After living the last year in a Muslim dominated country in West Africa where shame is such a negative and powerful part of the culture, it is so odd to hear South Africans say, “oh, shame” as such a natural part of almost every conversation. I have finally discovered that “oh, shame” is similar to saying “okay” or “that’s too bad” in American culture. It is one of the weirdest adjustments I’ve had to make.
On a lighter note, when you go grocery shopping and look for strawberry jelly just make sure you buy jam because if you buy jelly you’ll end up with jello!
that's interesting because here in japan the word for jello is also "jelly" and jam is the appropriate word for what we think of as jelly.
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