~~~Mxolisi Mkhonza
2. Where do you live/have lived? Is this the country, town, or city? Is this a poor, middle class, or wealthy neighbourhood?
~~~I’ve moved a lot. Can’t really put all the places here…
3. How many years have you lived there?
~~~I’ve been a South African my whole life – 23yrs
4. Your race (Black, White, Asian, etc.)~~~Black
5. What do you really like about your country?~~~It’s all I know. I love the diversity of the people. Some places are more friendlier than others. A warm people all round.
6. What are some of the things you can do in your country?
~~~I can do anything I want. It’s a free country governed by one of the best constitutions in the world.
7. Describe the people .
~~~ see #5
8. What did you think of your president as a leader? and as a person?
~~~I think he’s the man! I don’t really like politics, at least we’re not in some sort of crisis like Zimbabwe or some other African countries. We’re the number one African country. The most advanced. All other African countries look up to us. All this can be directly linked to our president. Same as if there was some sort of crisis.
9. What are some accomplishments your country has made?
~~~ Fought against racial segregation (apartheid). It didn’t take us 400+ years. It took 46. That is an achievement on its own. A struggle lead mostly by the youth of this country.
10. Describe the geography of your country~~~Geography… I’m not too sure what this means… It’s on the southern most part of Africa. Has around 48 million people. Great weather. Sadly that’s as geographical as I can get.
11. What are some rumours about your country that are either not true or blown way out of proportion?~~~Being an African country. People automatically think that we live in poverty and are amazed when they come here and see most of the same things they have in the more advanced “first world” countries. I think the biggest rumour is that we walk around wearing animal skins and live in caves or something like that.
12. What do you need to be careful of in your country? Is this only in certain locations?
~~~ Crime and AIDS, like everywhere else in the world.
13. What is your favourite place in your country? Why?
~~~ Cape Town. Even though people say that the racism in that city’s rife, I somehow never get exposed to it. For some reason I get the happy, easy going, laidback side of Cape Town life.
14. How are things improving in the slums and what still needs to be done?
~~~ Some “slums” are improving and others not. Progress is pretty slow. It’s happening, yes, but it’s taking forever. There’re still some people without proper housing or sanitation in some places. And some of them were promised these basic things 14-15 years ago. A lot still needs to be done.
15. Do families tend to be very close? Do grandparents tend to live in the home of their children instead of nursing homes? What's a family like?
~~~ I think the nursing home trend is more common in white communities. Us Black people, always take care of our grandparents. Because most of us were raised by our grandmothers and consider them to be pillars in our society and social upbringing. That’s not something you can just post off to some nursing home and make them somebody else’s responsibility or even somebody else’s problem.
16. What are some dishes (cuisine)?~~~ Traditional food is very popular in our country. We enjoy food that is mostly cooked in abundance for a lot of people to enjoy in a social setting. Dishes like mogodu (tripe), dumbling, umfino, amanqina, and many others. But we’re most famous for our weekend braais (barbeques). Biltong is also a very popular snack in this country.
17. How prevalent is racism in your country? Is it more hidden or open or equally both? More with older generations?
~~~ In my opinion, I think the older generation, considering they are the ones who grew up under white domination, is the ones who still consider the white man superior to them. Obviously some racism goes on unreported behind closed doors. Other than that racism is pretty much under control; in comparison to the past were it was the norm.
18. Is there a middle class?
~~~ yes
19. Talk about the economic divide and the problems it causes- if relevant
~~~ Though the lines are getting blurry, between rich and poor, there’s quite a noticeable difference between the two. There’re certain places where there’s an extreme contrast between rich and poor. Whereas other places the difference is sizeable, and within global norms.
20. What are some holidays/ceremonies? What occurs?
~~~Most holidays are in correspondence with the western world, where we celebrate Christmas, Easter, World Aids Day, and other holidays at similar times. And then we have our own holidays such as Freedom Day, Youth Day.
21. Where do you think your country will be in 20 yrs?
~~~I think we will be a lot more modernized. Advanced if not on par with the rest of what is considered first world countries, as foreign investment and trust continues to grow. Will also be more unified as a people towards making this country a better place.
22. How has your country been influenced by other countries?
~~~There’s a major foreign influence in South Africa at the moment. Everything from adopting cultures and beliefs; to having a more global economic market which in return sees more foreign currency and partnerships being struck between ourselves and different nations.
23. Why should someone visit your country?
~~~To experience a different side of Africa. We have everything (and everyone) here. If you want to get in touch with the “motherland” this is the place to do that. If you want to come here for business, this is the place.
24. Describe some "street smarts" you use in your country
~~~I think street smarts starts with being able to communicate with the man on the street. Language is very important. You need to understand basic phrases and terms used in everyday South African life, then you’ll be fine.
25. How do people greet?
~~~Because we’re a nation with so many different cultures, languages and customs; how you greet one person (in the traditional sense) will almost definitely differ from how you greet the next. Except in instances where you’re relating in a more casual context, where street smarts play a major role. E.g. when someone says to you “Howzit” they don’t actually wanna know how you’re doing; it’s South African colloquial for “Hello”.
26. Can you tell me about the various indigenous groups? -if relevant
~~~I’m not too sure how to explain this; we have two basic indigenous groups, namely the Ngunis and the Sotho. In the Nguni group we have Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Tshonga, Vhenda, and the Swati. The Sotho’s are: Tswana, Pedi and Sesotho. I’m not too sure about the Khoisan? The languages and traditions are more or less the same within the specific group. The Nguni dress and behave in a certain way… their excessive use of colour. Probably influenced by where they are found. Which is usually around lush vegetation, where there’s a lot of colour etc. The Sothos, tend to use basic colours, like brown, etc. Customs are also distinctly different across the different indigenous people.
27. Would you say it's a safe country? Does it depend where? Safe compared to where? Less safe compared to where?
~~~Yes. Yes. Considering the only really lived in one country long enough to answer your question… I’d say, safe compared to Brazil. Less safe compared to the Britain where the police don’t even carry guns.
28. How do people have fun?
~~~Clubs. Occasional soccer games. Picnics by the park (which somehow end up as parties).
29. What are some basic manners?
~~~Amongst black people: (1) Respect for elders is major around most communities. (2) When walking with a woman, the man always walks through the door first, in case there’s danger he can handle it before she walks in. (3) Men don’t wear hats indoors.
30. What do people like to talk about? Not talk about?
~~~Talk about: Soccer. Differences and similarities between genders and traditions. Whatever’s is making headlines at the time. Celebrity gossip. Money. Other people’s money. 2010. Not talk about: We live in a pretty free country where anyone can talk about anything. Freedom of expression is a right. So I can’t say there’s something we don’t talk about.
31. What are some religions in your country?
~~~There are many religions mixed in with our own African beliefs together with Christianity. Most of which were formed in the past two centuries. Though are mainly based on Christianity.
32. Can you give me a very brief history?
~~~Brief: mixing black people with whites used to be illegal. Kings and queens still exist. Strong beliefs when it comes to tradition and culture. That’s as brief as I can get.
33. How does a polite guest behave?
~~~That differs from one tradition to the other
34. Can you trust the police?
~~~Lately yes. Because some have been given the instruction to shoot to kill. So yes. Admittedly there are those few that give most a bad name, but generally, most are okay.
35. How has your country helped the environment?
~~~I have no idea.
36. How do people care for children? Their own and others?
~~~That depends on where they are, financially and otherwise. Those that can afford it, have nannies or take them to day care while they (the parents) go to work. Others have their children cared for by their parents (the children’s grandparents)
37. What is school like? How many years must you go? What do you learn? Are there uniforms?
~~~Again, depending on demographics, our schooling system caters for everyone. There are some schools that offer free education as required by the government. You go to school for 12 years, from grade 1 to 12. You can leave school after grade 9, but matriculate after grade 12. We learn everything from languages, to basic life skills, arithmetic, economic studies, etc.
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