Studying abroad and having to come back home...

whoop whoop you go girl!!!

Today I want to introduce you to my friend Sunshynec, Sunshynec has been my friend for as long as I can remember, but only recently have we started having the kind of conversations that truly reveal who she is and how her mind functions, I must say its been a wonderful experience getting to know her all over again.

She is going to take us through the journey of studying abroad and then having to come back home.

1. First you have to answer the big Whys
- Why did you decide to go, what? Were the Zim varisities not good enough?

I went to a local Bulawayo primary school. After primary school, I was all excited to go off to Masvingo to boarding school.  All my siblings, cousins etc went to Victoria High School in Masvingo so I just assumed the natural progression was for me to follow. But that didn’t happen. My siblings’ guilt (at least that’s what I call it), their guilt for leaving home and leaving my mum was the result of me spending yet another 6 years in Bulawayo. I never got the chance to go to boarding school and experience sadza and beans or cabbage and ice cream for Sunday lunch. I really wanted to go to boarding school and when I realised that my mum was making plans for me to attend NUST (another local production) I fought hard! I wanted to get away from home so badly. My mum grew up in a different era. Where things like movies and parties were not an integral part of a child’s upbringing. I was not to go to the movies or go watch the cricket at Queens or attend any sporting events/social events etc . SO I fought hard because I wanted to get away from home and luckily for me, my brother was willing to pay my fees so I went off to Cape Town. It had nothing to do with Zimbabwean universities not being good enough. That thought never occurred to me. And I dint mind. My siblings went to Zimbabwean universities and they got a good education and hold great jobs today. I knew that if I was not going out of the country, I would go to NUST.

- Why did you come back?

I came back because I could not get a job in SA. I went for a lot of interviews but when it came down to the work permit issue, I was always on the losing side. I could have gotten my papers through “other means” but I did not want to do anything illegal so I chose to come back home and try my luck here.

2. What did you miss the most when you were away? and dont say your family thats just so cliché

When I was away, I did not miss much. I had everything I needed in SA. Family, friends, a new life! I was happy and I was getting to learn who I really was and what I liked without the influences of my mother or an aunt or that lady from church. Of course there were times when I just wanted that hug from a friend who knew me since the day I walked into school bright eyed but all I had to do was pick up the phone or go onto facebook...

3. What do you miss (from SA) now that you are back?

I miss the hustle and bustle of always having something to do. There was always something to do on any day of the week and it was not necessarily associated with consuming tons of alcoholic beverages. I miss taking random walks at night on campus or getting on the shuttle and going to other residences just for the fun of it. I miss going to the beach and going to Rhodes Memorial for picnics. I miss going for summer concerts at Kirstenbosch gardens but most of all I miss the freedom. Coming back to my mother’s house and having to abide by her rules after spending 5 years doing your own thing is still a bit of a challenge (hence my plans to move out soon *fingers crossed*)

4. Be totally honest with me and my readers; do you think you are better than us who attained their degrees here in Zim (giving her the look)

At NO point have I considered myself better than other because I got to go to SA for varsity! I was awarded a chance to get away from home and I grabbed it with both hands, all my toes, eyelids and everything else.

5. What has been the hardest part about moving back to zim

I would have to say staying at home. My siblings are cool. If I want to go out, I would go. If I want to go spend the weekend in Joburg at a friend’s house, I would go. I remember when I had just started working. I finish work at five and if I wasn’t home by 6pm, my phone would be ringing off the hook – my mum, asking where I am, what time I’m going to get home etc. If I went into town on weekends she would want to tag along and wait for me while I checked my mail, saw friends etc. From being carefree, coming home at whatever time and doing what I wanted when I wanted to having to someone always on your case about your time – that’s the hardest part.

6. Do you see yourself going back?

Now I go to SA to visit. Would I go back? Maybe. But I want to see the rest of world. There is more out there than Table Mountain. I have already given SA 5 years of my life. There is still the rest of Africa, Europe, Asia, America etc that need to be discovered...

7. How do you respond when people here back home get together and talk about the hardships of 2008. because i am thinking you cant plead ignorance because you are a zimbabwean but at the same time you cant be talking too much because you werent there?

2008 was hard on everyone. Whether you were in Zim or not. What I hate is how those Zimbos who were around act like the rest of us who were not in Zim at that time have no right to be upset over what happened. In 2008 my mum went from being a size 44 to a size 40. Now, somebody tell me I have no right to be upset! So while I was not here at home during that time, I felt it too. People discuss it but I don’t speak... I listen. I try to see life through their eyes.  There have been some random nights while chilling with some friends that they explain to me what truly happened and how they got through that time. It was rough on everyone!

8. I am sure at that time alot of jokes and exaggerated facts were made about Zimbabwe in SA. what would your reaction be?

People assume South Africans used Zimbabwe as the butt of every joke but it was not like that. At least not among my peer groups.  My circle of friends was concerned about my family and friends and the situation back home in Zim. Maybe they made the jokes behind my back but they are not those kind of people. It was more them trying to understand what was happening more than anything else...

9. Tell me you learnt at least one language

Ummmm, well, NO. My friends spoke Pedi, Setswana, Xhosa, Zulu etc  around me but I never learned how to speak them. I can say a few phrases in Setswana and I can pick up on a few words but that’s about it... Xhosa and Zulu are close to Ndebele so I can pick up on a few things there as well...

10. I know (experience) that the SA night life is far more vibrant than the Zim night life. why do  you think its like that?

I don’t know why it works out like that. We have just as many eager people here as in SA but somehow the SA night life always seems to be more active. Perhaps entrepreneurs haven’t realised just how much zimbos love to party? (although I doubt this) or perhaps we don’t have enough variety ( at least in Bulawayo)... I have no idea hey!

11. I wouldnt be a girl if i didn’t ask- SA men VS zim men

Neither lol

12. Craziest thing you’ve done in SA

I got a tattoo 

13.0Nicest club you’ve been to

Taboo in sandton...

that's ma girl Sunshynec

 You can catch her over at her blog right here