Hi everyone! I am officially done with my time here in Johannesburg. It has been quite a journey in terms of culture as well as professional life. My Impact Hub project has been nothing but a phenomenal learning experience. As we are approaching our final deliverables, I have to say I am extremely proud of all the work my team has done. There were very little setbacks throughout the project, and we are equally happy about our work and the team dynamic. Outside of work, my friends and I have been traveling around — Pilanesburg National Park safari ride, Ballito beach, and fun things around Joburg. I am going to sum up some of my favorite things about South Africa as my last blog post before I leave this wonderful country.
The slangs
The diversity in South African languages is something I see as a part of South Africa’s national identity and something I will miss. One of the first things we learned was how South Africans describe timing. “Now now” and “just now” are just ways to say they will get to it, meanwhile it does not really guarantee anything. However, you will find people here say that a lot. Also, when we say “what’s up” or “what’s going on” while greeting others, South Africans always say “Howzit.” I will always get a “Howzit” from my Uber driver every morning.
“Braai” is barbecue. South Africans take their braai’s very seriously. When tailgating might be the American way to socialize with families and friends, South Africans love to host braai’s. For one of my first braai I went to, I was expecting some hotdogs and frozen burger patties, but no; instead, the family was serving a full meal with ribs, sausages, different type of homemade burgers, potato salads, Pap (a South African dish made with corn) and salad. During the first few weeks, I refused to call barbecue as “braai,” but this word sure grew on me over the past two months.
Last word I would always remember is Ubuntu. This word describe a feeling of family, community, and humanity. I think this word stands for the identity of South Africa. Ubuntu is what people here make me feel, whether it is at work or at a club. I am truly going to miss these friendly faces.
My experience shattered the “stereotypes”
I am going to be brutally honest. I did not know much about about the African land. What I heard about South Africa before coming here was mostly about crime and racial discrimination. People have also told me that South Africa would be the most western place in Africa, especially in Johannesburg where the financial industry is. With these perceptions, I came to Johannesburg for the summer, with the hope to understand more about this country. Once I started working here, I put all the stereotypes and perceptions aside and focused on making meaningful relationships with the people here. Throughout work, my team has met with countless businessmen businesswomen, entrepreneurs, social activists, and the diversity I see in them took me by surprise. People here come from all over the place, from Zimbabwe to Nigeria, from Eastern Cape to Durban. They also have so much diversity in their work experiences. Some of which worked in consulting in London, while some bounced around different industries. We also had amazing conversations with strangers during Uber rides as well as safari rangers. We talked about wild life and sometimes politics — their former president Jacob Zuma, our former president Barack Obama, and how people’s lives have changed after Apartheid. Throughout all these interactions, I started to recognize this country as a land that consists of a mix of vibrant cultures and heritage. Their national anthem has 5 different languages, and South Africa, as a nation, has 11 official languages. I had the chance to hear people speak Zulu, Xhosa, as well as Afrikaans around me, and I was simply amazed how these languages define this beautiful country.
At this point, I want to really thank my boss at Impact Hub for connecting my team to all these amazing people we talked to. Additionally, because of her, we had to chance to witness Barack Obama delivering his speech at the Nelson Mandela lecture event. I also want to thank my teammates for making my first job a great one.
Finally, after two months, I am ready to travel to Cape Town for one more week before traveling home. This summer has been a life-changing experience for me, thanks to Kelley and the amazing friends I have made here. I cannot wait to talk more about it with all of you soon.
