Unexpected things.

I didn't anticipate that I would have to be brutal bitch from time to time on this journey.

Young, innocent unworldly females traveling alone (yes, that's me) often times find themselves in dark/twisty/uncool places or situations that call for fast getaway action, quicksilver reactions and thinking on your feet. (Your ninja training really pays off here.)

I have encountered this phenomenon a couple of times on my trip and had to untangle myself from things that I either perceived would be bad for my journey, or was bad for my journey. A traveler is only concerned with that which will make the journey better and more fun.

The implication is that I have run from a number of places, rather than having slowly sauntered off in a sexy kind of way. I'm not proud. Sauntering off in a sexy kind of way is important and can leave lasting impressions on previous home-givers. But it is complicated when lugging previously mentioned large coffin-like suitcase and falling over your own feet alot.

Second unexpected thing:

I imagined that it would be amazing to re-invent myself wherever I went. Today I could introduce myself for instance as Helga from Antwerp, tomorrow maybe Barbara from Bloemfontein. The joy of being whatever the hell you would like to be, of not being put in a box and labeled immediately. Well. I've failed miserably as far as that is concerned. As previously mentioned, I am a traveling gypsy fortune teller which entails telling people that I am a fortune teller, which entails them asking what kind, and me saying I'm a Sangoma, and them saying huh o wow. And then they say:

"WOW. HOW DID YOU END UP BECOMING A SANGOMA?"

At which point I have the overwhelming urge to fall down and pretend I'm dead. This question, this one question, has followed me around and stalked me for the last 8 years. In Cape Town it wasn't such a concern anymore. Everyone who needed to know knew, and on average I was meeting a new person once a year (hence the trip), but now I meet on average 4 new people a day, heck, sometimes more than that! And as I am a traveling gypsy fortune teller it is my DUTY to tell them so, and then the questions. The same ones. Four times a day. And I can't skirt it if I want to do the readings. In fact, I need to embellish and tell the story well! With feeling and what!

I don't know what the solution is. Maybe I will write it out on this blog and just send people here when they ask me. Maybe I need to print flyers.

Sigh.