Diary of a Cape Town Commuter : Entry 1

The daily commute from home to one’s workplace is a reality for almost all of us. This journey often brings with it some entertaining stories, overheard scandals, the weirdest thoughts, and random acts of kindness, cruelty and hilarity seen through the window as you pass by your route and occasionally revelations from one’s own inner monologue. We’ve all told a story that started with something like, “you must see what happened on the bus today.” The mode of transportation you choose often becomes almost personified. The bus, train, taxi or car becomes a silent yet active participant in our lives. Often overlooked, but inextricably part of your routine.

I hope that the entries I share will lead to others sharing their experiences. So on we go. Nou ry is gou ry.

Overhead:

There are some people who get so comfortable in their commute that they forget they are sharing the space with complete strangers. This conversation was overhead in a taxi at 17:30pm.

Two women were talking about a friend who had said some terrible things to them both that weekend while intoxicated. From what I heard the list was as follows:

1       They were both accused of being:

1.   "piel diewe” (translation: penis thieves).

2.      Both were said to “think their kak don’t stink” (translation: conceited)

3.      And one was said to have a “ big bek” (translation: gossips)

So as these conceited penis thieves continued their rant about their friend they described her as:

1.      A bigger “piel dief:

2.      A moerse pil skieter (translation: liar)

3.      Permi gesuip (Translation: in a permanent state of inebriation)

4.      And all round “fokol werd” (translation: worth nothing)

My take on this conversation was split into two lines of thinking.

1.      Other people’s reactions to certain key words like “piel dief” revealed something about them. Some laughed and felt some affiliation to the women. Others looked away in disgust and other like me merely listened in amazement at their brazen disregard for the general rules that govern social interactions in public places. Although their language was vulgar I had to admire their confidence in being who they are at all times. Not all of us can say the same.

2.    

  The content of the conversation brought up some funny non-verbal indicators. When the big bek told her friend that she had been called that her body language indicated that she agreed with the drunkard that had laid her with the charge. But her verbal reaction to the information was to say “The fucken nerve!” showing solidarity with her travel mate. To admit that she agreed would not only bring up an obvious confrontation but mean’t that she might also have to admit that the other charges were true and therefore possibly true about her as well. Had the pil skieting, drunkard who was worth nothing brought to the fore some issues that they had not confronted about themselves? And is it always healthy to confront them? After thinking about this I realised that the women weren’t really being who they were but who they thought they were. Whether or not the accusations their friend had hit them with was true or not, the fear that it was had them verbally dodging the issue by laying their own set of accusations on the pil skieter.

Conclusion

When asked the question, “Who are you” one can answer with the simple I am Remo Andrews (well you not Remo, I am, but you know what I mean) but when asked, “Who is Remo Andrews” I’m not sure I have the full answer (Can I get back to you?)

That’s ok though. We don’t have to have the answers. The uncertainty is what makes us human. It’s in the knowing that we are uncertain that real wisdom must surely come from.

I know this was a little bit more serious that most of you expected lol. But this works on the basis on the journey. It therefore shapes the story and not the other way around. I’d like it to open a discussion on your thoughts regarding the above piece.