14 Quick Ways to Know You’re Back in South Africa

So what’s the first thing you notice about being back in South Africa after a while away? From the moment you leave the airplane, things start hitting you, the landscape, the smells, the sensations. After one week back, this is what had hit returnee Edward Robbins.

1. The accent.

2. Gyms. They just get it.

3. Roadside shopping. 

4. Products that would make no sense anywhere else.

5. Radio. Everyone still listens to it, and you can see why – it’s really good.

6. Nature’s alarm clock. Also known as a hadeda ibis.

7. The other kind of alarm.

8. Street names that take practice saying.

9. The weather. (It’s a major topic of conversation. “Fantastic, rain!” “It looks like rain.” “They need rain.” “Wasn’t that rain fantastic.” “We needed that rain.”)

10. Art Deco buildings (Move over, Miami).

11. Bare feet. (People who can clearly afford shoes choose to walk without them, even on really hot surfaces.)

12. Splashes of colour (and certain kinds of flowers).

13. Our own take on ideas from the West.

    

    

14. Expressions like ‘Just now’, ‘Now now’, ‘muti’ and ‘Aikona’ don’t raise an eyebrow.