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...

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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...

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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,...

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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....

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