people of Cape Town go. The cigarette promoter who doesn't' smoke got us into a VIP room. This jappy (jsappy?) woman started talked to me at one point about how she's going to the U.S. and already has lined up Jdates in three cities.
Thursday March 28
I climbed Lion's Head. Which is a mountain (not Table Mountain, the bigger mountain, we're all doing next week). If you know me, you know I'm not exactly a hiker. But I realized I had never climbed a mountain by myself, and I wanted a solo activity. So after a small snafu (the cab driver thought I wanted to go to Lion's Head LODGE instead of the mountain) four hours late I had been up AND down a beautiful mountain. all by myself.
And tonight we're having dinner at Mama Africa and I will finally get to eat ostrich!
I woke up early to go to a Parliament meeting. A source of Steph suggested she go, and Tin aand I went, thinking it would be interesting. It wasn't, but now I can cross South Africa parliamentary meeting off my to-do list. I also had an interview with a nice man at a government think tank who put AIDS activism into context. At night Steph and I had sushi dinner with a nice (but boring photographer)
Wednesday March 28
Early interview with an American working on AIDS activism in the am, who discussed the comparison of U.S. and South African activism. Then Steph and I attempted to
go to Robben Island. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out. We bought tickets for Monday am, and went off. Steph was meeting someone at 3, so I went to the beach. Lovely of course. Since I've been spending sooo much money, on the way back I took a mini-cab,
which is a group taxi that has stops. I was one of three white people, and the cab got dropped off in a neighborhood not far from where I'm staying. It was weird, because everyone was black, which is normal for South Africa, but most of the people on Long Street are white. It's a pretty segregrated city. But so are most cities, I guess.
At night we went to a club Fashion TV where all the beautiful people of Cape Town go. The cigarette promoter who doesn't' smoke got us into a VIP room. This jappy (jsappy?) woman started talked to me at one point about how she's going to the U.S. and already has lined up Jdates in three cities.
Thursday March 28
I climbed Lion's Head. Which is a mountain (not Table Mountain, the bigger mountain, we're all doing next week). If you know me, you know I'm not exactly a hiker. But I realized I had never climbed a mountain by myself, and I wanted a solo activity. So after a small snafu (the cab driver thought I wanted to go to Lion's Head LODGE instead of the mountain) four hours late I had been up AND down a beautiful mountain. all by myself.
And tonight we're having dinner at Mama Africa and I will finally get to eat ostrich!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
update
Nothing ridiculously thrilling the last couple days, but I'll still blog:
Sunday March 25:
More beach! Because South Africa's very Christian, almost everything was closed on Sunday. We went to the beach, and walked to another beach to eat lunch. Our first waitress was very tired since she worked two double shifts. Our second waiter was very excited we were from the U.S. even though he wanted to kill Bill Gates because he had too much money. Said waiter wants to go to the U.S. and visit 1) New York and 2) Michigan since that's where Eminem's from.
After beaching it, we ate an unsatisfying dinner at Lola's, with a rude waitress who took an hour to bring food, and then went for some drinks at Long Street Cafe with Scottish Laura.
Monday March 26:
I woke up at 7:30am for an interview. Yes, I'm actually doing a bit of work! I had a nice interview with D, who Steph connected me too, and we discussed the recent changes in activists' relationship with the government regarding their position on HIV/AIDS (my topic).
Then I tried to take Tina to the coffee shop where I met my Zimbabwean friend, but it was farther than I remembered so we turned around. Instead we read and had delicious milkshakes at Long Street Cafe.
Right when we were discussing how we need to make friends, Tina's friend's friend called and took us out for a drink. He works for a cigarette company (though he doesn't smoke), and basically throws parties so he's a good person to know.
Once we returned, Steph was going to interview D (who I interviewed in the a.m.) over dinner. When he saw me, he inivted me to join, which I did hesitantly since I knew Steph needed to interview. But I needn't had worried, since it ended up being a 30 minute interview, joined by a 20 minute car ride to Kalk Bay and a fancy dinner, too much wine, and learning D's life story. Fun fact: Despite the fact that D works in the AIDS world, spent 15 years in San Francisco (in the Mission no less) and referred to his "partner" we learned later said partner was a woman. We were quite suprised.
It's exciting meeting people who are older who have traveled the world and are still doing new and exciting things even though they are adults. It gives me hope for the future.
Sunday March 25:
More beach! Because South Africa's very Christian, almost everything was closed on Sunday. We went to the beach, and walked to another beach to eat lunch. Our first waitress was very tired since she worked two double shifts. Our second waiter was very excited we were from the U.S. even though he wanted to kill Bill Gates because he had too much money. Said waiter wants to go to the U.S. and visit 1) New York and 2) Michigan since that's where Eminem's from.
After beaching it, we ate an unsatisfying dinner at Lola's, with a rude waitress who took an hour to bring food, and then went for some drinks at Long Street Cafe with Scottish Laura.
Monday March 26:
I woke up at 7:30am for an interview. Yes, I'm actually doing a bit of work! I had a nice interview with D, who Steph connected me too, and we discussed the recent changes in activists' relationship with the government regarding their position on HIV/AIDS (my topic).
Then I tried to take Tina to the coffee shop where I met my Zimbabwean friend, but it was farther than I remembered so we turned around. Instead we read and had delicious milkshakes at Long Street Cafe.
Right when we were discussing how we need to make friends, Tina's friend's friend called and took us out for a drink. He works for a cigarette company (though he doesn't smoke), and basically throws parties so he's a good person to know.
Once we returned, Steph was going to interview D (who I interviewed in the a.m.) over dinner. When he saw me, he inivted me to join, which I did hesitantly since I knew Steph needed to interview. But I needn't had worried, since it ended up being a 30 minute interview, joined by a 20 minute car ride to Kalk Bay and a fancy dinner, too much wine, and learning D's life story. Fun fact: Despite the fact that D works in the AIDS world, spent 15 years in San Francisco (in the Mission no less) and referred to his "partner" we learned later said partner was a woman. We were quite suprised.
It's exciting meeting people who are older who have traveled the world and are still doing new and exciting things even though they are adults. It gives me hope for the future.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Diana's birthday, Tina arrives, and more fun
There are three of us now. I (Diana) am way into blogging so I will chronicle our journeys the past few days, and the others can add if they wish:
At midnight on March 23 Steph and I went to the Dubliners, an Irish bar, to ring in my birthday. A Bon Jovi lookalike sang decent covers as tourists danced. A few Kellogg kids showed up, of course, but overall a nice time.
In the morning, when Steph went to prison, Tina, our third musketeer, arrived! We ran errands and went to the botanical gardens where a Canadian commercial was being shot. It was one of many commericals we have since seen, since people apparently fly from all over the world to bask in the glow of Cape Town. Then guess who found us? YES, Steph and my stalker from the first day. This makes four times he has found us. I was quite terse.
At night, for my birthday dinner the three of us went for delicious Kurdish food. There were high school boys smoking hookah next to us, and we felt old. I also danced with a belly dancer.
We then went clubbing on Long Street. This was the first time we went OUT out on our lovely street, and we were not super-impressed. While I enjoyed the birthday drinks of course, the crowd was quite touristy/highschooly. We went to one cool club "The Waiting Room" where we had a view of the city.
Overall, it was a lovely birthday, and super-great to spend it in Cape Town, the most beautiful city in the WORLD.
March 24
While Steph was in prison, Tina and I went to the beach. We first got bikini waxes at this super-fancy hotel (that would cost upwards of $500/night if we stayed there ourselves) and were able to lay by the pool. We kept remarking how lucky we are that Medill is subsidizing our trip to paradise. Then Steph joined us as we lay out on the beach which was beautiful, of course. Though it was slightly annoying that every 4.5 seconds a man would come by hawking water or ice cream or sunglasses. We firmly said NO.
After the beach (and some more Sinfull gelato) we came back and got ready to go out. While we were getting ready, a nice Scottish girl came by our room and asked if she could join us to go out. Apparently, a boy ditched her and now seh was on her own. Of course she could join us! We were quite excited to make hostel friends, since where we are staying the people aren't the friendliest.
Our new friend Laura (21, and staying in Namibia for three months) went with us to the Waterfront for shopping and seafood at Ocean Basket. Beautiful, duh. I need to stop saying that because EVERYTHING's beautiful. I couldn't imagine living in Cape Town forever, and just taking the beauty for granted.
Then we went to Cubana, a cool bar that wasn't super-touristy and a great break from the trashiness of Long Street. Then we danced at Opium. It was ok, though the house music is not my thing. There was a guy wearing a shirt that said "I love beer and girls." Not the way to pick up chicks, fella.
Before heading off to bed, we had falafel from a street vendor, just to make sure our Scottish friend solidified the idea of fat Americans in her head.
At midnight on March 23 Steph and I went to the Dubliners, an Irish bar, to ring in my birthday. A Bon Jovi lookalike sang decent covers as tourists danced. A few Kellogg kids showed up, of course, but overall a nice time.
In the morning, when Steph went to prison, Tina, our third musketeer, arrived! We ran errands and went to the botanical gardens where a Canadian commercial was being shot. It was one of many commericals we have since seen, since people apparently fly from all over the world to bask in the glow of Cape Town. Then guess who found us? YES, Steph and my stalker from the first day. This makes four times he has found us. I was quite terse.
At night, for my birthday dinner the three of us went for delicious Kurdish food. There were high school boys smoking hookah next to us, and we felt old. I also danced with a belly dancer.
We then went clubbing on Long Street. This was the first time we went OUT out on our lovely street, and we were not super-impressed. While I enjoyed the birthday drinks of course, the crowd was quite touristy/highschooly. We went to one cool club "The Waiting Room" where we had a view of the city.
Overall, it was a lovely birthday, and super-great to spend it in Cape Town, the most beautiful city in the WORLD.
March 24
While Steph was in prison, Tina and I went to the beach. We first got bikini waxes at this super-fancy hotel (that would cost upwards of $500/night if we stayed there ourselves) and were able to lay by the pool. We kept remarking how lucky we are that Medill is subsidizing our trip to paradise. Then Steph joined us as we lay out on the beach which was beautiful, of course. Though it was slightly annoying that every 4.5 seconds a man would come by hawking water or ice cream or sunglasses. We firmly said NO.
After the beach (and some more Sinfull gelato) we came back and got ready to go out. While we were getting ready, a nice Scottish girl came by our room and asked if she could join us to go out. Apparently, a boy ditched her and now seh was on her own. Of course she could join us! We were quite excited to make hostel friends, since where we are staying the people aren't the friendliest.
Our new friend Laura (21, and staying in Namibia for three months) went with us to the Waterfront for shopping and seafood at Ocean Basket. Beautiful, duh. I need to stop saying that because EVERYTHING's beautiful. I couldn't imagine living in Cape Town forever, and just taking the beauty for granted.
Then we went to Cubana, a cool bar that wasn't super-touristy and a great break from the trashiness of Long Street. Then we danced at Opium. It was ok, though the house music is not my thing. There was a guy wearing a shirt that said "I love beer and girls." Not the way to pick up chicks, fella.
Before heading off to bed, we had falafel from a street vendor, just to make sure our Scottish friend solidified the idea of fat Americans in her head.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Long Street makes us alcoholics
Long St. (aka the Bourbon St. of South Africa) was at it again. We think the producers of Real World seriously need to look into shooting their next season here. But this makes sleeping difficult, and alcohol an essential part of the bedtime routine. Steph had to wake up at 7am to go visit a prison. The alarm didn't go off and she flipped out with curlers in her hair. Steph sent Diana downstairs to fetch Raoul sans glasses or shoes, although he was nowhere to be found.
The reliable R (ethnicity: dutch and just really REALLY tan) took Steph to Paarl, a nice city west of Cape Town famous for their wine vinyards before heading off to a prison. After interviewing two murderers, who only need to serve 12-15 years (scary?!), Steph headed back to a much calmer long street. R shared stories about his wild days as a political activist during apartheid. There was some crazy stuff.
While Steph was in prison, Diana slept, ate, e-mailed sources and shopped. The high point of the day was going down Kloof (as per Josh's suggestion) and eating at The Food Store. Paying for my $15 rand ($2) quiche, the service woman from Zimbabwe commented on how burnt I was. I told her coming from Chicago, I was overexcited about seeing the sun. "Chicago!?," she asked. "Like where Oprah is!" South Africans love their Oprah. We agreed she's way better than Tyra and exchanged numbers to be friends.
When Steph returned, we had an early dinner at Lola's, a cool urban artsy coffee shop/bar. We sipped on mango teas infused with mint leaves and a dash of lime. At night we went to the 13th Annual Gay/Lesbian film festival at a movie theatre in the mall. We learned 1) designer jeans are cheap in South Africa (Steph bought a pair), 2) movies have assigned seats and 3) you can flavor your own popcorn. We prefer cheddar and sour cream. The movie "Unveiled" a German film, was very interesting.
Now we're off to drink ourselves to sleep and celebrate the beginning of Diana's 22nd birthday!
The reliable R (ethnicity: dutch and just really REALLY tan) took Steph to Paarl, a nice city west of Cape Town famous for their wine vinyards before heading off to a prison. After interviewing two murderers, who only need to serve 12-15 years (scary?!), Steph headed back to a much calmer long street. R shared stories about his wild days as a political activist during apartheid. There was some crazy stuff.
While Steph was in prison, Diana slept, ate, e-mailed sources and shopped. The high point of the day was going down Kloof (as per Josh's suggestion) and eating at The Food Store. Paying for my $15 rand ($2) quiche, the service woman from Zimbabwe commented on how burnt I was. I told her coming from Chicago, I was overexcited about seeing the sun. "Chicago!?," she asked. "Like where Oprah is!" South Africans love their Oprah. We agreed she's way better than Tyra and exchanged numbers to be friends.
When Steph returned, we had an early dinner at Lola's, a cool urban artsy coffee shop/bar. We sipped on mango teas infused with mint leaves and a dash of lime. At night we went to the 13th Annual Gay/Lesbian film festival at a movie theatre in the mall. We learned 1) designer jeans are cheap in South Africa (Steph bought a pair), 2) movies have assigned seats and 3) you can flavor your own popcorn. We prefer cheddar and sour cream. The movie "Unveiled" a German film, was very interesting.
Now we're off to drink ourselves to sleep and celebrate the beginning of Diana's 22nd birthday!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Fight for your right
Tuesday March 20
We were moved into our beautiful balcony view hostel room, much better than the half-Willard sized double we started in.
We met our lovely reporter friend from The Cape Times for a coffee date. He was inspiring. From janitor during apartheid to journalist today, he had so much energy and passion. Too bad we're missing it. Afterwards, we decided to explore the nightlife of Longstreet, supposedly the hotspot of all of Africa where our hostel happens to be (according to our ADD-ridden bartender). We were sipping on 'naughty by nature' mango drinks (4.5 % alc, just enough to get Steph drunk) and chatting with ADD-ridden bartender when walks in a dozen obnoxious, toolerific...KELLOGG STUDENTS. Ugh. Why? In all of Cape Town, we find all 57 of them on the first night they were there. We hope their obviously poor reputation won't reflect badly on us, since everyone will assume we too are Kellogg tools.
After ditching the tools (the girls were particularly bitchy) we went back to our hostel where we met two nice German men (as opposed to other unpleasant German neighbor who wouldn't give us charger back and didn't think we were from "America") who are stationed in Johannesburg doing computer-nerd stuff. They got us REALLY scared for our upcoming stay in Joburg. To cut things short, one of them has three doors to get into his house and says he shuts each one right away. One German's going back to his motherland Berlin, but luckily the other Elmar promises to hang with us in Joburg, despite thinking we're retarded for not driving stick.
Then, having an early day the next morning to go to a Human Rights Day event, we called it an early night a little after midnight. Unfortunately, for the rest of Long Street, Human Rights Day eve, transformed Long Street into Bourbon Street of Mardi Gras or Times Square on New Years Eve. Although Stephanie fell asleep right away (drunk and red-faced on one drink) her snoring was almost blissful for Diana, who was kept awake by the honking and screaming outside the window. Three hours later, and one break to watch music videos with Africans, she fell asleep.
Wednesday, March 21
Today was perfection!
We knew the day was of to a good start when our key actually worked AND we had hot showers. Life is good.
At 8 a.m. R (ethnicity tbd), Steph's contact who is taking her to South African prisons, rolled up in his Nissan with a large toothy black man named Bafana. We drove through the beautiful Cape Town scenery, and despite being on the wrong side of the road and R's crazy driving, it was a magnificent experience. One stop later to pick up a self-appointed African connoisseur from the U.S who worked for a U.S. NGO, we went to Khalyelitsha, an impoverished township 40 minutes outside of the city. R and B's organization was working to promote gender equality and HIV awareness, and this march was in honor of Human Rights Day.
We had wanted to take a township tour, though Diana was ambivalent of the "misery chic" of it all. However, this was a billion times better. We immediately hit it off with the South African teenagers (better than the NGO ladies who acted like they were on a safari, snapping photos from their car). We talked, marched and sang with the South African teenagers and little children. Tina (who will hopefully be joining this blog shortly!) is right: African children made our heart melt. Hundreds joined us as we marched through the shantytown, agreeing with our cries for an end to violence. We were struck by the drama performance at the end about a woman being raped and shocked, as three year olds watched the show. Although we realize this is nothing compared to what they've seen in their lives.
We particularly became bff with four teenage girls native to Khalyelitsha, and were amazed how much we had in common, yet how different they were. Both things we'd want in our lives, like that they spoke four languages and had very high tech cell phones. And things we were saddened by, like that it is so violent and dangerous, they can't leave their homes after 6pm. There are no after school activities and they don't see friends other than school.
While we peppered the girls with questions, they only had one for us: Do black girls in the U.S have real hair?, as our favorite, the chubby bubbly one, pointed at her short hair. Yes, sometimes, we told her, and cited Tyra Banks. We all agreed Oprah is much better than Tyra. They watch both talk shows. These girls are tough, but confirmed we should be scared when we go to Joburg. Steph and Diana, being quite aloof always, are considering themselves fucked.
Afterwards, we went to the Camps Bay beach. It was beautiful of course. Steph describes it as South Beach-esque without the trashy hoes. The breathtaking landscape of table mountain makes everything even better. We walked along the shops (as always, Diana checking out food and Steph eyeing dresses) and were approached for the millionth time by a small child. This happens often in Cape Town, and Diana was struck with how this never happens in the U.S. Steph noted that Child Services wouldn't let this fly. We didn't give money, though Steph kindly give one poor child a South Beach Diet protein bar. Thanks Steph!
We had a great sushi dinner with a beach view (again, we're rolling with the money makers in Cape Town), where they played Kelly Clarkson and had gelato at Sinfull (Steph said it's better then the stuff in Italy).
We are now back and will hopefully continuously keep you updated on our amazing adventures. Steph will be going back to prison tomorrow at 7am (hopefully playing more "Vagina, Penis, Safe Sex" with inmates) so should have stories to report.
We were moved into our beautiful balcony view hostel room, much better than the half-Willard sized double we started in.
We met our lovely reporter friend from The Cape Times for a coffee date. He was inspiring. From janitor during apartheid to journalist today, he had so much energy and passion. Too bad we're missing it. Afterwards, we decided to explore the nightlife of Longstreet, supposedly the hotspot of all of Africa where our hostel happens to be (according to our ADD-ridden bartender). We were sipping on 'naughty by nature' mango drinks (4.5 % alc, just enough to get Steph drunk) and chatting with ADD-ridden bartender when walks in a dozen obnoxious, toolerific...KELLOGG STUDENTS. Ugh. Why? In all of Cape Town, we find all 57 of them on the first night they were there. We hope their obviously poor reputation won't reflect badly on us, since everyone will assume we too are Kellogg tools.
After ditching the tools (the girls were particularly bitchy) we went back to our hostel where we met two nice German men (as opposed to other unpleasant German neighbor who wouldn't give us charger back and didn't think we were from "America") who are stationed in Johannesburg doing computer-nerd stuff. They got us REALLY scared for our upcoming stay in Joburg. To cut things short, one of them has three doors to get into his house and says he shuts each one right away. One German's going back to his motherland Berlin, but luckily the other Elmar promises to hang with us in Joburg, despite thinking we're retarded for not driving stick.
Then, having an early day the next morning to go to a Human Rights Day event, we called it an early night a little after midnight. Unfortunately, for the rest of Long Street, Human Rights Day eve, transformed Long Street into Bourbon Street of Mardi Gras or Times Square on New Years Eve. Although Stephanie fell asleep right away (drunk and red-faced on one drink) her snoring was almost blissful for Diana, who was kept awake by the honking and screaming outside the window. Three hours later, and one break to watch music videos with Africans, she fell asleep.
Wednesday, March 21
Today was perfection!
We knew the day was of to a good start when our key actually worked AND we had hot showers. Life is good.
At 8 a.m. R (ethnicity tbd), Steph's contact who is taking her to South African prisons, rolled up in his Nissan with a large toothy black man named Bafana. We drove through the beautiful Cape Town scenery, and despite being on the wrong side of the road and R's crazy driving, it was a magnificent experience. One stop later to pick up a self-appointed African connoisseur from the U.S who worked for a U.S. NGO, we went to Khalyelitsha, an impoverished township 40 minutes outside of the city. R and B's organization was working to promote gender equality and HIV awareness, and this march was in honor of Human Rights Day.
We had wanted to take a township tour, though Diana was ambivalent of the "misery chic" of it all. However, this was a billion times better. We immediately hit it off with the South African teenagers (better than the NGO ladies who acted like they were on a safari, snapping photos from their car). We talked, marched and sang with the South African teenagers and little children. Tina (who will hopefully be joining this blog shortly!) is right: African children made our heart melt. Hundreds joined us as we marched through the shantytown, agreeing with our cries for an end to violence. We were struck by the drama performance at the end about a woman being raped and shocked, as three year olds watched the show. Although we realize this is nothing compared to what they've seen in their lives.
We particularly became bff with four teenage girls native to Khalyelitsha, and were amazed how much we had in common, yet how different they were. Both things we'd want in our lives, like that they spoke four languages and had very high tech cell phones. And things we were saddened by, like that it is so violent and dangerous, they can't leave their homes after 6pm. There are no after school activities and they don't see friends other than school.
While we peppered the girls with questions, they only had one for us: Do black girls in the U.S have real hair?, as our favorite, the chubby bubbly one, pointed at her short hair. Yes, sometimes, we told her, and cited Tyra Banks. We all agreed Oprah is much better than Tyra. They watch both talk shows. These girls are tough, but confirmed we should be scared when we go to Joburg. Steph and Diana, being quite aloof always, are considering themselves fucked.
Afterwards, we went to the Camps Bay beach. It was beautiful of course. Steph describes it as South Beach-esque without the trashy hoes. The breathtaking landscape of table mountain makes everything even better. We walked along the shops (as always, Diana checking out food and Steph eyeing dresses) and were approached for the millionth time by a small child. This happens often in Cape Town, and Diana was struck with how this never happens in the U.S. Steph noted that Child Services wouldn't let this fly. We didn't give money, though Steph kindly give one poor child a South Beach Diet protein bar. Thanks Steph!
We had a great sushi dinner with a beach view (again, we're rolling with the money makers in Cape Town), where they played Kelly Clarkson and had gelato at Sinfull (Steph said it's better then the stuff in Italy).
We are now back and will hopefully continuously keep you updated on our amazing adventures. Steph will be going back to prison tomorrow at 7am (hopefully playing more "Vagina, Penis, Safe Sex" with inmates) so should have stories to report.
"I like Cape Town because we can chill with the rich people"
ED NOTE: This was written by Diana, before joint blog was started.
so said Steph, my traveling companion for my time in South Africa, after our $25 dinner at a fancy Waterfront restaurant (reminiscent of a classy restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf but cheaper). While she actually does research, I figured I'd blog about the journey thus far.
Flight from O'Hare-->Heathrow= miserable. Worst flight attendants EVER. They wouldn't give me a bottle of water even though I was dehydrated. Plus the flight was rocky.
London- We had 8 hours, so decided to be quick tourists in Piccadilly Circus, where a St. Patrick's Day parade was going on. This was my first time EVER in Europe, and maybe not the greatest experience, since I was quite tired/jet-lagged. It was...nice? My quick jaunt reminded me of New York + San Francisco architecture + British accents and a few stores I've never seen. I guess a tad anticlimatic, though I'm excited to get a few days there on my way back. Heathrow was the nicest airport ever though.
Flight from Heathrow--> Cape Town= AMAZING. The flight was underbooked, so we each got our own row of seats and I slept (soundly) 8 out of the 11 hour flight.
Cape Town is BEAUTIFUL. We're staying on Long Street, the central street where all the hostels aret. Steph keeps comparing everything we see to something she's seen, so I'd say Cape Town is like a more beautiful San Francisco, and Long Street is like Jamaica, with white tourists and black service people. Table Mountain is beautiful as is the water, and it's just so spectacular. Long Street is super-touristy and kitschy, but it's fun and vacation-like. Plus, the weather's amaing.
While there has been absolutely no reason to use the mase I invested in, just before I was sitting outside Mr. Pickwicks Deli, this cute deli where I got a mint milkshake, and this man sat at my table and started talking to me. I wanted him to leave because he was sketching me out, but I didn't want to say anything since, who am I to claim a table?, so I just let him sit there and even gave him a piece of paper when he asked for it. But then he started asking for money and I'm like, sorry, no. I felt bad, since I'm a rich American, but I can't just hand out rands to everyone who asks, you know?
Other sketchiness: Yesterday Steph and I got smoothies at a restaurant. Our nice waiter told us a beach to go to. Said waiter then saw us again while we were sitting at this park near all these museums. Coincidence, we thought, until this guy showed up AGAIN this morning and started flirting. He asked for our numbers so he could take us out. Kind of maybe-sketchy. We want friends in Cape Town, so we took his number. But THEN he leaves and brings back his sketchier friend who was WAITING ACROSS THE STREET. hmm, we think he might have been following us. What are the chances of running into him (or rather him running into us) three times?
And my research is, ehh. I should have, I don't know, "researched" more before, but I'm trying to just enjoy Cape Town and not stress about that. And unfortunately for my internet addiction, there's a cafe right under my hostel.
Oh, and I told this German man in my hostel that I'm from America, and he's like "America? You mean the U.S. There are a lot of other countries in America." umm, ok, so I'm ethnocentric.
so said Steph, my traveling companion for my time in South Africa, after our $25 dinner at a fancy Waterfront restaurant (reminiscent of a classy restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf but cheaper). While she actually does research, I figured I'd blog about the journey thus far.
Flight from O'Hare-->Heathrow= miserable. Worst flight attendants EVER. They wouldn't give me a bottle of water even though I was dehydrated. Plus the flight was rocky.
London- We had 8 hours, so decided to be quick tourists in Piccadilly Circus, where a St. Patrick's Day parade was going on. This was my first time EVER in Europe, and maybe not the greatest experience, since I was quite tired/jet-lagged. It was...nice? My quick jaunt reminded me of New York + San Francisco architecture + British accents and a few stores I've never seen. I guess a tad anticlimatic, though I'm excited to get a few days there on my way back. Heathrow was the nicest airport ever though.
Flight from Heathrow--> Cape Town= AMAZING. The flight was underbooked, so we each got our own row of seats and I slept (soundly) 8 out of the 11 hour flight.
Cape Town is BEAUTIFUL. We're staying on Long Street, the central street where all the hostels aret. Steph keeps comparing everything we see to something she's seen, so I'd say Cape Town is like a more beautiful San Francisco, and Long Street is like Jamaica, with white tourists and black service people. Table Mountain is beautiful as is the water, and it's just so spectacular. Long Street is super-touristy and kitschy, but it's fun and vacation-like. Plus, the weather's amaing.
While there has been absolutely no reason to use the mase I invested in, just before I was sitting outside Mr. Pickwicks Deli, this cute deli where I got a mint milkshake, and this man sat at my table and started talking to me. I wanted him to leave because he was sketching me out, but I didn't want to say anything since, who am I to claim a table?, so I just let him sit there and even gave him a piece of paper when he asked for it. But then he started asking for money and I'm like, sorry, no. I felt bad, since I'm a rich American, but I can't just hand out rands to everyone who asks, you know?
Other sketchiness: Yesterday Steph and I got smoothies at a restaurant. Our nice waiter told us a beach to go to. Said waiter then saw us again while we were sitting at this park near all these museums. Coincidence, we thought, until this guy showed up AGAIN this morning and started flirting. He asked for our numbers so he could take us out. Kind of maybe-sketchy. We want friends in Cape Town, so we took his number. But THEN he leaves and brings back his sketchier friend who was WAITING ACROSS THE STREET. hmm, we think he might have been following us. What are the chances of running into him (or rather him running into us) three times?
And my research is, ehh. I should have, I don't know, "researched" more before, but I'm trying to just enjoy Cape Town and not stress about that. And unfortunately for my internet addiction, there's a cafe right under my hostel.
Oh, and I told this German man in my hostel that I'm from America, and he's like "America? You mean the U.S. There are a lot of other countries in America." umm, ok, so I'm ethnocentric.
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