driving in south africa...

Proud owners of a "new" car!

i was chatting with elisabeth the other day and i was reminded of how funny the whole driving thing is here.  we knew coming here we'd be driving on the left (not the wrong side of the road...the left side) so that newness we expected...

here's the whole long story of how we came by our car and then driving.  so we don't have any money, right?  so we thought we'll just go to a dealership because they'll be better equipped to get us financing.  so we decide on a price range, something reasonable that we think we can manage and we actually find a car that fits all the criteria.  it's toyota corolla.  very nice, newish, automatic windows, ac, the whole biz.  even has automatic transmission which is kind of a big deal here.  we actually had a chat about maybe it would be better to get a standard, we would be more like the locals, etc etc but honestly we're just going to be better drivers if we don't have to worry about that.  the last time i drove a standard was high school, when my good friend, annette taught me (thanks annette!).  so anyway, we've got this guy willie the car dealer, who's great.  he's working all the angles tho trying to get us a loan and it is just not working out.  that's when we find out about this guy at one of the churches we've been going to that wants to sell his car.  terrance is amazing, he's willing to sell us his car and finance it too!  what a deal.  so no interest, awesome!... it's an older car...no big.  it's a manual transmission...bummer but do-able.  also did i mention most of the cars in south africa don't have power steering either!!  now honestly why would you do that?  i'm not sure how much power steering costs but that is a serious driving hazard!!  all that to say we bought terrance's car.  we are the proud owners of a white toyota corolla, i think it's a 2000.  anyway it has ac...that's something. and it was totally an answer to prayer.  God is soooo good!

so one of my early memories on the road, i'm driving to a friend's.  it's easy to get to her house that's why i've committed to doing it.  i figure i can manage.  i'm driving a long feeling pretty cool when i get to a traffic light AND the phone rings!  it's debbie, i'm trying to figure out if it's urgent, do i need the info she has for me in order to get to her house.  the light is red...maybe i can answer the phone...the light turns green!  i'm still holding the phone, the car's not in the right gear, there are cars all around me, i'm panicking!!  so i drop the phone, find the right gear, stall the car, re-start the car, and drive away.  phew!  this is a lot of stress!  on top of it all every time i turn a corner i about give myself a hernia!  i still don't get this no power steering.

ok, one final thing on driving here.  it actually has nothing to do with driving but once you are parked and you'd like to get out of the car there is a 15 step process to locking up the car...yikes!!  so most of you know i recently acquired a baby which has his own 15 step process.  i'm just waiting for the day when i lock my keys in the car (knock on wood).  1 - put the car in neutral.  2 - pull the hand break.  3 - turn off the ignition.  4 - put the car in reverse.  5 - lock the gear box.  6 - put up the window shades (because it is flippin hot here and the sun could actually melt your car if you don't). 7 - don't forget to take your radio faceplate and stick it in the glove box.  (our friends car was broken into just for the radio)  8 - get of the car and push down your lock.  9 - hold up your door handle as you shut the car door.  (otherwise your door won't actually be locked...wasting time.)  10 - crawl into the back seat and get your kid out.  11 - lock his door lock but you don't have to hold up the handle on the back doors.  12 - get all your crap out of the boot.  13 - make sure all the other doors are closed and locked.  14 - press the immobilizer.  (my favorite part.  i mean immobilizer, really.  that's just awesome!)  so i think that's it actually.  i hope you're not disappointed that there's not actually 15 steps.  but i think 14 is pretty good. :)  i could just make up one more...i mean how do you know i'm telling you the truth about the immobilizer anyway...this could all be made up. ;)

[reposted from Diana's Facebook page]