Tumbleweeds: These Malones

It’s always fascinating to see how the rest of the world imagines “America.” From McDonald’s Friends meals to South Park chefs selling pizza and Rick Ross on a cheesesteak box, it’s like watching our culture get remixed through someone else’s lens. Funny, chaotic, and oddly accurate all at once. These little moments remind me how powerful and strange cultural influence can be. We sometimes export the best of us...and sometimes we do not. Only when we travel do we realize how small our world really is...

Oh we have Bafana Bafana fever…and I’m also happy Mexico won. Yes to the beautiful game. ⚽️

Many folks ask me why it was so important for me to travel and live abroad with my kiddo. It is NOT easy, and I ponder the question from time to time (only when I want to). Walk this dog with me for a sec: The other day, I went over to the University of the Witswatersrand here in Jozi. I studied abroad here in grad school and NEVER got any swag. It was an issue that needed to be corrected.

I went to the campus and the comedy of errors began- I did not understand how to even get ON campus, the security guard at the gate made small talk by saying, when I relayed that I studied here, that must have been a LONG time ago. I told him the date, and he told me he was in middle school at that time. Sigh. Then I had multiple issues finding the "bookstore" because they don't call it that; this is an American term. Lastly, I somehow, apparently, insulted everyone working in the shop as they were very, very (very) rude. Not quite sure what I did, but it was clearly egregious. I was annoyed, embarrassed, frustrated, and totally insulted.

Then I laughed.

I wonder how many people in our America have felt exactly this way. This isn't a political post- I don't care why you are here- visiting, immigrant, being nosy. What I know is that living abroad reminds me all the time to extend myself beyond what I know. Be kind to people because they may be lost, confused, elderly (HA!), or don't know the language. This is called EMPATHY.

I want my son to have it in spades. So...that's the answer. LOL.

Soooo, let's talk about it. At Cowboy Town, there were several kids with toy guns. The looked and sounded like toys. Okay.

However, this young boy had a VERY realistic looking and sounding gun. He then perched in the tower pretending to shoot other children. This is not a post about gun control AND I had to try and explain to my extraordinary kiddo that he was not in danger...maybe? Cut to, we left immediately.

How does one explain violence, prevention, avoidance, and, ultimately, situational awareness to neurodiverse children? It is HARD. I struggled. Why? I was terrified too.

May is Mother's Month in Jozi. I read that on a sign. Like in the US, Mother's Day was 5/10. I had a very handsome day date at "a real American cowboy town" called Cowboy Town. LOL Then he took me on an evening date including shopping so much at Rosebank Market, the lady wanted to take a picture of us and oxtail ravioli. He even paid...with my card!