glimpses of home

I didn't come to Atlanta to hang out with South Africans, but it is nice to get brief glimpses of people understanding you. This seemed to happen gradually this weekend, and each little view was exciting.
What follows is the story told in one breath:

On Friday a schoolmate, Thirza, invited a bunch of us to her place for a 'Coming to America' party. Her new roommate Kylie is from Australia. I prefered 'fellow foreigner' to 'arch rival', so i went along. Apart from the chocolate fondue and music, i met some people that made me feel understood. Kylie - the aussie who knows about rugby etc. Then there was Sam - an Indian doctor whose boss is from SA and plays cricket on Saturdays. He brought Preysha and someone else - Indians from Zimbabwe with relatives staying in Hartebeespoort. Yay! They told me of a South African Restaurant in Atlanta and a place to buy boerewors. Thirza also conned me into having a Fingerpop - a sweet that makes your tongue blue!

(okay, maybe three breaths)
Kylie, Preysha and other Zim-Indian guy;

Me&Sam

Today I went to church and drove past the restaurant - there was a Lambo and 2 Beemers parked outside. It is rather fancy and expensive. $20 for bobotjie! So i won't go there for my bday tonight. Anyway, story continues: After church i went to a Greek Festival at the Orthodox Cathedral. I was standing in line to buy Baclava, and the lady behind me asked me a question. I thought she sounded normal, and that i wasn't hearing the accents here anymore. But i listened more, and then asked her, "are you South African?". She looked at me and said "how do you know?"

So, i've met my first Seffricans here! The lady and her husband moved here 10 years ago, and said that at that time there were 25,000 of us living here. Now they think there are 30,000.

Maybe i will meet some more?