Government Bread: White rectangular loaf bread in plastic bag; sliced to about 1.5 cm thickness; ridiculously cheap, bland and most un-nutritious.
I came across this term tonight while dining out with some Afrikaan friends in Hout Bay. It is apparently beyond rude to offer "government bread" to anyone, especially at a restaurant, which is exactly what happened to one of my friends when, dining in a posh eating establishment, they had run out of rolls for her ostrich burger. She was beyond horrified.
Up until tonight, i was under the impression that SA service and hospitality was top-notch, food was served with a smile and within reasonable time.
Oh, but not tonight.
We arrived at the restaurant, just a 2 minute drive from home, at 5:45pm, famished and ready to try one of their famous oven-baked pizzas.
FOUR HOURS LATER, we were still sitting there without much more than a glass of red wine in front of us. Thinking back, i can't believe we didn't walk out. At least we had lots to talk about (when 5 females get together on any occasion, that tends to happen) and i suppose if it weren't for the ridiculously unforgiveable service (the food - when it did eventually come - was half decent), i would have never learned my new word of the day.
More South African words which I have adopted quite fluently into my vocabulary...
Shame: pronounced "Shhaaaame!" - common expression used to denote pity or sympathy towards a person who has had to endure a horrendous/meaningless/boring episode in their day.
Hectic: to be busy; to describe something or someone as busy, "I've had just an absolutely hectic day, i've been running nonstop from here and there!"; to describe something as busy-looking, "That lounge suite is too hectic, there are too many colours and patterns."
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