I am sitting here in a Roxy Africa t-shirt, roxy
undergarments, Billabong socks, and Jeep (!) Brand pants. I am at the
Intercontinental Hotel at the Johannesburg airport. I did not realize
that the answer to my question: What to wear in Africa, would be
whatever I could find at the airport. My bags did not arrive. none of
them. they may not get here until Monday. I am supposed to leave for
the DRC tomorrow afternoon. If I am lucky my bags will get to JoBurg
tomorrow and arrive in Lubumbashi Monday. Unlucky=bags here Monday
then DRC Wednesday. South African Airlines does not fly to Lubumbashi
everyday. If I am even less lucky, I may never see them again.
On the up side, waxing services are super cheap. A leg wax = about
twenty bucks. unheard of. This hotel is super fancy. It is also
georgeous. the decor is traditional africa in a modern way? No animal
heads (the guy on the plane next to me explained that as typical?) but
lots of natural materials (sticks, wood, grass, quills, pretty rock
everywhere) and traditional beading motifs.
I got to fly business class on the way here. which pretty much
amounted to my best long flight experience ever. there was a cheese
course for gods sake. and a bed. my seat went all the way down. i
actually slept. not the best, most restful sleep. but many hours of
it. i only watched 1.5 movies. this was a 16 hour flight. contrast
with the 5 movies i watched on the way home from Australia (13ish
hours).
When I was in Mexico I hit my head an overhang at a local house and
this little girl said, "Giant white people", to no one in particular.
I feel like that here. I am a good head above most of the people
working at the hotel, at least the ones I've gotten close to.
What I have learned so far: sparkling apple juice is popular. I think
that's it. I hope to do better as the week goes on. But I have only
spent time in line waiting to find out about my baggage, had room
service and a drink at the bar, went back to the terminal to buy
clothes, and I am doing laundry in my sink using shampoo as detergent.
I already knew that everything is slow in Africa because Madonna said
so in her Oprah interview.
I will try to see cool things and take lots of photos.
