South African Patience

I’ve never been a very patient person. Growing up in a culture known for its automatic updates, faster than light internet, and instant commun- ication, my need for speedy service was only encouraged. But now that I’m in a country where Starbucks is not a source of national pride and joy (though I’ve a heard rumors of one actually existing in Cape Town), people are in general a little less antsy when they have to wait for something.

The taxis are a great example. Unlike buses – which run at scheduled times whether they have passengers or not – taxis leave the rank only when every seat is filled. As a system based on demand, there are obviously times when business is slow and an early passenger might have to wait up to 40 minutes to get going. When I first came to South Africa, this irked me to no end. I’d count the minutes, fuming and thinking, “I have places to go!” Now (unless I’m in a bad mood, running late, or it happens to be a Monday) I just climb in, sit back, and prepare to wait. I’m pleasantly surprised when I don’t have to wait long and unsurprised when I do. But instead of glaring at my watch, I just relax and let my mind wander. 

It may seem a strange thing to say, but there really is a different sense of time here. I mean this is the country that took the word “now” and made it into phrases like “just now” and “now now” that could mean anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour later. I’ve learned many things from the teachers at the school where I work and one is that there’s no use stressing about something happening on time. It’ll either happen or it won’t. Maybe it’ll happen three hours later. Maybe tomorrow. But fussing about it won’t make it come any quicker.

I spend many mornings in the Grade R classroom, helping and learning along with the 5-6 year olds.

And time well spent? That doesn’t have to mean I finished X, Y, Z in one hour and I’m going to restart the Alphabet after lunch. No, sometimes it’s just about opening your eyes, closing your mouth, and taking in what’s going on around you. In both the places where I volunteer, I’m surrounded by extremely capable people. This means there are times when they really don’t need my help. At first, I really struggled. I was here to volunteer, wasn’t I? I can’t just sit and wait patiently for the next opportunity to help out. But again, I learned that this could be a gift, as well. Some of the best learning experiences I’ve had here is when I’ve been observing a teacher instruct in the classroom, listening to the children recite poems or learning along with them as they learn the words to “Silent Night” in SeSotho.

In the end, patience has its rewards. I can think of no greater example than when I spent two months in temporary housing, waiting for news about where I would live the rest of the year. It was a frustrating time for me, but I can honestly say that everything worked out for the best, because I can’t imagine living with any other host family than the one I have now! And so, patience took its time, but finally won me over. It’s a battle I’m OK with losing.