The City of Many Names

Port Elizabeth is called a number of names: the windy city, the bay city, and the friendly city are the names I’ve heard so far but there are undoubtedly more names. I have to say, the city has quite impressed me by living up to its various reputations.

The weather here is pleasantly warm: about the mid 80s. You always feel comfortable because there’s constantly a breeze coming in from the sea to cool you down. While most days the wind is happy and gentle, there are days that it gets a little wild and blows everything down: on these days, it’s hard to walk without stumbling a few times. I love getting up to the warmth and the sun. It’s absolutely exquisite getting up to a warm room that is flooded with sunlight. My surroundings here feel alive- there’s no other way to describe it. I know it’s the same sky that I see but the South African sky looks huge. I’ve never had this sensation anywhere else: the sky simply feels and looks higher up. It sounds rather silly and I can’t do anything but describe the feeling I have. The sky here is a clear blue with a few peaceful clouds scattered and a dazzlingly bright sun. I sometimes pause to gaze above me and it feel as if I could be swallowed up. It’s a beautiful sight but it’s humbling: it reminds me what a little speck I am in this world.

The city and its people are extremely friendly as long as you accept both for what they are. The people I’ve met are all warm and inviting. There’s a different mood in the air here: it’s livelier but also more easy going. You’re greeted with hugs and invitations to join a barbeque, an excursion to the beach, or whatever else is going on. When people here speak, it’s more energetic and emotional- it would probably be considered dramatic in the U.S. but I love how much lively they are. You feel welcome wherever you go.

However you also have to realize that this city and its people have a different way of life. As I explained before with the internet, the system here is much slower and has a lot more hoops to jump through. Most things take longer here. At NMMU, there are over a thousand students waiting to receive their id card but there is only one man to make them all by hand: needless to say you’ll have to wait in line a few hours to receive your card. Similarly, when I ask someone about the medical card I was supposed to have upon arrival, I have to wait a few weeks for the card to get to me. Most of the American students become extremely frustrated and end up coming to me when something is taking too long or has too many steps. I’ve simply learned to accept the system. It is much more efficient and easier on your mind if you simply accept the process rather than stewing in frustration and attempting to speed up the system as many of them try to. I came in with an upper hand since I have lived in Sri Lanka and have experienced the slow system there. However, I think they’ll eventually come to the realization and simply accept the city and its people for what they are.

And finally the ocean! Port Elizabeth is right on the coast and you can walk to the ocean from most parts of the city quite quickly. I’m constantly walking along Beach Road that goes parallel to the ocean. It’s a sparkling clear blue and the beaches here are kept extremely clean. While the weather outside is warm, the ocean is usually pretty chilly…even now in the summer. There are very few crowded parts since the beach spreads over such a long distance. It’s a beautiful sight in the late afternoon: there are mothers with their little children, lovers holding hands, friends having barbeques, peddlers packing up and trying to convince some last minute buyers, and the occasional (usually shirtless) runner.

The City of many names is so far giving me quite an enjoyable experience. I can’t wait to see what's next! I'll tell you about some of my excursions so far and post more pictures for the next blog! =]