Lala, Tata

I've now been in Dubai just over a month.
Because of how hectic and intense my training is, I haven't really had much time for anything besides sleep.
When I say intense, I mean being taught about 50 pages a day, and then being expected to know that information by the next day in order to learn the next 50 pages, and then having an exam at the end of the week, with a pass rate requirement of at least 80%.

My friends and family can tell you that I barely even have time to chat with them and catch up because any free time I can find, I use it to make myself something to eat or, more importantly, to sleep.
Because of this I haven't really allowed myself a moment to really miss home, simply as a result of me being just too busy.

Last week the news of Nelson Mandela's passing broke, and suddenly I felt that for the first time since I have been here, a wave of homesickness hit me like a ton of bricks.

My grandfather was an avid protester against Apartheid and I grew up listening to stories of how he campaigned for the ANC to get Madiba elected, and how my uncle and father would protest against Apartheid and join in on riots.

Mandela keeping his fists up in June 1964 when he was arrested.
"Amandla".

My grandfather with Madiba.

Although I was too young to feel the true weight of Apartheid, growing up in South Africa, you're taught so much about it. You hear all the stories from your parents and grandparents and teachers and fellow citizens of the hardships they faced before Mandela became president.

It's not as simple as Blacks and Whites not being allowed to mingle.
Half of my friends would not be my friends today if it weren't for Madiba.

I cannot even begin to imagine how I would react to being told I can't be friends with, or I can't love someone, because we don't look alike.

Imagine having to endure that for all of your life, being jailed and treated like you're worthless, and then being able to move past it, and forgive all those that wronged you to look towards a better tomorrow.

It takes a very special person to be able to do that, and we were blessed enough to have him be that person for us.

Nelson Mandela has impacted my life in so many ways that I cannot even begin to fathom or explain.
I think many people feel this way, but it is a feeling that South Africans especially can relate to, regardless of where they may be located in the world.
To us, Madiba transformed our lives completely, and he was more than just our nation's hero.
To us, he was like a grandfather, and to lose him impacts us more deeply than anyone else can understand.
Having said that, I know that we feel an immense sense of gratitude when we see all the tributes to Mandela being sent from around the world.

Sand art tribute in Puri

Cricket fans take a moment of silence for Madiba in Australia.

Pakistani school kids in Karachi

Nandos pays tribute to Madiba.

Table Mountain in Cape Town

The Omni Hotel in Dallas.

Apollo theatre in New York

 Empire State building lit up with the SA flag colours

Didier Drogba.
He is now facing disciplinary actions for doing this.

Eiffel Tower in Paris lit up with the SA flag colours

City Hall in Cape Town, where Madiba gave his first speech after being released from Robben Island prison.

Seeing all the tweets about Madiba from around the world; from people back home and the impact he had on their lives; the memorial services that were going to be held for him; the way South Africa as a nation just pulled together; I couldn't help but feel like I was living in an entirely different world.
Here in Dubai, it felt as if it were just an ordinary day with everyone continuing about their lives as if this massive event had not taken place.
Had I not been connected to social media or watched Al Jazeera, I would never even have known that he had passed away.

Even after I had been awake for more than 24 hours, I could not tear myself away from the only sources of what felt like a sense of home. I took comfort in hearing the familiar voice of Gareth Cliff in an attempt to try and get some sort of feeling that I was back home. I sat up for hours that night streaming 5fm online to hear the special broadcast, listening to different people call in to talk about the impact Madiba had on their lives.
Even from thousands of miles away, I could feel the emotion radiating from the country I hold so dearly.
Seeing on the news and hearing on 5fm people gathering outside Madiba's home, dancing and singing, celebrating our nation's hero, while I sat in my hotel room by myself crying my eyes out for hours, I wanted nothing more than to pack up my bags and leave.

I just wanted to be with my family and my friends.
I wanted to be with my people who knew how I was feeling.
I wanted to be home and mourn with them.

I can without a doubt say that Nelson Mandela was a greater person than most of us can ever even aspire to be.
He has created a South Africa that all of us from the Rainbow Nation can be proud of.
To the father of our nation, we thank you.
The world thanks you.

May you Rest in Peace, Tata, and may your legacy live on forever.

Lala Tata.
Hamba kahle.