You Know You’re in South Africa When….

You know you’re in South Africa when

1. You drive on the left side of the road
2. You say “Now now” to inform someone that you will be there anywhere from 5 minutes to 4 hours  Ex. “The taxi will pick you up now now”
3. The only sport your family watches is the Rugby World Cup
4. There are baboons on the side of the road
5. You say “Shame” after most sentences Ex. “I’m tired” “Ooh shame shame”
6. When Mayonnaise is somehow involved in most meals and ketchup is used as tomato sauce
7. You never wear seat belts (Sorry mom)
8. After watching Rugby you watch soap operas with your host father
9. You haven’t had Mexican Food!!
10. You put hot milk on your cereal every morning
11. Water is never offered during meals, only juice
12. The dogs in the neighborhood bark at all hours
13. You take baths instead of showers
14. No one knows what Netflix is

All jokes aside, I’ve very much enjoyed my time here in South Africa. The typical day for me starts at 8 AM when I arrive at the local clinic in Crags to work with my caregiver. After a few hours my work partner Sam and I hop on the public taxi into downtown Plettenberg where we meet up with two other people in our group and take another taxi to PlettAid office – the organization we are partnered with. For the rest of the afternoon we enjoy lunch as a group and begin seminar. Seminars usually start with one overarching question about public health and end two hours later with me having wayyyy more questions about it. At about 4 we all head home to our families. Julia -my home stay partner- and I spend the evening reading and hanging out with our family. I usually am super exhausted and go to bed pretty early.

The caregiver I’ve been shadowing the past two weeks is amazing. Her name is Marie and it’s admirable to witness the patience and care she gives to all her patients. I’ve learned so much about TB, Aids, Diabetes, and the medical system in Plettenberg. For instance, the clinic where I work isn’t open during the weekends, and if anyone needed immediate attention an ambulance to the nearest clinic in Knysna is about 40 minutes away.  Immediate and local access to doctors and hospitals is a privilege.

Enkosi (Thank you). Lastly, please let me know if there is something specific you would like me to write about.

Patty Dougherty