A Letter to My Bougie Folks...

Dear Bougie Folks,

I am writing because surprisingly I really miss you.  No one has asked me in quite awhile what I do, where I went to school, and did I pledge.  Plus, I need a good ol fashion HBCU style spades games at a BBQ, a _____ National Conference party, or a happy hour at a chic boutique hotel in my life.  I figure I need to temporarily import you to get my fix so I am offering you the opportunity to visit South Africa.  It will only increase your bougie status to exclaim: “I am going to South Africa”…”I bought this in South Africa,” or “did you know in South Africa ______.”  Just to let you know a trip to South Africa is just a bit more than going to Essence. If you can’t make it I’ll just make sure I am home in time for _______Conference so we can catch up.

Smooches,

Meish

PS: Hipsters I really miss you too and I will meet you at that cool new restaurant for brunch soon! :0)

My So Called "Village" Life

Countryside near Phokeng 

I arrived at my post a little over a week ago. I am posted in Phokeng, which is in the Northwest Province of South Africa and approximately 20 minutes from Rustenburg.  Phokeng is the capital of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.

The Royal Bafokeng Nation

I’ll share with you more about The Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) as I learn more, but here is quick background on them.  The Bafokeng trace their ancestry to the Bahurutshe and the Bakwena, which settled in this region in the late 1600s.  The Bafokeng are ruled by a kgosi (king).  Today, the RBN is comprised of 29 villages that are governed through a mix of democracy and traditional leadership.  Kgosi overseas several institutions such as The Royal Bafokeng Holdings, the Royal Bafokeng Administration, and the Royal Bafokeng Institution, that oversee everything from education to road construction within the RBN. 

Phokeng Countryside (taken from Bafokeng High)

RBN has a quite unique history.  Feeling that their land was threatened by the Boers or Afrikaans they determined early on that they needed to formally buy their land.  By the late 19^th century the RBN had established themselves as a private, corporate land owner.  Platinum was then discovered on Bafokeng territory in 1924.  In fact, Bafokeng land contains some of the world’s richest deposits of platinum and chrome, as well as rare and valuable types of granite.  To my understanding RBN is the wealthiest tribe in Africa with assets worth billions of dollars.  I also just learned the RBN is the sister city to Prince Georges County, MD (the “area” where I am from) How cool is that!!!!

Phokeng

Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus 

So with that said, Phokeng is a “developed village” (not quite a village, but not yet a township). A lot of the RBN investment has taken place in Phokeng.  Phokeng has a sports palace, with a FIFA certified stadium where some of the World Cup games took place; a sports campus that has a 5 star hotel, a rehab center, a state of the art gym, and a sports academy (to groom future athletes); and a state-of the-art school, Lebone II, that goes from primary to high school.

Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus

Lebone II Outdoor Amphitheater

I am staying at a B&B that is owned by a very nice older couple.  I call them Mey (Mom, respectable way to address an older women) and TaTi (Father/respectable way to address older men).  Mey said I am the daughter she never had!  Their 3 year old grandson stays with them so I play with him and his neighborhood friends sometimes.  Here are a couple of pictures of my new home.

My B&B from a distance 

I stay on the 2nd Floor

View from the 2nd floor terrace 

Another view from the 2nd floor terrace

My bedroom

My bedroom from another view

I use the B&B service kitchen, there are no other guest so I have it to myself

I eat in the kitchen instead of the dinner room

So what am I doing?

My new sporty look

Right now I am spending my time going around and meeting people.  Got to make sure I get alignment, buy in, and support for my marketing plan (I thought corporate America was political), especially since I want to start youth clubs in the schools. The cool thing though is that Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS) is sponsoring the Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup.  So my work is filtered through them.  So everyone I work with is involved in sports in some capacity whether it’s managing the RBN’s professional soccer team, the Platinum Stars, or coaching handball, rugby, or track and field. The NBA even has a partnership with the RBN so there are 3 American guys here starting a basketball program in the RBN.  Funny thing everyone keeps asking me what sport I do and I am like uuuuhhhhh…I was a Pom in High School and College. I actually may even work a bit with the cheerleading program the NBA is starting.  Sometimes I am like how did I end up here?  And I am still like, am I really a Peace Corps Volunteer, rotfl?

My workout equipment

Other then that I spend my spare time working out (I purchased some workout equipment and work out in the parking lot in front of my place), making jewelry, watching movies, and surfing the net. I have also had the opportunity to attend 2 Platinum Stars games.  I have quickly realized I am not a football/soccer fan, plus I have never enjoyed sitting in VIP areas at games---I like being with the people (I have to try one more game to see what it likes to sit with the vuvuzela folks).  One of my Special Olympics coworkers is from Phokeng and she introduced me to her brother.  He has been really cool as well and has taking me out a couple of times.  Just hoping to continue making friends, but I have felt at home and comfortable here since the day I moved here.  Weird considering I freaked out the first time I saw where I will be living, LOL.

Platinum Stars vs. SuperSport

--Mei   

You are speaking English, right???

I find it simply amazing that even though South Africans speak English, I still apologetically spend a lot of time asking people to repeat what they said because I couldn’t understand them through their heavy British, Afrikaans, Colored, or general South African accent.  Or there are those moments when I sit with a puzzled look, because I heard them perfectly, but have to search for contextual clues to truly get the meaning of what they said, lol.  Below are a couple of South African English words and phrases that have a different meaning in American English.  I have learned most of them through some funny and humbling moments!!!  Note: Many of the words/phrases are a product of the British influence.  So if you have visited England before many will be familiar.

South African English = American English

• Robot = Traffic Light
• Garage = Gas station
• All Stars = Converse Chucks
• Cheese Boy = Pretty Boy
• Take away = To go
• Chappie = Gum
• Kit = Athletic Uniform/Jersey
• Kettle = An electronic pitcher that heats water (for tea and coffee)
• Reverse = Repeat, go back, or back-up (i.e. when someone is presenting and you didn’t catch what they said you would say reverse please)
• Scone = Biscuit (I ordered some of these for afternoon tea for my office, and was quite surprised to see I ordered biscuits)
• Biscuit = Cookie
• Rock Cake = Scone
• Chips = French Fries
• Boot = Car Trunk
• Boots = Can be boots boots but also refers to athletic shoes (in particular I’ve heard it used to refer to soccer cleats and filed hockey shoes)
• Treckies = Tennis Shoes/Sneakers
• Curtain raiser = Opening performance that precedes the main attracting
• Knock off = Get off work/leave work
• Collect you = Pick you up
• Taxi Rank = Taxi Station
• Lift = Elevator
• Tomato Sauce = Ketchup
• Brown Bread = Wheat bread
• Shops = Stores
• Primary school = Elementary school
• Secondary school = Junior high/middle school
• High school = High school

-Mei

In Transition in Maryland: A Moment of Reflection

Another key milestone is behind me, this weekend I moved from Philly to my Mom’s house (my temporary residence until I leave for South Africa in January).  It’s all so crazy and surreal.  I can’t believe that I am actually starting a company and traveling the world for the next three years! 

Coincidentally, when I turned 30 I was struggling with a feeling of “Now What!”  My childhood dreams of traveling to Africa and Paris, living in NYC, getting an MBA, working in Brand Management for a fortune 500 company had been accomplished.  A friend told me that if I had accomplished all of my dreams then I didn’t dream big enough.  I then created a dream board to capture my vision of my utopian future.  I have kept my dream board posted next to bed so it is the first and last thing I see everyday. I realized, as I was packing, amazingly I am now moving towards living my vision.  I reached back out to my friend to share this with him.  His response, “I am glad your dreams have caught up with your talent!” (things that make you go hhhhmmm…!)

Last week I celebrated my 34^th birthday. I realized, at 34 I am unemployed, homeless/couch surfing/staying with my mother, single, and have no children.  Some would say that’s failing, but I think I am winning! My vision didn’t manifest itself in a shiny box with a bright red bow and I didn’t get here how or when I would have imagined…but where I am headed is truly what my heart desired and it came when I was ready for it.  The two songs below capture perfectly how I am feeling right now and are my theme songs for my 34^th year of life (every hero needs theme music).  Enjoy! Dream big and be bold!

--Mei

Philly: Late Night Thoughts

I have neglected my poor, little blog (and you) before it even got started.  So I figure I at least owe an explanation for my absence (I probably owe ya a more detailed description of who I am as well, but that will come).

I quit my job the end of October to go on a trip around the world (Central America, South America, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa) and start SOULjourner Art, an online art gallery that will empower artisans in developing counties (more to come on that as well). I am also joining the Response Corps, a program for Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.  And I am leaving in January to serve in South Africa for ten months.  In preparation for all of that (whew) I have been… 

•  Taking bartending classes (fall back if I run out of money during my journey)
• Working on the SOULjourner business plan (its coming along nicely)
• Completing TONS of paperwork, gathering medical records, and getting immunizations (fun times…Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Hep A, and Hep B) for the Peace Corps
• Learning how to use my new Mac (I love the Apple store)
• Hanging out (I mean working at) various coffee shops around Philly
• Saying good bye to Philly friends over lunches and dinners (eating out is my fave Philly pastime)

And at some point I will be packing because I am leaving Philly next week.

I thought this month would be a transition period to relax and unwind.  However, I actually am a bit overwhelmed. Despite that, I am filled with a zest for life and a passion for my current tasks that I have never felt before.  I am sleeping less than I ever did when I was working, but everyday I wake up energized ready to seize the day.  I truly know that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.  I guess I am living a Purpose Driven Life (despite never reading the book that has been sitting on my night stand for over 2 years ROTFL)!

--Mei