The radical British plan?

Interesting mix for you then! Did you live in the inner city, in these communities when you came to the UK? Or were you more in the 'burbs.

Uni is great - I loved it, and if I could afford it would never leave. I just finished 1 masters and have at least 2 more plus a PHD that I would like to do...Too many things and not enough time or cash! My experiences were similar, although I went to a fairly $$ all girls school, so most people put in a decent effort - and there wasn't a lot we could get away with. Well, not compared to public schools

Yup, been living in Aus all my life. I love it...It will always be my home. I am convinced it is the best place on earth "give me a home among the gum trees".

But, I've always wanted to travel - it's the only thing I can ever remember really wanting. When I finished school 7 or so years ago, I didn't know what I wanted to do....So I chose my degree because I knew I could work all over the world with it. I did that first, so I could travel with cash and a career...instead of the other way around. So, you could say, I'm living my dream right now. I am a very very happy chappy indeed.

Do you travel back to Swazi very often? Do you miss it, or are you happy in the UK? I don't know if I could leave my home forever. I would miss my people too much...

 

Black parents generally do a poor job of cultivating the intellects of their children, which is why so many fail to achieve academically.

 

Well, if that is the case...then why is that?

Is that a problem that needs to be fixed (I would say yes) and if so, what are some ideas? I mean, as far as I can see, this is a long term problem with really long term solutions....but, it has to be fixed somewhere, right?

I know a lot of uneducated people who will do anything to get their kids educated, because they know it's the best way to improve yourself. So, it's not just uneducation....

 

I went to school in the suburbs, but played a lot of sport against inner city kids. My School wasnt that great though..actually looking back it was very ordinary.

Hehe, Mrs education, you going for three masters, and then A phd...
Thats good ambition. I've done one masters and think ill stick with that... Got a lot of respect for people who want to go the PHD route. What do you want to do it in though?Its a hell of a commitment...
It crossed my mind for a millisecond after graduation, but thought otherwise.

Actually dont go that often now. Use to go often when I was in school. I do miss it.Relatives visit occassionally. Dont think I'll live there permanately because the career options are limited(it's tiny). I may move to South africa in the near future though, there are so many opportunities now. May retire in Swaziland though..

 

Phd - hmmm..
I'm not entirely sure.
I work in the development industry and have an interest in anthropology and sociology. I will probably try to combine sociology and my career so I can at least produce a PHD on something useful..I plan on doing 1 masters for career only and 1 for enjoyment...and I would also like to learn French and Arabic. That's the plan, anyway!

I was offered a starting position after my grad dip was finished, but I wanted to go and expand my mind in the world first. All study and no play makes me boring and my work less useful. I'm too young to do a PHD right now - only 24...22 at the time.

Good for you on wanting to move back. It makes me so sad to see people running from Africa then bagging it out all the time and never wanting to go back. Although, SA does sound scary, from what I've heard...but I couldn't live knowing I would never wake up smelling the summer again, and hearing the birds, and watching the sky...And I can imagine Sthn Africa is quite similar...well, it looks a little similar anyway (to Aus). More than a cold or wet area. There's something about it. It gets into you.

What's the WW situation like in Swazi? Have you seen the move Wah Wah by Richard E Grant? I liked it. Swazi looks nice. Lesotho is one of my "must see" places in the world. When did the Brits leave? in the 60's??? I'm assuming that's way before your time, how about your folks.

(perhaps we should start another thread...this is off topic).

Back on topic...

 

There are very few white women in Swaziland. Most come from across the Border(South Africa). There are a few native white Swazi's as well. Generally the social circles are separate. A few may mingle with the black people, but its not really the norm.As for interracial dating its does happen..but not that often. Its usually European expatriates dating the locals..

As for wah-wah, heard of it, but havent got around to watching it. Heard some decent reviews though.I think Richard E Grant is the most famous person from the country. Never been Lesotho, but I've had its nice place..I think its more of a scenic/hiking holiday destination. If you like hiking its the place to go, its really mountainous..So when you intend visiting? Personally I think South Africa has it all, if you can get over the crime situation, its an ideal holiday destination. So you never got to go to Zimbabwe?

The Brits officially left in 1968. A while before my time..yes. There is still a British presence though.A lot of the school system is modelled on the British system. Parents moved with me in the early 90's. So family is settled here now...

So I hear there was South African invasion in Australia in the 90'S. Do you know many?

Dont worry about that..continue..

 

I liked Wah Wah a lot - R E Grant is pretty good...although it's really only incidental that the setting is Swazi - it's about the people...not the place..still a good movie though.

I would like to go to SA. I know a lot of Saffer's (as we call them)...my two previous bosses were afrikaaners. I can't think of any black SA's - only Afrikaaners. HEAPS in Perth - the first stop from SA! I can probably name 10 acquaintences straight off...

I love hiking and mountains - hence why I want to visit lesotho. The SA's I know are all sad to have had to leave...but will not return because of the crime. I guess, being a white minority, must now have some disadvantages....so, I can in some ways see where they're coming from. My grandfather very nearly immigrated to SA instead of Australia, so I could have been from there too. It seems like a long, hard and difficult history. I hope they can pull themselves up and out. I have not heard any good reports in a long time....

When do I intend to vist? Hmmm - good question. I don't have a date. A really long term plan is to ride my pushbike from Cairo to Cape Town...probably in about 10 - 15 years time, I suppose...I'm also looking at some volunteer positions in East Africa and would visit the south while I was there. I also have a really strong desire to see Namibia and Botswana, although I don't know why them in particular.

I didn't get to go to Zim...but I am still in contact with his family members.
I do not want to go there now, however, because I don't want to show any support to Mugabe.

Continuing from my previous statements about my potential birthplace...I very well could have been from Zim, also - lots of brits there....so, I feel for those people. They might be white, but it's their home, now, too....The only difference between Sthn Africa and Aus, as I see it, is that the immigrants here are a vast majority....in Africa, the native peoples are the vast majority....so, in some ways I relate to those people and feel for them a lot. I'm not saying they're right, I'm not saying anyone is...but it's a sad situation all over. I know my previous bosses were very hurt at a number of things that happend in SA, post apartheid.

I didn't think there'd be a huge IR scene in Swaziland! You can find yourself a beautiful british bride and take her home to Swaziland with you! haha. The swazi's are related to the Zulu, is that correct?

Do you have any bro's or sister's? Are they intending to move back to Swaziland, or are they happy in the UK? How's AIDS going in Swazi - last I heard it was suffering badly....any improvements happening?

 

Well, havent really had many good experiences with Afrikaaners. I guess the way they treat you depends on who you are..I'm sure there are some friendly Afrikaaners, but there ones I have met and spoken to have really not been friendly. Moving to Australia, guess they also have to make more of an effort to integrate, so they probably are generally more friendly. The ones I have met I have always felt, their friendship extended so far, always a bit cliquey(with other saffers).My colour might have had something to do with it..

If your grandad emigrated to South Africa, you probably wouldnt be on this site..lol. I guess its easy to feel sympathetic for Afrikaaners. They are losing out.Affirmitive action has hit them pretty hard. But they are still much better off then the majority of Black people.You also hearing one side of the story. I think if you spoke to black South Africans, you probably get a more balanced picture, and your opinion might differ slightly.

I think a lot of people were hurt by what happened post apartheid.The government made a lot of promises it didnt deliver on...like housing etc..
Well, the crime situation is still hurting everyone. Whereas the vast majority of crime was limited to black areas during apartheid, its now exploded out of the townships and its now affecting white people more.
I wish there was a solution, cos South Africa has so much potential..

Yeah working on this at the moment...

Okay, you know your history...Yep, we are very closely related to the Zulu's. They are the tribe to the South, and we share more or less identical culture..Our languages are almost identical as well.They are mutually intelligible. Not as many of us though..and we havent got a decorated history like the Zulus..they tried taking over all of Southern Africa..lol.

Got one brother, at university. Think he is gonna stay here though, he has grown up here..hasnt got as much of a connection to Africa as me. what about u? Aids in Swaziland is ridiculous...the infection rate is too high. King tried to kerb it by having a Umcwasho rite..
read:http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Umcwasho
It wasnt very successfull...
Also we got some idiots trying to sell the Government goat serum as a cure for aids!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/6197222.stm

 

Oh, please don't get me wrong, at all. I totally believe that the Afrikaaners have it easier, still, than the vast majority of black SA. I wasn't saying that things are too tough...

I very much do believe, however, that it is always too easy to just blame white people for everything. So, I am reluctant to either blame them for everything or sympathise with them entirely.

I am also in no doubt that if I was from Africa, having grown up around black people, I would not be on this website either. I like to think I am a realist. I am a product of my environment and my upbringing...The same thing as I would doubt very strongly that I ever could or would be attracted to an Aboriginal person - it's just a boundary I don't think I could cross...Maybe I would, but I doubt it. Just too different.

But back to south africa...I'm sure that your colour would have a lot to do with the way SA's treat and treated you...and I also agree with everything you said regarding Afrikaaners. I am just saying that I think there's two sides to this.

For example - my previous boss, who is a good friend of mine - has family roots back to almost original white inhabitants - 500 or so years. I mean - that's a long history. I think he has every right to be upset about a lot of things that have happened. The Afrikaaners even arrived in the cape before the Bantu...but I can imagine that this fact is overlooked because Bantu are black...and Afrikaaners aren't. Even though, they're just as different to the original San people...And, lets not forget the many hundreds of years of Arab interaction in east africa...I just think that there is a lot of hoo-ha over white and black relations because it's a symbol of diversity.

I think Afrikaaners, generally, are very cliquey (spelling?). They are very difficult to get to know and really keep to themselves. Even here. it's the kids which mix, the ones who were born or grew up here. I think it has a lot to do with history....As a white person in SA, there was always conflict, always having to watch your back. Australia is a free place. No-one was ever going to take anything away...people just worked together. And, furthermore, the dutch have a reputation anyway. From comparrison of some dutch relatives of mine - I can see a lot of similarities in their characters. Namely that they're really uptight. and a little crazy.

Another thing my previous boss said was that he worked for a public entity..working with local native groups to organise public housing. And, he cared and does care...a lot. He is tired of having the finger pointed at him and being labelled in a negative light just because he is an Afrikaaner. Maybe he cared more than most...I think maybe he just got sick of it and the bullshit. Wanted a better life and better opportunities.

Anywhoo - it's all a touchy thing and I, for one, am glad that I'm not having to deal with it...nor that Australia has the same issues. I'm sure the aboriginals would not agree with me though. It's all relative after all. I'm certainly not going to feel guilty or some sense of inherant obligation due only to the fact that I was born and exist in a country which is not where my people are natively from. First do no harm, then live and let live... This is my home as much as anyone.

I do agree - I wish there was a solution, because SA does look like it could be AMAZING. really the gem of Africa and a world leader in so many things. I am sad that things are regressing there.

And how is the search for Mrs Swaziking coming along? Any potential suitors?

Yah, the Zulu are pretty hard-core from what I can tell. It's good to know a little bit about a lot of things, I think. I'm a nerd - I like to learn stuff.

Ahh - HIV. What can I say - there are no words that haven't been said a hundred times. And I read about Umcwasho. The idea seemed ludicrous to me - but who am I to judge? I dont' know the culture. I guess, utimately, the proof is in the pudding...Not successful. At least he tried something, though. More than a lot of people. Not sure about your goat product, though. Surely an education and safe-sex program would be at least partly successful. I also think its a cultural thing...that the patriarchal nature of the society has a lot to do with it?? I'd be interested on your opinion, though, since I only know what I do through reading...

What are the education levels in Swazi? I have a general opinion of the country that it is fairly un-developed...but, I'm not sure if this is really accurate or not.

Me - in terms of what am I going to do? Hmm.
I want to be free. I want to see the world, and expand my mind. I will retire to Australia, for sure. I am looking for some property all the time that is in my budget and in a good location. I will keep looking until I find it. In between times, I will live all over, where I can. But, if times ever get a little tough, I will go home. I know I will always be safe and cared for there...because that's what my society is like. And I love it for that.

 

I

When you say its just too different i'm assuming you mean the culture. Why wouldnt you cross that boundary? With regards to culture difference isnt the culture gap similar to dating an African? Just interested..

Yep..the Afrikaaners got to the Cape before the bantu..not many people know this though. And that’s probably why it’s overlooked. I’m sure the fact that bantu are black has something to do with the reason it’s overlooked as well. I agree we can’t blame Afrikaaners for all of South Africa’s problems. But I guess it’s going to be a while before black and white in South Africa feel totally comfortable with each other.
Did your boss have any comments about you dating a black Zimbabwean?

The search for Mrs Swaziking? Hmm… Any suitors? I’m Beating them off with a stick, there is that many...lol. Nah, joking...nothing concrete at the moment.. Kind of dating at the moment..

The aids problem in Swaziland has a lot to do with the traditional lifestyle and a lack of education. A lot of people still believe in traditional a polygamous relationship which definitely doesn’t help. You also have the traditional healers (witch doctors) who sometimes won’t properly diagnose aids; they may just diagnose it as a bad spirit, or someone casting a spell on that person. Also because of the stigma of having aids, most people don’t want to say when they have it. And the irresponsible ones will keep on sleeping around.

Education in Swaziland is okay(relatively speaking)…We only got one University which doesn’t happen to be that good. But on the plus side we have the best High school in Africa in my opinion(Waterford Kamhlaba). Mandela and Desmond tutu sent their kids there. As for the education level of the general population its pretty good in my opinion. Most people can speak English to a reasonable standard. You are right the country is quite undeveloped if you compare to South Africa, but in African terms I dont think its near the bottom of the scale.

 

Well, for a start, there are approximately 200k Aboriginal people in Australia (and, therefore, the world). This is a relatively small number. I have no idea of the figures, but I would estimate that the majority of those are uneducated compared to the average Australian. They also, mostly, live outside of the major cities. And, they're a fairly tight-knit community and stick to themselves....so, the chances of me meeting an aboriginal man who is on "my level", so to speak, is fairly remote.

So, I don't want any man who is not similar to me, culturally...it's too hard. and I would guess the vast majority of aboriginals are not culturally similar to me.

And, there's a little bit of me that would feel guilty about moving in on their culture. It struggling as it is..they don't need me going in and damaging it more.

The difference is that there are many educated Africans. 1 in 6 people are African (assume black) and, even if the percentage of highly educated people is the same as in Aboriginal communities, then that's a hellava lot more people that are potential partners. If I met a man who fitted the bill, however, I would be interested though.

I can think of only 1 educated aboriginal man who is married to a white woman. Ernie Dingo. I'm sure there are more. There are also men who marry aboriginal women, but they are mostly out west.

It just really annoys me when people only know part of the truth and twist it around to suit their agenda...Everyone does it, I know...no-one can say they haven't...but, I just feel that, at some point, people need to just say "hey, the past was crap...we were wrong, you were wrong. Bad things have happened. From this day, we will start again in this way"...of course, it's too simplistic and will never work, but, I just feel as though it's a festering wound right now...that is race relations at the macro/political level across the world.

I agree. SA has a long way to come. We all do. I think it begins with forgiveness, sympathy, apologies and genuine equality. So, I think it will be a while longer before any major leaps are made.

How are white people viewed in Swaziland. Was there ever such a problem as in SA? Have Swazi "taken sides" with black SA and followed those values?

My boss was not particularly impressed and just warned me to be careful. He is quite a bit older than me - old enough to be my father - maybe his concern had something to do with that. At the end of the day, him and everyone else that warned me (and my own subconcious which I ignored) were right. I was burned and have learned my lesson. It's totally my own fault, because I always knew he wasn't right, but I ignored my gut.

Well, I'm not surprised! You're a good looking and obviously intelligent man. And I'm glad to hear you have something on the "boil". I hope things are going well for you and that you're both happy!

I have nothing further of value to add. It's sad and depressing. I want to ignore it all. Actually, perhaps I can ask. Do you believe in these things - native beliefs? If not, why and why do you think that is? Do you think these beliefs are beneificial/non beneficial or have no bearing on AIDS and the development of the country? If you do believe, do you think that it will cause any type of conflict in a relationship with a WW?

Well, that's good to hear. I am of the opinion that it starts with education. It's surprising that the school is so good, yet the university is not so much. Why is that do you think? Do many swazi's leave, or are most satisfied with a high school education? Is there much emigration? What's the main industry?

 

You might prefer if I didn't say anything because you're Swazi and I'm not, but IMO there's also a few other factors to the HIV in Swaziland (and the rest of Africa for that matter), and I just have to mention it:

Even though people are polygamous, IMO there's too much HIV for that to be the whole explanation. HIV does in fact not spread very easily under normal circumstances (normal, voluntarily vaginal penetration). That's why you'll often hear of spouses where one have HIV and the other haven't. Also, people in the west have multiple partners as well, and yet we don't have HIV to the degree Africans do. And condoms are not exactly the rule here either- men generally don't like wearing them too much.

However, there are lots of STDs that do spread very easily, like clamydia and herpes. And the fact is: if you already have another STD you are MUCH more likely to catch HIV if you're being exposed to it.

I unfortunately haven't tried a traditional Swazi healer (sangoma???), but I am confident there are lots of medical problems they know how to fix. But I honestly don't believe STDs are amongst those, and i don't even think people would seak the sangoma if they're itching and scratching "down stairs". Since I also don't think people go to any western medicine doctors instead (for various reasons- like money, culture etc), there's probably an enormous amount of untreated STDs out there, and hence HIV will spread faster.

Also, as you might have noticed that i used the word voluntarily further up. Under force there will much easier be sores etc that the virus can spread through. And let's face it - in Southern Africa these days rape is almost to be considered the rule. If my memory is correct, according to a study of the life/health of Swazi women, almost half the women reported to once (or more) having been raped. (Not saying half the Swazi men are rapists though, It's probably a relatively small number of ass holes that do it. There as here.)

I'll see if I can find the study. Just not right now, as my baby misses his mama. :mrgreen:

 

Ronja,

I agree to a lot of what you have said.

I also heard that there is little difference between the number of sexual partners of africans and of the average western population...The difference is that the typically, the western world is a line of monogomous relationships, wheras in Africa, it's simultaneous partners. That's the problem. I don't know if it's true or not, but that's what I read or heard somewhere.

Surely it's education? I had a refugee family from Liberia that I was tutoring in English. The girl was relatively uneducated...and just simply didn't get it. She had missed some vital kind of education as a child and was simply just never going to get it...you can't compare her with an average white teenager...so, you can't tell her the same things.

She told me, and I paraphrase...Hey, I was at the park with Victor yesterday, and he said he wanted to have sex with me...

Victor is her friend, also a Liberian refugee. I was shocked, but just said to her..."what did you say?" she said "no"...and then I said to her "you know it was wrong for him to ask you that? you make sure you don't let him do anything to you or hurt you. tell someone if he does. It was rude of him to ask you that".

But, if I said to her "hey, you could get pregnant or STD's, I just don't think it would have meant anything to her". I'm not even sure that she really understood the gravity of what he said...I think if he asked enough, she would just do it...and she wouldn't think about a condom or protection of any type. I was terrified that she would get pregnant...

So, of course, that's Liberia and not Swaziland, but I'm making the point that I can see easily how it can spread so quickly. Time is not seen the same way. Cause and effect is not seen the same way and I as a westerner really can't comprehend the situation fully or any idea of how to deal with it.

The saddest part is that it is preventable. If everyone was just careful, the disease could, theoretically, die out naturally.

 

IMO there's a huge difference between Liberia and Swaziland in this matter. First of all: Swaziland is the number 1 county in the world when it comes to HIV. Secondly: Liberia has had a long, hard war, and hence there has been even less focus on HIV than there have been in the more peacefull countries. Also, war in Africa, always means even less people get an education.

Of course polygamy is one reason for the spread of HIV. So is lack of education, sex being taboo, condoms being unavailable and unaffordable etc. But blaming it on that alone is too simple. Polygamy does mean that you can infect others before you know you're infected, true, but how many westerners does not live serial-monogamous lives without testing between each partner? And how many people do you know who have ONSs every weekend, often without using condoms because she is on the pill?

IMO there is no single reason why HIV can spread like it can in Africa. It's all the reasons combined. Sex being taboo, means they don't know of STDs and HIV. People being uneducated means the same thing, + they're probably more likely to go to a local healer. Poverty means they can't afford treatment, or perhaps not a doctor at all (you don't go to the doctor for an "itch" if your children are starving or lack school money). Also, the taboo again, means that people are embarrassed to see a doctor if they think they might have an STD, even if they can afford it.

In Swaziland, now days, I doubt there's anyone who do not know of HIV. (I'll believe it if Swazi tells me otherwise though. But those people have to be illiterate + be without access to radio).

They might be unaware of other STDs, but not HIV. Almost 30% got it. The country has little more than 1mill inhabitants, of which 70.000 are orphaned children (and a quick calculation tells me that if the same thing was true for Australia, there would be 1.5mill orphans there). In certain groups (men between 25-35 for instance) the majority is infected.

Now days there are huge boards (several meters tall/wide) warning people against HIV on almost every corner (at least there was in dec. 2006 when I was last there). And the HIV ribbon is placed everywhere, even on the most unlikely places- like on road signs.

The billboard campaign try to reach people using lot of different approaches, from the religious approach ("all sex that leads to hell can kill you" + picture of HIV ribbon next to it), to the much more modern approach (picture of two cellphones that's texting each other, the first one saying "exotic-Swazi-name-I-can't-remember- is out today. Do you want to come over for a quickie? " the other one answering "not any more" + picture of HIV ribbon next to it)

People have stickers of the HIV ribbon on their cars, in their shops etc.

One of the most extreme (IMO) I've seen was a man (souvenir seller at the tourist market) who wore a button that said "I wear a condom every time". (I respect his openness, but I really didn't need to know that. )

If you can read, it's virtually impossible not to be constantly reminded of the HIV epidemic the country is facing. I bet is that the campaign is even larger than what I have noticed, since there probably are a lot of info about it in SiSwati as well as all that's in English.

 

Only 200, 000, thought the would be more then that. That probably explains why I have never met one in the UK before then. I've only ever seen aboriginals on youtube.oh and that famous runner 400m runner Cathy freeman on TV.

Actually even though we neighbors with South Africa, personally I think you will find the attitudes to white people are very different. Black Swazi's in general didn’t suffer from apartheid, so we don’t have the hating 'whitey' mentally. Not all black South Africans are like this, but a hell of lot are...
And the British were generally very good to us; they actually stopped the Afrikaaners claiming us as part of South Africa. They were a protectorate until our independence. So you will find that most black Swazi people don’t dislike white people, actually most are very friendly to white people. Probably explains why Ronja likes it so much..

With regards to Black Swazi's siding with black South Africans. I think as we harbored a lot of the ANC activist during apartheid, the general Swazi black population probably sides with the black South Africans. And if you also factor that a lot of Swazi's worked in the mines in South Africa during apartheid and suffered firsthand, you can see how the sympathy arises. I am personally sympathetic towards black South Africans...Because I vividly remember as kid how my family used to get treated when we went to the kruger national park on holiday. This is the late eighties I am talking about..towards the end, but it was still bad. Having to use 'black toilets' has left a bitter taste in mouth.And being restricted to certain areas.. I wish people would forgive, but I think the wounds are still fresh, and the wealth gap is too large for most black people to forgive just yet. For me its easier, because things have turned out okay for me.

Generally, Black Swazi's don’t hate white people, but are sympathetic towards black South Africans in my opinion.

Thanks..see you having been perving black men in Chicago..Well, have fun!

I don’t believe in most of the native beliefs and rituals. When I younger I use to believe in some of it. But as you grow older, you realise a lot of it is actually rubbish. I am particularly against traditional healers (witch doctors). I think they abuse their powers, as most have a high standing in most communities, and a lot of people take what they say as gospel.
When they cant heal someone they make up stories about spells, and being bewitched...and randomly decide who has cast the spell(by chucking bones).I think they should be regulated and held accountable like doctors. Sometimes, their 'medicine' works, but too often people get mis-diagnosed.This non-scientific approach certainly doesn’t help the Aids fight.

I don’t know why the University is so Rubbish. I guess the government doesn’t provide that much funding. They probably realise they can’t compete with South African Universities. Which have been established for a hell of lot longer. A hell of a lot Swazis move to South Africa...its where all the jobs are..

 

Ronja...I agree with what you have said. I was more giving an example of how totally different it is dealing with people that are not educated. I have no doubt that Swaziland and Liberia are totally different. I was trying to relate my point on how it's so far outside of my paradigm of understanding that it is difficult to fathom.

Swazi - Yup, not that many aboriginals, but their population is growing. I am probably alone in that my opinion is that if you're 1/8 aboriginal, you're not really aboriginal, even though you might identify with that or put it on the census or something...so there's probably less than 200k "proper" aboriginals and the vast vast minority of those would be highly educated. Cathy Freeman is a legend. And, seemingly a lovely and proud Australian aborigine. good on her...she's an asset to our country, for sure. And, aboriginal people are not and have never been seen as an attractive race of people. I generally don't find the men or women attractive, but there are always exceptions to the rule.

Interesting about Swaziland. I TOTALLY understand how that kind of behaviour would leave a bad taste in your mouth. It disgusts me...and is really outside of my understanding. Aboriginals weren't even considered citizens in Australia until the 60's...'nuf said. It's just amazing. Really, quite extraodinary.

I don't blame any black person in SA for feeling the way they do, and I agree with what you said about "being ok" making it better...it's easy to get over it when you're succeeding. I think the whole world feels for black SA's...and black ppl in general...

I also think it's too soon to expect forgiveness. And, I'm sure that if i was a black SA...it would be a very difficult thing for me to do. Especially if I was living in Sewoto or something like that.

America is a perving paradise! Really, it's quite lovely to be here checking out all the luscious men...But, I'm a look and don't touch kinda girl...and I certainly don't leer. I'm just appreciating mother nature's art at it's finest!

Native beliefs...hmmm...it's very easy as a westerner to write it all off...i tend to think there's a little bit of truth in everything. And, I certainly am happy for people to believe whatever they want. It is my observation from the very limited exposure that I have had to it all that your opinion is correct. There's a lot of bullsh*t in there...But, as we both know, I am most certainly the wrong colour to be making any of those observations out in the open!

Do a lot of people move back to swazi or do they just stay in SA? It seems a little sad to me, but i'm hardly in a position to comment, as I, too, am leaving my homeland for an undetermined length of time.

Thanks for answering all of my boring questions!

 

Having acted as a School Governor for 2 schools for 2 years now I actually find this post laughable now:smt036

And also I realised, that my puntuation was and still is awful lmao