Names

My name means joyful and I try to live up to my name. I was recently given the South African name Lethabo which means joy. African names are a big deal in my family. My cousins, my little brother, my mom and uncles all have have African names. Naasir (means defender), Amira (princess), Nyatu (tiger fighter,strong), Jamilah (beautiful), and Tykari (adventurous). I think each of our names describe us in some way. If I ever had children, they would also have African names. They are so unique and beautiful. I admire my family for giving us African names even though we don’t know much about the specific origins of our African roots. Each of us have had a naming ceremony. My grandma taught me that "choosing a child’s name is a very important matter. In African societies, a person’s name is an essential element of his/her spiritual anatomy. It is thought that a child’s name can determine his/her success in life. Therefore, in recognition of its important function, a special ceremony should be held for the purpose of naming the child.”

My Mom, Grandma, And Great Grandmother At A Naming Ceremony

Baby Niani/Lethabo

P.S. I want to get a tattoo of my SA'n name with an African Elephant. I'll wait until I'm 18 but it's bound to happen. Shhhhh, don't tell my mom.

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Going Out In Joburg and Music

I love going out with my friends, or with Lucy and her friends, in Joburg. The loud music is what I love most. Braamfontein is a really lively area in town (Joburg CBD). There are really chill hang out spots, like The Bannister Hotel and  Kitcheners. The DJ’s play really dope instrumentals. Lucy and her friends think they all sound the same, but I hear the differences in each one. My favorite place in Braam is Randlords. It is a rooftop club/lounge. It has an amazing view of Johannesburg and the vibe makes you want to stay there all night long. Melrose Arch is also a cool area. It’s an outlet mall and events are often hosted there. Me and Lucy went to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week there, and they hosted a Jazz Festival dedicated to Nelson Mandela on the anniversary of his death. Greenside, Pankhurst, and Parktown are all areas near town with hipster vibes. The newest restaurants and small shops are placed in these areas. They are fast growing and newly developed neighborhoods in Joburg. The Southern Sun is a beautiful hotel with a rooftop restaurant that has an awe-striking view of Sandton. Harem and Kong are popular clubs in Rosebank.  They play awesome Nigerian music and mix it up with the newest American music. 

Before The Turn Up With My Nigerian Beauties...

In Greenside With My Friend Lindi

An Event I Was Invited To

Nigerian music to me is the dance soundtrack of Africa. The vibrancy of the music will make you dance all night long. The boisterous beats can make a person shake their body for hours on end. Nigerian artists such as Wizkid will speak Pidgin or Yoruba (which are languages I don’t understand at all) and I will still dance my butt off. Except when I am around Nigerians, their dancing puts mine to shame. You can listen to Nigerian music at any time of day and it will instantaneously boost your mood. I cannot wait to expose my family back home to this marvelous music. 

Song Recommendations:

Aye by Davido

Oleku by Ice Prince

Tchelete by Davido and Mafikizolo 

Aboki by Ice Prince

Jaiye Jaiye by Wizkid

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Fam Bam

I refer to my family here in SA, as my host family, just to distinguish them from my natural family in my posts. In all actuality, they are one in the same. Anyone who is willing to take me into their home for a year, provide food and shelter, keep me safe, and treat me as their own, is definitely my family. It’s like God/The Universe just wanted me to meet them, and connect. My host family accepted the responsibility of raising me for a year, at an age that some would say is a pretty crucial year in life. I recognize how big of a commitment and sacrifice this is, and yet, they never make me feel like a burden. One of the things I appreciate most, is their determination to give me a full South African experience, to expose me to every facet of the culture and the environment possible. They have such pride and love for their country, and they want me to love it for everything that it is, and everything that it isn't; because the areas where it is lacking, are really just opportunities. I love my host family a lot, and I love this country. I know I will be really torn when I have to leave them. South Africa is my second home, and I am already thinking of when I’ll come back. 

Me And My Family On NYE

The Best Honduran Mom A Girl Could Ask For

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Holidays

Holiday vacation is a big deal in South Africa. Most people take a month off of work. Tourist attractions close during what could be their busiest time of the year, or the time of the year that they could make the most money. The American in me wants to know why people wouldn’t want to work at a time where they could benefit financially, but the other side of me understands that people should be spending the holiday season with their families. Family is more important than a few extra bucks, but money has been the controlling factor in an American mindset forever. Things like this make me realize how much greater the quality of life is here.

My holiday was filled with the four F’s; friends, family, fun, and food. I went to an area of Soweto that I hadn't been to before, with Lucy and her friend Ngwana. We visited Ngwana’s 100 year old grandma to give her medicine and sweets. She was the friendliest lady I’ve ever met. She moved and spoke as if she wasn’t a day over 80 (and I know some pretty feisty 80 year-olds). After we visited Ngwana’s granny, we visited my liaison Mama Thoko in Jabulani, Soweto. Soweto is the most developed township I have ever been to. It brings in a lot of tourists so it has more funds than a normal township, such as Diepsloot or Alexandra. Soweto is such an interesting place to visit. I went three times over holiday.

I Feel So Welcomed Every Time I See This Sign 

 Lucy, Ngwana and I, went on a road trip to the Northwest Province. It was filled with the most beautiful scenery. South Africa is GORGEOUS! People laugh when I rave about it’s beauty and say “you haven’t even been to Cape Town yet”. (To those who have said that, I am a "Joburger" at heart (lol), not a Capetonian, but I am excited about going there.) After arriving in the Northwest Province, we went to the Sterkfontein Caves and I got to go on a tour throughout the caves. The caves were cold and wet. They had beautiful minerals and rock structures that we weren’t supposed to touch, but someone has to break the rules (that someone being me). I loved visiting the excavation site at the end of the tour. It reminded me of the Jurassic Park movies, and my little brother (who aspires to be a paleontologist). After the caves we went to Maropeng: The Cradle of Humankind; a museum that breaks down scientifically how humankind began on this continent. In the states, I feel like my science and history teachers have always tried to brush over that fact or teach me something totally different. At Maropeng, I felt there was a sense of pride with the information I gained.

I Used A Sun Dial To Tell Time

These Hats Were Cute 

So Much Beauty In One Picture ;)

Maropeng

 On the way back, beggars were handing out santa hats. Our windows were slightly cracked and a beggar pushed 3 hats into the car, even though Lucy said we didn’t need them. He told her that they were free and then insisted that she give him money. She gave him some and he wanted more. Lucy said no because he initially said that they were free. He asked for a hat back and Lucy gave him the hat. Finally, the red light changed and we left the fake free hat guy alone. 

That night we ran into a SA ‘celeb’, Lalla Hirayama a presenter on Vuzu TV, at Woolworth’s in Sandton City. My friends and I often run into African celebtrities there. It’s a mall where people with ‘higher status’ go because it is such a nice mall in an affluent area. I have seen at least 5 and only this time did I take a picture with one, because Ngwana thought I should. Sorry guys, I know it would be a great picture, but I prefer pics of the normal people, not the westernized folk. On Christmas Eve, I got a pedicure and Ngwana went home to prepare for Christmas. South Africans don’t put up Christmas decorations like we do back home. I only saw one house with a string of lights on a tree. The malls and shopping centre’s were the only places fully decorated.

Lalla and Ngwana

 Me and Lucy went to Ngwana’s house in Soweto for Christmas Lunch. We had amazing South African food and homemade ginger beer that was BOMB (I am obsessed with ginger beer). Lamb curry, chicken, tieng (which is like pap but has more of a sour taste), we had several different salads, and dessert. South Africans love custard. Custard with fruit, custard with ice cream, and custard over malva pudding (a syrup pastry). We had custard over mint brownies for dessert. After we ate, we went for a walk to walk off the calories that we had just inhaled with ease. During our walk we ran into one of Ngwana’s lifelong friends, we were invited into their home, where we ate AGAIN. This time we had pap, braaid beef, and greek salad. Sadly, we didn’t walk off our calories. 

It Was Amazing

That's Why I Had Seconds...(Lamb Curry)

Custard, Fruit, Ice-cream, Chocolate

Meat And Pap 

Kids (Kings and Queens) of Soweto

Late that evening I Facetimed with my family in Chicago and Texas. Seeing their faces made my Christmas complete and perfect.

My Dad And Brothers

My Cousin Amira 

 The day after Christmas Lucy went to China for a 10 day vacation and I went to Gary's family’s house. We went to Sun City, which is a casino, hotel, and water park. We passed Platinum Mines on the way there. It’s ironic how the miners live less than a mile away from the mines, in shanty towns. They live next to billions, but live a life in poverty. We passed the Hartbeesport Dam during our road trip to SC too. It’s beauty put me in awe for the remainder of the trip. Sun City has man made hiking trails throughout its grounds. We crossed waterfalls and lakes just to get around. There was a pool that had such a beautiful view of mountains I could’ve stayed in it until my entire body looked like a prune. 

I made banana pudding for my family on NYE. I loved ‘turning up’ with them. We went to Carnival City which is a casino/entertainment centre. We went bowling and then I walked around the casino which was not as exciting as I had imagined. We also celebrated my host dad, Gary’s,  birthday in Soweto. We ate a restaurant called Sakhumzi that I have been to once before. We went to Madiba’s house, and to the Hector Pietersen Museum, and then had refreshments because it was a HOT day (90 degrees F 32 degrees C). Before we went to Soweto, we went to church. Gary’s family attends a New Apostolic Church. The culture of the church fascinated me. We would pray three times in a row and said ‘Amen’ in unison after each prayer. It had a vibe similar to a catholic church. After the service everyone greeted the pastor. He was friendly and curious about everyone’s life. We had a full conversation, and I was close to the end of the line. There had to be at least 50 people at church that day and I was like the 45th person in line, but he still took time to engage fully. 

I had an amazing holiday break in SA. Now I am suffering from a summer cold but I’m not complaining because I could be in "Chi-Beria". ;) 

Happy New Year! 

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