Random Thoughts

So I thought today I’d tell you some random things about my time so far in South Africa. Mainly, I must tell you about the food. The food here is mainly good, and naturally, slightly odd. When we went to the shop to buy food this week for lunch, I would always try a new drink and snack. The best drink I found was called Iron Brew and it was similar to coke or pepsi, but was quite possibly better. However, my favorite drink so far is called Twist, and it’s basically a mango flavored fanta. It’s fabulous. I suppose it’s vaguely similar to the mango juice we drink in the morning (instead of orange juice like in the states). Also, I tried a pop called ginger beer, and it was… interesting let’s say- quite heavy on the ginger.
Also, one absolutely must take note of the chips. Most are Lays or Doritos brand, but the kinds are very interesting. There are some more normal ones such as cheese and onion or things of that sort, but what I also found was quite good was the fried chicken flavored chips. They actually did taste faintly of fried chicken- believe it or not. Let’s see… Oh yes. Before I get too far off drinks, here red tea is the norm. Any time people in the villages offered us tea this week, it was red. Apparently red tea is basically solely grown in South Africa and is very expensive back home, but here it’s super cheap. Good stuff (Best served with sugar and possibly some milk).
Furthermore, the food on base is interesting. If you don’t remember or haven’t heard, there are around 700 antelope on base (they actually said at LEAST 700, because that was their last count several years ago), along with a few hundred wildebeests, I think three ostriches, 6 zebras, and a million horses. The interesting part, however, is that, when the cooks need meat, let’s just say, it’s easily found. However, we DO also eat a lot of beef; I know they get it locally as well, but I know we’ve eaten some blessbuck and some wildebeest, but that’s all I’ve heard specifically. The great part is that when we walked up to drop off our laundry, I discovered some disturbing looking hooks hanging outside and realized that the laundry building is also part slaughter house. Good times.
Besides that though, I haven’t eaten a whole lot of weird things… Well, today I had some ostrich jerky but that’s about it.

TIA