So I arrived in Durban yesterday afternoon to find that the "guide" who was supposed to meet me at the airport thought I was coming in March (whoops!). Nevertheless he wasn't there. I got lucky, however, and the doctor and his wife that runs the hospital in Mselini happened to be taking vacation time in Durban. They came ans picked me up and we stayed the night at his sons house.
This morning I was brought to the minibus station, which was SUPER sketchy, where I sat with all my American suitcases and waited for this minibus/taxi to accumulate enough passengers. I felt pretty silly, as no one else carried a bag that even resembled a suitcase, let alone two huge rolly 29" cases I had brought for this trip half empty to full with souvenirs, lol. ALL I KEPT THINKING WAS GAWD I HAVE SO MANY WHITE GIRL PROBLEMS. The people here carried their belongings on their heads and homeless people went from van to van selling pens and superglue. Oh, and AXES.... comforting.
In the midst of waiting for two and a half hours where very few people spoke english, I was grateful when an elderly women waiting with me offered to walk me to a bathroom.
When the minibus did finally get on its way, we jammed to some sort of African radio station for the next four hours. The woman sitting next to me, who was dressed quite promiscuously for African culture, sat counting her 20 rand bills ($2 bills), so I could only take a wild guess what she did for a living. Later, another elderly woman joined next to me who spoke pretty decent English. She told me that she was going to Mselini hospital too. For urinary incontinence. I just hoped she wouldn't have any problems with the long ride.
Highlight of the long ride by far was seeing a wild giraffe!!
Ill write more tomorrow about the house I'm staying in as it is late and the girl I'm rooming with is already asleep. Here's a preview:
Did you buy an ax, too? If it were socially acceptable, I would carry one around with me. Just saying.
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