A Journey Of Discovery
I asked a couple of friends when they realised they were South African; most of them had a definitive moment (“when we won the world cup†being a popular answer), but my story is more an ongoing journey of discovery.
I have been aware of my South African status ever since I was first introduced to the concept of countries and borders and I am constantly being reminded of it when I have to apply for visas. On the other hand, understanding what it means to be South African is a concept I am only now beginning to comprehend. For me, appreciating my South African nationality only started once I left South Africa’s borders. Comparing my culture, beliefs, values and heritage to other nationalities enables me to realise that I am South African.
My first introduction to my “South Africaness†occurred at Fishermen’s Wharf in San Francisco one rainy day just after I matriculated. I was trying to hide from a downpour in a warehouse when I heard somebody shout at me that this area is not open to the public. I apologised, but as soon as they realised that I’m a South African I got invited for coffee. I had to explain to Americans what it means to live in a young democracy such as South Africa and for the first time I started to realise that growing up in South Africa in the 80s and 90s was a unique privilege.
Not only have I realised that being a young South African means that you have been exposed to such a historical event, that you are part of the rainbow nation, but also that we, South Africans, are a unique bunch. I was traveling to work through London early one morning on a rather packed tube when I spotted a very pregnant woman standing in front of an occupied priority seat. I told the youth to get up for the lady and after a few moments of awkwardness he got up. A businessman then commented “only South Africans would do something like thatâ€.
A few years ago I found a small pub in a French village that was broadcasting the French Rugby tour to South Africa. Naturally when South Africa scored the first try I had to cheer, informing the entire pub that I was South African. We lost the game, but afterwards I got given a beer and received a huge cheers from the French patrons – “Au Sud Africains â€. While traveling through Europe I have realised that as a South African we have inherited so many traditions from other parts of the world, yet we also have such a rich African heritage, helping me to understand the European/African traditions I was brought up with. A white Christmas is so foreign, yet so familiar.
On a daily basis, while sitting on a red bus, chatting to a cab driver in Belfast, going through customs, meeting up with friends for a braai, hearing the expressions ja and now now, I am reminded of the fact that I am South African. Discovering my routes and heritage is a wonderful experience; so my only wish is that I will never stop discovering that I am a South African.
Lovely insights there NS.
Wonderful insights FlipSide!
I never realized that.
I gather from what you have written that South Africans are more welcome in other parts of the world than, for example, the Americans are in France.
I loved this story! My favourite one so far.
Thank you!
@ Diva – I’ve yet to come across a country where South Africans are not more welcome than the Poms & Americans (except maybe in their own countries
). Nobody knows what it means, but in my experience the term “Baie Dankie” opens doors for you.
theFlipSide´s last blog ..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GPS
Very interesting, how interacting with others underlines your Sa-ness. I like this piece!!
Yeah, your first time out of the country is a real eye opener, and definitely a perfect way to ‘realize’ your South African-ness.
good stories, traveling is a big part of knowing where you are from – no matter where you are from
I really enjoyed this article. It’s a lot of fun to read how being alien in other places puts you so in tune with who you really are and what “team” you play for. Also, it’s true that certain places have certain energies at certain times and one ought to feel priveledged if they get to experience life during one of those moments. Granted, apartheid isn’t the nicest thing to have lived through (if you’re on the wrong side) but having witnessed all of this and just so recently….definitely offers a unique perspective.
Really excellent piece. Makes me want to go out and discover some more South African bits of myself. Very cool indeed.
Rob´s last blog ..Passion
From a very young age I knew that I was a South African. It came from my great grandmother and -father on my mom’s side. There was a portrait of Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger in the dining room. He was my great grandmother’s uncle, Oom Paul. My father’s grandfather was General Nicolaas Jacobus Smit, after whom my father was named. Our whole family has always had a very strong, patriotic Afrikaner character and all the children in our family were brought up that way. Some of my early memories of anything political was when Dr. H.F. Verwoerd visited our little mining town and all the children were standing by the side of the road waving our little ‘oranje, blanje, blou’ flags.It was the start of the RSA. All I was taught as a young child about my ‘Afrikanerskap’ had a very big influence on my life. One of the most important things it taught me was loyalty. Now, many years later I am a loyal South African. I cherish the old flag for what it meant to me personally, but I love my new flag, my new countryand my new National Anthem. God bless South Africa.
Hi Heleen!
I wonder if you would not be interested in writing for OldTakkies? By the sound of it yours would be a point of view that we do not have yet – that of the patriotic Afrikaner.
Hi Diva!
Thank you for being interested in my point of view. I am not a writer by trade or by any other measure but I am willing to share some of my experiences as a patriotic Afrikaner. Let me hear from you what you require and I can write about it from my perspective.
Regards
Heleen