Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Wow that is some deep shit because I see me and my natural hair as a beautiful thing, but yet when I walk down the street, all I get is oh your going natural. No shit, doesn’t it look natural. I catch myself now and then wanting my hair straighten: I don’t know if it is the curiosity of how my hair is growing or the competition of showing my “good hair.” I long for my hair to grow out and be healthy-well just to look and for what? I know I like the object of being able to cut my hair and not feel any connection to it afterwards. Is it the peer-pressure of the desire for long hair that makes me second guess my decision? Funny how when your hair is naturally out and kinky, its not cute because it doesn’t “look done.” Who are you to tell someone that their hair is un-done? Natural is the state that you were blessed with before the chemical treatments and the straightening techniques and before people of color were forced to fit in with the white population. By making a mockery about someone with natural hair is to only make mockery of yourself! Remember your hair was natural before you converted. Now don’t take this as a bashing because hair is hair and as I always say: it’s materialistic and it will grow back. But if you do take offense to this, then it is you I am talking about.




I got Good Hair, I have African in my family. Don’t define beauty from what society has accepted as beautiful. It is in the eye of the beholder and you should embrace who you are. You have all that you have for a reason so, embrace it. Behold that the beauty is you on your worst day and embrace it in all the ways possible. Stay Royal!

Cape Town South Africa Part 2

My desk and furniture TV & VHS player

Wow, my apartment is sweet! I love it! My roommate Kia and unofficial roommate Jaime decides to take a walk into town, we adventure off to the campus and to see the beautiful city. The mountains follow you as you walk through the town, it is absolutely amazing. There are not that many students here because of the break. The world cup just ended yesterday so, there are so many foreigners here. Two blocks away from our apartment complex lies the University of Cape Town. Whoo hoo, we are so excited to journey off to see some new people or anyone outside of the people associated with our program. There are palm trees; South Africa gives you that whole California feel. Well at least in the day time. The scenery is just amazing and traveling with two other adventurous people made it better. As we walked around the campus trying to avoid the construction, we came across a field with a track around it that had a great view. Here you can see the mountain, the city of Cape Town. The high altitude of the school building makes you feel like a god looking over his people. This trip was short because we had to get back for a cultural dinner. In order to get back to the apartment complex, we had to cross a bridge placed over a highway. Check out the view


Even while I am writing this, I still can’t believe I am in Africa!! I am in Africa!!  We get back and meet up with my RA as we travel to the all Africa room to eat “Gatsby “sandwiches with French fries in it. It was great! So, now that everyone has finished eating, it’s time to party. Orientation officially begins tomorrow so, we are all going to go out to party. The RA didn’t suggest it, but we will find our way because Abe was here for a couple of days before us. We go to Long Street which is known for all the student parties and the hang out spot. We take a cab and we wind up going to an Irish Bar known as the Dubliner. The crowd was great because the World Cup just ended and we have a nice group full of people from all over the world. We are dancing, the DJ is singing, and drinks are being brought, the vibe is great! The only problem with this place is that everyone culturally smokes in South Africa so; the cigarette smoke bothers me a lot. I made very good friends with the body guard because I had to constantly come out of the bar to breathe and allow my lungs to get their color back. We left the bar to go and look for somewhere else to go, walking down Long Street; there are so many people with their hand out and you can only give so much. We were instructed not to give anything because just like in the United States, some people use it on drugs and alcohol. After all, we didn’t find anything and we winded up going back to the Dubliner. On our way there, there was a man running after another man who robbed. Boy everything is just done right in the open when you’re outside. Any who, I am tired because I have yet to go to sleep and actually relax so, I don’t want to be here, but I don’t want to be in the house So; because the smoke is so bad, I remain by the door. Here is where I meet a man whose name slips my mind from Nigeria. He is in a band called butt-nutt or something with a butt. Hahahahaha but yea he was very chill and polite, he was very knowledgeable about Nigeria and London. Any who, he leaves to go to the bar and I turn around and there is this huge guy standing in my face. What the Fuck??? Guys here are so aggressive, so he just was way too close because personal space is an issue here, but I don’t like that the guys are so aggressive. Thank god for my roommate because she set him straight. This is definitely was a clue for me to leave. I went back to the apartment and SLEEP IT WAS. Until next time, stay Royal!

MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL

Everyone has a different perspective on money and what it means to them. Here is South Africa, money means a lot to the locals and even to me. There are a number of people in my program that spend money like water and that is their prerogative, but don’t tell me how to spend my money. If I don’t want to get in a cab that is 100rand then don’t tell me I am cheap. I want to spend my money how I want to spend it and that is my business. Based on the fact that we are a big group and we do a lot together, money has become a major issue when it comes to going out. Getting in cabs, DON’T JUST jump out the cab and not pay, like come on. That is ridiculous that I have to collect the money for the cab before we pull over. On top of that, if you’re a dude and you are in a cab with a bunch of females, you should offer to pay for the whole thing instead of jumping out the cab. Another issue with this is that IF I LET YOU HOLD SOME MONEY, I shouldn’t have to beg or even ask for it back. I have learned that dealing with money with different groups cause a lot of confusion. It is not a pretty site, but god will not give you anything you can’t handle right? Don’t let money change who you are and remember, EVERYTHING happens for a reason and you learn from everything!

Not knowing what you have until its gone ---may need a different name
Looking back at my short period of life, I don’t realize how ­well taken care of I am. I know I constantly say that I am well-taken care of, as oppose to saying I am spoiled. But I am really well taken care of! I am in a country that was built off of black slaves and still to this day has black people that are mentally enslaved. We are not verbally told that we-as black people- are unable to do things, but more so shown through the systems. We are challenged more than any of group of people I have seen. We are strong and constantly trying to prove our strength. Any who because I know people get touchy when it comes to racial issues, I will move on. Food for Thought: The best way to approach something is to tackle it head on.

Back to the Well Taken Care of Portion: No, I haven’t been able to take advantage of all of the opportunities thrown towards me, but I am very fortunate and blessed to be able to experience all that I have thus far. I am in South Africa worried about what I am going to do for my 21st birthday. HELLO YOU ARE IN SOUTH AFRICA ERICA, how many people can say they did that? But seriously looking back, I have been and I am still very well taken care of. No, I will not get everything I want the first time I try, but with persistence and determination, anything is possible. So let’s take a look at some fortunes.

School: I live in private housing owned by my all-white private college. I am fortunate to have a scholarship where I don’t have to worry about paying rent and I don’t have to take out massive loans. I am able to go to school for almost free 99. I have two jobs on my campus so; I don’t have to depend on my mother to send money or anyone for that matter. I have been groomed to be independent, but I am still able to have the family support in which a number of people my age are missing. My school has offered me two opportunities and study abroad and I have been able to participate in take both opportunities.

So here I am in South Africa, registered to attend the top school in the continent and I am realizing how inconvenient everything is. Nothing here is taken care of for me, besides the housing. I have to food shop on my own and figure out a way to communicate with the people here because I don’t speak a lick of Africkans, Zulu, Tosa or the rest of the 12 languages spoken here. My American accent definitely helps me to stand out and I am diving into a new culture. I have to pay for internet, to print and there is only the option of a pre-paid phone. I am unable to function without the luxury of my life back home. The transitioning phase is bothering me more than I thought.

We do have a cleaning lady that comes to my apartment every Monday to clean the bathroom and the kitchen, which is definitely different from home. It is not common to tip here when you go anywhere-restaurants, cabs, someone that helps you. Everyone is so pleasant and although I am a black woman, I am still a target. In South Africa, ethnicity is more important than race. Everything is so different and it is sad that I have to go to a third world country to realize I am rich to many and NOT just life as I say, but an all-around rich person. One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. Until next time, stay royal.

The adventures of Chrome:

So although I am in Africa, for some reason, it is hard to find a hip-hop spot, African music, or just a spot with black locals. Who would’ve thought that it would be so difficult to find the black people in Africa? Anyways, as we were getting to know some people and because this is the week of UCT orientation, we have the advantage of asking the local students. We heard a lot of people say “Chrome” on Wednesday night is the place to be so, of course that was my official plan for Wednesday night. Everyone says their down and when it becomes time to go, it winds up only being me, Liana, Kia and Charlie---All the black girls. Moses says “What is this, a black event? Apartheid is over!” It’s so funny how when it comes to mingling with different races, its always the minority’s job to initiate and go along with the majority’s ideas. Well, I am not going to go off on a tangent on that because that would cause for another blog. So, Screw that! Whatever we are going out and if it shall be titled a black event then so be it. So, on Wednesday, the plan is to go to Chrome! So, because IES is so great, we could miss a lot of the UCT orientation, but we went up to the IES office to ask some questions-which showed that we didn’t go to orientation…lol. The point is we tried so, after visiting the IES we go to 2way travel to make our deposit for Shark Cage diving on my 21st birthday. I knew I was crazy, but omg! I have second thoughts after they showed me this.


the hell? Thank God I am economically knowledgeable because there are no refunds for the deposit and I don’t WASTE MONEY. Oh and the water is going to be cold, I hope the water suits are warm. Oh Gosh so, anyways, I am over that! We head down to campus to go food shopping because Charlie is cooking tonight, gosh it feels great to just have someone else cook-I am trying to get everyone’s schedule. LMFAO Anyways, dinner was delicious! We watched bringing down the house as we ate and then it was time to get ready. So it is now about 6pm and Liana has to go home to get ready and then me Charlie and kia have to get ready. Charlie and Kia walk Liana home because now all the sudden, I take the longest to get ready….lol Anyways so we all get ready and dressed up---which we haven’t really done much since we been here. The first 100 guests to Chrome get in free, we want to be that but Chrome opens at 10pm and we just missed the Jammie that we need to get on and it is 8:45. So, we are trying to figure out the schedule because it is in military time and there are a number of different stops. Anyways, I ask one of the security guys for help and he goes into the office so, I am assuming, he doesn’t know what I am asking him. Who knew that my American English accent would be a language barrier? Anyways as inpatient as we are, we begin to head back home, its not our night to go out. As we begin to walk away, the security guard come out and says he called the bus shuttle for us. We lose kia because she is tired so, now we skeptically wait for the shuttle as this guy decides to come up to use and talk to us—the same liana was just laughing at for the way he was eating an ice-cream cone. Anyways, the shuttle comes in time for kia to call us to see if we got on the bus. The bus driver looks angry and in a hurry, as he speeds and slide on the bus, we talk. He turns around and yells that he needs quiet because he is driving. How ironic and random at the same time. We finally make it to LONG STREET—the place to be in Cape Town, yea I know I said I wasn’t coming back, but this is a new club. Anyways as we arrive, you cant hear any music and we are now late so, we paid $60rand to get in. Oh gosh, I hope I am not disappointed!!..........to my surprise it was a beautiful site to see. Liana brought two rounds of shots-tequila and sour apple for $1 rand and the party begins. The guys were dancing-wayy more than American dudes and no one was shy. This was definitely worth $60 rand and I was with some locals and I had the time of my life. this was the first time since I been here that I was tired and ready to go because I was dancing so much. Chrome is definitely the spot. Any who we met up with some people after so, the cab was super cheap! We dropped liana off as me and Charlie are left in the car with a bunch of drunks-who confessed that they didn’t have any money once we got to Dunvegan. They got me once, not again! Me and Charlie hopped out like we were 007 spies. See ya later sucker and that was the night. Stay Royal

Day 2

Day 2: July 13, 2010
We got to sleep in today. Orientation is tomorrow at 8am which is like 2am in NYC. Oh gosh, the time difference is so crazy thanks to the equator. I was happy to have the opportunity to sleep, but of course I am up at 8am. I wanted to eat or go food shopping to spice up that kitchen of ours but I wine up going back to sleep at 9:30 and woke up to a number of text messages to go in town to the store. Since my house woke up late and we were hungry, we decided to go to town around 11am to get something to eat before we had to meet up with the IES staff. We have a session on why we chose Cape Town and some goals and aspirations that we each would like to obtain. This is when I realized that the program does a lot for you but the adventurous stuff I heard about depends on you to accomplish them. After the session with the financial advisor, we go on a tour of the campus-what the RA finds to be important- and I forgot my camera so, I am in a million of my fellow study abroad student’s camera. The school was created by a white racist man and was build so high so the white people can feel as if they are looking down on the black slaves. A number of the black sports (soccer) are not very popular in South Africa because it is known as a game that hooligans play. The World Cup 2010 united a number of different people from all different races and backgrounds. The school was once an all white boy’s school and once girls became a part of the school, the campus was divided in half. Now there are two dorms on campus, boys and the girl’s dorm. The joke of the school is that behind Jameson hall is the backyard of Rhodes. Although Rhodes was such a horrible man, he gains much respect for UCT. We take a break after we are able to see the “great white people” of Cape Town and discuss the government and different politic of the country. Some things I learned: Nelson Mandela’s wife was the first lady of two different countries and the only woman in history to do that. There are a lot of refugees that come to South Africa and there are taxes that are placed on them. A lot of the Africans here are from different countries in the continent of Africa. There are also a lot of people from Europe. We went to Eastern Bazaar to eat Indian and Chinese food before we take the walk around town known as the “Freedom Walk.” We walked for approximately 2.5 hrs exploring what Cape Town had to offer. We went through some historical monuments, saw the parliament, some African art and went through national parks. The squirrels come up to you here-my unofficial roommate Jaime touched one. Wow, never even would’ve thought of going next to it. We saw the Parliament which switches every 6months between Victoria and South Africa. so no one is here right now, but it the architecture is amazing. As we walked around there are images of AMAZING Trees and Street art. There is a tree that looks like there is a monkey in it. The street art is everywhere you walk, there is so much culture just walking down the street. This was my favorite art work that I have seen thus far. Everything is AMAZING here. But that’s all for now, until next time, stay royal!


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Day 4 & 5

Day 4: Thursday July 15, 2010
So today was different, I am absolutely exhausted. I got up at 6am because it was one of those bathroom visits that wouldn’t go away so I had to get up. As I woke up, the floor was freezing because although I have the smaller room, the electric heater works when it wants. IES orientation is almost over, thank god because this 8am stuff is not working out too well for me. Although UCT orientation starts at 8am also, we get a break on Saturday. We have been partying EVERY night since we have been here and I am very sleepy deprived. Anyways so today we were late again; everything here is on time when it comes to the professor’s time. Naomi gets upset when we are late and although we arrive right on time, by the time we get our food, we have to rush to eat it. So, as a group, we need to work on getting up earlier because we are making my RA look really bad. Breakfast was pretty good and you can’t complain when it free, but we had keesh. We didn’t have to share the room with the Franklin and Marshall Students so there was little more room. We sat and met the teachers that will teach the 6credit IES courses and spoke to Nick about the program and Cape Town as a whole. We then had finger food for lunch on campus at the restaurant in the Baxter theatre. It was DELICIOUS: shrimp, egg rolls, shish kebobs, and sandwiches with fresh juice. I have yet to be given water here, but dehydration is even worse. So, after lunch you are free unless you are in social development class. Of course this is the class I’m in. So my day will be extended even though I am struggling to keep my eyes open. Anywho, we go to the Amy beilh foundation and the carpenter’s shop where we saw people that worked with kids and people that work with homeless adults. Both foundations sound great! I am glad that I chose a class where I can help out people in the neighborhood. After this adventure, I took a nap and of course it was back to the club. Long Street and Alcohol…Great. That’s all for now, until next time.

Cost Of Living in South Africa

Day 6: July 17, 2010
Today was very chill, there are two girls in our program whose birthday is today, but the plans are not definite. I am woken up early by my RA being a creeper and knocking on my window. As he knocks and screams out my name, in my half sleeping stage, I am sliding off the bed as if he can see me because I don't catch his voice and my window is very high which means someone climbed up to knock on it. I get up to open the door and his arms are through the gates knocking on the door. Boy was that some creeper performance. Anyways, it has become routine for him to come and knock on the door and wake me up by saying 5minutes we are leaving. Today is Saturday and everything is optional and I am running out of Rand. OMG, I have spent over $100 American dollars since I been here already. DON’T judge yet, let me explain. The first day, the phone was $1105rand for the next five months, I brought some groceries-oranges, oatmeal, turkey sandwich meat for 125 rand and I cashed $100 USD in the airport which takes a commission so, I only got 620rand and I am running out. We have been eating out, cabbing it both ways and paying cover fees for some BULLSHIT ASS clubs. Any who so today we went as a group in town to the Farmer’s market know as the biscuit mill


 to get something to eat. This place had a number of local people selling food, freshly squeezed juices, organic tea, clothes and shoes (handcrafted). It was such an amazing experience as we circled the area and sampled a number of foods. We sat down on hay stacks to eat; the pomegranate juice and gyro was delicious. The fruits and ice were blended right in front of you and the gyro included freshly baked bread and freshly There was an ATM and since my mom told me that I will not be charged any international fees, I decided to stick with TD bank and not open a bank account with a local bank here. The Rand is still a little bit confusing, but I am getting the hang of it. We went to El Fiesta


and it was an amazing restaurant and then it was sleep time. Today was mellow and I loved it because I was tired as hell. Until next time, stay Royal!

Cape Town South Africa

So, it’s my senior year of college at Ithaca and I decided to go abroad to Cape Town for the fall semester. I have a lot of electives to take before I graduate so, WHY NOT go somewhere in the motherland? Why not go to a place where I am not considered a minority because of the color of my skin? Although Cape Town is known as the “white part” of Africa, I am sure this country will be full of rich history. After all, it is Africa-where I believe all men were created

Day 1 July 12, 2010


My mom, Me, Boyfriend, My brother and his girlfriend all head out to JFK to catch my 11am flight. I am so tired! I was at my boyfriend house the night before getting permed hair cut off and my hair straightened so I could look half way decent before I meet all of the new people in South Africa. Well my hair is about 7inches shorter and usually this would make me cry, but I can see how mature I have become. Now, Back to the airport. I tell my mom we should arrive at the airport by 9 so, I can give myself 2hrs ahead of time for customs and check in. We all get in the car and I am on my mother’s phone since my phone got cutoff on Saturday Night. I am saying my last goodbyes and we arrive to the airport in an 1/2hour. I get out the car and look at the time and it is 8:30!!! Really mom?? I could’ve slept for another hour…lol. We walk in and I check right in and they instantly check my bags—no baggage fees and no baggage limit—yes even though I only had 2 suitcases. My family can walk in with me all the way to customs—yes, because I had no idea what I was going to do for 2.5-so we sit and talk, eat, and joke around as I prepare myself for this big journey by myself. I give my hugs as it is time to check in and My mom says “I love you and Don’t talk to strangers” lol….Mom everyone in South Africa will be a stranger if I don’t talk to them…


•Plane


I decided to take the shortest trip I could find, with the least amount of transfers and I heard very good things about South African Airways so, here is a picture of the plane, the excitement of flying for 13.45 minutes. This has to be the best airlines I have ever been on; I mean the experience was AMAZING!!! Constantly fed! I mean real food and not some pretzels or cracker stuff, but food. Snack was a turkey and mozzarella –we were served snacks twice- with organic fruit juice. We had lunch fish and rice with cabbage and mixed vegetables with lemon pie and shredded coconut, we then had chicken and rice with mixed vegetables, then we had breakfast strawberry pancakes with orange juice. Not only was the food delicious but the flight attendant was AMAZING, she definitely knows how to treat customers. So, I know a number of you are probably wondering what did I do for 14hrs? My plan was to go to sleep for 8hrs and then read, but I only slept for about 2hrs and the rest of the time I was entertained. The airlines had all of the new albums, tv shows, movies and games. This airline even provided you with a pillow and blanket. I was more comfortable than I have ever been in my history of flying-which has been a lot recently.


So I am having this long plane ride so, of course I have to meet someone. Olivia

Me and Olivia in Johannesburg Airport

She sits next to me and we are both studying abroad in Cape Town, but of course we are in different programs. It was great to have someone to talk to that was my age and for support because something crazy always follows me. That’s why as my friend Fulton says “Royal always has a story to tell.” As we are on the plane, we are sitting directly across from a senior citizen couple and the elderly man just stops breathing as we are two hours away from landing in Joburg airport. The paramedics were requested and a doctor, this man has to suffer for 2hrs as he fights for his life and as he has ran through 6 oxygen containers and 2 not working properly. Boy was this is a frightening experience. As we land in Johannesburg, we are searching for directions to grab our bags and re-check them. As we come off the plane, we have to get on a shuttle because the airport is far. It is 32degrees in Jo-burg. We were freezing, my winter boots that my brother teased me about having was the greatest decision I made yet. We then go to call or parents by using a credit card on a pay phone. Who would have thought? That probably cost an arm and a leg. We depart and I am alone again, but thank god I meet someone else Laura. She fun and outgoing and we sat together as she tried to figure out if she could ride with me. Yes, we have our bags and I go to exchange money so I can get home. I am greeted by Amari, an RA for the IES program and we are off. I am in Africa-boy I could only dream of me saying that. This place is beautiful. I am excited to see my apartment and what was left for me as a room since both of my roommates arrived before me. Dunvegan Gardens! As I arrive, my RA greets me and carries my bags upstairs, I can’t wait to meet my roommates.



A snap shot of My bathroom


My door entrance



My apartment complex


My kitchen, yes washing machine


Walking in my room


My bed- The heater and I have become great friends