Tales from Abroad is an ongoing section in which Gustavus students share the highlights of their study abroad experiences.

Hello from hot and humid South Africa!  I have decided to spend my Junior spring semester studying Community Health and Social Policy in South Africa with SIT.  I have already discovered that it’s one thing to travel abroad, climbing mountains and seeing the country, but it’s quite another to climb society’s mountains.  My program has imbedded me within the local culture by placing me in the township home of a family.  My family speaks primarily Zulu, and I have had just four Zulu classes so far.

Using these expansive language skills, I took to the neighborhood to meet people.  About half of the people that I greet with “Sawubona” chuckle at me while they return my greeting.  Now, I might not know a lot of words yet, but I have the pronunciation of that one down.  So why are these friendly people laughing at me?  They are surprised that an obvious outsider is in a township speaking their mother tongue to them.  Most white South Africans don’t speak Zulu, especially on the streets of a township.  This raises their curiosity about why I’m there.  The fact that I came from the United States, chose to live here, and want to learn more about their culture makes them happy—happy enough to share some stories with me.

Even when language is a barrier, laughing is universal.  The other night my host nephew was showing me a traditional Zulu culture dance.  This dance involves a lot of heavy foot stomping and swinging legs.  Once he swung his leg too fast, and he ended up on his butt.  He couldn’t stop laughing and neither could we!  But our laughter encouraged him so he did it again and again.

One of my biggest worries about coming to live with a South African family was that I would unknowingly do something culturally offensive.  But in order to really learn a new language or culture, you need to be willing to laugh and be laughed at.  When I say a Zulu word incorrectly, my mama smiles, and I try again.  Laughter is so much better than not even trying.  I’m going to spend my next three months in South Africa learning, laughing, and enjoying this beautiful country.

-Kyra Wicklund