Monopoly, Dancing, and More Wine

It is my last day of work, and in my previous week I have packed in more than I've done over the past month.

I participated in no less than three executive wine tastings at work, one of which included a range of tiny, expensive snacks. Tiny, expensive snacks are the best kind, particularly when one is not paying for them.

I went on a late night Indian Food run to Cafe Ganesh, a tiny little hole in the wall semi-restaurant where people smoked indoors. The walls were unfinished, the art was alarming, the atmosphere was perfect and the peanut sauce was heaven. I sat with three of my roommates, and we had lengthy discussions covering everything from religious documentaries, bizarre DJ monikers, and the likelihood of accidentally marrying a half sibling in communities with multiple-donation sperm banks. You know how there's that one table that everyone is surreptitiously eavesdropping on? At Cafe Ganesh, that was us.

I had another round of Drunken Monopoly that, as usual, turned into capitalist ranting.

A couple of good ones:

"I don't anyone could win... We'd just go around the board and not be allowed to have property until everyone could."- Ciara, re 'Communopoly'.

"Oh yeah? I'll sell my houses to the bank."
"Oh yeah? What if the bank doesn't want your houses?"
"Oh yeah? They always want my houses!"
"Oh yeah? 2008!" -Me vs Ciara. She won that exchange...

This past Sunday, I headed to Mzolis again. Partially because I had nothing to do, but also because I was desperate to go again before I left. As usual, we ordered volumes of charred meat, bought three 6 packs of Hunters and Savannah, and this time- we danced.

Well, I danced, and Hope did. There was a gang from University of Cape Town, perhaps 15 males, all doing some sort of ritualized group circle affair where they were in a wide ring, everybody vibing, and taking turns with one man at a time jumping into the middle of the group and busting out his particular moves. When someone entered the circle, the was a mass set of rythmic hooting and hollering and clapping to whatever beat the DJ had going. It sounds a bit ridiculous, but it was actually incredibly impressive. Coming as I do from a country where men rarely dance, and almost never in an all male group ("That's Gay") much less as a bonding ritual, it was seriously cool.

Alpha dancer appeared to be the cocky one with the striped fedora. He was in the circle most often, called out who the next up would be when no one immediately jumped in, and led the clapping and hooting when the beat called for it.

So, naturally, when I reached just enough of a pumped up buzz state to feel bold, it was during His round I jumped into the circle after, and snagged his Fedora.

The circle immediately made a low "Oooooooohhhhh" and began the clapping and stamping ritual that I took to announce the beginning of a full out Dance-Off. Hat Man turned slowly, and I put on the Fedora, skipped back a few paces, and busted the hell out.

Needless to say, it was epic.

Over the next perhaps 10 minutes, we danced circles around each other, occasionally with each other, but mainly in sort of pantomimed, rhythmic fight over the hat. I was particularly impressed when, at the end, I managed to roll the hat off my shoulder, catch it by brim, and, with a flourishing bow, popped it back onto his head as we both spun-exited opposite sides. The hooting and applause was deafening, and passersby had stopped to have a look. Following that, I was riding a nerve and endorphin high all day.
They came to our table an hour or so later, to collect us for a drinking game. Good fun all 'round.

Yet another excellent afternoon of cider, meat, and madness at Mzoli's.

Very, very strange that I'm coming home so soon. I'm actually busy on my last Sunday here, so I won't be able to go again.

Oh, right- I'm going on a Safari bush trip after my last day at work (Today). I'll be headed up through the Garden Route, hitting the cheetah reserve, the elephant sanctuary, the Big 5 open-jeep Game Drive, and the Ostrich Farm. I'll be back Monday, which is when I will do a final Constantia wine tasting with Jordan and Katie (The New Me- Intern # 3, soon to be 2) followed by Tapas at the Bistro with Lida, Graham, Chantelle, Chloe, Jordan, Kaitie, and Anetha. Then, it is only a few short days until I head back to Canada. First to Montreal, to bring my Uncle fresh news of Africa, and then onto Home.

See you soon!