Koeksister

Yesterday all the talk about vintage and heirlooms got me thinking about my heritage. My heritage is pretty cut and dry. Bar about 2% English blood, and like 13% French Huguenot blood, I am a regte, egte South African Afrikaner (85% Dutch descent.) I am a very proud boeremeisie. En ek weet ek gaan met a goeie boereseun trou.

 

So recently, when I was considering travel options and looking into any possibilities of perhaps attaining some sort of ancestral visa. I had a frank chat with my dad about how far back our family has been in South Africa. He the told me the first Brinks arrived in the Cape 10 years after Jan van Riebeeck. So if I have done my math correctly, Van Riebeeck landed in the Cape on the 6th April 1652, and the Brinks arrived 1662, then my family line has been South African for 350 years. Quite a thought!

 

Although I have been brought up in English schools I will ALWAYS be very proud of my heritage. I know South Africa has been steeped in many years of battles for power by all types of nationalities, races and beliefs. But I do think this is a double edged sword, in that we should all be exceptionally proud that we are privileged enough to still live in a country, that so many people were prepared to fight for. Just shows what a special place we have the honour of calling home.

I am very fortunate to have friends from amazing and interesting heritages. Dutch, Italian, Sotho, British, Zulu, Indian, Chinese, and so the list continues… I count myself lucky to be surrounded with such diversity; uniqueness and I learn something new everyday. This is the one thing I will ALWAYS be exceptionally grateful to. South Africa I owe you one!

Just remember wherever you have come from, and wherever you are going, always appreciate your heritage. It's these roots (whether good, bad or ugly) that have molded you into the individual you are today. And lets be honest, no matter how big the world gets, or is, there is no one quite like you...

 

On that note, to my fellow Bulls supporters, here is to winning Super 15!!!! And stampeding the Sharks tonight!

Wooooohoooooooooo!

Have a fabulous weekend.

Kisses,

Namaste,

Ciao,

God Bless,

Love,

Your Koeksister,

Michelle


xxxx 

P.S Congratulations to Christian Louboutin for getting a million followers on Facebook! Glad I could contribute! Hahahahaha