TIA

TIA
: acronym which stands for "This Is Africa";
: the answer everyone gives as a lame explanation for why Eskom just cut off your electricity even though it is a different time from their online published load-shedding level schedule which you have at least planned for;
: or why the robots are all out along William Nicol/Rivonia/Sandton Drive;
: or why you haven't received mail in two months at your post office box;
: or ... as a reason for anything that happens here which - if it happened anywhere else in the world - should be explainable in some logical way.

Coincidentally, TIA also stands for "Transient Ischemic Attack" which is like a stroke ... which is pretty close to how I react now when someone gives "TIA" as a reason for anything seemingly inexplicable that happens here. I want to say, "It doesn't have to be."

But then I order a cappuccino at my local coffee shop and it arrives looking like this and I smile and say, "No, this is Africa!" TIA.