“... have a baby by me baby be a millionaire have a baby by me...” Tembeka rolls over her pillow to reach her ringing cell phone that is playing her favourite rapper ‘50 Cent’. It is 6.30 pm and she had not intended to nap for so long. She blames her lethargy on the warm Stellenbosch sun that has a way to soothe your soul, slow down a hectic body and delay any form of thought related to engineering. Gosh! She still has to complete her reference section of her Engineering English technical report that is due for tomorrow at 8.30 am!
‘Thank goodness Brigitte called now or I could so easily have slept until morning!’ thought Tembeka as she drags herself to answer the phone: ‘Hello’ she murmurs. ‘Hi is that Tembeka?’ a deep male’s voice jolts her awake. ‘It is not Brigitte, can it be? No! It can’t?’ thought a shocked Thembeka. ‘Y..ye..yes this is Tembeka’ she started, shaking like a single leaf left on an autumn windblown tree. She could feel her stomach go into instant knots of anxiety and excitement. Her heart is racing and her cell phone slips out of her hot sweaty hand. ‘No!’ She yells as she grabs the cell before it reaches the floor. ‘I mean yes, yes this is her’. Tembeka composes herself.
‘It’s me, Stephen, Stephen Botha, I am the one who asked you for your number this afternoon’ the voice carries on, ‘ I am sorry for knocking into you like I did today, but this was the only way that I could make contact with you. I’ve been asking about you at CPUT all of last week at the rugby tournament, but no one was able to get me your cell number. I tried your e-mail but no luck. And I lost you in the crowd at the cafeteria. So two of my closest friends, who are also rugby players, help to pass the ball ‘out’ in your direction so that I could take the ‘pass in’ giving me only a few seconds to talk to you. Sorry that I pressurised you into giving me, a total stranger, your cell number. I was wondering if there is any possibility that we could meet this evening. Our team has been invited to a braai at the CPUT residents in Mowbray. Please could I meet you this evening? Hello, hello, are you there?’
Tembeka’s mind and body are frozen. Her lips will not part to say anything! Suddenly she thought of her Gogo reminding her before she left Eastern Cape ‘yes my child, a good African boy, no matter Xhosa or Zulu... a good African boy for good African sons’. She could hear the voice in her mind reply ‘Yes Gogo, a good African boy...no matter Xhosa or Zulu... from Stellenbosch!’ She blurted: ‘Who? Well, em, ok’.
‘Great’ said an enthusiastic Stephen. ‘I’ll look out for you at the Main entrance near the security. I’ll be there at about seven ‘o clock. I look forward to seeing you then’.
‘Great!’ repeated a shell shocked Tembeka. ‘See you at seven’. And she hung up.
As Tembeka rushed to her wardrobe to find something appropriate to wear, she offered her humblest apologies to all deserving parties: ‘I am so very sorry Gogo for not looking hard enough for a good African Xhosa or Zulu son, I am sorry dear ancestors for disobeying my Gogo, I am sorry Ms Ogle I am not going to be able to hand in my report tomorrow ... but I going to meet a good looking boy from Stellenbosch, Stephen Botha, the grape farmers’ son with the deep sea green eyes that sparkle!
Posted by Aysha
Do you think that it is a good idea for Tembeka to break with tradition and go against her grandmother's wishes?? Please leave a comment.
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great stuff...
ReplyDeleteI think she should follow her heart and do what makes her happy,afte all she is a student and students are allowed to experiment.As for her grany,she has to live with it.Stephen also seems to be a good guy and it was very brave of him to aprouch a girl of different race and culture.
ReplyDeletethat is very very good thing is great
ReplyDeleteit is not a goood idea because Stephen won't be taken as a man in the Xhosa tribe,Tembeka must just save stephen from this situation and just forget about him and look harder for a Xhosa or Zulu boy and stick to tradition.
ReplyDeleteWow what a nice intresting story,no this is not a good idea for Thembeka because now she dicide to loose her homework and disobeying her family and ansestors just for a a boy who have a good looking,grape farmer'son with a green eyes that means she does not love this guy she want to suck only because this guy is the son of the farmer.
ReplyDeleteThe story is interesting and I think Thembeka made a good decision except breaking her tradition and going against her grandmother's wishes however the way they met is not that romantic, I think it would have been interesting enough if they met at the farm. example: Tembeka was walking through the farm yards of Stellenbosch and saw this handsome guy picking up grapes and she wanted to taste stellenbosch grapes. It's where it all began. To keep the story going Stephen is having more time with Tembeka, he is teaching her farm life such as riding bicycles in the farm, swmming , playing a pendulum, see-saw e.tc, both happy. She meets Stephen's family and Stephen's father does not like her, it's only his mother who likes her so therefore Stephen had to stop coming with Tembeka to his home.
ReplyDeleteI love the story very much, it is really interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy comment about the story is that she has to think twice before doing what she want to do, and she has to learn how to enjoy thing in life,not always wait for expectable thing to come even unexpectable things are also good.
I THINK THANDEKA SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HER TIME THIKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE TAKING ANY DECISIONS. YES I KNOW ITS LOVE THAT DROVE HER BUT GOGO KNEW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. IGNORING AND GOING AGAINST HER GRANDMOTHER'S WISHES IS WRONG ESPECIALLY FOR A XHOSA GIRL. SHE SHOULD STICK TO HER TRADITIONS, LISTEN TO HER ELDERS AND OBEY THE LECTURERS. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND LOVE IS LOVE SHE MUST GIVE IT A CHANCE.
ReplyDeletei think she should follow her heart and do what she think is good for her life because it`s her choice to choose which person she want to be with in her life.because if she can follow her granny wish she can endup dating a wrong person a person who don`t love her.so she must go to stephen because he seems so inlove with her and i think they love each other
ReplyDeletei would like stephen to propose to tembeka to the next chapter.she can except that and then he can ask her to meet her parent in eastern cape.she can just go against that idea and tell him that she is not read for that idea.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she is disobeying her grandmother because she is just off to meet him and have a great time, besides if they'll end up loving each other i still wouldn't think it's a bad idea because it is said that *love knows no boundaries*. I also think that she is old enough to choose who she wants to see, besides life is too short, if u want to live it with no regrets then live it the way you desire. I suggest the next chapter includes a bit of or describes their reactions towards each other and that he took her to cavendish mall at claremont for a movie she apparently talked about during their conversation at mowbrey and had a great time. hope my suggstn hlpd
ReplyDeleteTheres nothing wrong with exploring and fimiliarising yourself and your culture with other cultures. Yes they should be respected don't get me wrong but theres a thin line between respect and being tolerant of other cultures. So i think theres nothing wrong with embracing other cultures...
ReplyDeletechoice is yours girl: she must follow her heart.
ReplyDeletei think that she should follow her heart but she should also think carefully about the choices she makes. She should also be aware of the consequences she might have to face when she has made her choice.
ReplyDeleteaccording to me she is not breaking any traditions or disobeying her grandma....its not like she is going to marry the guy.... she is just going to have a good time.
ReplyDeleteI think she sould follow what she feels because this is the only way she will have peace in herself, so she needs to explore, to dream , to feel to IMAGINE... NEVER KNOW love is blind love is beautiful.
ReplyDeletelol!!! this is very interesting...Love is colour blind. I believe She should persue this relationship. Her Gogo is being very unreasonable. Gogo's mentality is that of the oppressed era, and we as a nation have reconciled and moved on. Sure enough cultures and traditions will clash, stereotypical comments will arise, but that doesn't mean Thembeka and Stephen shouldn't give their love a chance.
ReplyDeletethembeka should follow her heart its nt for the grandmother to decide, this is her future and what if this is her soul mate,we are in modern times now we dont have to do what our grandmothers did in the oldern days
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the story ,since it express our real life at universities may the main issue is how we address ourselvies ro the others.
ReplyDeleteFrom my bottom of heart if I am the guy who call,I would make it direct and told her what I am feeling since no need to the whole story in how he try to get her phone number .Again the time he made his call was 100% un pleasent and I wounder who she just drwan her mind and never listen to her goge and her traditional issue she belive in.
If it so,as it go in the story ,this means that the life really have rapid changes and all roots and belives are now a matter of past.
I got another shorter version to story I made when I was 14 years old ,if I get a time I might start writing it .
In IsiXhosa there's a say that says "UZENZILE AKAKHALELWA" meaning that if a person does something because of he/she is willing there's no-one to blanme by him/herself same applies my suggestion to the Tembeka girl atleast she gives the guy a chance depending on how she feels about that, but my side of view she likes the guy, about the cultural thing she has to atleast put it aside "not forgetting them" so as to experience life.
ReplyDeletehi i really like the story its a very interesting point because for we teenagers we are always in the situation that we have to choose between our ideals and our feeelings its dificult for me to say she must do it or not i think she must follow her heart but never forguet her goals**$#@
ReplyDeleteChapter 2 was great. I think she should try testing new water but not over do it.On the other hand, she mustn't foreget what Gogo said to her.
ReplyDeleteI see major drama at Thembeka's house about to unfold......but its cute that she is sprung and all....
ReplyDeletehi,everbody thanks for your attention,this history is beautiful and nice thembeka goodlike and stephan,maybe the next chapiter stephan propose is girls ,because is get education school,must enjoy your live really.bye
ReplyDeletethis was a interesting story,yes its a right thing to do because i do not think love has anything to do with skin colour or tradition i know that stephen wont be treated like a man in the tribe but in every relationship there are certain challanges you come across so thembeka and stephen may just take this as a challenge and try to convience her grandmother and the rest of the family that they love each other regardless of the colour of thier skin and tradition
ReplyDeleteHi. I think they should take it very slowly, feeling their way as they go. The situation is something to which they must both adapt. They need to find out if this is really love. They haven't been out yet and really got to know each other. Let them discover each other before they face the rest of the world. It is very exciting in our new South Africa.
ReplyDeletei think that its good that she should follow her heart so be doing that should not interfere with the many other things that are important to her. it would be good to find a way to ballance everything.
ReplyDeleteIt never hurts to try. Besides,its not like they are going to discuss marriage,they're just getting to know each other
ReplyDeleteI think,this is a really intersting story, is not good to go against our grandmother's idea but, there are things and times in life, as we get older we start to take our own decision, especially when it comes to marriage, date... and other important things in life...i
ReplyDeleteI think the right thing , she should do is: to follow her heart and feelings about the gy, and try to convins her grondmother, that he is the that she likes, does not matter whether the gy is black, white, colored, zulu, xhosa...
i think, this is a really intersting story, is not good to go against our grandamother's idea or traddition but, there are things and times in life, as we get older we start to take our own decision, especially when it comes to marriage,date... and other important things in life... i think the right thing she should is: to follow her heart and feelings about the gyand try to convins her grondmother that he is the gy she likes, it does not matter wheather the gy is black, white, colored, zulu, xhosa....
ReplyDeletecommented by: Inaldino F.M. poba...from: cput,
it's good to follow the tradition as long as it doesn't block our well being and happiness.
ReplyDeletei think she must not let her tradition or her grandmother's wishes stopping her from getting to know a guy who she fell in love with but i also think that it is wise if she takes into consideration the reasons why her grandmother doesn't want her to marry to those people so she can know how to deal with this situation.
the bottom line is we must say no to discrimination.
commented by :Merciano Nunes
st.no:209161140
Well, first of all, I personally don't think that one must always go for tradition, because some traditions are sometimes just not morral any more these days. Concerning the fact that she desided to not do her refference section, that might have been a not so good decision, as this might cause her to lose marks for that subject.
ReplyDeleteMaby it is not a bad idea for her to meet the guy, one never know when you will meet the spesific person that you will end up for the rest of your life with...
ReplyDelete...But if her traditions means alot to her she wouldnt have said yes. the other Thing is if she has good values she would have done the report earlier and things would been easier. I think it is up to her after all its her own life, she can do whatever she decides.
JWA Stubbs (mainstream s2 Student)
ReplyDeleteYou only live once, do what makes you happy! whoop whoop ^_^ (just finish those reports)
Well!being shortly and objective,my point is about obeying tradictions,sometimes we have to but not in love cases"LOVE HAS NO BOUND".love whoever you want doesn't matter race or culture.
ReplyDeleteAbout school is her responsability,she could do the school task first and then have her fun...........(Boaventura Bumba Zau,St no 210023368,Electrical eng.II,Group:PE,Main stream)
hi aysha, i have commented already, but i didn't write my student number.... i am a mainstream student, electrical engeenering, group:PE,student number:210018518, names:INALDINO FIGUEIREDO MAVINGA,Surname: POBA... I commented on the 23 of july,2010, around: 2:30pm, and on 22of july, 2010, around:11:11pm...
ReplyDeletehi aysha, i have commented already, but i didn't write my student number.... i am a mainstream student, electrical engeenering, group:PE,student number:210018518, names:INALDINO FIGUEIREDO MAVINGA,Surname: POBA... I commented on the 23 of july,2010, around: 2:30pm, and on 22of july, 2010, around:11:11pm...
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't think its wrong of this young woman to go against her grandmothers wishes and the traditions, because I believe tradition limits her from exploring herself and who she can be in this world. I think its good to mingle amongst people with different backgrounds because people are always learning from each other. This also breaks down certain stereotypes that certain cultures have about each other.
ReplyDeleteTSHIKHUDO R.G
ReplyDeleteSTUDENT NUMBER: 210122617(MAINSTREAM)
Each and everyperson is unique, and we tend to like different things from others because of our uniqueness..so i think thembeka did a great thing by breaking the tradition and go after the person she likes than going after someone whom she don't like because they made decisions for her/chose for her..
Personally I think that the concept is good.Great to see that engineers can also be creative.The storyline is interesting and i am anxious to know the ending.I would say that the person,or persons for that matter,embarking on a journey like this should be willing to compensate,be reasonably flexible and be willing to learn.Because not only are you entering a new relationship,where learning is a must,you are also entering a new culture and way of living.Therefor i think a water-tight self esteem,little bit of hair on your back-teeth,as well as a huge amount of confidence because critisism is inevitable.....Alas good things mite cum if you take the leap of faith...
ReplyDeletei like it
ReplyDeleteTSHIKHUDO R.G
ReplyDeleteSTUDENT NUMBER: 210122617(MAINSTREAM)
Each and everyperson is unique, and we tend to like different things from others because of our uniqueness..so i think thembeka did a great thing by breaking the tradition and go after the person she likes than going after someone whom she don't like because they made decisions for her/chose for her..
thembeka did great in breaking tradition, it is something that will open gates to anyone not just to bound by their traditional religion wereas it does no wonders for them, i mean if i could get a chance like that i wouldnt spare a minute of it.
ReplyDeletesometimes tradition is something that you can not run away from,bt you can easly go out of line. but Tembeka was right for not leting gogo choose someone for her. the wrong thing that she did was,not doing her school work before she could go and see her secret admire. relationship is not always important, your future is very important.comments by:210126620,kagiso john,pitsi, mainstream.
ReplyDeleteI think tambeka is making one mistake here, to leave her school work is a big mistake. She must honour her carrier first and as for her gogo its not wrong to fall for the man of her choice not her gogo wishes.Gogo must let go of being steriotype thinking and be welcomed to the new era of life
ReplyDeletehi Aysha,firstly i would like to say this is a very interesting and good story. I think Tembekile chose a wrong option by not putting her school work before her pleasures, but i honestly do not think she took a wrong option by not honouring her gogos wishes. She is a modern girl who knows that times changes and cannot be stuck in the past. I would have followed my heart as well not my ancestors.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great idea to extend her knowledge .She can handle the unkown side of life . In breaking with tradition , she can apear modern with the adoption of a new life style . I think it is an evolution to abandon a traditional custom . whith a new life's style , she can go forward and increase her ability .
ReplyDeleteNdayishimiye Alexis student number:208089721
ReplyDeleteMainstream
HI Aysha,firstly,i thing,it's not a good idea for her to go against her grandmothers wishes,as traditional is very important in such cultures ,in which u had to respect your elders wishes
KWANGOBA SAFARI(maimstream)well ive been enjoying the stories of thembeka and stephan but what i am suggesting is that our parents always wish us the best in our lives.The culture help us to respect our elders and having a moral climate in society as well as the bible to help us more.In the world of today everybody is free to go where love takes him but we should look at the consequences of love which can cause us to breakdown our dreams.We have to go for true love and not by looking at the love of wealth which finishes with time.
ReplyDeletehi aysha first ofall i would like to say that it very nice story,and as far as i am conserne it is not a very good think to break with our cultures or traditions.cause avery boby belong same where, no matter reason we mast hold our culture.
ReplyDeletedassah josephine(mainstream,210074167)
ReplyDeleteThis story is interesting .I think in my option tembeka should explain to the relations that times have changed and there is no defference between white and black.now south africa is a rainbow nation let us make tradition dynamic,however, she should have done the assignment first before going out.
I think Tembeka must look for what she wants in her life. Its not up to her parents or grandparents how she should live her life. It may upset her family, but if it makes her truly happy and they cannot accept that, that is there problem not hers. People need to stop worrying about others. We have enough to worry about on our own.
ReplyDeleteHI! WHAT A NICE STORY!!!!
ReplyDeleteGogo must get her self right, this is the new generation so I really do not see the need of her interfearing in Thembeka's love life, that suppose to be her choice, common now Gogo ha!. Thembeka as well she shouldn't be cheap like that ooops! she must hold her horses they are running too fast.
The son of the farmer, YES he is a charmer but he can still loose her easy because Thembeka doesn't take time to think, delay or something. She should have done the school work first be she can even think of flowing with the flow...
kasongo kayambe patient student no:209116781
ReplyDeletemainstream
hi Aysha!what I can say is not good to follow the tradition butthe wishes of your grandmothers,can be good because the tradition is limit and the world of to need developpet,i will encouragethat ideal of white get married with a black because to day society,we need every one idea for the developpement of our country not the racisme that make the country under develloppement
I like the story, I think Tembeka and Stephen have to understand that their hearts can lead them, and love is always above everything in live, but for a certain time only, it expires, and becomes a story to tell,... please keep entertaining us, thanks for the idea and the time that you took to write this beautifull story.
ReplyDeleteL. Chris Kanyinda,Student Mainstream 208205071
Only commenting up to chapter 2
ReplyDeleteWell firstly..if they meet up that night it will be the first time that they have properly met. At the moment they practically dont know anything about eachother so i dont know why some people are commenting about love??? For all they know at the moment theres a chance that they might not even like eachother...So therefore I dont see the bigger deal about going out and meeting and getting to know eachother.
On the other hand if things are going to end up going a bit further i dont think its a good idea(not saying that they shouldnt be together). Both their lives will end up upside down (social life,family,studies etc) Will be a tough journy ahead for both of them. True love always finds a way though :)
firstly i dont no what 2 say because this is not my type of story so i am not gona comment on it although i only read a few lines, i dont like such stories
ReplyDeleteH. KAPEPULA MBAYO (main stream)
ReplyDeletehi Aysha,
I read the all story, and i will encourage Thembaka and Stephens to follow their heart and do what they believe is best for them but they must keep in mind that it will be long and difficult journey. I believe in the fact that love combined with discussion can brigde or gather people from different culture, race...
Thanks for all the comments. Your views are very interesting and help guide the writers. If any of you would like to be writers and change the future of Thembeka and Stephen to where you would like to see it going, let me know in Room 4.35. Marie-Anne
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong when white dates blacks but i got problem with this young lady Thembeka she was not lacking energy because of school work and sun.The problem is feeling of belonging to someone,she was lacking love,she just got energized by the phone call of boy wanting to go to date with her.I think Thembeka need to choose her priorities straight,she is not there for boys,she is there for education.And that is reality.
ReplyDelete