Somehow I got through an entire stay in Southern Africa without any trips to the Golden Arches. Don’t know how it happened. (Coulda been the knowledge that busting out my pink Lumix at the restaurant would have likely meant I’d be mugged on my way out…)
But no passing up Mackers in Egypt. I got this double-cheeseburger meal for about $2.98. Yum. And they even had hot mustard sauce. Double yum.
What is it with California? Is the fruit really better out there?
Seriously. First there were the California Raisins. Now “Californian Frooty” drinks in Zambia? (OK a bit of a leap, I admit) Really, now. I have to say after living in California for four years, I don’t see how the fruit merits that much attention.
Apparently the monkey agreed with me. As soon as I took this picture, he hopped down from the tree and snatched my fake “polony” sandwich and left me with just my fruit drink. Blasted monkey.
When you’re from the Show-Me State and in Southern Africa and come across a local beer called St. Louis, you can hardly pass it up. And I didn’t.
Yeah…it kind of tasted like Busch. Or what I remember Busch tasting like the one time I had it five years ago.
Sometimes I forget just how much of a mish-mash Americans are…especially when it comes to food.
But then the other day a German staff member made some cole slaw to go with the burgers. I was a bit surprised because I thought it was kind of an American thing…well, at least a Midwest thing.
Then the German guy asked me how I knew the German word for cabbage (kohl). Yep…keep forgetting my fam’s a bit on the German side.
Yes. I’ve been here for almost four weeks, and I’ve only had restaurant food once. If you know me at all, you know that’s definitely not normal.
It’s not quite Shakespeare’s…but it’s pizza. One of the only things you can buy in this town.
Rats…now I miss Shakespeare’s.
So the day AFTER Easter we had an Easter egg hunt with the kids at the home. (I have no idea why it wasn’t on Easter, but que sera sera)
However, there were no actual Easter eggs. We did, though, have lots of these chocolate egg-like things. As you can see, they’re no Cadbury eggs. Mmm…Cadbury.
Monday I was filling out papers and I asked the German girl living at the same place what date it was. “The 17th,” came her response.
“What??? It’s St. Patrick’s Day today and I totally forgot?” I couldn’t believe that I not only forgot but I also did absolutely nothing. This was the first St. Patty’s day in nearly a decade where I was without a big parade, green beer, or my “Everyone loves an Irish girl” shirt. Seriously, this was one day that post-college has continued its college-day revelry. I mean, twice I purposefully spent it in NYC (and once even planned the flight so I could spend part of it in NYC and the other in LA) and once even got to spend it with an Irish Patrick come back to visit his LA pals.
But here in South Africa. Nothing. And when I couldn’t get over my surprise, the German girl asks me, “What’s St. Patrick’s Day?” Huh? My mouth stood agape as I tried to think of how to explain it.
“You seriously don’t know?”
Her response: “Well, I’m not very religious…”
Hmmm…never thought of the “St.” in “St. Patrick’s Day” giving it such a religious feel…
Yes. I make guacamole in every country I find avocados.
When my roommate went to Europe four years ago, the other three of us basically lambasted her when she returned. After the first week of a multi-month trip, the only place her and her boyfriend ate at were McDonald’s and Hard Rock Cafes. They said Mackers was cheap and they got free soda refills at HRC.
We were all pretty much in disbelief that she’d go all the way to Europe to have Hard Rock Cafe every day.
OK…so now I can totally relate. There’s this place near my guesthouse here in Mumbai that gives free soda refills. I think it’s the first time I’ve had it the whole time I’ve been in Asia. I keep going back and back (OK, three times is really all)…and I don’t know if it’s the food, the fact that it’s literally next door to the guesthouse, or that I get the free refills. But I’m pretty sure it’s the last one.
PS: They’ve got this puzzle on their placemats where you try to come up with as many three-plus letter words as you can from the word “America.” I got nine. How many can you think of???
Although I’ve gotten little mail on this trip, India did give me two fab pieces. First there was the Christmas card from Melanie that arrived in Shillong way back when.
Then there was the recent urgently sent documents from my sis. Inside this wonderful little envelope from the States wasn’t just my papers. Nope. It also included two Pay Day candy bars and a copy of US Weekly. Both of which I don’t usually buy for myself back in the states but devoured pretty quickly (yeah the candy bar’s already half gone).
Although the Brit saga in US Weekly was of interest…I was floored to find out that Neil Patrick Harris (aka Doogie Howser) is gay. Apparently this is common knowledge now. And only 61% of the mag’s readers are looking forward to the New Kids on the Block reunion. Um…hello? As soon as the tour dates are released, I’m buying tickets. Seriously. Why, you ask? Well, for starters…
Step 1. We can have lots of fun.
Step 2. There’s so much we can do…
