Andrew McDonald
Sep 9, 2018 · 2 min read

A Journey Just Begun, step 2

It’s the ‘Sunday blues’ music of Carte blanche that makes us dread that Monday morning alarm. I’ve come to release that an alarm is a lot like a shot of tequila. If you fired up and keen for it, it goes down like coffee and hangover. If you not keen, it goes down like Mrs Matthews armpits (read Standard 8 Afrikaans teacher).

While waiting for my Vida coffee yesterday morning, I wondered what made some people infinitely more happy than others? Does the Vida Cafe barrister smile at me because he knows my mood has closely related to the strength of his Latte?

Yesterday’s coffee reminded me of the first time Bright and I went to a restaurant. Only a ‘Malungu’ would feel the pressure of choosing a restaurant which isn’t too posh, but perfectly casual for a first mentorship chat.

Rocco Mamma’s in Fourways ‘Boet’ seemed like the perfect fit for a teenager and mid something 30-year-old to exchange pleasantries. (Disclaimer………….these days, every time you say the word ‘Fourways’ you have to back it up with ‘Fourways Boet’ or ‘Fourways EFC’ courtesy of the guys who started Billy The Bums).

How hard can it be for a guy who's never been to a restaurant to select all the ingredients for his own meal?

As Bright scans the menu of exotic menu items he asks me,

‘What is Guacamole?’

I say

‘its mashed avocado but in a posh form’

Bright replies

‘did they not have space for the words mashed avocado on the menu?

I’ve started to see why KFC bundles their menu’s into different versions of a ‘Street Wise 1, 2 or 3’ and that’s because pictures of food don’t need fancy words for things like avocado.

Taking advantage of my free lunch gesture, Bright orders the double smash burger with bacon, cheddar, ‘posh avocado’, mushrooms, fresh chilli, an egg and smoked mayo. I start to wonder how I’m going to explain ‘Smoked Mayo’. My embarrassment is saved as Bright gets distracted by our neighbours chocolate milkshake served in a Mason Jar fit for Instagram fame.

After a few awkward knife and fork gestures, I start some light conversation about watching series, to which Bright tells me he loves watching Nollywood movies. My Bryanston brain wonders what on earth there is to like about a Nigerian movie with subtitles. I’ve later come to realize that, brain stimulation is a product of what you subject it to. What’s perfectly normal for you, could be unacceptable for the person sitting next to.

A year later, we’ve changed from Rocco Mama’s to Nando’s. Bright still doesn’t get Guacamole while I never watch a Nigerian Movies but we cool with our differences.