Happy Independence Day to my American Readers!
Tonight, Kurt and I will re-watch The Patriot, one of the movies we brought with us on our South African adventure. I was imagining what my friends at home might be doing today: eating a hot dog, going to Starbucks, maybe watching a parade and having candy and bubble gum thrown at them from the firetrucks and floats.
In honor of the things I already miss from America, I would like to offer up the “other” colors I think of when it comes to my good old, Red, White & Blue:
GREEN: I miss the big round, weird-looking chick on the Starbucks sign. There are no “real” Starbucks stores in South Africa. Oh sure, they made a half-ass attempt here when the 2010 World Cup came to town, opening up a few of those “wannabe” Starbucks stores in the fancier hotels, but none of those are nearby even if I wanted to try one. I could get coffee at any of the wonderful cafes here in South Africa, of course, but I am now trying my best to stay decaffeinated again. But I do miss my Belle Vernon Starbucks and amazing barista friends there.
BROWN-ISH: “…the Fourth of July” (to partially quote Jennier Coolidge’s character in Legally Blonde, 2: Red, White and Blonde) “…makes me want a hot dog real bad.” There are things similar to hot dogs here. They look like hot dogs: various parts of meat formed to resemble the American food. They even have hot dog buns to put them in. But these dogs don’t hunt, folks. They are randomly-flavored meat-pops. What I wouldn’t give for a package of Hebrew Nationals right now. {sigh}
PINK: I have never before had to ration my bubble gum. But there is nothing even remotely like Dubble Bubble that I have found here. Granted, I see some very lovely teeth that clearly have not benefited from the tooth-rotting properties of childhood daily mouthfuls of sugary goodness, but still. I will chew an extra piece today, just to celebrate that I can. And perhaps will shock yet another passerby as I blow a bubble the size of my face. I did exactly that just the other day, and passed a woman who stared, then giggled, then clapped and exclaimed: “Nice balloon!” When I finally have an address here, will someone please send me a new package of Dubble Bubble? (Not the kind with the comics; it doesn’t taste the same or blow as good of bubble.)
None of these are the end of the world, of course. Just a few of my longings on this Fourth of July holiday away from home.
Happy Birthday, ‘merica!
Love, Marla
