Chapter 11
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Sarajan
10 November 2014 | Zuid-Afrika, Bloemfontein
"We party and the Norwegians go nuts!"
As I could have predicted party night turned into a crazy night! I had not expected to be witness to some of the scenes though. Ok, where to begin?
Yes. Andreas (Ade) was already drunk and the most of the others were already well underway, prior to our departure, due to a drinking game they had played before we left. The craziness already started in the bus. Everybody was rowdy so it was only upon our arrival I was made aware that there had been a marriage ceremony at the back of the van (I was sitting in front). Johanna had blessed the bonds of holy matrimony between Ade and Marie.
When we reached the bar Damien gave me 100 South African rand to buy drinks (later on he would say he had no recollection of that) for Jamie-Lee, me and the others and everybody else was already ‘very happy’ excepting Tormod.
So yep, it was going to be a very entertaining yet tiresome evening. We reached the pub at 21.00 and before the clock struck 22.00 Ade already finished 10 Jagerbombs and was sad and depressed because he had kissed his ‘wife’ Marie and was convinced he scared her and she didn’t want him. So he drank more, tried breaking concrete pool … with his fists and according to him smashed bottles with his head. At long last Tormod and I managed to convince him to talk things over to “not make things weird”. I think Jamie (who compared to the others stayed sober as well) spoke to Marie to get her to help in ‘handling’ Ade. Whatever the case, we tried to use subtlety and tact to keep alcoholic drinks away from him by using sleight of hand to exchange glasses with alcohol with non-alcoholic ones, getting the bartenders to do the same. We ‘tricked’ him into drinking water and occasionally escorted him to the bathroom to make sure he would not fall over. This was only part of the tasks of “team sober”, consisting of Jamie-Lee, Tormod, Timothy, Marie and me.
Of course we had to keep an eye on the girls to make sure none of the local boys would carry them off. Since Martina (mermaid), Thrine and Mari kept moving around taking care of Ade as well simultaneously became a challenge. The fact that Damiën tried to stay to close Mari didn’t help a lot as he was drunk as well and kept losing track of her as well. I had hoped that the ‘grownups’ would be helpful in keeping things in check. Janne and Johanna however got drunk too! But… they were still responsible! I was amazed by the fact that, despite the fact that he was drunk, Janne still attempted to keep track of people and made the right choices for the group. When I had decided that most people had already drunk more than enough and that we needed a pick up I went to Janne to arrange it and it turned out he had already sent a message. The respect I had for him only increased after this experience.
So far it seems it was an arduous night, right? Well in spite of all the checking I still had a great time. It was loads of fun to watch their strange antics and the dancing was great. I also found out that the group only consisted of ‘happy drunks’. It was the Norwegians who one and all told me how much they liked me and appreciated my teachings concerning the meat-cutting, division, etc. Especially Thrine and Ade were very kind. The reason for their aloofness was apparently Hector who had been badmouthing about Jamie-Lee, Damiën and me behind our backs (in Norwegian). I got lots of confessions, hugs, kisses and invitations to come to Norway (for Mari’s and Mermaid’s birthdays). I also got compliments about my sense of responsibility (also from the Finnish people), truthfulness to myself and my singing. Janne and Johanna had nothing but praise for me as well and I was also invited to come to Finland and even to Lapland by Jaana who had enjoyed some nice couples dancing.
The night of responsibilities however did not end in the club though. When we got home to the volunteer house I had to stow away any (partially) filled bottles with alcohol to stop any alcohol intake. I also had to stow away the empty bottles to prevent the shattering of bottles into shards that could damage the feet of anyone less aware. The final tasks were to replace cups with alcoholic content with those containing water and to get the still rowdy people to bed which was the most difficult task. I succeeded eventually though and I’ve got to say that I think I did a good job.
Well that’s partying with Norwegian and Finnish (maybe I should say Scandinavian) people for you. As I was writing this I was contemplating the nearing end of my time at Zanchieta. I knew I was going to miss the place, the wonderful people I have met and of course the animals a lot. It saddened me a bit that I would have to leave them soon. But I’ll always have the memories.
As I could have predicted party night turned into a crazy night! I had not expected to be witness to some of the scenes though. Ok, where to begin?
Yes. Andreas (Ade) was already drunk and the most of the others were already well underway, prior to our departure, due to a drinking game they had played before we left. The craziness already started in the bus. Everybody was rowdy so it was only upon our arrival I was made aware that there had been a marriage ceremony at the back of the van (I was sitting in front). Johanna had blessed the bonds of holy matrimony between Ade and Marie.
When we reached the bar Damien gave me 100 South African rand to buy drinks (later on he would say he had no recollection of that) for Jamie-Lee, me and the others and everybody else was already ‘very happy’ excepting Tormod.
So yep, it was going to be a very entertaining yet tiresome evening. We reached the pub at 21.00 and before the clock struck 22.00 Ade already finished 10 Jagerbombs and was sad and depressed because he had kissed his ‘wife’ Marie and was convinced he scared her and she didn’t want him. So he drank more, tried breaking concrete pool … with his fists and according to him smashed bottles with his head. At long last Tormod and I managed to convince him to talk things over to “not make things weird”. I think Jamie (who compared to the others stayed sober as well) spoke to Marie to get her to help in ‘handling’ Ade. Whatever the case, we tried to use subtlety and tact to keep alcoholic drinks away from him by using sleight of hand to exchange glasses with alcohol with non-alcoholic ones, getting the bartenders to do the same. We ‘tricked’ him into drinking water and occasionally escorted him to the bathroom to make sure he would not fall over. This was only part of the tasks of “team sober”, consisting of Jamie-Lee, Tormod, Timothy, Marie and me.
Of course we had to keep an eye on the girls to make sure none of the local boys would carry them off. Since Martina (mermaid), Thrine and Mari kept moving around taking care of Ade as well simultaneously became a challenge. The fact that Damiën tried to stay to close Mari didn’t help a lot as he was drunk as well and kept losing track of her as well. I had hoped that the ‘grownups’ would be helpful in keeping things in check. Janne and Johanna however got drunk too! But… they were still responsible! I was amazed by the fact that, despite the fact that he was drunk, Janne still attempted to keep track of people and made the right choices for the group. When I had decided that most people had already drunk more than enough and that we needed a pick up I went to Janne to arrange it and it turned out he had already sent a message. The respect I had for him only increased after this experience.
So far it seems it was an arduous night, right? Well in spite of all the checking I still had a great time. It was loads of fun to watch their strange antics and the dancing was great. I also found out that the group only consisted of ‘happy drunks’. It was the Norwegians who one and all told me how much they liked me and appreciated my teachings concerning the meat-cutting, division, etc. Especially Thrine and Ade were very kind. The reason for their aloofness was apparently Hector who had been badmouthing about Jamie-Lee, Damiën and me behind our backs (in Norwegian). I got lots of confessions, hugs, kisses and invitations to come to Norway (for Mari’s and Mermaid’s birthdays). I also got compliments about my sense of responsibility (also from the Finnish people), truthfulness to myself and my singing. Janne and Johanna had nothing but praise for me as well and I was also invited to come to Finland and even to Lapland by Jaana who had enjoyed some nice couples dancing.
The night of responsibilities however did not end in the club though. When we got home to the volunteer house I had to stow away any (partially) filled bottles with alcohol to stop any alcohol intake. I also had to stow away the empty bottles to prevent the shattering of bottles into shards that could damage the feet of anyone less aware. The final tasks were to replace cups with alcoholic content with those containing water and to get the still rowdy people to bed which was the most difficult task. I succeeded eventually though and I’ve got to say that I think I did a good job.
Well that’s partying with Norwegian and Finnish (maybe I should say Scandinavian) people for you. As I was writing this I was contemplating the nearing end of my time at Zanchieta. I knew I was going to miss the place, the wonderful people I have met and of course the animals a lot. It saddened me a bit that I would have to leave them soon. But I’ll always have the memories.
Reageer op dit reisverslag
Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
