African Arrival

Only when you start writing, and documenting do you realize how much happens in a few moments and not only it is time consuming to retell, it is hard to capture.  Following are a few clips I took from my iPhone, just in the excitement of having landed in Africa. 

There was so much going on.  Very different from Europe, which is usually calmer and language barrier does not let you in on the 'going ons'.  Different from the US which is paranoia filled atmosphere so you are careful of doing anything unusual.  Slightly different from Asia, where there is just so much going on, the energy exhausts you and you think, I might as well enjoy it, since I can't capture it all.

Africa had all of the above, only in very mild doses and therefore was manageable.  

My bag was missing. And I was the least concerned.  I knew all my conference clothes were in the bag, but I did not care. I was in Africa.  That was the most exciting thing.  The gentleman here was the first person I met while lodging my complaint.  The ground staff was so friendly and jovial.  But there was also a sense of 'lightenss' about the work place.  No rigidity, jokes abound.  

Here, I asked him to pose for me.  He obliged.  But you can also hear in the background, 'you guys are jealous'--a reference explained later on in the post. 

When I asked him he said, he spoke all of the 11 official languages in South Africa. I told him I spoke a bit of Swana, which is a lie. I can say a few words, and a few sentences.  The one I used on little children was 'ke a go rata' I love you. I can also say 'gaketese swana, ke a etese gologonea fela.  I do not know Swana, I know only a little.  

Necks turned and people wanted to look at me when I was saying all that.  I had to raise my hands and say, 'and that's all folks!!' really 'Inte Mer' (Swedish for, nothing more). 

South African Colors on the airport floor.  

I was a little late in capturing this.  But you can hear the beautiful choir like singing in the distance.  There as a large group of people, who were singing as they strolled towards the exit.  They must have come for some sort of singing conference or returning from some sort of pilgrimage. 

So, Mr. Languages said, 'the music was very depressing, like the Queen just walked past, or something at a funeral'  I protested, 'no the singing was beautiful'.  He repeated himself, which is when I got this video.  

And woman sitting next to him, raised her finger and said, 'Hey you guys are jealous, you guys are jealous,' they were good singers.  But just the way she said it.  We all knew it was a joke, but it was all being performed very seriously.  So it made the work place fun to be.  At the end of the day, I bet most of these people are not as stressed as others who work in cubicles and consider laughing or being silly during the day 'unproductive'. I also think they will live longer.  

Seriously, aren't these the most beautiful faces?

Here, he said, 'he also spoke Atlanta, Georgia' because that is where he was from 'down south' When I asked him 'where in South Africa he was from'.

I did not sound or behave like a woman whose bag was missing.  Just being here was so much fun.  And made my entry into Africa filled with some beautiful, simple, melodic and comic memories!!