A Curious Interaction

About a month ago I was in town running a few errands, one of which was printing several photos at a local print shop.  I went about it in my normal manner, having frequented the shop several times before.  One thing I noticed from my very first visit, it appeared to be owned by an Asian couple.  This surprised me as there are not many Asians in this part of South Africa (most being in more urban areas such as Durban, which has a massive Indian population).  When I went to pay for the photos, the (Asian) woman asked, “I’m sorry, but can I ask you where you are from.”  When I told her that I stay in Masealama but I come from the United States, she responded, “Yes, it’s just that you look different than everyone else.”  This caught me off guard.

In my head I kept thinking how different she looks than the inhabitants of Limpopo, South Africa – she is Asian.  At least with me, there are many white people across South Africa, and Polokwane (town) is no different.  How could she look at me, a white person, and know that I am not from South African when there are many white South Africans?

Since this day, I have often reflected on this curious interaction - thinking about my image here in South Africa.

I am used to being the only white person around, often going weeks at a time without seeing another white person.  I don’t look at myself as the only white person.  I don’t see that I am different than those around me.  In fact, when I do see white people (in town), I almost think they are the ones that look different.  Despite the constant (positive intentioned) greetings of “Hey lekgowa” and “Howzit lekgowa” from my friends, color is not something I see here (remember lekgowa means white man).

Then one day it more or less ‘clicked’ for me, she was not noticing that I look different than the white South Africans.  Rather she was meaning I look different than her other customers.  Thinking back on it, I don’t think I have ever seen another white person in that photo shop.  Truly, in that part of town I seldom see another white person.

I love this – her noticing that I am different than her normal customers.

This, in part, is exactly what I came here to do – to push the boundaries and do things that are unexpected of me or people who look like me.  I came here to walk alongside those in my community and surrounding communities.  I came to develop and nourish relationships with the people here through sharing my gifts with them and theirs with me.  In thinking about how this woman reacted to me doing business in her store, I believe I have done just this.