Bafana Bafana!

Some quick random thoughts about South Africa:

• Contrary to popular belief I was not at the America - Algeria game in person.  I am staying with several people who were and definitely watched the it at the house in person.  I am looking into their game against Ghana!
• Germany - Ghana at the main Stadium (Soccer City Stadium) in Johannesburg was an incredible atmosphere and an incredible game!  So many German fans there and many Ghana supporters as well.  Spectacular stadium!
• Dribbled against Christiano Rinaldo at a fan zone thing at the game
• Some German girls tried to paint a German flag on my face which I promptly refused (I was completely supporting Ghana!)
• I have indeed acquired my own vuvuzela.  At the Germany - Ghana games, every time Ghana got close to doing something, all the vuvuzelas got much louder and much more exciting
• Saw S. Korea and Nigera on the corner flag 4 rows back in a S. Korea jersey (Thanks Scott Lee!)
• S. Korea fan have this strange thing going on with Devil Horns
• Many Nigerians live here and they are considered to be "shrewd" buisnessmen.
• Bafana Bafana is the name of the South Africa team here which means "The Boys" in Zulu.  Saw the Bafana Bafana - France game at a Church in Durban during yet another braai -- they love their meat here!  Great time!  Great win by the boys.
• People of all colors here have been wearing the Bafana - Bafana jerseys and supporting the team.  This is a big deal.  The blacks have always fully supported the team as that is their sport here.  But the whites (generally rugby supporters) and Indians (either Cricket or supporting our Countries) have also been wearing the jerseys and supporting the team.  Great to see so many jersey everywhere!
• America fast food chain count:  I have seen something like 8 KFC's and not a single McDonald's.  I guess they really like their fried chicken!
• Soccer is the World's game right?  But most of the big sponsors are American companies: Budweiser (official beer and only beer served in the Stadium), Visa, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Vitamin Water (yes, Vitamin Water).  Money talks!
• They drink sodas out of the can with straws here
• Some local foods / traditions: Braai, Pop and sauce, milo, samosas, curry, Cream Soda (different than ours)
• They use the Queen's English (alough 11 languages are spoken here)
• Went to get one of my tickets at the ticketing center in a Casino (right next to the Stadium)
• Durban has a fanfest zone on the beach and is defintely the warmest city in South Africa
• Joburg on the other hand is freezing cold at night (probably low 30s)
• They also have a really nice water park / Sea World that could rival a few in Florida and is certanily nicer than Wild Waves in Federal Way
• Witnessed a really great Zulu tribal dance group in the bazaar there -- they were having way too much fun! 
• Had a group of waitresses perform a zulu song and dance for me at a restaurant (a little like the birthday song at Red Robin without the bird)
• Security is much more lax here at the airports.  Don't have to take off your shoes and they don't check your ID
• You can't pump your own gas (You're not the only ones Oregon)
• Unemployment rate is high here and everywhere y zpeople are trying to some job for you to get money like watching your car for you at the store, washing your car at the beach, or building really elaborate sand creations at the beach for donations
• 1Time Airlines is a great way to get around
• Drivers are crazy here and you better not get in their way.  They also like to talk on their phone and drive a stick at the same time.
• Country flags for the World Cup countries everywhere here
• They speak 11 languages -- notably English, Zulu, and Afrikaans
• Phil Collins and Backstreet Boys are both alive and well in South Africa
• I have the simplest (but sweetest) phone that I picked up for soemthing like $15
• Incredible contrast between poverty and upper middle class here
• And finally, GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!