Me: “So is Georgia part of the whole ‘bible belt’?”
Ben: “What do you mean belt…we’re the damn BUCKLE!”
For those of you who know the map of USA, Jacksonville is in the north of Florida…so if you’re thinking Miami…then stop! It’s got the heat and the palm trees but it’s more Southern because it’s so North as apposed to Miami South…ha ha…confused you there hey? Point is…it’s a hop, skip and quick roadtrip to the border of Georgia…which is where I was headed next.
My cousin, her twins and myself went on a little road trip to visit a friend of hers in Georgia. I was incredibly excited as it meant I would be seeing another State…which in America is like seeing another country!! Even the State Borders are a big deal…with massive signs welcoming you and even a whole visitor’s centre. In a way I understand, because as I learnt through the next few months, every State is so different to the next. In South Africa I’ve always felt a sense of pride and ‘togetherness’ about the country I live in…America you seem to feel that per state...not as a Nation (well, apart from when the country unites because of certain events…9/11, Obama campaign etc). Things you get on the East Coast you can’t find on the West and vice versa. As you cross a State border everything changes, from the tax to the speed limit, from the crazy laws to the different accents and even the food changes. You would only really notice it if you went through a couple of States…which I was really fortunate enough to do.
Anyway, so we arrived at Tybee Island which is just outside Savannah. We were staying with my cousin’s friend and her family and if there is one thing I can say about Americans, it’s that they are so hospitable! I have never felt so welcome in a stranger’s house before!
To paint you a picture, Tybee Island has a population of about 3 000 people…it’s quite a popular tourist spot and Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck even have a house there (and no, I never saw either of them…’Celebrity Count was a big, fat, ZERO!). Anyway, all the houses are basically raised Cottages (all white) on stilts with massive wrap around porches and screen French doors…it’s beautiful…a scene out of some romantic novel or something. Well, until you realize you’re in Georgia and the accents are so southern you can hardly understand a word! Seriously though…they are fantastic people. Maybe it’s just me, but I love meeting different people…and experiencing life in the small towns…sometimes that is more exciting than the ‘tourist attractions’ in the big cities.
So on the first day we went to downtown Savannah which is by far one of the most beautiful little towns I have ever seen. It was established in 1733 and has an amazing amount of history…the best thing is…majority of the town has been preserved so it’s like walking into a time zone. Obviously they play to the tourists but I don’t care, seeing a horse and carriage run along cobbled streets in one of the beautiful town squares is just something magnificent. We spent the whole day walking the streets and seeing all the historic buildings like the Savannah Cotton Exchange, First Bryan Baptist Church and River Street (where they still have Trolleys that run on tracks). All I can say is I have no idea how woman back in the day used to wear that damn clothing in that heat and I also wonder how many of them face planted on the uneven cobble stones! Heaven knows I almost saw my arse a few times!
So…moving on…that night a friend of our host came around and I had my first American ‘social event’. We did hotdogs on the grill and whipped up some potent Margarita’s (don't know why but every house I went to they made Margarita's...like instead of offering you tea or coffee...they offer a Margarita...I'm not complaining though). Needless to say I soon got onto Mikes Hard Lemonade (basically Smirnoff Ice and my ‘drink of choice’ until I met 4loko…which is a whole other story). We spent the night chatting outside in the heat with a giant fan behind us doing nothing much but swirling the air…which I figured out later is a good thing because you have no idea of the amount of bugs that place has…or the Mosquito’s…mutants I tell you! What I always find interesting is how social interactions are relatively the same wherever you go. Initially when I was planning this trip I kept thinking of the possibility that I may not get on with anyone because they will be so different. American humour alone is completely different to South African and we obviously have different views on the world etc. However, it’s always refreshing to know that those facts are never an issue…we chatted about music and movies and friends and other common interests and it was great.
By midnight we decided to go to the beach. There were two great things about this. 1. It is legal to drink in public in Georgia as long as it’s in something other than the bottle (HELL YEAH) 2. Not being one of THOSE South Africans…but…it was great to take a walk on the beach at midnight without worrying or being paranoid that someone was going to mug you. Look, I know what you’re all thinking but lets be honest…none of us would do that at home as it is a dangerous thing to do…and I’m not bashing South Africa because of it…I’m just saying I haven’t done it in a very long time and it was great. (Don’t look at me like that…I LOVE MY COUNTRY!) I couldn’t believe the amount of other people who were out too. I mean I’m not saying it was packed like Plett Rage…but to see some people having a midnight swim or walking their dogs…or being drunk and rowdy like us...was nice (yes…like a cup of tea).
In the morning I felt like I was in an American sitcom…a comedy of course. You have to understand that all we did the whole time was drink…and to wake up and see this mouthwatering, traditional American Breakfast with mountains of fried eggs, crispy bacon, pancakes and waffles (which I still think is waaaaaay better utilized as a DESSERT and NOT BREAKFAST)…I thought we may have a break from it (the drinking)…but not so much. I think the first Buds had already been cracked open which made me want to move into this house, with these people, FOREVER!! The rest of the day was spent sitting outside in front of the giant fan (Stan), drinking more Mikes, and watching the kids playing in the splash pool. I was also introduced to REDNECK GOLF (which I am surprised to have not seen on ESPN…considering I did watch the National Rock, Paper, Scissors Championships when I was there…tell me about it…WTF?). Anyway, basically you have 2 golf balls on either end of a string and the goal is to throw them balls at a stand (that looks like a clothes horse on its side) and try get them to wrap around the bars…utterly RANDOM…but yet an incredible amount of fun! (Note to self: Start a Redneck Golf League in South Africa). I won’t lie, it’s also a game I am damn good at…which makes me wonder if there is a little redneck in me! After all....I did sleep with my cousin.
(Get your mind out the gutter…we shared a bed…that’s what a meant…OBVIOUSLY!)
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA:
• Savannah was Georgia’s first city
• Savannah has 21 public squares (one of them was in the scenes where Forrest Gump sits on the bench telling his story…at the bus stop)
• Savannah has one of the first Cotton Mills where cotton and slaves were traded
• Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low was born here.
• Tybee Island has the first lighthouse on the southern Atlantic coast.
• Savannah is home to the oldest black congregation in America.
• You can drink and walk in public (yes…I like this one!)
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