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Day 0: The (almost) 24 hour journey…

I have made a commitment to be as transparent as possible about my experiences in hopes that my experiences may be beneficial to others. I was surprised by my internal response to a situation that occurred while traveling and I would like to share it with you.


I have spent several months preparing for a trip to Africa, even though I did not know how or when it may happen. My preparation for my first international trip included purchasing a passport, studying the demographics and geography of the continent, and speaking with Africans born on the continent about their experiences in Africa (something I had never done before). I also visited African restaurants and stores and engaged the owners about their cultures.


📷📷These individuals were all from different parts of the continent: Nigeria, Mali, Togo, East Africa, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa.


Once I made the decision to visit South Africa, I began listening to a radio station – Ukhozi FM – and learning (or should I say familiarizing myself with) the Zulu language because it is spoken or understood by many people in the areas I planned to visit.


I even knew that it was summertime in South Africa, but was below freezing in Chicago so I dressed accordingly. (Gene was less than flattered by my travel outfit… hehehe)


I also viewed (and re-viewed) African films and particularly films about South Africa and its history. Because much of its political change has occurred within my lifetime, I have always considered where I had been and my age during some of the political uprising.


In the U.S., there is about half a century, some 50 years, between Americans and overtly racist political schemes that were upheld by written laws. My parents and other family members have shared stories, but I never personally had those experiences with segregation or being excluded because of skin color. In South Africa, 2014 marked 20 years since the end of apartheid. I married in 1994, so for me considering the experiences were very real.


One thing that I understood was that when I traveled to South Africa, their would be many instances where no one would know I was a foreign national until I opened my mouth to speak. That is a strange notion to me, but one I understand if I consider the number of times I have noticed that happen with white foreign nationals in the U.S. I have made assumptions about them before I heard them speak.


So back to my experience… I was boarding the plane in Atlanta for Johannesburg and heard several languages being spoken by various groups of people. One of the languages I recognized more than others because of my studies in preparation for the trip to South Africa. It sounds very German to me which is one reason I find it easier to identify along with other European languages I have heard spoken throughout my life.


When I looked around to see who was speaking I saw a group of white gentlemen speaking and when I saw the South African flag embroidered on one of their sleeves, I was certain that the gentlemen were Afrikaans. It was confirmed when the gentleman asked a women who was laughing with them about something they were saying, “Jy Afrikaans?” And she nodded in affirmation.


I had not expected my first encounter with South Africa to be related to historical contexts that were still so recent and in my lifetime that I still felt uncomfortable about them. I quickly got over that, however, when I remembered how massively large this plane was… I chose to see it as a reminder of where I was going and nothing more. I had checked my flight and according to the flight itinerary and seat assignments, I had an empty seat beside me.


I boarded the plane and proceeded to my row. 44… 45… I heard the laughing and that familiar language again… 46… It got louder… 47… 48… Oh my God, NO! I arrived at row 48. The aisle seat and the middle seat were both occupied. I smiled at the two Afrikaans gentlemen and said, “Excuse me… I am in the window seat.”

 
 
 

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Disclaimer: The advice and mentoring received in the Relationship Strategy Sessions with Eugene Mason III, MBA and Andrea Little Mason, Ed.D. are intended for educational purposes services and are not considered a substitute for seeking mental health care. It is not intended to provide diagnoses, treatments, or cures for mental health conditions. Eugene and Andrea Mason do not guarantee specific outcomes based on the use or application of strategies found in the resources made available on the We Build Legacy website. Resources on the We Build Legacy website (i.e. blog posts, ebooklets, articles, videos, audios, session guides, music, etc.) are for use as self-help tools and do not serve as a replacement for a mental health consultation by a licensed professional.

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