The vuvuzelas have taken over South Africa. I'm sure by now, you've seen a World Cup match or two on the tv, and you must have noticed the incessant drone of background noise accompanying the matches............. I'd like to introduce you to the "vuvuzela." What seems like a harmless, albeit annoying mosquito squadron on tv, actually sounds like an elephant in real life. Although the plastic horn is only 1m in length, it has an impressive volume of 127 decibels and has been associated with permanent hearing loss. The vuvuzelas are sold at almost every store across the country, whether it's a gas station, grocery store, or flower shop and in return, are purchased by every citizen, whether they are 5 years old or 70. The homeless men who sleep in the taxi rink (conveniently down the street from our house) are extremely fond of them and seem to spend every waking moment, and especially the "non-waking" hours......blowing the vuvuzelas. To welcome in the era of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, I have purchased an extra-large container of Excedrin headache medicine.
