Compiling My Freedom.....

I haven't posted anything for about two weeks and I do apologize for my lack of activity. It was due to a certain amount of blogger block and the fact that my vacation work exceeded all expectations and kept me busy for the two weeks.

The vacation program was a mixture of hard work and fun. It didnt mask the fact that the life of an attorney/lawyer in a big firm is not a easy ride and you have to be prepared to work extremely hard if you intend to make it in a world where you cant afford to blink, without being eaten alive. I was under no illusions that this was the case as everything in this world worth having is an uphill battle and is never easy. You have to struggle for success and take the knocks one blow at a time and be ready to lift your head and be counted when the going gets tough.

This corporate environment is daunting however I enjoyed every moment. We (the vac students) were taken as colleagues and not subordinates. I got a hands on experience of what awaits me. The 2 weeks has helped me focus and realize that even though the stress and the long work hours are a drawbacks its what I want to do. Its in front of me now and all I have to do is grab it with both hands and I intend doing that.

I also got to meet alot of new people, made tons of new friends and even had the privileged of chatting to Justice Yvonne Mokgoro of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she is an amazing person, the type that grabs your undivided attention the minute they open their mouths, a truly inspirational person. If you are in Johannesburg and havent visited the constitutional court and the surrounding museum (being the old fort prison where both Mandela and Gandhi were imprisoned) then I strongly suggest you do as it truly reminds you what it is to be South African and that we owe our freedom to so many brave souls that gave their lives so that we could enjoy ours.

The Constitutional Court was definitely a highlight of the two weeks and is something ill never forget. It shows one how far South Africa has come from being divided by the colour line. People who say "Nothing has changed" are ignorant of the fact that today we dont have to carry a "pass" to move around, we can go and use any facility without seeing signs saying "white only", even sitting on a bench was segregated. We are free and some of us take that freedom for granted. We must always look to the future without forgetting the past for it is where we come from and shows us where we should be going.

The great selection of art work at the Constitutional Court is amazing and one in particular stuck with me. Its called 'The Blue Dress' by Judith Mason. Listening to a radio report on the commission, Mason was moved by a story about an African woman whose body had been discovered after the security police had executed her. Her body was found naked in a shallow grave except for a piece of plastic covering her private parts. The policeman who shot her in the head described how brave she had been - she had asked if she could kneel and sing Nkosi Sikelele before she was executed.The dress is made out of blue rubbish bags and the painting that go with it together with the inscription on the bottom of the dress make it a moving piece. The inscription reads :

"Sister, a plastic bag may not be the whole armour of God, but you were wrestling with flesh and blood, and against powers, against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in sordid places. Your weapons were your silence and a piece of rubbish. Finding that bag and wearing it until you were disinterred is such a frugal, common-sensical, house-wifely thing to do, an ordinary act… At some level you shamed your capturers, and they did not compound their abuse of you by stripping you a second time. Yet they killed you. We only know your story because a sniggering man remembered how brave you were. Memorials to your courage are everywhere; they blow about in the streets and drift on the tide and cling to thorn-bushes. This dress is made from some of them. Hamba kahle. Umkhonto."

Even now when I read that I am moved, I cant explain it. Its very powerful.

So just as the people of this country fought and struggled to acquire their freedom I shall do the same in compiling my freedom by striving to be the best in my chosen profession. If i can touch the heart of only one person and make a difference in their lives before My time on this earth expires I would have led a good life. Inshallah (God Willing) I can fulfill this Goal of mine and Inshallah we all can make a difference in this world.

I'll end with a saying by Nelson Mandela

During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

May the spirit of Ubuntu flow through us all
The Lone Writer

Working Class!

This is the eve before I take my first small step into the working world and one giant leap into the next stage of my life...ok so I modified neil amstrong's saying and its not as profound as him but still its a profound moment for me oh and its also slightly dramatic.

I start Vac work at a big firm this week and im so excited yet very nervous. I didnt think I would get vac work in the first place but shukr just after my last paper the firm phoned me and invited me to join them on their vac work programme. So naturally I jumped at the opportunity as only the Allmighty can bestow you with such an opportunity and I intend to grab it with both hands.

So the Kman (talking about myself in the third person...hmmm im starting to question my mental health.) will have to be kit out in a suit and be on his best behaviour, and have to woo my potential future employees....aka im going to have to suck butt, plain and simple. But as most of you know I can be a chatterbox so I think ill do ok, hopefully i wont be stuck up a creek without a paddle.

Please keep me in your duas (prayers) and wish me luck im going to need it. I'll keep you updated as to my travels in the working world...some more than others... :)

Kuwabara,Kuwabara
The Lone Writer

Once upon a time in DURBAN.....

As most of you know I was in durban this past weekend and boy did I have a blast. I havent been to durban in like 6 years or so not sure im getting old so the memories are going....hehe So I left O.R Tambo on friday at 4pm, filled with expectation and nerves hoping to have a good time and meet great people. I needed the break but I think the main purpose of the weekend was to meet up with the durban bloggers. The Jhb bloggers have a thing or two to learn about throwing a blog meet as this blog meet was awesome and the people were great, even the non bloggers.

The blog meet was held at 2GO in musgrave, well it could have been held at the bottom of the indian ocean and it would have still have been a blast. I got to the place and was immediately greeted very warmly by zahira (Awesomeness personified) and from there the night just got better. I met r (The VIP), mak(on the frontlines), saf (the mastermind of this great event), MJ (MA BOI !!!!!), Dew(the very sweet girl who had a hard time hearing with her scarf and has seemed to have deleted her blog hmmm), Qdee (Very nice red jacket), Joe (Very cool girl who probably thinks im weird), and waseem (The man!) . Also in attendance were BB and master of chi . Ok have I forgotten anyone if i have I do apologise. It was a blast hey I got a chance to chat with everyone and got to probably make everyone laugh with me or at me (the latter was more then often what happened). My accent was laughed at lol, that was surprising since in jhb the durbs accent is laughed at, so it was a role reversal which was pretty funny, good fun. So just want to thank safiyya for setting it up, I will return the favour for any of you guys when you come up to jhb, you guys have to come up to jhb.

Well after friday the weekend couldnt get any better but it was still great thanks to my travel buddies. I met some of the bloggers I met at the meet again during the weekend (zahira, r and saf) and I also met shirbit(thanks you too sweet) and joe.

It was really sad leaving and i wished i could stay longer. I hope to make another trip again to meet all my Durbs FRIENDS again :) I even miss waking up to the sound of the ocean. Missing you guys already and even your guys accents hehe.

Will leave you with a few pictures I took:

The View from the Hotel

A sand crocodile, it almost took my arm off!

Ok look at the cream bakkie..look at the door near the door handle can you see a padlock bolted to the car door?

THE WORSE FREAKIN RADIO DECK IN THE WORLD

The ocean, it calls to me! I didnt like the beach before but now im converted :)

Hope you guys come upto jhb

Kuwabara,Kuwabara
The Lone Writer

Oh PS..check the bloggers choice award sign above my profile, please click it and vote for me :) get your friends to vote, just vote. :) thanks