I’ve been trying to put my finger on the main distinction between San Francisco/US and Cape Town. I think it has finally been realized through Tab. Remember Tab? The caffeine-free diet beverage of the 80s? I don’t know that I had ever actually consumed it, that is, until cultural pressures forced it upon me yesterday (cultural pressures=my personal curiosity, alone, at a grocery store). I bought the 6.5 Rand can and prepared myself to understand Cape Townians. First off, I should mention that canned items in South Africa (as well as parts of Europe) weigh more than cans in America. Emily found out that this boils down to recycling difficulties. In America our cans are made of aluminum (that’s al-loo-min-nium here, ahem), whereas here they are made of combination of steel, tin and aluminum. This gives me, the American, great satisfaction because it deceives me into believing that there is more beverage remaining than there is in reality. You know how I feel about quantity over quality….but then, Wham! the Tab has been completely consumed when I think I still have ¾ of a can remaining.
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| The good stuff:) |
I digress, my point: Tab, to my knowledge, has not been sighted in SF (with the exception of the new-age pink energy version) since the late 80s and early 90s, whereas here it is all the rage. I see people young and old consuming Tab. I folded to social pressures and found it to be alarmingly not bad. My favorite is the warning on the side of all fake sugar beverages here warning that diet drinks, alone, will not lead to a healthy lifestyle, you must also exercise and eat.
Regardless, lots of things in CT seem to be vintage or 80s-esq. Many of them are wise and significantly more sustainable than American disposable ways (real crockery at restaurants, the ability to turn on and off outlets, parking attendants, petrol attendants) but many just seem old-fashioned. Much of this is due to apartheid and the late bloom of democracy (maybe), but seemingly simple things here are out-dated. Internet is not very accessible. Michael and Emily have purchased Cell-C sticks, which are 3G internet sticks that you plug into USB to access the web. This means, that the system gets crowded during peak usage times. It also makes uploading photos an arduous process. Additionally, houses all have electric gates, electrified fences, high fences, dense hedges…it makes for an isolated and sterile feel when walking through the suburbs. People are warm and friendly, so the contrast is harsh.
On the public health side, this late 80s throw back means that seat belts seem to be non-existent or completely optional. Emily and I crowded into a minibus taxi the other day with 16 people in it, on the wall of the taxi is said “maximum of 6 passenger permitted.” I love things like that. Also, smog, pollution and leaded gasoline. I can’t remember leaded gasoline in the US, but here it is an option. Walking down the street often feels like inhaling pack after pack of burning garbage, burning rubber, cigarettes, ash and some newly laid tar. Additionally, people are indeed smoking cigarettes everywhere, including restaurant patios:/
Complaints aside, I really like Cape Town. It’s a blend of people and languages. I can see why Mike and Em want to live here. It’s up and coming and with it, trends that are dated to me, are alive (maybe even thriving) here. I intend to consume another Tab, perhaps while writing another, substantive blog about this week’s happenings soon! In short, we went on a big hike with the BEEP township kids from Silvermine to Hout Bay, we visited the CT aquarium, I visited the District Six Museum, the Slave Lodge, the SA National Gallery, had ladies night, met with the women of Bo-Kaap, had all you can eat sushi (whoa), indulged in my ridiculously swanky ladies-only gym, baked banana chocolate chip bars and bread to help Michael and Emily cope with SA cuisine...I’m not hurting for fun, food and drink!
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