Apparently large consumption of South Africa’s Rooibos tea will lead to slight discoloration of the consumer’s teeth; at least this is my finding so far. I am still recovering from a nasty batch of bronchitis, so hot, delicious, and inexpensive tea has been one of my frequent remedies.
Along with an increase in tea consumption, I am attempting to integrate other healthy rituals into my routine in Cape Town. I read and write nearly every day, but I try to save my half-hour long train commutes for enjoying the scenery and interacting with fellow passengers. Also, most days I try to find an excuse to interject ‘cheers’ into casual conversation (my success is fifty-fifty).
Thus far I have been very fortunate to meet lovely people, move into a conveniently-located flat, enjoy the first week of work at my new internship, and explore several regions and communities in Cape Town. My second night in South Africa I went to Margarita Night at a local cantina with the other Connect-123 interns and met many kindred spirits. This past Saturday, several of the interns and I attended a Pinotage on Tap event at a local vineyard called Diemersfontien. Along with delicious picnic food and wine, we dipped strawberries into a chocolate fountain and enjoyed music by Goodluck.
While this was a wonderful way to start my stay, my favorite outing with interns has been a hike on Lion’s Head Mountain. The fierce winds of Cape Town let up enough for us to enjoy the sights; African wildflowers are vibrant shades of violet, gold, and cream against a panoramic view of waterfront, urban city, and mountains.
On the cab ride back to our apartments, we noticed that our cab driver had a bandage on his hand and asked if he was alright. He nonchalantly said he was fine; he just sliced his hand while trimming his fingernails with a razor blade before he picked us up.
For so many reasons, this country will never cease to amaze me.