It was somewhere around March 2012. We managed to just arrive on time – about 15 minutes before the Immigration offices closed. I had to change my old school, non-machine readable Passport to the e-passport. My brother, Nkgotla, parked in a designated space, I quickly rushed up the stairs, to the sparkling offices. Apparently, when I was away, a uniformed security guard approached the car; my brother, was in the driver’s seat, my seat was vacant and Michaela was in the back. The security guard, speaking in Setswana, reminded my brother that it is indeed a designated area, and that ’’they’’ can’t just park anywhere, ’’they’’ are just like everyone else, ’’they’’ are not any better, referring to Michaela.
In June 2015, just after my MSc graduation ceremony, Michaela and I went to the impressive Malmaison restaurant; they had various cuts of beef, on the menu. Just after we ordered our delicious food, I kindly asked the waiter of one particular beef cut on the menu, the one I did not order. The waiter answered and explained eloquently. However, all along, the young man was only facing Michaela, with his eyes, as well as conveying with his hands – as we watched in disbelief. (I was a waiter for 6 years)
As soon as he left: we laughed, and we were reminded of the equally ignorant security guard.
But these instances – more than any other – are the ones that make me, to maybe perfectly understand this world even better. Particularly when people are biased, rude, and ignorant, totally unaware.
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 