Life In The Not So Fast Lane

For me personally, and I think many other YAGM as well, this is the first time in a long time that I haven't had the luxury of having the keys to a vehicle readily available in my pocket. In many ways it has been freeing, in many ways it has been frustrating, but all in all it has been a mystery during my time of service that has been an incredibly fun experiment.

I know a major part of all YAGM's experience during their time abroad is the public transportation system. The South Africa program is no exception to this part of the experience. In my time here so far I've had the privilege of being able to try nearly all forms of transportation offered across South Africa. From kombis*, long haul kombis, buses, trains, meter taxi, hired kombis, friends cars, and even donkey carts on rare occasions. Though all of these are all very different ways of getting around, they all share one common principal, time is elastic.

A big part of learning the public transportation systems here in South Africa is patience. In my opinion it might just be the biggest learning curve for foreign travelers, YAGM included. Time is not concrete for most South African people in comparison to the American culture. Transportation schedules and times aren't nearly as crucial, if there is a schedule in the first place. The reality of traveling on public transportation in South Africa is that you're going to miss some buses, you're going to be late sometimes, and there is always contingencies that are out of your control. Now, one could allow all of this to consume them, upset them, and worst of all panic them, but where does that get you other then the same exact situation you're already in? Except you also have a poor attitude to go along with it now. In my experience, embracing the chaos that can be the transportation systems sometimes is the best way to go about it. The mystery of whether or not you're going to make your bus on time, how long it will take for your kombi to fill up today, if the kombi drivers will be on strike today or not. It's all things out of your control and it's better to roll with the punches then become uptight. Things have a way of working themselves out in almost every instance.

Since arriving in country I have yet to take the same form of transportation to the same destinations twice, with one exception. Which is absolutely incredible considering I have been in country now for nearly six months. Ive found the possibilities really are endless in the public transportation service here, some good and some not so good, but they all can lead to new and incredible adventures if you merely perceive them as such.

* a kombi is a 15 passenger van that is used as a taxi service. They are not metered, but instead are a flat rate from one destination to the other. They only leave for their destination once the kombi is entirely full, whether that takes 5 minutes or 5 hours.

 

*written February 14th

Peace