Whazzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuup!!!

So its once again the end of the week...and time for an army update. To be honest there's just a few new things happening so I'm not gonna do the whole hour by hour commentary thing. This week started with Monday where we once again went to the store room to do the whole folding sleeping bags thing. The thing is the weather was cloudy with signs of some serious "Newlands style" rains heading our way. I tried to tell the Captain and his lapdog about this but it was all in vain. We were ordered to take out the sleeping bags and 50 sleeping bags later it starts with a drizzle and in Cape Town style, mother nature opens up her Cobra taps. Somehow the line, "I told you so!" just do doesnt cut it here. So here we go, 50sleeping bags back in the freaking storeroom. It rained untill Friday. The funny thing is that I had to,for the first time in about 15 years acquire an umbrella because of the pissing rain. Usually I have a car to get around. But since I'm on feet around the city of Xanthi, the black umbrella I got for 6 Euros. Thats R60 for a cheapass umbrella! Eish!

Anyways, we had Newlands weather here untill today, Saturday, when the sun decided to show its face. Speaking of Newlands,right now I'm listening to online RADIO SONDER GRENSE, to the SA vs England rugby game live. I was feeling nostalgic and thought it would be nice to hear Afrikaans instead of Russian and Greek. So far we're getting whipped 6-0 in the first 10minutes. But I say whats new? Jake White has gone completely insane with his squad selection.

You know it feels good to be talking about South African news because totell you the truth, in the last few day I started realising how much I love South Africa. I might Greek but South Africa is the mother that fed me, brought me up, kept my feet on the ground and allowed me to see things much clearer than most people who've lived all their life in Europe. Sure, SA has its problems. Crime and the political drama show of Zuma and co. but I still feel that SA has got the potential to be right up there amongst the top five first world countries. People think the countries in Europe are perfect and have no probelms and they start bitching about South Africa. I say,look at the problems in Europe, fine they have the EU. Yet with the EU came the problem of open borders and and the swarming of peoples of one unfortunate country to a better country,leaving their own motherland to suffer and have no chance of improving itself economically and politcally. Look at Germany for instance. Her'es a country thats known for its efficiency, its class and powerfull economy. Yet, in my last three conversations with German Greeks, I was surprised to hear about how the large influx of people from former-Communist countries and north Balkan countries into Germany have made it difficult for Germans to find work in their own country. When I was in Athens, I was shocked to hear the words "be carefull and dont get mugged" when I told my aunt I'm going for a walk outside in the roads of Athens!

When I took that walk I started looking around as if I was walking around Kenilworth on a Saturday or in you're from Jo'burg, think of the feeling when you're on foot in Pretoria Central City. It was an upsetting feeling that could make you depressed because here you think that SA is the pits with crime,but now you have to pull your "vigilante skills" you acquired from home. I was shocked! What has the world come to? You feel like taking up jujitso and as many martial arts as possible and cut out a rubber suite andcome out at night and do the Batman thing.

Anyways, I dont want to paint a dark picture of Europe but to all of you in SA who always say "I'm gonna leave this %&#ing country forever!" . THE GRASS AINT THAT GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE. South Africa is a beautful country and the problems it has CAN be dealt with. Crime can be beaten if each and every good person out there decides stop tolerating even the smalles crime bybeing more vigilant and instead of pulling out your gun, put pressure on the authorities to pick up their feet. If Apartheid could be beaten, then Crime should not be a problem for a country with a "never-say-die" attitude. We can do it! Just stop bitching, and start pitching...in.

You can tell by now that I'm missing SA. I am missing SA and Cape Town and the mountain and Clifton and the nice people and cheap beers (especially the 5.5...hey Borkie). I figured out that I coulndt camp out here in Greece for good right now. Maybe in 5 or 10 years. SA still rocks. I might be white, but I'm still African. I was born on the 2nd largest continent in the world, enjoyed its fruits and milk, gave my efforts and I dont care who you are or what politcal party you blow your flute for. I am South African Greek. My home is Africa. And I'm gonna kiss the ground the minute I step off the plaine after landing in Cape Town International. In the spirit of being proud of SA... "My bloed is groen." The Boks just scored a try. Hie kommie Bokke! Ama Bokko bokko!!!

Anyways, before I pull out the Black Label Beer and scream "Vat hom Bokke!" and sing Enkosi Sikeleli Africa...! To all those lving in Cape Town, please say hello to Table Mountain for me. Go to Clifton beach and kick some sand around...put your feet in the ocean and send a kiss to the sunset. Pleaaaaaaaaase!!!

By the way, just so you all know, being in the army is kinda being in prison, you start counting the days you're free to go. Luckily in my case I have 73 days and today left.

73 DAYS!!!

Yippeeeeee!

On that note...stay well and hope to hear from you soon via e-mail or sms.

My e-mail is: kapatown@gmail.com
If you wanna sms me,for security pruposes ask me my number via e-mail.

Ciao ciao and Tot Siens! Arrie warrie maters!

Regards,
Kosta