Back in Canada

Last Saturday I arrived back home in Ottawa, Canada after a 33 hour journey home from Joburg.  There was some snow on the ground (which I was expecting) and it was freaking cold (which I was also expecting).  I did forget just how dark it is here though.  I'm used to full sunlight at about 5:30 am right now, so dark until 7:30 am is very very weird.  I keep thinking I'm getting up super early, but I'm actually not.  It also gets dark crazy early as well so I think I'm staying up super late... or at least eating dinner super late, but I'm actually not. 

My house, the day after I arrived back in Canada

Driving on the right side of the road hasn't been too much of an adjustment, at least not as a passenger; I haven't actually driven here since I got back.  The driving does seem a lot easier here though, because even though it's winter, there are no crazy taxi drivers to worry about (see my driving in South Africa post). 

I also seem to have no concept of money.  I've been converting things from South African rands back to Canadian dollars (roughly) for so long, but I'm not sure what a Canadian dollar is worth anymore.  After a day of Christmas shopping, I think I'm doing better with how much money is worth... unfortunately I don't have as much of it anymore.

It was awesome however coming home to all my old clothes (that are basically new since I haven't worn them in so long!), the jewelry I left behind, and pretty much everything I missed from back home.  Since coming home I've had Kraft dinner twice, St. Hubert's once, and poutine once.  I have a feeling a diet is not happening over these holidays.

So I'm not sure how many of you knew my original plans for Christmas break, but my family and boyfriend were supposed to be coming down to South Africa for a true South African holiday (Joburg, safari, wine country, and Cape Town).  However, plans were cancelled when I found out my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Since then, my sister Rachel has organized an amazing benefit concert happening on December 30th from 3pm-8pm at Greenfield's Pub in Barrhaven.  We're going to have live music, a silent auction, and 50/50 tickets.  For anyone interested in attending please message me or email me for tickets (they are $15 and can also be bought at the door).  For those who cannot attend but would still like to donate, please visit this website: http://pcc.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?pxfid=1530&fr_id=1060&pg=fund


TL;DR: Visit this website: http://pcc.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?pxfid=1530&fr_id=1060&pg=fund

Sick

This weekend I was not feeling so lekker (nice, or in this case, well).  I did manage to make it to the Taste of Christmas though yesterday.  If you remember from my Holiday Week blog, I went to the Taste of Joburg at the end of September.  This was similar, but with less restaurants selling cooked food and more stands selling gifts.  I did however get to try a super springbok burger and some excellent eggnog ice cream.  I also found some pumpkin ale and bought some immediately.  I was definitely missing that this "fall" (or spring as it were).  Actually I was missing all pumpkin flavoured things in general.  The man selling it asked me if I'd had it before and I said I hadn't had this one specifically.  He of course knew I came from North America and that there are plenty pumpkin flavoured beers there.  I thanked him profusely for something I thought I would miss out on this year.  Unfortunately the brewery is located in Cape Town and only distributes to bars and liquor stores in that area.  Before leaving, I had a glass of red wine.  My friend Roz had the German measles (rubella) a couple weeks ago and said the symptoms I was showing were similar to the ones she had just before the rash started.  She said that the "African" way to determine if you have the measles is to drink a glass of red wine because the rash will come to the skin surface the next day if you do have it.  Thankfully I haven't broke out in a rash so I'm hoping that means I definitely don't have the measles.  Before leaving I bought two cupcakes (orange/mango and double chocolate) from Roz's cousin to take home.  They were both delicious.

Other than that, my weekend has mostly consisted of watching movies and taking naps, besides the huge hail/thunderstorm today. 

Hail in my garden

Afrikaans Lesson

Well having been here for almost 6 months, I've picked up on a bit of Afrikaans.  Also, one of our students is taught completely in Afrikaans so I need to know a bit of Afrikaans to interact with him.  Let's start with the basics:

Hello - Hallo (pretty much the same)

Goodbye - Tot siens (or sometimes just bye)

Yes - Ja

No - Nee (pronounced knee-a)

Nice - Lekker (a common word used in both Afrikaans and English here)

Please - Asseblief

Thank you - Dankie

Since most of the language I've learned revolves around the circle time we do in the morning (since that is when I have to speak to our Afrikaans student most), I'll include that as well. 

How are you? - Hoe gaan dit?

Well - Goed

Who's at school today? - Wie is by die skool vandag?

What number? - Wat is die nommer?  (For the next few questions, I can sometimes guess if he's saying the right answer or not, sometimes the therapist behind will confirm whether it was correct or not)

What month? - Wat is die maand?

What year? - Wat is die jaar?

What day is it today? - Wat is die dag vandag?

What sound? - Wat is die klink?

What is the colour of the week? - Wat is die kleur van die week?

What is the shape of the week? - Wat is die vorm van die week?

How many? - Hoeveel?

We're all done - Ons is klaar

Have a nice day - Lekker dag

I also know most of my colours, some months of the year, most days of the week, some shapes, and can probably count up to 8 without mistakes.  Now on to the ABA speak that I've learned because of this little man.  

Very good! -Baie mooi!

That's it! - Daars hy!

What is it? - Wat is dit?

What are you doing? - Wat doen jy?

Play - Speel

Jump - Spring

What do you want?  - Wat wil jy he? (the e should have a hat on it, too lazy right now to look for the symbol) OR Wat soek jy?

I also have been taught a few choice words for certain upsetting situations.  I would like to keep this PG, but for those who really really need to know this information (and specifically from me instead of the rest of the internet), message me.

Also, thank you to Google Translate for helping with spelling.  I only used Google Translate because I know what the end product should sound like.  For the few times that Google couldn't help me (meaning gave me incorrect translations), I went straight to the source (my colleagues).

Finally, I apologize for the delay again!  Just a lot going on wrapping up the end of the year here.  Also, I'm sorry I couldn't write pronunciations for all the translations.  Most important points: j in Afrikaans = y sound in English, and g in Afrikaans = that gutteral sound you make at the back of your mouth with a raised tongue.  That's probably a bad description as well.  Next time you see me, ask me to speak a bit for you, but I'm warning you, my accent sucks.