Well, I’d like to say that I’ve not done anything out of the ordinary; nothing that I wouldn’t have done at home, but with a whole different group of people. On Saturday (October 7th), my roommate (and fellow PCV-Elayna) and I decided that we would throw a braai (BBQ/cookout) for some of our colleagues at the office, just to say what’s up and
here we are…you’re stuck with us for two years! Well, as is the tradition with Black South Africans (from what I’ve been told and have experienced) when you say that you are gonna have a braai/BBQ, you are expected to pay for everything, which includes meat, meat, meat, more meat, pap (a tasteless, spongy substance made out of ground corn flour), and a beverage of the alcoholic-type. Well, we bought the biggest piece of steak we could find. It’s called a “Texan steak”. Indeed, it fits along with the myth that is
Texas: BIG. We also cooked borewors (sausage-esk links), and of course, chicken. I was the grill master! Additionally, I cooked a cheese and potato dish that I’ve had twice before since being in
South Africa. It was lekker fine! (Peel and slice potatoes 6 medium sized potatoes and one onion. In a separate container, add 1.5 cups of milk with two tablespoons of flour. Stir and add to potatoes and onions. Add freshly ground pepper, garlic power, and Laury’s seasoning salt sent from home. Add five to six tea spoons of blue cheese and three or four teaspoons of butter. Bake until potatoes are done at about 350 degrees F. When potatoes are cooked, layer with cheddar cheese, and let melt.) We also had salad and fresh garlic bread (on sale daily at your local Super Spar grocery store). I tell you, we ate like eating was going out of style…and all on a Peace Corps budget! Dijo tse dimonate tata!
The rest of the evening was nothing less than way too much fun! A few more people came, and brought more drinks and music. One of my coworkers brought his CD collection of popular South African dance music, and another guy pulled his car in our yard, put the music in and turned it on blast. We danced and danced and danced the night away!
This past Saturday, we all went out to the township for what we affectionately call a “6-to-6”, where you dance from 6pm until 6am the next morning. Really, it ended up being more like a 6-to-3, but, close enough! I figure I have two years to build up to three additional hours. What a great way to integrate into your community!
Well, I’d like to say that I’ve not done anything out of the ordinary; nothing that I wouldn’t have done at home, but with a whole different group of people. On Saturday (October 7th), my roommate (and fellow PCV-Elayna) and I decided that we would throw a braai (BBQ/cookout) for some of our colleagues at the office, just to say what’s up and here we are…you’re stuck with us for two years! Well, as is the tradition with Black South Africans (from what I’ve been told and have experienced) when you say that you are gonna have a braai/BBQ, you are expected to pay for everything, which includes meat, meat, meat, more meat, pap (a tasteless, spongy substance made out of ground corn flour), and a beverage of the alcoholic-type. Well, we bought the biggest piece of steak we could find. It’s called a “Texan steak”. Indeed, it fits along with the myth that is 
