A Year Abroad

zuky: thisisjamaica: African restaurateur brings a...

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:13:38 -0500

thisisjamaica:

African restaurateur brings a slice of Jamaican cuisine to Beijing

Born in Africa, brought up in Europe and living in China, it’s obvious that any restaurant you open would sell Jamaican food! Rose Lin Zamoa, the 34-year-old Afro-haired proprietor of the tiny Beijing restaurant in Andingmen called Jamaica Me Crazy, is quite the entrepreneur, as this article from China Daily reports. [Our thanks to Peter Jordens for bringing this article to our attention.]

The “110 percent African” from Ghana came to the capital from her adopted home in London about five years ago to further her Mandarin studies and is now cooking up a storm.

“I was very interested in languages and I heard at my college in England that there was an enrichment program to study Chinese here,” says Rose. “Though I was above the age limit, I managed to get through eventually.

“I studied full time for two-and-a-half years and whilst studying I used to cook on weekends for my classmates (at Beijing International Studies University). Then some of them became so sick and…”

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This is a woman who knows what she wants to do and I love that quality. She ran into some serious setbacks along the way, if you read the article, but she has found a way to persevere and make things happen regardless. She’s also not afraid to make her next move, something which holds back so many people.

Rose Lin Zamoa’s own words, from the linked article:

“It’s been five years, and to summarize everything, generally the Chinese are very nice people. I used to teach English and became very close to my students and I met some really great Chinese people through that,” she says. “Everybody is so very helpful. Whenever I need something, or help in some matter, they are always there to assist.

“What I also like is that it is also very safe here, I feel very secure walking down the streets at night, and that is something I didn’t always feel while living in London. It’s a great environment. […]

“I have pretty much set up the business where it can run without me. I brought someone from Ghana to do what I do so I can leave China. Don’t get me wrong, I love the country, but I got what I came here for and that was the language.

“I’m going to stick around for a while. Ultimately, I’d like to have a few small shops around Asia, patty shops with maybe some jerk chicken to go.

“But, I want to venture outside of Beijing to see what is out there. I would hopefully go somewhere like Jamaica, where my father’s father was born. I very much want to go and live there and send stuff back to Asia and check the cash every now and then,” she says with a grin.

“St. Kitts and Nevis is very appealing. It’s so small and quiet. I would like to settle there, the beautiful weather and the food, oh my! It’s a paradise, who wouldn’t want to live there?”

Setting up her business network to run without her physical presence, envisioning her next steps in career and in life, planning her dream home in the most beautiful tropical island imaginable…yeah. Smart woman.

I’m going to try to find Jamaica Me Crazy next time I’m in Beijing. If she’s still there, I’ll get to tell her that I read about her on tumblr.

Chinese culture "Lao wai" explained — 老外

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:57:47 -0400

Chinese culture "Lao wai" explained — 老外:

studymorechinese:

An interesting post if you have ever wondered how & why the term “Lao wai” is used in Chinese and you can find out whether or not it’s ‘offensive’.

Post originally published on Study More Chinese Blogs

“South Africa is good for us” - refugees

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:00:44 -0400

“South Africa is good for us” - refugees:

peopleofthesouth:

Refugees and homeless people who have left their countries of birth and are now living in towns such as Musina, Makhado and Giyani spoke out during the World Refugee Day function held at the Seshego Stadium on Saturday.

One of the refugees and a mother of three children, Yusra Mohamed (30), from Mogadishu in Somalia, said she came to South Africa in 2000, after war had erupted in her country. Due to certain difficulties, her family members had to separate and went to Ethopia, Kenya, Europe and even the USA to get to places of safety.

A happy Mohamed said that she felt at home in South Africa because she was married and blessed with three children, Zahra (4), Saadiq (7) and Sadaat Mohamed (10). “South Africa provides to me and my children, all born in Polokwane, a roof over our head, a meal on the table and a future far brighter than that of many other refugees.” She said it was painful when she left her country and to be separated from loved ones.

She also revealed that her challenge was criminal elements in communities who targeted the most vulnerable members of the community, both hosts and migrants. “South Africa is a free country, compared to other countries, and we still need more safety and security from the police,” she added.

The MEC for Safety and Security, Ms Florence Radzilani, who officiated on behalf of Premier Cassel Mathale, said that any person perpetrating acts of violence against refugees would be arrested and punished. “We are urging our communities to work together with all refugees to make our country and the continent prosperous. We should leave this occasion with a renewed energy to create a conducive environment for refugees to reside in our province without any intimidation,” Radzilani said.

When someone refers to Africa as a country

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:35:19 -0400

whatshouldafricacallme:

I’m just like,

Reintegrating

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:05:45 -0400

Honestly, I’m not doing too well with the transition home, which is something I sort of feared that would happen. I miss African sunsets and Chinese food. I am desperately awaiting my next indication to start my visa, program email, or opportunity to get on a plane and go anywhere but here.

This is what they don’t really warn you about, it’s briefly mentioned but not delved into. I think it may be worse for those of us that caught the wanderlust bug. All of a sudden not knowing the next time you will leave or get to have that wonderful new experience is absolutely heart breaking.

foreignknot: As a prerequisite for me studying abroad, the...

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 00:45:04 -0400

Stair master

Great Wall of China

Hua Shan

Lion's Head

Snow Mt.

Table Mt.

Climbing down the Gorge

Lion's Head

Table and Lions

Devil's Peak

foreignknot:

As a prerequisite for me studying abroad, the country apparently must have major tourist attractions that involve climbing for hours to see the view of what you just spent hours climbing. For example: anywhere you go in China. At all. My friend likes to say the Chinese invented the stair master.

Then there’s the triumvirate of mountains in Cape Town. Lion’s Head, Devil’s Peak, and Table Mountain. All climbed have been climbed, but I must return some day to hike the Twelve Apostles.

Yet Again managed to post this on my private blog instead of my abroad one =]

Almost the end

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 04:35:04 -0400

And it’s almost time to say goodbye to this entire year. I am just not ready yet.

"You know you’ve been in China too long when you look 6 different ways while crossing the street."

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:06:16 -0400

“You know you’ve been in China too long when you look 6 different ways while crossing the street.”

- Study More Chinese Blogs (via studymorechinese)

While hiking down Devil’s Peak we thankfully got a great...

Thu, 31 May 2012 15:48:55 -0400

While hiking down Devil’s Peak we thankfully got a great view of the sunset behind Lion’s Head.

The Final Sunsets I’ve decided, with limited time left...

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:01:52 -0400

Devil's Peak

Right before the sun disappeared

The Final Sunsets

I’ve decided, with limited time left here, I am going to try and capture every sunset till I leave on the 9th (I think I’ll wake up early and get the sunrise that day).

There is nothing more beautiful than an African sunset.

I’ve been listening to a particular playlist lately as well. Knowing I am leaving soon as put me in a strange mood. I’ll post it later, I think.

Home Stretch

Sat, 26 May 2012 07:59:02 -0400

So it’s coming up on the next few weeks and I’m in awe of my list of things I still need to do… or want to do again. Hiking Devil’s Peak is going to be necessary, as well as a list of museums I haven’t been even near yet. I am done with two finals already, with one more to go, and all my final papers (which are totally irrelevant in terms of percentage) are handed in. This week is going to be a week of doing everything that Cape Town has to offer that I haven’t yet done (if I can even attempt to fit them all in!).

This week there have been some magnificent sunsets over the mountain, which I can thankfully see from my dorm room. It’s like the city is saying goodbye to all of us, sappy I know, but it reminds me about the beautiful parts of this country. It’s going to be weird to wake up every morning and not see a huge mountain outside my window (instead it will be the National Cathedral when I walk to school, not really complaining).

Other than that, I’m also appreciating the cultural and political side of the city. My advanced SA politics class has made my hyper aware of somethings, such as opinions of the ANC and Zuma, as well as the affirmative action here. This is especially relavent at UCT, where there have been race debates on whether or not race should be a proxy for acceptance. A South African friend of mine once said that Americans know what’s going on in Africa more than the Africans (not true at all), but I think that’s only reflective of the interest in the similarities and differences between our politics. Our affirmative actions are similar, yet different, since in the United States it’s regarding minority groups, and in South Africa it’s the majority that has been oppressed. Here’s a demonstration by SASCO, a student organization, to keep race a proxy at UCT.

My favorite debacle to follow at the moment is the Zuma painting scandal. Here’s a link to an article that shows the original painting before it was vandalized “to prevent a civil war.”

Crowds Watch Zuma Painting Case on Big Screens

The painting, called “The Spear,” showed Zuma in a business suit with a certain appendage hanging out of his pants. It was then vandalized, paint smeared over the offensive area. Zuma is a controversial figure already and fighting to protect his dignity versus freedom of expression has been an interesting debate, especially considering Zuma’s history.

Other than that, I’ve really been doing a food and drink tour of Cape Town. Sushi, Ethiopian Food, Hout Bay Market, and of course Old Biscuit Mill. We also did high tea at Mt. Nelson Hotel! Well, we really just did the breakfast version, which was still lovely (and so filling!).

I am now in freak out mode for leaving. I am not sure if it’s leaving Cape Town or going back to America. Until then, I am going to keep smiling and enjoy my last two weeks… and hopefully survive my last exam!

Bungee jumping in Africa

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:18:38 -0400

whatshouldafricacallme:

What I thought I looked like,

What I actually looked like,

Jumping off High things and a Lack of Internet

Sun, 13 May 2012 05:20:56 -0400

Yet again, South African internet and Chinese internet battle for the hardest thing for my American self to deal with. I tend to just feel super disconnected from the rest of the world without it, which I know is a dreadful thing in retrospect, but alas. I now waste most of my money at Coco Cha Chi for internet, since I hit my internet cap in a record 7 days this month. :) But anyways, that would explain the lack of blog posts. Last I was talking about Victoria Falls, but I’m going to mix this up and just make it “That Time Caitlin Jumped Off Some High Things.”

So for all those who know me personally, I have been dying to bungee jump since… well since I could articulate to my mother that I had no survival instincts. South Africa is home to the world’s highest bridge bungee jump and Victoria Falls was in the news last year for when a girl’s chord snapped on her second bounce. Now, I didn’t do the bungee at Vic Falls, but I did do the gorge swing, which I’ve been told is better than the bungee there and definitely has a longer free fall.

The girls that went before Ashley and I were crying, but I’m not sure I ever really stopped smiling. This was my first experience with free fall, I was a little worried I would hate it. False. Finally being able to jump off something was a huge sense of fulfillment.

So, I knew I was going to love the Bloukrans jump. HOWEVER, Bloukrans is so much higher. It is 216m above the river (it looks nothing like a river). I have been dying to this since I signed up for the Cape Town program. We did it during our Garden Route weekend. Thankfully, my friend Gina was freaking out, which kept me from freaking out as well. You get to watch the jumps from a pub across from the bridge before you go- I’m not sure if that helps the nerves at all. Anyways, Gina did hers and came up with a smile on her face right before mine. Everyone who works there is so great… although they told me to stop dancing and listen to their safety issues. I’m excited to try and go back (the second time you can go backwards!)

This may be my favorite tourist thing I have done in South Africa so far. However, it’s back to the grindstone. I told myself I wanted an academic semester in Cape Town, and I am at the point where research papers are happening. American University just graduated, and I don’t even have my last final until June 5th! I miss US academics though, it’s a weird thing to want at the moment. Advanced South African Politics still has proven to be my most difficult class. I definitely think of the world in international relations terms; I am horrible at domestic politics.

So back to the every day life in Cape Town: trying to deal with racism, sexism, poverty, and crime, while loving the friendliness of the people here, the beauty of the scenery, and the chance to have a new adventure.

kilele: Aerial view of Cape Town at Night, South Africa Photo...

Sun, 06 May 2012 14:14:40 -0400

kilele:

Aerial view of Cape Town at Night, South Africa

Photo by Island Chic

When I win a bargain battle at the market

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:32:06 -0400

whatshouldafricacallme:

On the outside I’m like,

But on the inside I’m like,

Live In The Now Now: Hot Water at Farmhouse Rocks (21 April)

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:42:37 -0400

Live In The Now Now: Hot Water at Farmhouse Rocks (21 April):

liveinthenownow:

The first time I saw Hot Water I quite literally danced my panda-suit off. Since that night of South African-flavored energy at the Flamjangled Tea Party, I’ve been burning to see these guys again; I was psyched when I realized I’d get to dance my day away with them at the recently endangered…

PS PEOPLE! If you like South Africa and you like music… specifically around Cape Town, PLEASE check out my friend’s blog!! She’s doing an awesome job describing some of the cool venues and bands she’s been seeing around here!

Photo

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:53:01 -0400

visual-poetry: “dong, xi, nan, bei (E,W,S,N)” by su-mei tse

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:28:03 -0400

visual-poetry:

“dong, xi, nan, bei (E,W,S,N)” by su-mei tse

Driving in Africa Playlist: 1. Gotye ft. Kimbra: Somebody That...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:29:00 -0400

Driving in Africa Playlist:

1. Gotye ft. Kimbra: Somebody That I Used To Know

2. Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele: When You Were Mine (Prince Cover)

3. Young the Giant: Cough Syrup

4. The Black Keys: Lonely Boy

5. Yveis Klein Blue: Polka

6. Elliott Brood: Valley Town

7. Milkman: Look Around

8. Goodwill Hook ‘N’ Sling: Take You Higher

9. Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith: Not in Love

10. Goldspot: Float On

11. Atomic Tom: Don’t You Want Me

12. The Drums: Me and the Moon

13. Matt Costa: Mr. Pitiful

14. Eric Prydz: Call on Me

15. GroupLove: Colours

16. Zox: A Little More Time

17. AWOLNation: Not Your Fault

18. Florence & the Machine: Kiss With a Fist

19. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros: 40 Day Dream

20. Band of Horses: Is There a Ghost?

21. Fleet Foxes: Mykonos

Victoria Falls. One of the Wonders of the World. One of the most...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:52:26 -0400

Victoria Falls. One of the Wonders of the World. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. This is why I chose a year abroad.