Tiba: shopping

I arrive late on Thursday evening. I know the wedding ceremonies begin Friday and I wanted to have a good night’s sleep. Friday morning I wake and realize I need to go to the store for water and grab a couple vegetables for me to munch on. I’ve learned to bring some vegies and water with me because I don’t have the opportunity to choose when or what I eat. And I’ve never in my life thought about what a luxury it is to expect to be able to eat when and what I want.

Now, going to the store is an ordeal. Having transportation is a big luxury that most don’t have. So when I announce I am going to the store, it is always followed by much discussion about what other errands need to be run. I try to pick up on as much as I can. But I know that soon enough I will be at the store and along the way I just go with the flow.

This trip several people accompany me. They want to take me to Keiskammahoek (Afrikaans name), or QoboQobo (Xhosa name). I have not been to this town, as I usually go to the larger nearby town. But I take it as an opportunity to see another part of South African and gladly follow their directions. I drive along, vacillating between listening to the melodic conversations in Xhosa, trying to pick up the gist of the conversation, and silently enjoying the beautiful scenery.

We travel along roads riddled with potholes where the rain indiscriminately flows down and across the road, creating large fissures I attempt to negotiate in my little car. We go through to a village to woman who, after ten or fifteen minutes of waiting, produces a black plastic bag and hands it to my compadres with me. Then we had to several stores, where water seems to be in short supply. After a few communication breakdowns, I find a store with water and feel happy to have achieved that success. Then we go through the town of QoboQobo and I’m offered a short tour. I was encouraged to go out of my way to pass by the police station… little did I know that I would become very acquainted with that station in the near future.

Finally, after a couple of hours of driving here and there we return back home. I am exhausted just from my attempt to procure a measly bottle of water. And it is only the beginning.