You Know You’re South African When…

I’ve been living in Russia for 2 weeks now and I can already tell you a few culture differences I have experienced. Some I already expected and some are new, some makes sense and some…just don’t.

I decided to make it a little bit more interesting than just making a boring list. For you to be able to relate just a bit better, I’m going to remind you what makes us South African and how this part of the world relates….or not!

1. You respond to almost everything with “ya, no” / “ja, nee”. Don’t be surprised when you talk to someone who doesn’t understand english, or lets just say “South African English”, and they look completely confused after you said this.
2. You put the word “hey” or “man” at the end of most sentences. No explanation needed.
3. You can proudly say that your country has 11 languages. Hopefully you can speak at least 2 of them. You should see how surprised the Russians are when they hear this. MIND BLOWN! Here they thought you speak the “American’s Language”. A lot of them won’t learn english, even if it’s globally the language of communication. If you get a rude person, you just switch to any one of the other 10 languages left.    “Ja ek weet ek kan nie jou taal verstaan nie. Ek is ook so jammer dat engels net soveel moeite vir jou is. Ons kan alkyd in my moedertaal kommunikeer?” All of a sudden they can understand some english. Haha then there is the rare case when people hear you are from South Africa and they say: “But you speak english so well.” (FACEPALM!!!) I will also put out there that this is not the case with all Russians. I have had such encounters before, however here in Kazan people are much more friendlier. If they see you tried speaking in their language, they are friendlier and will help you with a smile instead. You still get the sour faces from some people but those you just need to ignore.
4. You know the difference between “now”, “just now”, “now, now” and “Ja, no definitely”. Again, you will confuse the heck out of anybody here if you say this. Then again it can really come in handy if someone is trying to make plans with you and you aren’t interested. Just keep saying: “Okay we can go now, now”, “Lets see just now and then I will tell you now, now”, “Ja, no definitely”. Confusion guaranteed!!!
5. You were warned about the tokoloshe as a child. Aaah will the word “gullible” suffice? Africa is like a different planet for them! You will have to get used to the fact that you are seen as African, not South African, no matter North, South, East, West, developed country or not. Or just the fact that South Africa is not seen as a country but Africa as a whole by most people. Explaining that Africa is a continent, not a country…not even worth it. But hey! Ever wanted a pet lion but everyone at home will know you are lying? Here you won’t get caught! Heck why not say an elephant instead and say you even ride it to school?!? If you doubt that they will believe this, just be a white person and tell them you are from South Africa. They will think you are lying about that! Again, there is lots of people in Russia educated about African countries. I’m not saying this is everyone in Russia.
6. You roll your window up when approaching a robot. There is not a single beggar at any robot, stop or street corner! I am yet to spot one. There might be an accordion player down in the metro or a guitar player at a tourist attraction site playing their music and songs. But beggars are scarce. * Update: So I have actually spotted some beggars. But there isn’t many I could find and it’s like they only come out on certain days at certain times.
7. You call it a “robot” and not a “traffic light”. “A Robot? Like a Transformer?” Ummm, lets just say that South Africans can make the rest of the world so confused, they will start doubting their own english education.
8. You use “shame” in both good and bad situations. Scary when you don’t realize this and a Russian points it out and ask why you always say shame for everything. Think about it. Why do we? How do you explain it to a non South African? “We just do.” – Explanation done!
9. You say “eina” when you’ve hurt yourself.
10. You know at least one person who has moved to Australia.
11. You didn’t know what trainers were until someone explained that they are tekkies.
12. No matter where you end up living, lip balm will always be called Lipice!
13. You crave a holiday in the bush. Although here in Kazan there are lots of trees and luckily not just buildings like in some other cities and European countries. It’s still nothing in comparison to South African nature! You crave the bushveld or our bushveld at the sea…if you get what I’m saying. Of course you do! (If you’re South African) 😀 “In America they call it survivor. In South Africa we call it camping.” 😀
14. Loadshedding. Need I say more? When the power goes out we are so used to it, we just sigh and blame Eskom. It is very uncommon for power outages here.
15. You keep your loose change for the car guard. I will have to go on a hunt to find a car guard. Cars can be parked in the streets, shopping centers, malls, work, schools unattended and they will still be there when you return, with no guard on the job. There is always a possibility that your car can be stolen, but that is a very low percentage.
    
16. Someone tunes you and you tell them to voetsek. That day when I’m not in the mood for any problems and troubles, this will be my word. They won’t understand me, I know, but that’s the fun part.
17. Everything is described as “lekker”
18. Answering your parents with “what?” is like cursing. Now this is an interesting one. The Russian word for this expression of What?/How? Is pronounced and spelled the same as a curse word in Afrikaans/”South African” English. Any South African will understand it. So for this reason I will say it in a Russian sentence. This way I’m not actually cursing. “Как дела?” (The word “What” in Russian is pronounced chto.)
19. You were born and bred in this beautiful country, whether you associate with these things or not.
    
20. YOU’RE PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN!!!

There are lots of little differences or more like habits they have that I had and still are getting used to. Example: Taking your shoes off and leaving it at the door (inside-entrance). This makes sense, because when it starts to snow you don’t make the whole house wet and dirty. This is just something they do all year round. Walking in socks is something most of us are already use to. (Those white school socks will never be for the purpose of school only!)

But the thing I don’t think I will ever get used to, is that they spit! And I mean full on, gathering as much phlegm as they can and no matter where they are outside, who is around to see, even while walking, they spit! When you see a wet blob, it’s not bird poop. The chances of it being spit is 90% more than it being bird poop! Wanna know what freaked me out even more? I saw woman do it too! (Not as common as men, but still.) Smart ladies, well so I thought, also spit. GROSS!!!

Besides that I am enjoying it here. I’m starting to settle in more and making my room mine and a second home. (My bed and my part in the room as well as this country.) Also finding my feet and learning how to live in a place where it gets colder by the day to temperatures I have never experienced before! And learning the language of course!

I hope you all enjoyed this post!

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Talk later!

To Live is To Dance!!!

xoxo

“Want ons is proudly South African
Luister Koos Kombuis
Op ‘n ou draadloos
In ‘n sinkdakhuis
Amazi van die dorp
‘n Brood van Sasko Sam
Leer ek die kinders bedel
In die traffic jam” – Die Melktert Komissie