Reading Rites of passage talks about people being shaped by society and culture. I've been taught two beliefs and values that have had a significant impact on my view of the world by the Ndebele tribe. First, I've been deeply influenced by the Ubuntu philosophy of humanity towards others. This belief teaches me that my existence is linked to the existence of others, emphasizing the importance of community and interlinkage.

As guardians of wisdom, tradition, and family history in my culture, we are to be respected by our elders. This teaching has instilled in me a deep respect for those who've come before me, recognizing their experiences and insights as invaluable resources. I learned to look for guidance from my elders, valuing their counsel and perspective. This belief has shaped my worldview by emphasizing intergenerational connections, community, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. My ethnic group is deeply connected to the natural world, believing that we are the guardians of the land and its resources. This teaching has taught me to live in balance with nature, recognizing the intricate web of relationships between humans, animals, and the environment. I learned to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of nature, recognizing its interconnections with all living things.

My worldview has not only changed, but also my actions and decisions have been influenced by these two principles of reverence for nature and ancestors as well as the strength of community. They're a guide to my life's path, serving as a compass. I've been carrying these teachings with me as I go about my life, proudly displaying the Venda heritage and wisdom that they teach.

On the best day of my life by far I woke up as optimistic as ever, this was the beginning of something beautiful. As I usually would the first thing, I did was make my bed and clean my room before proceeding to my skin routine and getting ready. As I was busy running around, I could feel the excitement around the house and that everyone was looking forward to the events of the day.

Leaving the house and getting into the car on our way made everything surreal, I began to feel nervous that the day I had been long waiting for had finally arrived, and upon my return, my life would change forever. When we finally arrived at our destination and saw the big sign at the entrance written ‘labor ward’ it dawned on me that I was going to be a mom, because I had opted for a C-section I was taken to a room where they prepared me for the procedure and took me through how everything is going to work. That was the coldest room I have ever been in even though it was March and very much summer. My mom said the chills came from the fact that I was nervous. On my way to the operating room my heart was pounding but I was excited to finally meet the most important person to me. The doctors were very affirming and made sure I was always comfortable, the conversations we had during the procedure were relaxing and distracted me for a bit.

At exactly 08:13 my baby girl came into the world and from then on, I became the happiest person alive. At first, I did not know how to hold her or even begin to breastfeed, but I miraculously figured it out, it was as if I had developed some sort of superpowers, and I was a brand-new person. I spent the whole day with my baby in my arms, looking into her eyes and I could finally see my heart outside my body, and nothing could ever come close to the joy I felt that day.

Upon reading Wainan’s ‘How to Write about Africa’, I was awoken by how I have been limiting myself by viewing the world through one lance and not exploring other perspectives. The world has so much diversity and is often more complex than we think.

Miner’s ‘Body Ritual Among the Nacirema’ opened my eyes to the fact that I let my culture and beliefs prevent me from exploring other cultural experiences because I deemed it odd. Still, I was just not well informed and let my judgment get the better of me. The Ted talk by Ngozi addressed how we let the narrative we have about things that are foreign influence the perception we have about them because we never take the time to learn and educate ourselves. That leads to the creation of ‘otherness’, I have taken it upon myself to avoid the stereotypes and negative perceptions of other cultures and individuals, but rather fully experience them myself and embrace their diversity and uniqueness. I understand that it all starts with me in creating a society that is inclusive and compassionate to every individual regardless of the differences among us.v