The Three Continents of My Life

Life changed, but nobody understood the views of my culture and the past. Instead, they chose to dictate to me on speaking the Croatian language.

After the many sacrifices made to live in a foreign country.

I realized it was difficult to live in a foreign country and learn a foreign language. I did not know anything about the culture.

However, I have coped with every challenge with the support of my family.

I had to work out my strengths and weaknesses and grow into a stronger person at heart. An Indian born and raised in South Africa, my ancestors arrived in South Africa over one hundred and fifty years ago.

Being born in the third generation of the South African Indian community has made me think of the three different cultures I have grown into. Currently living in the southeastern part of Croatia, I feel this is a life of three cultures and parts of three continents.

Indians first came to South Africa were slaves and settled in and around the areas of Durban, one of the popular cities a hundred kilometres from where I was born, PIETERMARITZBURG.

As slaves, Indians worked in the sugar cane fields and were categorized by the colour of their skin.

Growing up during the apartheid system was one of my toughest experiences, not knowing much about how racism affected me.

I was naïve, everything about my life at that time seemed normal. It was not a normal life for most South Africans.

Classed as an ''Asian or ''Indian'' and other races were only allowed to live in their specific suburbs was not fair to any of us.

The Three Continents of My Life

I attended ''Indian schools'' and living in the ''Indian-only suburbs'' made my life different from others.

Public toilets were also categorized as ''Indians only''.

Indians practice their culture, Hinduism, and are some Tamil speaking; I grew up in South African culture and found my culture in this too.

Life wasn't easy, but the Indian people chose to find their way to prosperity.

The two different cultures in my life while in South Africa were not only meaningful but also a big part of my soul.

Apartheid in South Africa was not the best period for many people of colour, and not being able to move around without identification cards, did affect normal routines. Indians were suppressed for a long time making living in South Africa a nightmare for people with skin colour.

Opportunities were dull for slaves, in the eyes of others, slaves didn't need an education. Racism affected my parents and had tasted the reality of it

At that time my dad worked in a ''Whites Only Pub'' he had dealt with many Afrikaans(Dutch) speaking people and took the insults lightly. The name-calling was ''coolie'' for the Indians. Life for me was fine during my school and college years. I didn't pay much attention to what was going on.

An incident that got me thinking, but still not much at that time, incidents for my dad was rough at work he was often called a ''coolie.''

One day he came home with a bruised eye and an almost severe eye injury, and I remember that day like it was yesterday.

A ''White guy'' after a few drinks at the pub got out of control and hit my dad with a beer bottle grazed his eye leaving him with a Black eye (or blue eye).

My dad had some ''White friends,'' but those with harsh comments and who behaved disrespectfully were not his friends. It was not an open book to have other people of other races in your home it didn't work out during the apartheid system.

It was forbidden and would be breaking the laws if an Indian had ''White people'' over to their home. South African culture has many nations and is supposed to be a rainbow nation, unfortunately, the colour white is not present in the rainbow colours.

Barbecues are the main pass time in South Africa. In the South African culture, a barbecue is called ''Braai’ Indians in South Africa have gone through many tough times and never gave up on making their future at best and far have succeeded.

South Africa was the last African country to break through the apartheid era. I saw the actual differences when much older.

I did not understand the apartheid system, it made me blind to the colour problem. Now that I am much older I see the differences between us.

I realize how Indians were affected by such issues and how black people were treated.

Since 1990, I have noticed changes and have begun to understand the racist insults and felt left out in many events.

The Three Continents of My Life

Job applications were turned down due to the colour of my skin which made me feel sad and disappointed.

Frustration built up within me, but no actions were taken. I didn't take these harsh words personally. The introduction of the third culture in Croatia took me by surprise.

The tradition is different from the previous two and from the African continent to the European continent the third culture in me. To have three continents in my life has made me among the strongest and least fearful beings. With the religion of Roman Catholics and tradition, I had such difficulty from day one living a different life.

The traditional women live their old-fashioned lifestyles and I, the modern woman who tried to fit into this culture have created my life. One day, realized it could work out for me, but only if I made my own life, the one I knew best.

Changing a Westernized life to a not-so-advanced lifestyle is like oil and water in this new life. I had overcome many obstacles and chose to live my life with what I knew would help me most to be happy.

The first traditional event, I learned most about is Easter in Croatia. A different and one of the most religious holidays in the region, apart from Christmas.

The celebrations are extraordinary with a special way of decorating eggs. A family day spent with exciting events. I opened my mind to three continents, and three cultures, two I have grown up with from my descendants, and the third of my marriage.

An incredible life from morning to night and from day to day.

Many challenges, and still I am learning a foreign language and Croatian culture. I coped with a lot, and I continue with the many challenges that allow me to grow in life. In the process of learning something new daily, I saw a difference in myself, and communication is key to a better social life.

Life changed in many ways and each day I had a new challenge to face up to. At this time, I tried to focus on my child and my new life, I saw how much freedom and my family mean to me.

The many changes from racism to living in a country, which was once a communist country, is a great learning experience for me.

I am curious about the history of Croatia a small country that was once ''Old Yugoslavia,'' especially after the war between the Serbians and Croatians two decades after the war.

Everything seems well on the surface, but deep down not many Croatians can forgive the Serbians for the way they destroyed their precious place.