HermanusTimes

I dedicate this article to my mentor, Bulelo Bikwani. 'Wamkelekile eOverstrand' (you are welcomed in Overstrand). It is humbling to find people who continue to give without much expectation across the racial lines. To Judy McFarlaine, thank you for responding to the call I made on Friday, 25 April Hermanus Times for people to donate any relevant things towards the new home for homeless kids.

People are still invited to make any contribution for a 13-year old boy. To show my appreciation to the ordinary people of the Overstrand that continue to make efforts to overcome the racial differences which dictate our social being, I had to borrow words from a poem written by our own community leader in Stanford, Aron Gcotyelwa.

'Andinawo amehlo ekati kodwa ndiyayibona iminyama' (I don't have the eyes of a cat but I can see the rainbow colours). 'Andinazo indlebe zedonki kodwa ndiyayiva ingxolo? (I don't have donkey ears but I can hear the noise). Andinayo impumlo yenja kodwa ndiyaliva ivumba' (I don't have a dogs nose but I can smell). Andinazo izandla ezintofontofo kodwa ndiyakwazi ukubamba izinto ezintofontofo' (I don't have soft hands but I can touch soft things). Andinayo intliziyo enkulu kodwa ndinithanda nonke' (I don't have a big heart but I love you all).

The Community Building Workshop I attended in Stanford, in my view, should be used as a model for all communities to overcome racial differences. It was about the different races coming together to create one community. I felt like a new born racial blind child who is starting to appreciate the small things in life. But appreciating or not, white men are cowards!

A man will always be the first person to go out of the door before the lady, not trying to be impolite, but rather to shield the woman in case of an attack. The next time you hear a black man saying 'ladies first', beware, he might be a coward. But in western culture, I am told that 'ladies first' is about being polite. Hence I want to advise other cultural groups not to be polite when visiting townships as they might be angrily told that they cannot send a woman into the battle field but rather should protect their women. On the other side, I am stuck between the western culture and my culture so expect any of the two.

On a light note: Growing up, I was always told that black people were very tall because we were given something to make us strong to get the job done faster. What happened to white people? I do not know about you, but it seems like more and more white people have become taller in the new South Africa. As I walked in Kleinmond, I was intimidated by three white men who were taller than me. Now if you know how tall I am, you would understand the joke.

To Kerri from Stanford, that camera did miracles, I was never so good looking in my lifetime!

We do not need Scorpions in the Overstrand; people are calling me on my mobile number and sending me e-mail. How did they get my details? Is there an investigation against me? To those who do not have the Scorpion skills, I have attached my e-mail for your questions and suggestions. Also note that from next week I will be announcing the Xhosa lessons venue, dates and times. Thank you for the persistent requests, it paid off.