Simple things…. Wake up to brewed coffee in the morning 
Mike and I took a walk around there neighborhood…. Look not razor wire, fences, gates around the homes. Such a difference from South Africa.
and of course welcome to the land of big trucks and SUV’s
And mcManisions in the neighborhood…..
and of course relatively cheap fuel….. The least I had paid a year or more 
Once again….. Had wonderful ADV riders reach out and take me in. Mike and I went to Jay Leno, and then I stayed at there home! Had a great time and wonderful conversations!
Thanks Mike and Cessy!! 
Great talking about world travel, and life!
and a post by Mike on my ADV thread. Humbled by the kindness of ADV riders, and their families. Has enriched my journey Immeasurably
In returning from South Africa, a Friend sent me this list….. Wow it all makes sense after spending time riding there!
“YOU ARE PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN WHEN:
You call a bathing suit a ‘swimming costume’.
You call a traffic light a ‘robot’.
You call an elevator a ‘lift’
You call a hood a ‘bonnet’
You call a trunk a ‘boot’ You call a pickup truck a ‘bakkie’
You call a Barbeque a ‘Braai’
The employees dance in front of the building to show how unhappy they are. The SABC advertises and shows highlights of the programme you just finished watching.
You get cold easily. Anything below 16 degrees Celsius is Arctic weather. This sounds like me, (Yesterday it was 3-4 C on the ride back …BBBBRRR)
You know what Rooibos Tea is, even if you’ve never had any.
You can sing your national anthem in four languages, and you have no idea what it means in any of them.
You know someone who knows someone who has met Nelson Mandela.
You go to braais regularly, where you eat boerewors and swim, sometimes simultaneously.
You know that there’s nothing to do in the Orange Free State .
You produce a R100 note instead of your driver’s licence when stopped by a traffic officer.
You can do your monthly shopping on the pavement.
You have to hire a security guard whenever you park your car. When you are a victim of crime and say: ‘At least I’m still alive’.
You know a taxi can move twice it’s certified number of people in one trip. You travel 100’s of kilometres to see snow.
You know the rules of Rugby better than any referee To get free electricity you have to pay a connection fee of R750.
More people vote in a local reality TV show than in a local election.
People have the most wonderful names: Christmas, Goodwill, Pretty, Wednesday, Blessing, Brilliant, Gift, Precious, Innocence and Given, Patience, Portion, Coronation.
‘Now now’ or ‘just now’ can mean anything from a minute to a month.
You continue to wait after a traffic light has turned to green to make way for taxis travelling in the opposite direction.
Travelling at 120 km/h you’re the slowest vehicle on the highway/freeway. You’re genuinely and pleasantly surprised whenever you find your car parked where you left it.
A bullet train is being introduced, but we can’t fix potholes.
The last time you visited the coast you paid more in speeding fines and toll fees than you did for the entire holiday.
You paint your car’s registration on the roof.
You have to take your own linen with you if you are admitted to a government hospital.
You have to prove that you don’t need a loan to get one.
Prisoners go on strike.
You don’t stop at a red traffic light, in case somebody hijacks your car.
You consider it a good month if you only get mugged once.
Ruwandan refugees start leaving the country because the crime rate is too high. You consider a high crime rate as normal. “
