This week

A few weird things that have happened to me lately:

1.       I looked at the coffee a barista handed me thinking it was massive, then realizing it would only be a size small in the U.S.

2.       While watching an American movie, I wondered why the steering wheel was on the wrong side, then realizing that’s where the steering wheel is in American cars.

3.       I’ve realized that I’m so used to the yoga every morning, café every afternoon lifestyle here, I don’t think I can switch back.

4.       I’ve realized I only have 18 days left here.

5.       I went to McDonalds for the first time here, and just ordered a cup of corn. Their two side options: fries and corn.

6.       Being charged at by a man with a stick isn’t actually normal here (thank you to the lady who pulled over and saved me).

7.       My professor took all 150 of us out to a bar after our last class and bought us all tequila shots. Each tequila shot was a “fine” for all the things we did wrong representing our nations in a World Trade Bargaining Round. I was one of only 3 Americans in the class, it was so much fun spending the entire afternoon with South Africans, although all they wanted to talk about was America. (Oh, and we were dressed as our respective countries, which explains the costumes below. Cowboy hat=USA. I was representing the Czech Republic...). 

Can you spot the professor?

   8. My last day of classes happened on October 22 (a Saturday). Both of those things are weird.

9.       I’ve realized that with all the weird ups and downs that I’ve had this semester,  I think Cape Town is my favorite city in the world.

10.   I’ve grown used to sitting outside at a café doing my homework, having waiters come and offer me cozy blankets if it gets chilly, telling me I can pay next time if they don’t want to break my R100 notes, having the mountain looming in the background, sampling a million different scones, having avo and feta as a given in every salad.

11.   “Take me home, country road” is playing in the café I’m sitting at right now. I was just thinking about how much I’m looking forward to my family’s annual Christmas celebration in West Virgina.

12.   I’ve realized that any weekend where I didn’t go to a single market is a rarity.

13.  I had my last day of volunteering on Thursday. The entire semester just flew by.