It'll be our little secret

I've just come from the dentist's office. No cavities. Hurrah! One of the professionals at the office and I had the following interaction:

Me: Yes. I'm leaving in a week for South Africa.

She: Do you know where in south Africa you will be? Kenya?

Me: I'll be near Cape Town.

How do you politely tell someone South Africa is a country? 

There are worlds about southern Africa I know nothing about. (Confession: I once asked if I should take items to barter in place of cash to one of the African countries I was about to visit. At the time, I had access to really nice coffee and flip flops. Turns out not only did this country have its own coffee and flip flops, but they had cash and skyscrapers and their own questions about my country and how people like me can find our way out of a paper bag.) Borders in all of Africa are often changing, although the lower bit is mostly decided. However, with the Olympics coming up and our generally, how shall I say, vague understanding of The Rest of The World, I want people to know to watch for South Africans, who are different from Malawians, who are different from Namibians, who are different from Kenyans and Congolese. South Carolina is a state, while south of Chicago and in the The South. I asked my mom how I should have told my health professional that South Africa is a country. She said, "Nicely." Well. Having said nothing during this morning's opportunity, I'm gently saying now, "South Africa is a country." If you didn't know, I'll never tell. Also, please don't ask me if it's Burma or Myanmar because I'm not sure.