Aibo! I'm in Germany

That moment when you're like, ' man I'm really in Germany!'

After preparing  for my trip to Bayern, packed and ready, off we drove. My good Rotarian Baba and I drove for an hour to Hof, the nearest big city south of Schleiz, where I would be taking a train. As I took my luggage from the boot I could see before me, the Hof Haupbahnhaf ( Main Train Station), an old ,classic style building  dominating the space before me.

With my heavy, red travel bag hanging on my right shoulder and my small 'tourist' bag strapped across and hanging on my left hip, we crossed the empty street and entered the building.

 A short walk through this old building with a simple interior, an office and a souvenir shop.We were by the train waiting area. My train was coming in at 11.44am, just a few minutes away.

As we were waiting for my train, Baba told me a little about German history, no, not about world war 2 or the Holocaust. About how the Germans came to love potatoes and why Germans are referred to as 'Frietz'. Little did I know that I was on my way to one of the most blessed town in the world.

After two hours on the Deutsche Bahn train, I finally arrived at Erlangen where a Rotarian picked me up in a classic convertible of a British make. In a few minutes we were in Herzungenaurach, a little town in the Franking region of Bayern. With about 25000 residents who call it home as well as two of the world's biggest sport clothing companies, Adidas and Puma.

On either side of the road are these huge state of the art buildings belonging to the rival companies. With Adidas owning most of the land across the road from Puma, with test centres, laboratories and showrooms, Adidas also employs most of the workers in this town. 

As an exchange student I attended the Rotary meeting that was held at the Adidas hotel. We drove up to the hotel with a black Mercedes convertible, so I had German wind blowing through my ears as we passed the Puma World, up past the Adidas and Nike outlets on the left and through the Maize Meal Fields to the hotel.We parked next to a a line of German cars, standing there as though it was a show day. There I met some of the movers and shakers of these two companies. Just to mention a few; the current CEO of Puma, the chief  lawyer of the Adidas Group and other members of the senior leaderships of these respective companies. Sitting with me where also successful local business people and members of the community.

In one conversation I had with the Mr Dassler from Adidas, he mentioned that he was frequently in Pietemaritzburg during its golden days as Africa's capital for shoe manufacturing. We exchanged our pities that the shoe industry in Pietermaritzburg is dead and buried with no evidence that it even existed. I told him about that current situation in South Africa where we have a very strong worker's union that demands unrealistic wages and conditions from investors, as a result we have investors running away to South Asia where they can have their products produced for less.

He also told me that there has been a general shift away from South Africa due to this. This led me to ask myself as a potential worker: Do I need a job so I can pay my bills and have a living or stay unemployed while demanding for a perfect job that does not exist in reality?

After an amazing weekend at Brombachsee, where we sailed at the dam and splashed into the water every now and then, I received a massage from Adidas.

Mr Frank Dassler, the chief lawyer at Adidas wanted me have a meeting with me and give me a tour of the complex. He had heard me say that I wanted to study Law at the Rotary meeting.

Excited, the next morning I prepared myself for the meeting. Got on the bicycle and went up, carefully and slowly cycling so that I don't get sweaty. There it was before me, the Adidas World building and I was about to enter it!

After confirming that I had arrived, the receptionist notified my host and gave me a visitor's card with my name on it. A few minutes later a kind lady came to escort me to Mr Dassler's office....

Lebohang Dube

Impela Ngiyohlala Ngikhunjuzwa.

Nginsundu, ubunsundu bami abuhleli esikhunjeni nasebaleni lami kuphela. Lokhu kuyinto, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, esengiyibonile futhi ngayamukela.  Kuleli dolojana engihlala kulo lapha eJalimani yimi ngedwa umuntu onsundu futhi wendabuko yase-Afrika. Ukuhamba kwami nokuhlala kwami lapha kuyinto okuphungwa ngayo itiye, impela ngisho noma ngingaphunyuka , isishiphi sami sizwakala idolobha lonke.

Akekho lapha ongathi ekanendaba nobukhona kwami kulelidolobha. Izingane ezincane uzibona zingigqolozela emehlweni, phela eziningi azikaze zize zimubone umuntu onsundu. Noma abazali bazoqweba izingane bazikhombise mina emabhasini. Lokhu kuyangijabulisa ngoba phela umthente uhlaba usamila, lezi zingane seziyokhula zazi ukuthi umhlaba awugwele abantu abafana nazo nje kuphela, kukhona nabanya abantu bobuhle obuhlukile.

Ingwe idla ngamabala! Ungabona lapho ngime emarobhothini ngilinde ilambu elihlaza, abashayeli ubabona bethe njo lapha kimi, impela baze baphuthwe irobhothi elihlaza.
Uthi ungacabanga, uma ngibingela abantu abadala ngizazisa, uzwa sekuyibo abangitshelayo igama lami nokuthi ngihlalaphi, ngiqhamukaphi.

Noma ngingazama ukuzikhohlisa, noma ngingalukhuluma ngize ngilukhiphe ngamakhala ulimi lwalana, ubunsundu bami, lobu obujiyile esikhunjeni sami, lobu obulotshiwe emlandweni wami, yebo ngisho lobu bunsundu obungilandelayo zinsuku zonke noma ngabe ngikuphi angisoze ngabubabekela buyincazelo yami.

Lebohang Dube
EJalimani

The best love from a brother I might never see again....

It was at a petrol station on the outskirts of Rome that our tour bus stopped to fill up before entering the city. We were all tired from the long hours of travelling in a bus through Europe, I was certainly. Then, as the other exchange students were rushing to get refreshments or to the rest rooms, I noticed you calmly walking away towards the wire fence and went behind the cargo truck. I could not help but feed my curiosity as to why and where you were going and followed you. There you were, harmoniously smoking away your cigarette as the sun threw itself over the western horizon. We had not really met before, except pass a few greeting words during the trip, but here you were my friend, warmly offering your cigarette to me as though I had always been your 'puff pal'; 'no thanks , I don't smoke', I declined the offer and you just smiled in amazement as though you expected me to be a good old experienced smoker. Then the conversation changed from asking each other whether one smokes and drinks or not, to talking about the basics of life; hardships and our experience in Europe. From then on bra I found I realised that I had found a brother, a relaxed Chilean guy who enjoys the company of people and really embraces them with a warm heart and amazing smile.
You found  my culture and language very exciting, I suppose. I call you my bra because are just that bra, a brother to me.
Never to forget the crazy times like taking 'sexy' photos from across the street in a little tourist village in the Thuringer Wald, to having ice-cream sitting as a group on the street pavement! Of cause I always remember you when I make a grammatical error in ma Deutsch because you always stopped and corrected me, even as we sweaty on the soccer field!
My dear brada Benji, thank you for being such a fresh and cool person. I will definitely miss you my bra as you turn your face towards your home land, Chile.
Thank you

Latest Maritzburg Fever Article by me about Deutschland! Enjoy!

Spring time, fresh experiences

Spring time in Germany is a time of renewal and revival, not only does mother nature show off her refreshed look, so too do the people. Everybody seems to be in a festive mood, giving gifts and enjoying the sun.

After nearly three months of snow covered hills and frozen lakes, a one appreciates the lush green forests and vividly coloured fields. Flowers blossom everywhere and everyday one awakes to a sweet fresh smell of nectar.
My exchange experience has also seen a fresh revival as I have moved to my second host family. The Pollack family lives in the central part of town where everything is at reach. My school is just 5 minutes away and so are the snack shops. I enjoy learning a lot from my host mother, Susanne and going swimming with my host sisters, Anne(18) and Linda(16). This is a family of three, now four, and we enjoy quality time together or visiting extended family.
I have also enjoyed my last Rotary Youth Camp in Fochheim near Nurberg in Bayern where I met more amazing exchange students from all around the world. 
As June begins i look forward to Summer and exploring more of the German culture and land!

Article 3....May article on the way!!!!

Deutschland...Vaterland
Today sees three months and four days of me in Deutschland. I have gone through the passing of my father and toured the world while here. I have had to be an ambassador for my land, my culture and my people, not only in my host town of 8000 people, but also to the rest of Europe. Many have asked hard-hitting questions about my land and my people, I have had to answer.sSome asked humiliating questions and it was my job to set things straight. Some see my land as a treasure, while others see it as a sad story.

My personal story is not far from that of an average South African child who needs to struggle for basic dignity amidst the  daly songs of wailing and tear drops. I tell them that as an African, it has been embroidered  in me to struggle.Once I struggled for rights, now I struggle for peace and security.

It takes more than just what you achieve to give you a full definition of yourself, I explain, it takes that story behind that that defines you, it is the people who where around you.

Today marks an important day in my stay in Germany, it is the day where I finally,truly realise what is on my shoulders. I thought it was just flying my multicoloured flag up high for the world to see or to just experience everyday life in a country that has made its name known through wars and eras. I realised that I have come to go.

My mission is to collect as much as I can, learn the European man and understand him. He has made his history a tool to his future.
Maybe I am wrong, I may have not got it, but, for now I will take on this mission.

Lebohand Dube