Momentum finally paid up… R3219.

Yayness. Going to the river.

ath.

j.

I have just been lucky enough to be chosen to take part in a new involuntary program called the “clothing for the poor” garment redistribution program. It’s a really great program. Basically the way it works is that you leave a bag full of your clothing (although you must make sure it’s almost ALL your clothing) on the back seat of your car and then park it on a busy road in the leafy suburb of Newlands. Right next to the presidents house if possible.

Then, if you’re lucky enough, you get randomly selected and someone smashes the back window of your car and steals the huge bag leaving you almost literally with the shirt on your back.

Ok, now I’m going to get philosophical and anyone who’s looking for reasons to hate this country better stop reading.

I am rich. I have a friggen 2 litre polo that chugs petrol like a bergie downs Late Harvest. On the weekend I bought myself a new macbook even though my HP laptop is in perfect condition. I have an xbox and I shop at woolies. I live in a comfortable flat with high speed internet access and shiny kitchen appliances.

Why am I telling you this? Because when some people go through experiences like having all their clothing stolen they get negative and angry and lash out against the country, the government and the police (and/or whichever racial group they decide is responsible).

I am choosing to deal with this differently.

I am so incredibly privileged to be in a position where I can go to canal walk and punish my credit card buying new clothes, phone up my insurance company and get them to replace the window and carry on as if nothing ever happened.

Compare this to the situation that millions of South Africans face on a daily basis. No running water, buckets for toilets, shack fires that destroy every-last-thing they own and no way to protect (insure) themselves and their possessions from the ravages of crime.

Sure it sucks to have my stuff stolen, but I would be acting like a spoilt brat if I let this dictate my outlook on life for even a second.

I hope like hell that someone who needs them enjoys wearing my clothes.

The saddest thing… My Superfine (now called Civil Twilight) extremely limited edition (ie. We only made a few) shirt was in the bag. Guess that will be making someone else millions on ebay one day.

ath.

(In case you’re wondering about the image, I had some time on my hands waiting for the insurance people to call back)

(oh, and yes, I know I was HUGELY STUPID to leave a bag in my car. Thanks for reminding me)

Recently I’ve noticed a lot of people saying stuff like “If the rand gets any worse I’m leaving…”.

While I don’t blame you for your sentiment, I would like to point something out. Living in Africa, specifically South Africa comes with its own set of pros and cons… a set which are as unique as our curious culture.

We live in a fascinatingly evolving time. South Africa has its crime, poverty and education issues, but we also have the singularly unique position of hope for the future…

Ten years ago, while the first portable MP3 player was hitting the shelves in America, we were in the midst of one of the most important political revolutions the world has ever seen. Ten years on they have the iPhone and an economy that is teetering on collapse, oil prices that have skyrocketed and more debt than they can possibly ever escape from.

Perhaps you would rather live in the UK? Healthcare issues, increasing crime, increasing debt, pollution, crappy weather and British people (I joke)… While I will always have fond memories of London, on the last occasion I was there (which was for 3 days) I couldn’t get over how it felt like things were slipping… Stuff didn’t look as neat as it did 6 years earlier and the people all seemed a little more depressed and negative than they did before.

South Africa, on the other hand, has potential and I’m already happier living here than I was when I was living in London. I have a good job, I work with good people, I get paid a fair amount (could always be more, joe), I have a wonderful standard of living and a great Afrikaans girlfriend. (Granted there are a lot of Afrikaans girls in London, but you miss the point)

And like I said, we have potential… We have about a gazillion unemployed people out there all with the potential to come up with something great. We have similar numbers going through our school system, which admittedly is a different system to what school was like 10 years ago. School, and ultimately African ingenuity, is preparing these kids (those who have a hunger to succeed) for greatness.

Just the other day I met two black guys from Guguletu who run internet cafes in the location and want to start up a Wireless ISP… These are not Rondebosh high school boys… these are boys who went to school in the township and are hungry to succeed. And the fact that increasingly more South Africans are earning money is what is making it possible… That is inspiring… if these guys succeed you know that their kids will have the opportunities that their parents never had. There are a gajillion other stories just like this.

Sure, there are stories of tragedy every day and at a level that is probably unmatched by any other countrty in the world, but, I like to take the Wikipedia approach… If enough people are working together towards a common positive goal we will exceed the forces working against us and ultimately live in a better country.

I don’t ever expect the roads to be paved with gold, but I’d rather live in a country with hope than a country of hopelessness. And there is Africa in my blood…