Maureen Mwangi

With the Chefs Academy being an internationally recognized name in the culinary education field many faces from all over the world make the journey to South Africa to study. Although we pretend to understand I’m sure not that many of us can fathom the idea of leaving South Africa and travelling to a foreign country on our own to study. This is a view from one of our many wonderful friends who has made the journey to further their studies here in SA.

South Africa has a very vast culture. It’s interesting how so many different tribes and races have so much in common for example biltong and braais (with boerewors of cause). I’m yet to go to a braai that does not have those two…oh, and let’s not forget beer!

Unlike Kenya, which is a very conservative society, South Africans are very free and express themselves quite a lot; be it in their clothes, hairstyles, eating and talking. They live their lives without the fear of what others may say about them, something that still amazes me.

I did have a bit of culture shock when I first came here especially when it came to the dress-sense. I could stand at the mall with my sandwiches and just watch a whole parade of people and their different dress-styles. Some weren’t too nice!

What I love most about South Africans is their love of music. It does not matter where they are, whether in a taxi or when going to change in a clothes store (I’m not exaggerating this part) they just seem to love their music and love to dance.

I do find myself sometimes having to keep track of the various races in South Africa, they are all completely different but one common theme amongst them is brings them together is sport and the coming World Cup.

I could go on and on about the differences but what has caught my attention is just how God could bring so many different people together and somehow keep track of them all! Each one is beautiful in His eyes.

By Maureen Mwangi