America. Again.
Today was a day of many many firsts. Today I played drums for the first time in almost four months. This means I endured frustration with how my muscles struggled to play what my brain was thinking, and obtained at least one blister. SO much fun and SO frustrating. Tomorrow this continues.. and I'm so stoked to see what will happen to my playing when I get to play drums every day. I haven't been able to do that since 2004.. 7 years ago. Crazy! Appreciate your practice space, people.
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Today I drove an automatic car for the first time. On the wrong side of the road. On a freeway. While jet-lagged. Freakin CRAZY nerve-wrecking.. but such a surreal experience. Nothing can quite prepare you for driving on the wrong side of the road like, well, driving on the wrong side of the road. That little inner voice just kept screaming "RIGHT SIDE! RIGHT SIDE! RIGHT SIDE!" and sometimes it turned into a very audible real-person voice that was mine. Luckily I was alone in the car.
Today I did grocery shopping in America for the first time. I've heard many stories, seen many movies, but nothing could prepare me for walking through the cereal section and not seeing ONE brand name I recognized. Also.. too many choices. Ridiculous. I settled on "Honey Comb" (because I like honey and because the price was right).
Something strange happened while I did the shopping. I was totally out of my comfort zone, searching for bread and cheese and ham and orange juice between brand names that ALL seem 100% new to me. That's a weird feeling; surrounded by nothing familiar, in a different country, alone. But paying for my food in a different currency, then walking to a left-hand drive car, to drive on the other side of the road to my hotel room.. I found this cool sense of peace. I don't mean to sound melodramatic, but it really felt like "it will be OK". I feel at home here.
I'm sure many people are wondering why the flip I am here and for how long, but we'll get to that a bit later on :)
Thank YOU, reading this, for making all this possible.
Much love.
Cobus
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Please come to Australia!!!!!!!!!!
great blog man! But what are you doing in LA? Get your arse up to Canada! The weather is GREAT! seriously, for the last 7 days it has been 30 degrees Celsius (88-92 Fahrenheit).
and if you ever need help figuring out which brands are the best, give me a shout. you will be lost no more :P
-Mason
Driving on the left side of the car makes a million times more sense because that way you can shift with your right hand (most people are right handed) and if you sit on the left side of your car then you need to drive on the right side of the road. Therefore you were driving on the correct side of the road :)
You know…i’ve been in America too like 2 years ago and i stayed there for 3 months working.belive me you get used to. and actualy you find a lot of good things there. When you will go home you will realize that actualy those wierd things are aswome and the same things at home suck! don’t try to by more organic food(i know it’s healthy) if wanna save some money. the diference between organic and the others is huge! and pleaseeeee tell us why are you in america!!! i going crazy!!!
Much love for Romania,
Alex! :)
I REALLY REALLY hope its an audition for a band… xD
Awesome news, Cobus! Glad to hear you are doing well. Don’t worry, driving “correctly” will become second nature to you soon enough. ;)
Sweet! That Hillshire Farms, Smoked Ham I believe doesn’t last me a day; I chug it in one sitting! hahaa
One more thing, I know that groceries over here in the states might be cheaper than those in South Africa, but you have to take it kind of easy too. You don’t want to get carried away.
can’t wait to find out why you’re in LA again, although i do have a few guesses up my sleeve ;) enjoy your time whatever happens! :D
Looks like a successful shopping trip, congrats! The road thing sounds terrifying… I’ve visited India a million times but would NEVER drive over there. Manual-driving on the left side-sitting on the right- no way jose. But I’m glad you’re enjoying your American experience thus far and hope it continues! Also, you play like a boss.
Honeycomb FTW! I highly recommend Golden Grahams! And welcome back to the States. I’m a guitar player, not a drummer, but it would be insane to go 4 months without steady play! Rock on, have fun in LA, and we all know that God Will Provide ^^
-PJ
Hi Cobus, sounds like you are going to be there a while, what with haveing to buy groseries and all. You seemed to have crawled into everyones hearts, so everything you do means a lot to us, and somehow we wish we could be there for you. I think by now you know that your fans would help you in anyway we can,so we do expect you to ask for our help,if you need it.
COME TO SPAIN ,COME TO MADRID!!
Ur blogs are SO much fun to read!! First, u’re real good at writing, Second, u’re SO FUNNY!!!! OH well, no point persisting why ur in America then, huh? unless, UR AUDITIONING FOR PARAMORE!!! *gleeeeee* dat wud be awesome!! well, whatever ur doin there, hav fun, playing drums n gettin blisters!! Laytah cobus!
So it seems as though you’ll be in LA for a while? This is what I’m picking up on? If that’s the case, I’m glad you feel as though things will turn out okay, I’m sure that whatever you’re doing there will be awesome and you’ll feel like it’s your second home there in no time. If that’s the case.
Otherwise, about the drum thing, the whole practicing every day will turn you into a “flipping” master drummer, well… there’s really only one thing to say to that and it involves major fan girly ness:
ZOMG OMG OMG OMG OMG IM SOOOOOOO EXCITED *HYPERVENTILATIONS*
So… yeah.
Glad to see things are going well brother. You are a very talented musician, and God smiles that you are doing it for him! I too am in a Christian Band, AngeLight but we’re from pittsburgh. Check us out if you’d like. we actually are needing a new drummer ;)
So wished you lived near me… i have drum space available ;)
Hope you’re having fun in LA! If I was closer I’d love to meet you, but maybe sometime in the future :]
Hey cobus,
I think its awesome how you are in LA and I’m actually in the same area. I know it might be difficult being from a different country and everything, so let me know if you ever need some help with culture shock or what not. I drum a lot too (or at least used to) and I would love to jam with you and learn from you. I know its pretty low-key how you do things for God, but I’m glad that you are where you are now. Everything happens for a reason….and i love the phrase Laus Deo Semper.
Glad you hear you arrived safe and sound! Enjoy the WHOLE experience Cobus.