Welcome to the new South Africa

Waiting at the bus stop in the township with my friend Patricia today, I noticed a lady trying to get buses but getting frustrated. In the end I asked 'Uyaphi?' (where are you going?), and she explained. Interested that I spoke some Xhosa, she started testing me out, and we had a nice little conversation about how cold it is, how long I waited for the stupid bus this morning, where I work etc. She then turned to my friend and started chatting to her in Xhosa, but Patricia, having grown up in exile, has little beyond 'how are you', and had to apologise for her lack of understanding.

The three of us stood and laughed at the irony for a while, and I announced 'welcome to the new South Africa'.