What I Hate about the American Education System

I always envied my peers in the U.S., who went to schools in urban/diverse or predominately black areas in Chicagoland, who had the opportunity to take African American History and African American Literature as a courses in high school. While I was stuck in white suburbia, taking World History, American History, American Lit and British Lit; these courses included less than one class period to attempt to summarize contributions African Americans to the  history of America and the world. Kids in Chicago got to learn about black people who contributed to the history of America all year long. After more than 300 years of enslavement on the American continent, but less than an hour of time in class. Hundreds of black inventors contributed to the American economy and its global status, yet I have never learned about one in class. Every year we had the same discussion on World War 1 and World War 2. We learned about Rockefeller and John Locke but never hear the names Benjamin Montgomery or Inez Beverly Prosser.

My cousin who attends a private school in the Chicagoland area sent me a text saying 'So my world history teacher decided it would be fun to play a game she made called "Scramble for Africa" where we were Europeans trying to colonize and take as much of Africa's natural resources as we could without going to war because that would be inconvenient'

I asked her why the teacher made a mockery of actual events that harmed millions of people over hundreds of years, and continues today?

She said, 'I'm not sure, but I told her it was extremely racially insensitive to make a game of something that was horrifying and actually happened. I stressed that I learned nothing from it." The teacher defended it by saying, her lesson was "for us to see it from Europeans POV & realize it wasn't personal or based off of racism, but simply business." My cousin and I agreed the explanation was absolute crap, and she would still like an explanation from her as to why she couldn't have taught that without having them play a game like that. In comparison, if she were teaching the holocaust (which is "world history") I'm sure she wouldn't have students pretend to be Germans, plotting how to steal and murder as many Jews as we could without starting war!

Lessons like this teacher tried to teach, in this manner, are being taught to students across America DAILY. I’m sure most students participate in this because they are under the authority of their teachers.
This is why oppression of black people globally continues to happen. We are taught in school that the oppression of people of color is business and that it's not personal. I have learned from experience outside of the school environment that this is complete BULL! It's a blessing and curse that black people are from the richest land on earth; it would be nice if we could call this land our own again, and be the ones to reap the benefits of what our land has to offer.

Without the knowledge about African American history from my family I would think that America was built at the hands of a white man. When in actuality, all he did was write the rules that led to the oppression of my people, who in fact built America with their bare hands.

Attending a Cambridge high school has challenged me in ways that the two high schools I attended in Chicago never could. At times, I feel like I am at least two steps behind my classmates. At school back home it was easy to get away with not studying and still get good grades (not saying that's what I did, but I know some folks who did). Here, everything we learn is for a big exam we take at the end of the school year. We don’t get a final grade if we don’t take these exams. Your mission here is to pass! My friends are always talking about passing where back home that was never a concern for me. I always knew I would pass and I don’t think my peers worried either.

The American education system has failed me and my race in many ways. The only way I was able to overcome the systematic failures, was by the education I received at home, and from my family, and ultimately moving out of the country for school. I know that we need to try to improve the American education system. We are known as the greatest superpower nation in the world, but our education system is failing us.

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Sharing Is Caring

Back home, sharing is not a common trait. At school, people would fight if someone took food out of their hands or off of their plate. Here, everyone at school shares. If you are ordering food, it better be for everyone or you will be classified as a selfish human being, and people probably won’t want to hang around you. My friends and I switch off days where we buy each other food. If we order pizza, the person who paid gets the last slice. It’s like an unwritten rule. You share, you just do it. You don’t hold a tab either, of the things you’ve bought for others. My friends (who are from different countries in Africa) told me that if you go home with food for only yourself and there are other people at home, that you cannot eat it. You have to wait for them to leave, or share with everyone.

Another thing my friends don’t get, is my (very American) sarcastic humor. We (Americans) say the rudest things to each other and call it an 'odd sense of affection.’ The sad part is, that I can’t seem to get rid of my Americanness. I even find it refreshing, at times, to be around other Americans because they get my humor. I try to contain it around my non-American friends here. When I say something that I think is funny, I’m either the only one laughing or I unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings. I often wonder why we, as Americans, are so violent and abrasive with ourselves and each other, in the name of amusement. 

From the outside looking in, America looks like a very selfish country to me. We don’t share like we should, we are often rude and inconsiderate. We have a self centered mentality that every other country see’s but that we choose to ignore. We view ourselves as individuals, with all the entitlements that come with individuality. Most non-Americans, and particularly Africans, see themselves as part of a greater whole. This allows them to be more gentle and considerate with each other. 

I like this concept of sharing. It is an aspect of Ubuntu, 'I am because we are'. It makes self-centeredness seem really silly and counterproductive. I also feel like using true words of affection makes the message “I care about you,” much clearer. 

It takes a lot less energy to make people smile, than it does to make them cry...and when you share joy, you get all that 

energy back! 

Look, Americans Sharing

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Words

A true adventurer adapts to the language of their newly found people. 

As I write school assignments, I am constantly reminding myself to spell organize with an 's' and behavior with a 'u'. As I write this post, I spell those words with the British-English spelling and I get the red underline, reminding me that my audience is based mainly in the USA. A friend of mine has the song 'Worst Behavior' by Drake saved in his phone as 'Worst Behaviour'. I find it quite amusing. My friends tease me at school about the way I write things and how I pronounce certain words. I have pretty much adjusted to the way they speak. I wanted to share some of the words and phrases I hear daily.

Words that have British Influence and/or are South African Made:

Eish - Wow or That Sucks
Yo- Used when someone is surprised or shocked
Yebo - Yes
Sharp - Okay or I'm Good
Keen- Up for (as in"are you keen to going to the store?")
Queue - Line (as in "I am waiting in the queue at the store")
Must - Used in place of 'have to' which seems normal but it is used a lot more than in the U.S.
Borrow me your pencil - Can I borrow your pencil? (I used to think of this statement as rude but I find myself using it now.)
Lit - Crazy
Brew - Bro, Brother
How's it? - How's it going?
Airtime - So in SA most people don't have contracts on their phones, and if they do they usually end up exceeding the monthly amount. Airtime is purchased in minutes that can be converted into data. You can purchase airtime nearly anywhere. You get a receipt with a code that you plug into your phone, and voila, you can make calls, send Whatsapp message, and buy data. The concept of airtime was very hard for me grasp when I got here. Airtime is expensive, so you will frequently hear the question 'do you have airtime?'.
Bum- Used in place of 'butt'
No ways - 'No way' in plural form
Finished - Example sentence: 'He was finished.' Translation: he was drunk
Ma boy - Are you serious?

Awe - Pronounced 'aweh' and meaning 'Get outta here' and can be used as a greeting
Clever - Instead of describing a student as smart. Here, the word 'smart' describes  he way a person dresses 

Neh?- Right (as in 'You did the homework, neh?')
Robot - Traffic Light
Is it? - Isn't It
Lekker - Nice in Afrikaans
Sir/ma'am - At my school, we address most of our teachers by their first names, and if we don't use their first name, we say 'sir' or 'ma'am'. I don't know most of my teachers names because I have been using sir and ma'am so much.
Queries - Questions 

Usale kahle (Goodbye in Zulu)

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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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Let's Break Stereotypes

I am beginning to think that the best way to combat stereotypes, is by laughing at them. Stereotypes will always exist, so I try not to be so offended by them. I have seen so many flaws, and so much harm, in stereotypes, that laughter has become my best medicine.

The term “packed like Mexicans”, which is commonly used in the States, could easily be turned into “packed like Africans”.

African people will put 30 people on a 16 seater taxi, and they will stand on a bucky (small pick up truck) to make sure everyone fits. I don’t know if I should view this as foolish or kind. People have died because of the way they arrange themselves in vehicles, but it also allows everyone to get from point A to point B without making several trips, which saves petrol money. Necessity makes you do things that may not be viewed as safe, smart, or ideal...but sometimes there is no viable alternative. I'm learning not to judge.

One of the American stereotypes that is considered offensive, is that black people LOVE chicken. I am going to venture to say that this is generally quite true! I think it is inherited from our ancestors. Black people here love chicken, and I do too. Again, it makes me laugh to think that people use this as an insult; are Italians offended if we say they love pasta? 

I have yet to see an Asian woman doing nails in South Africa. I only had my nails done by a black person once in the States. I guess it really depends on where you are in the world with this one! 

Pedro is not going to be your gardner here; he will be Thabo,  the black South African that travels from a township everyday just to serve you. Your busboy won’t be Juan, he will be Remember (Black South Africans have a thing about naming their children odd English names that translate into really pretty African names). Maybe the stereotype I should believe is that people just love to stereotype other cultures...it must make them feel better about themselves.

Africa is not a nature reserve; Africa HAS nature reserves. I am not afraid that a lion will come in my backyard at night, or that a giraffe will be eating the leaves off of the palm trees when I leave for school in the morning. Americans have a certain perspective of ‘Africa’ that is not realistic. Africa is a continent and it is HUGE; bigger than any small minded American could possibly imagine. 

My favorite stereotype: Ebola in Africa!

People in the States often ask my mother "aren’t you worried about Niani?”. I’m sure she is more concerned about the well being of herself and my family in America, because it is not even in the country I am living in. Ebola is nearly 4,000 miles (6,437.376 Kilometers) away from where I live in South Africa. Yet there have been cases roughly 700 miles (about 1,126 km) from my family in Chicago. So no, my mom is not concerned about me catching Ebola. To my family and friends in the States, be careful because Ebola has reached much closer to you, than to me. (LBVS)

Africa is the world’s most mineral rich continent. Like for real, its soil has diamonds and gold underneath it. So no, Africa is not just the poor black children with flies around them like we see in commercials in the States. I’ve never seen so many Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches, in my life. BMWs, Range Rovers, and Mercedes Benz are the NORM in cities in South Africa. These cars are mostly owned by prominent black people here.

Yes, Africa also has some of the poorest people, of any continent on Earth, but as I stated in a previous blog post, our idea of what that looks like is somewhat skewed. Americans find it hard to imagine, but many people are content with their lives in villages. Westernized standards are not what everyone dreams of. 

African people are rich in many other ways. Money is not everything. They are rich in ancestry and tradition. The closest most Americans get to seeing what that means, is in the Lion King; it shows that aspect of Africa, but I never really noticed it until now. They had a traditional ceremony when Simba was born, and Mufasa explains to Simba that the kings before him will always be there to guide him. This is not a belief that is instilled in black children in America. I’m grateful that I have a family that does as much as they can to teach me, my siblings, and cousins about the African traditions that they know about; it has given me an advantage in the world. I believe that African mothers are the most loving mothers on the planet. They might not have many material things to offer their children, but they show them an abundance of love and I am sure their children are fully aware of their mothers' love and care. I come from that type of love, and it is so eye opening for me to see where that comes from ancestrally. 

Less stereotypes...more love!

google.co.za

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The Journey Of The Doritos Bag

 

December 20th marked my 100th day in South Africa,  and it was one of my best days yet. Lucy and I met up with a friend, Busisiwe (aka Busi), from the Teddy Bear Clinic, in Johannesburg’s CBD (aka ‘town’). Busi brought a bag of Doritos to snack on as we went on an adventure, but we never ate them, the bag just traveled with us. Town is beautiful from afar...from the highway you can see the Nelson Mandela Bridge and the Telecom Tower, and it looks lovely. In a small section of town there’s Maboneng, aka Arts on Main (a really artsy part of town with restaurants, art galleries). It is a really chill area that has a lot of security (so it is populated by all races, not just black people). In South Africa areas with more security tend to be more diverse ethnically, and socioeconomically. Once you are inside town, and outside Maboneng, its image becomes blurred. There are beautiful old buildings with flawless architecture, but they are being destroyed because the people that live in them never do any maintenance or work on refurbishing them, so the buildings fall apart. As you walk through town, you go through an array of smells. You smell fish and chips, meat and corn cooking on small grills, all mixed with the smell of hardship and human feces.

The Well Traveled Doritos Bag

Busisiwe Means Blessing (which she is!) 

Town is very congested. It is filled with black people from all countries in Africa; there is the occasional Indian man selling a ‘gold’ watch or ‘designer’ bag, and you might run into a white person but the only one we saw was on drugs. My host mom, Lucy, stuck out like a sore thumb (she’s a very fair skinned Hispanic woman). She was a high focal point in the crowd.

We went into a mall to meet up with Busi and it was PACKED. It took us at least 10 minutes to get up each escalator. We assumed that everyone was Christmas shopping, but I didn’t see a lot of bags. Malls are also used as a quicker passage to get from one street to another because they are very large and cover several blocks. When we left the mall to grab some Chickin Licken we saw a guy in handcuffs surrounded by people. Busi told us that he stole a grocery bag from a lady and that he was getting punished. She said he would likely be beaten to death by the community. Lucy stated that if he had stole something else it would’ve been his fault, but the fact that he stole food means that it is the communities fault. I believe that is true in some cases, but if everyone in the community is struggling for food, it becomes less black and white. Fighting for survival, and struggling to meet the most basic needs, can make a person do desperate things; the thought is quite heartbreaking. 

Joburg CBD google.co.za

What I really appreciate about town is that everyone there is hustling. You can buy anything in town for the ‘low’. Lucy and I got the cutest wooden earrings for 15 Rand (about $1.50). People in Town have perfected the art of hustling: from Take 5’s (flavored ice) to ‘Converse’, they sell it all. I admire their consistent grind. 

Me: Can I take your picture?
(that's a Take 5 it cost R2)

We walked for about 30 minutes with our Chicken Licken and the Doritos bag until we finally reached the MTN (phone company that bought the lot) Taxi Bank, which is a really large place where most taxis gather. The banks usually smell really bad because people live in and around them. There are several different types of taxis: Quantum, Super 16, ikharakhara, and ikhumbi, are most commonly known. The differences I see are some have white with a yellow line across them, which I think are owned by one company, and others are just like normal vans but in many different colors. I have seen pink, yellow, red, and blue taxis. As we waited for the right taxi, the taxi ‘coordinator’ (a guy who has 2 phones and knows when each taxi will arrive and which one is going where) talked to Lucy in Zulu. At first he said “Sawubona, Unjani?” (hello, how are you?) she replied “good, you?” He jokingly continued to speak in Zulu, and then Busi translated for us. He asked where she was from and was very fascinated by her because of her whitish skin. Busi said people will refer to Lucy as Umulungu because of her skin and me as Americanah, once they find out where I’m from. Once we got into the taxi, we noticed it had a really decked out stereo system, but didn’t have a back window. This was actually nice because it was a 90 degree day (32 degrees celsius) and we were in a full taxi (16 people), traveling 45 minutes to a township called Kathlehong in Mailula. The taxi driver played really lively music that I jammed to during the entire ride.

Lucy And Her Take 5

 We passed people holding live chickens, people selling live goats and sheep, and women getting their hair braided on the side of the street. When we got to the township we visited a couple of Busi’s friends. I have only seen outhouses at camp grounds in America, but in the township they were behind, or in front of, almost every home. We walked about a mile and half (2.4 km) on the red dirt roads with no street signs until we got to Busi’s friend's house, where we sat and finally ate our Chicken Licken. The cutest kids ran around chasing each other and speaking Zulu. I could only communicate with one, because the others were just starting to learn English. When I first got there, the kids were eating pap. I haven’t had it in such a long time I kind of wanted to ask for some but I ate my chicken and chips (fries) instead. The Doritos bag looked like it was suffering in the heat. The bag that was once perfectly straight was crinkled and sweating. There was a baby (couldn’t have been more than a year old) drinking water out of a normal cup like a grown man. I feel like at that age if it wasn’t a bottle or sippy cup I would not have been able to function, but he handled it like a champ, and I was highly impressed. 

Coolest Kids In Kathlehong

Busi's friend was braiding her friend's hair right outside of her house, so we sat with them and had an enlightening conversation. Busi and her friend were discussing how they are frustrated because they both went to University and neither of them can find jobs. Busi’s friend said that she went to school to work in public relations but now she needs a PR license, which she doesn’t have money for right now. So she wants to find a job (even if she is overly qualified for it) just to afford to get her license, with hopes that she will find a job in PR. I find this to be really sad and unfortunate, because I see it weighing on their hope. There are no corporate jobs in a township, so they would have to travel at least 45 minutes into town, to work. A lot of jobs wouldn’t be worth the trip because of the low pay and the transportation costs. They both were volunteers at The Teddy Bear Clinic and they think that NGOs (Non governmental organizations or nonprofits) are dying in SA because of the lack of funds/funding from the government. I think that NGOs should be a bigger priority to the government, as they serve the communities directly. We also discussed the lack of dreamers in townships. Busi said that people in townships can’t dream big, by force. I understand what she means, because most townships are far from the cities and some people don’t have the money for petrol or taxi fare. It makes it hard to see yourself living in a way, or achieving anything more than what exists in the township. Her friend said that everyone has a dream, and Busi thinks their dreams are limited because they live in a township. Busi feels their situation limits their potential. Lucy added that it is generally easier to be negative during a dark moment in life. It is harder to try to be positive when all you’ve known is the negative. You become comfortable with that lifestyle. 

When we left, we walked through a big field with a red dirt plain that is most likely used to play soccer. People were constantly trying to get Lucy’s attention. They would yell out things like “I love you” and “you make the world brighter," in Zulu. People even asked if they could walk with us. One guy shouted “yellow bone”, referring to me. Most of the older people were really fascinated by Lucy, but little kids would run from her. They are not around white people while they are little, so they were more afraid. They go to school and go home in 100% black communities. 

I Feel Like The Sky Here Is Bigger 

I loved how chill Kathlehong was…there wasn’t a lot of noise, I felt safe, and it made me feel even more grateful for my journey in the motherland. 

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Developing Countries are Cool Too!

One of the first things I noticed upon my arrival was the very advanced architecture. It is beautiful. I must admit, I do miss the skyscrapers in downtown Chi, but I also appreciate the more modern buildings here. There are also older buildings with more of a European style. When I lived in Pretoria, I would go hang out with friends in an area called Church Square. Pretoria is the capitol of South Africa and has a lot of government buildings, including the well known Union Buildings. They are architecturally designed with European influence. In Johannesburg, buildings look very futuristic. I had never seen anything like them until I came here. In America, we have had skyscrapers since the 1880's (the first one being built in Chicago). With that being said, we don’t have the more modern architecture that I have come to admire. In the older parts of Joburg, like the CBD, the exterior of most of the buildings aren’t a pretty sight, but the inside of some of the buildings are beautiful and have a great view of the city. People move into those buildings for a great price and then renovate them.  

Cool Architecture in Jozi
(Apartments made of Ship Crates/Parts)

Church Square, Pretoria

Caught Birds in Action

This country is filled with possibility and opportunity. I feel like back home there is such a limited opportunity for growth because everyone is trying to get to live the American Dream. I was talking with a friend whose mother is from Mozambique and she said her family in Moz lives in a village and that when they come here, after two days they want to go back to their village. My friend said that she doesn’t understand why they don’t like the more developed world but that her brother told her that some like their simple lives and don’t need to live a life that the world expects them to. I feel like I had such an American mindset that bigger is better and I am grateful that my mindset has changed. I never would have thought that people that lived in villages could enjoy that lifestyle. I remember writing an assignment in school about the benefits of colonization (there are none, no matter what you may think). I wrote things like ‘countries developed faster’ and ‘it was safer’. As I reflect on my naive answers, I realize that a lot of my peers think that way, and I wonder how, if ever, their mindset will change. I had to leave ‘Merica to figure it out, but not all of my peers will have that opportunity or have an open mind about it. In SA, there’s so much room for growth, that this country will look like a different world once it is fully developed. I feel like because not everyone is trying to get to the "top", because some are content with their lives of simplicity, there is more room for those who want the more westernized lifestyle. I have met some South Africans,of  my age group, who highly value the traditions they were raised to know and want to live their lives as their parents did. I know some that value their traditions but want to take a different route than their parents. I feel like the mix of my peers will make this country even greater. The strain between keeping the traditions vs developing the country further, sometimes hinders the chance to take advantage of opportunities, though. 
My host dad works in the banking industry but is also establishing his own business. His current job knows that he wants to start his own business and they support him. I feel like with the support of new ideas SA will grow rapidly. I also feel like the colonization in this country causes a hindrance too. This country is RICH! It is FILLED with so many natural resources, but the native people here don’t even get to see that wealth because the owners of the mines (who happen to be descendants of the people who once colonized this country and nearly all countries in Africa), are a controlling minority. The majority of black people live in townships which have shanty sections, and they work their butts off just to live in a house with running water. I am not saying every black person in SA is poor, I have seen and met many successful black people here, but that doesn’t negate the facts/statistics. Shanty towns do not define Africa as a continent or South Africa as a country, but are a reality for some. 
I love South Africa so much. It has its fair share of social issues, but so does the US. I think there needs to be a greater motivation for education in this country. The current President of this country, Jacob Zuma, did not receive any formal schooling. To some, that is culturally acceptable, and to others it is not at all. Back home, it is rare to see a 20 year old in a high school freshman class. Here, you can have one graduating class of all ages. South Africa is filled with foreigners. A lot of the foreigners come for school or working opportunities. I have a friend from Tanzania who finished high school there at age 16 but had to come to SA to repeat high school so that it could be globally recognized. This country is on fire and not 
even water can burn it out.

Snapchat: Be_Wanderlust

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School is Cool

I recently started some introductory time at my new school. Due to the timing of my arrival in South Africa, and my change of host families and locations, I was enrolled during the annual exam period. Things are a bit hectic, and rather intense, because everyone is studying and fiercely focused on exams. I am able to participate in exams in a strictly preparatory fashion. I am getting a chance to see what exams will be like for me next year. The new school term starts in January and runs through November. The school I attend is an International school, that operates on the Cambridge system. There are several levels (or categories) of courses that students can take. There are foundational (developmental/high school prep) courses, O-levels (standard high school classes), and A-levels (similar to American Advanced Placement, but more closely structured to a college format and curriculum). I will be taking A-levels. Performing to the required standard here, will mean that I will be finished with high school when I return to the States. Since the school year is completely off cycle from American schools, I will have a whole semester before I can begin college, when I get home. I will be spending that time starting my own non-profit organization (so stay tuned). I have learned a lot more about what it is to give back, and be dedicated to helping my fellow man, since I have been in SA. I know that committing myself to giving to others, as much as has been given to me, is an essential part of my duty in life; but I digress. 
In most South African schools, students wear uniforms. At my school, the Foundational and O-Level students have to wear uniforms.  As an A-Level student, I won’t have to. I was initially very excited about this. Sadly, this is South Africa and not America, and the students here dress quite nicely for school. I would prefer to wear sweats to school, because I think I am more focused on my studies when I am comfortable, and not worrying about impressing anyone with how well I dress. This, however, would not be acceptable in a South African school. So I will be dressing nicely each day.
My school has a pet peacock, named Gerald! I was shocked to walk in one morning, and find him in the foyer just hanging out. He walks around like he owns the place! This school is very different than the first school I attended in SA. It is a private school, but has no religious ties. The first school I went to was a public/government school. Nearly all the students were from the local area, and they were, almost exclusively, black (I was one of only a few coloured students). There was church, run by the students, each day during lunch. I found it interesting how there is no separation between church and state in SA. 

Gerald the Peacock!

My new school is very culturally diverse. I’m not the only expatriate in the school; in fact, international students are quite common. 
I am eager to see what school will be like, once the new term begins. So far, I am enamored with the beauty of the campus, the uniqueness of the environment, and the idea of being a "senior"!! I am going to have to work extremely hard to adjust to a completely different curriculum and teaching style than what I am used to. The classes I will be taking are going to be very rigorous. I am prepared for the challenge!
Meanwhile, much of South Africa is now preparing to go on holiday. Schools, and many businesses, close for anywhere from a month, to two months. People here work very hard, and they take their holiday VERY seriously. Although I will be studying, in preparation for the next term, I do plan to enjoy many aspects of my South African holiday! 

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More Random Observations, Experiences and Thoughts (because things don't always fit neatly into a category)

I love listening to the radio here. They play a mix of American and South African "house" music. The hosts have the nicest South African accents. They always use a very soft "a" sound, for example, grass is "grawss"; and can’t is "cawn't." A fellow exchange student described their accents perfectly, “gentle and poetic." The hosts were recently talking about how Americans think of Africa as a country and not a continent, and that we think this continent only consist of the "Big 5" and poor/malnourished black children. I think for most Americans, that is quite true. Often times, I get messages saying "How's Africa?"...well, I always think, "I don't know how the other 53 countries are (6 of them being islands), but South Africa is great!" It’s funny how some people here see America as one big city. I told one of my teachers where I was from and he asked, “Chicago, is that in Nebraska?” It is common for people here to assume that all of America is Hollywood, and that I should be like Nicki Minaj and know Beyonce personally.  I laugh at the stereotypes that I find to not be true, on both sides. Before I came to SA, I was told that people here are so friendly and warm; and yes, most of them are, but when I first arrived, that was not my experience. You can easily walk down the street for 20 minutes or stand next to someone in line for an hour, and they won’t say a word to you. I was told by a teacher that South Africans view America as a place where the majority of the people are not personable and are all about their money. At the same time, they won’t speak to anyone they pass or stand by for an extended period of time. My coworker said that in townships people are much friendlier, and that because I’m always walking around in a city, I don’t get that experience often. Another coworker at The Teddy Bear Clinic told me that a lot of people here have trust issues because of the high theft rate, and that by speaking to someone on the street they will assume that you want something from them. Townships have a bad reputation in some ways, and a good reputation in others. I am learning that it is mostly a matter of perspective and familiarity. I’ve heard from people that live in them, that they can be very nice. Our domestic lives in a township, and the black women I work with at TTBC also live in them. From my impression, they are like ghettos. Most people that don’t live in townships are paranoid about the idea of going to most of them. Soweto is a township, but I love Soweto and can’t wait to go back. It has a great vibe and sense of community. (S/N: Having a domestic (housekeeper) is very common here, and although I initially struggled with the term, feeling it is degrading, it is completely politically correct to use that term here. I was told they would find words like "maid" or "cleaning lady" to be insulting)

I generally ride to work using Uber cars. This is a very common form of transportation here. My Uber drivers always ask me if I want "air con," which to me is a ridiculous question, because even when it's cool outside, the African sun kills. Central air conditioning is not something you see here very much, other than in cars. Homes generally don't have it, even in very wealthy communities. This is largely due to the mild climate and energy conservation. Homes and schools are designed to be self-cooling, and offer great cross-ventilation.

My driver said I am going to get married here. He said there are a lot of Americans here but most are white, and "it's nice to see you come back home." Men here can be very flirtatious, so I tend to take things they say "with a grain of salt,"'but that actually made me feel good, because this truly feels like home. He told me that, "People that live in this area, live a western life. People in Soweto and Thembisa live real South African lives." He said, "South Africa will be your home." 
He was shocked that I was 16 and said that I "ran away from home." After I explained my journey a bit, he said, "You opened the doors for all your brothers and cousins." I really hope that's true, because this experience is changing my life. I want to see the ones I love experience this place too

In South Africa, before you ask for anything from a bank teller, security guard, receptionist, or store clerk, etc., you must first greet them by saying "Hi, how are you?" If you don't, they will put you in your place. Being the American that I am, initially, I would always ask them for what I wanted without greeting them properly, which was like treating them as an answering machine and not a person. You would think that almost two months later, I would have completely broken my bad habits...but I haven’t. I am getting much better though. One day at the mall, I went up to a security guard and greeted him properly, with a "hi, how are you?" He replied "Sharp," which always sounds like "shop" to me, so I asked again "how are you?" and he said, "sharp". I know that "sharp" has several meanings here; some being, "I'm good, cool, or goodbye," but in that moment, that knowledge completely escaped me, and I had to quickly remember that I was in South Africa. It's funny how one can slip back in to your own world of habits and norms, and lose sight of where you are in that moment. I hope that I can bring all the good things I am learning from South African culture, back to the States, and maybe impress this culture into our cultural norms.

In SA, I live somewhere with palm trees right outside of my bedroom window. It is honestly like a dream world, after spending my whole life in the extreme cold and then hot/humid Chi-town weather, coming to this warm and dry place. I cannot wait for this Christmas; maybe Santa will come in on his flying Surfboard instead. 

My Snapchat: Be_Wanderlust

Sandton has started decorating!

I had the opportunity to visit University of the Witwatersrand with Jade. I went into work really early, so I could leave an hour early, to go see Jade's campus before she had classes. She has already finished her honours, and now she is just taking extra classes. She will start her Master's program next year. 

My visit at Wits!

Here they refer to a gas station as a "garage.” 
Taxes are included in the advertised prices here. They call it VAT (value added tax).
My ears have finally adjusted to the constant changes in altitude when I'm in the car.

Hilly Jozi

Pretoria is hilly too

I hate bargaining with the merchants here. They charge like $20 for things that would cost much more in the States. Most people negotiate with them, because in their eyes, R200($20) seems unreasonable. They live such modest lives. I feel like I'm stealing from them.

I asked my driver why a lot of Uber drivers don't get out and open the door for us (because I pay them a lot, so I expect them to), and he said it's because when they get out to open the door for us, people will jump in and steal the car. 

There are no computers in the police stations here (My dad is a cop, and there are computers everywhere at his job, so this is very strange to me). 

I went to the gym with Lucy. She has a trainer, so we had a VERY INTENSE workout. I haven’t seen sweat on my forehead in a while, and I almost fainted at the sight of it. When people tell me have told me that they did a workout, and it almost made them vomit, I would I think they were just being dramatic. Readers, let me tell you from experience, you CAN workout to the point of throwing up. The next day I was so sore I could barely move my arms. 

RIP Senzo 

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Random Thoughts about Culture!

Some of my MANY random observations and thoughts:

A lot people in SA drive hatchbacks. Lucy and Gary both drive them. Brand names like BMW, Range Rover, and Mercedes Benz are very common here. It’s very rare that you will see a Nissan or Ford. 

Okay…I have to admit that I am going through a food withdrawal. Pizza here is not the same as the Giordano’s, deep dish spinach, Chicago original that I’m used to.

To me, this is flatbread, but they call it pizza.

I love hearing the different names for Johannesburg. It is referred to as Joburg, Jozi, eGoli, or the City of Gold. 

The Absolutely Captivating Jacaranda Trees

The summer season is approaching soon and I’m getting a glimpse of the Johannesburg thunderstorms, which are quite frightening. Each storm is like something you’d see on National Geographic. One word: EPIC! I prefer the moderate temperature and sunny days in SA, over the Midwestern weather extremes in Chicago; but I am adjusting to the afternoon storms that happen religiously each summer day here.

I still haven’t adjusted to seeing people drive on the other side of the road. We went to the drive thru at Chicken Licken and it was fascinating seeing my host mom drive on the other side to pick up the food. 

When I lived in Pretoria, occasionally my friends and I would have to take a taxi to school. Taxi’s here are vans that carry 12-15 passengers. When you get into the taxi, you pass your money forward and the person sitting closest to the taxi driver counts the money and passes back everyones change. Taxi drivers can be reckless drivers and their taxis can be in ridiculous conditions. People ride them because they are very inexpensive. A one way ride cost R12 ($1.20) and you can either get dropped off really close to your destination, or right in front depending on the driver. There are different hand signals that you put out when you want to catch a taxi, and they change depending on what neighborhood or city you’re in. Where I live, your index finger pointing up means that you want to go to the Jo’burg CBD (Central Business District). When you point down it means you want to go somewhere local. I’ve steered away from riding taxis; in part, because I don’t speak the local language that most of the drivers use, and secondly, I don't, nor do I think y’all, really want to see my journey end in a taxi accident? 

In my complex the water went out twice last week. The second time it lasted for 5 hours. Each time was without notice. This time we got a notice that on this coming Tuesday, October 28th , we won’t have water from 7am until 5pm. This will be the case for about 5 neighborhoods in Jozi. It’s true that you don’t know what you have until it's gone, and a water outage is an extreme rarity in the States. Being the hygiene freak that I am, I was shocked. It’s crazy how the universe works, because the first day we experienced this, I couldn’t cowash my hair, like I normally do everyday. I just dampened it with my face towel and put my normal "juices and berries" in it (http://jadelilly.com hair butter and Jane Carter Collection’s Curl Defining Cream). My hair was flawless that day.

Fro-Shizzle

I created a Tumblr page to share my experience with more of the world!  All of my posts will be on Blogger and Tumblr, for your convenience! 

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School

I finally started school today, which I had been very eager and nervous about. School here is very different than at home. When we walk into a classroom we stand until we greet the teacher. The classrooms are individual buildings outside, placed on top of dirt. The classrooms are surprisingly bug free, but are very dusty because the school does not have AC, so the windows are open and the school sits on a dirt plain. I was so hot today. I wore a big sweater because when I bought my uniform they didn't tell me that they had vests, so tomorrow I will just wear my school shirt, and maybe my tie. There are different options for what you wear to school everyday unlike the private school I went to in America; where everyone wore the same thing. The kids that sit by the teachers learn the most. There are about 30 of us in my class and when you sit in the back you can't hear anything because everyone is talking. The icing on the cake, for me, is that everyone is speaking in a different language, they call Spretoria; it is a mixture of all of the most common languages spoken between Sesotho and ZuIu, which are the primary black ethnicities. I go to a public school, but church and state are not separate here, so you have the option of church during your lunch break. I went to church today because I figured it would be an interesting experience and it was! I was greeted at the door by a student who happened to be the one who leads church everyday. He was the most mature boy I had seen all day, and I knew then that it was going to better than sitting outside with the kids who are less engaged. When it started, the student pastor asked someone to lead us in praise and another student started singing a song in Zulu. It was so uplifting. One of the girls told me that the song was about power, I am assuming the power of God. After the song was over, another girl started singing another song in Zulu. Then the student pastor asked me if I could sing; I laughed and told him "no", he then asked someone to "accommodate" me. I guess he meant, would someone sing a song in English. One of the girls started singing a song in English. The entire room clapped along to every song. Everyone who attends church is referred to as Christians, regardless of how we identify, or whether we identify as any formal religion at all. Nevertheless, he talked about REAL issues, and I will definitely go back. I have so much to catch up on in my classes, I'm trying not to feel overwhelmed. Yo!( a commonly used expression by all languages in SA meaning, "oh my")

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