MA MASHANGOANE
Beliefs that shaped my world view
18 May 2024, 19:56
Growing up, I learned that everyone around me was respectful and my parents continued and fostered respect to me, they taught me to respect ancestors and everyone regardless their age, by doing so it is believed that one will gain blessings and increase days of living.
Other belief as a pedi is that for a man to be a man and gain the title of a man must undergo a circumcision ritual that is performed in a nonclinical setting on the mountain or bush for a period of 5 weeks in winter seasons, otherwise your are not a man no matter your age unless you go there.
Actiity 2. A Day in my life
5 May 2024, 15:37
My day starts off with a very loud creepy sound of my alarm from my phone, forcing me to wake up.
I go straight to the bathroom to poop, thereafter take a refreshing shower. After that, it's time to dig into yesterday's leftovers for a quick breakfast before heading to campus.
I attend two lectures. After that, I head straight back to my res, so I crash for a nap to recharge my energy.
After a solid nap, I wake up feeling much better. It's time to make something to eat, so I hit the kitchen and whip up a simple meal.
After eating, I settle in for a cozy chat with my girlfriend via video call. We laugh and share stories, making the distance between us feel a little smaller. It's the highlight of my day, for sure. After that I wind down with a assignments if i have one before drifting off to sleep.
Activity 1
5 May 2024, 15:07
In the readings, people show how words can make others seem different. Like in Binyavanga Wainaina's story where he tells about how people see Africa. He points out how they often talk about poverty, wild animals. It's like making fun of how people see Africa in a limited way.
Horace Miner does a similar thing in his story. He talks about American habits in a strange way, making them seem exotic like they're from another planet. It's meant to show how people can make anything seem weird if they talk about it in a certain way.
In TEDTalks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Chimene Bart-Williams, they talk about how stories shape our ideas. Adichie says hearing only one story about a place or person isn't fair. Bart-Williams says we need to change how we talk about things to be more inclusive.
I realize I might have some preconceived notions too. Sometimes I might think certain groups are all the same, which isn't true. Other times, I might believe in stereotypes, like thinking all people from a certain place are good at one thing or bad at another.
It's important to remember that everyone is different, and we shouldn't judge based on what we think we know. By learning more about different cultures and perspectives, we can understand each other better and break down harmful stereotypes.