You know you've been in the Ingwavuma for too long when....
- running water and smooth tarred roads elicit as much excitement as a 75% off sale
- sunset becomes an event
- snakes, goats, chickens and cows are "normal" road kill
- your gut greeting upon meeting new people in a Western setting is "sanibona" as opposed to hello
- you change your running routine slightly and you get 5 comments from different sources all saying "ow, sisi, I see you are not running any more"
- machettes are used as "lawn mowers". For this reason you are not overwhelmed with fear when a man carrying a machette passes you in the street
- when passing bushes you are more concerned about goats darting across the road than sneaky traffic cops with speed cameras
- in a Western setting you find yourself giving and receiving with your left hand placed under your right and doing a small courtesy (in Zulu culture you give and receive with your right hand as a sign of respect)
- you're defining criteria for "good accommodation" is running water that can be drunken straight from the tap
- the presence of chicken fillet in spar is stirs so much joy and excitement to the point where it may result in a tweet, BBM or FB update
- a destination that is 1.5 hours away is classified as "around the corner"
- a tap without water, a petrol station without petrol and a post office without stamps no longer shocks you
You will never_________________________________ until you come to Ingwavuma
- know natural beauty
- realise that you never have "nothing"
- understand that water is vital and that electricity is convenient
- know how few people speak English
- value fluid conversation in your mother tongue
- know how much you value your family and friends
- witness true dignity in the face of adversity
- understand the importance of community
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