"It's true.. yes, I would like to walk, really!"
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| Norwegians hiking in the mountains |
Like the true Norwegian I am I'm used to walking. Walking to school, walking to the shops, walking to my friends houses, to town, to work, to the gym, to the pub, home from the pub. I also really enjoy hiking in the mountains. In general, walking has been a pretty big part of my life up until now.
I never really thought about how important walking is to my well-being before moving to South Africa and not being able to walk. It's not like I'm injured (apart from what has now become a tradition, the "annual" little accident with the oh-so-fragile ankle a few weeks ago). It's just that people don't really walk here. It's the safety thing of course. It's generally not a very good idea to walk around alone when it's dark. But it's not just that. The whole infrastructure and lack of city-planning has made the walking almost impossible and the dependency on cars a really important (and annoying) one.
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| even with the signature backpack..adorable... |
Wen Line and I just moved here we made a brave attempt to walk to a mall close by. It was in the middle of a Saturday morning and we were walking along the highway. No real pavements, so obviously not pedestrian friendly. But still, we felt quite safe. So we were quite surprised when cars started to pull up and ask us if we were lost and if we wanted a ride. "Why are you walking" they said, "It's dangerous". We did not get into any of the cars stopping and offering a ride (that, in our mind, would have been more dangerous), and we reached the mall after about 20 minutes of walking. When we told our colleagues about it in the office the following Monday, people were shocked, and laughed at us. "You crazy Norwegians" they said. "What is wrong with you". It did not cross any of their minds that we actually enjoyed walking.
I find walking "gaa paa tur" as we say it in Norwegian, a really good way to relax and to get some light exercise at the same time. And here in South Africa I really miss it! In the weekends I like to walk to the gym which is a 20 minutes walk from home, as I can go when it's still light. I get lot's of reactions to my walking though. The taxis (the "public transport" around here - basically just vans in really bad conditions and with way too many passengers) stop every time they see me and ask "where to ma'm?". When I then answer "No, it's fine, I'm just gonna walk" They look at me as if i had a strange disease. "Really???"
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| South Africa's public transport: the taxis |
Yesterday it was another lovely day and I decided that I just had to enjoy the sun (another north-European weirdness of mine - enjoying the sun? why?). I put on my training shoes and my ipod and went for a good old power-walk. It was lovely! Well, if you don't mind walking next to rush hour traffic and crossing heavy traffic roads without traffic lights or zebra stripes, but still, I really enjoyed it. I would have enjoyed it even more had it not been from the many people looking at me as if I was a freak and the many taxis stopping and asking where i wanted a ride to.
I know that many people in the more rural parts of South-Africa are forced to walk long distances in absence of means of transport, and that many have physically demanding jobs and needs to rest after a long day at work. But many many people spend their days sitting either in their office chair or in their cars. I would assume that people would be urging to move their legs. But no, I'm clearly seen as the weird walk-loving Norwegian girl around here. I don't really mind though, these feet are made for walking :)
