If you're going to be in any foreign country, you simply must try some of the traditional foods and participate in cultural activities.
I had absolutely no intentions of being an exception.
South Africans enjoy a good get-together with family and friends just as much as any North American. On one beautiful weekend we decided to have a braai (pronounced "bry"; known here as a barbecue). This wasn't going to be one hot-dog-and-French-fry outing though. We were loaded down with a variety of traditional African dishes: mealy papa, chakalaka, milk spinach, tuna spinach, and water bread. The Australian team's contribution of lamb chops and sausages made for a complete picnic feast.
Now, of course, if you were going to eat African food, you have to eat the traditional African way. Down went the utensils and soon I was digging my hands in with the rest of them. Any time there's the opportunity to try something new and do all the things I can't do in Canada's "sophisticated society", bring it on!
I had absolutely no intentions of being an exception.
South Africans enjoy a good get-together with family and friends just as much as any North American. On one beautiful weekend we decided to have a braai (pronounced "bry"; known here as a barbecue). This wasn't going to be one hot-dog-and-French-fry outing though. We were loaded down with a variety of traditional African dishes: mealy papa, chakalaka, milk spinach, tuna spinach, and water bread. The Australian team's contribution of lamb chops and sausages made for a complete picnic feast.
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| My Braai Meal |
Now, of course, if you were going to eat African food, you have to eat the traditional African way. Down went the utensils and soon I was digging my hands in with the rest of them. Any time there's the opportunity to try something new and do all the things I can't do in Canada's "sophisticated society", bring it on!
Don't expect to partake in a traditional African Braai without giving back in some way: it simply does not work this way. With the excitement of the braai, the kids decided that we needed to continue with all sorts of fun and games.
I'll never have to wonder at how Africans keep themselves in such good shape. Those kids got us running, jumping, chasing, and dancing for what felt like hours on end, accompanied with yelling and singing in Sesotho, me not having a clue what I was chanting. Of course, all the African girls wanted to see this white girl try to dance. Considering that there is hardly a good rhythm in my body, I think they just wanted to have a good laugh more than anything. I finally gave in when they dragged me in the center of the swirling circle lit only by the light from the bonfire. I wouldn't say my "dancing" was horrific, but don't ever expect to see me perform.
All in all I had a blast, blending in with them and joining in on every game and Sesotho song. It was awesome, just having fun with them all and not thinking or caring about what anyone else would think. We so easily become enslaved to maintaining a certain self-image that we won't allow ourselves to have innocent fun being silly with younger people - or anything outside popularity's accepted "norm". Don't let everyone's expectations of you keep you from having innocent fun and being an awesome role model to those looking up to you.
Looks like one can learn lessons from anything, even a crazy braai time.
I'll never have to wonder at how Africans keep themselves in such good shape. Those kids got us running, jumping, chasing, and dancing for what felt like hours on end, accompanied with yelling and singing in Sesotho, me not having a clue what I was chanting. Of course, all the African girls wanted to see this white girl try to dance. Considering that there is hardly a good rhythm in my body, I think they just wanted to have a good laugh more than anything. I finally gave in when they dragged me in the center of the swirling circle lit only by the light from the bonfire. I wouldn't say my "dancing" was horrific, but don't ever expect to see me perform.
All in all I had a blast, blending in with them and joining in on every game and Sesotho song. It was awesome, just having fun with them all and not thinking or caring about what anyone else would think. We so easily become enslaved to maintaining a certain self-image that we won't allow ourselves to have innocent fun being silly with younger people - or anything outside popularity's accepted "norm". Don't let everyone's expectations of you keep you from having innocent fun and being an awesome role model to those looking up to you.
Looks like one can learn lessons from anything, even a crazy braai time.
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