Shots vs Totes

Remind me to never order a shot at the bar! NEVER EVER AGAIN!

So last night, while having a few drinks with my new friends from Bor, Sudan, they explained to me why it was important that I request a “tote” of liquor at the bar, as opposed to a “shot”.

As I’ve already said, there are a lot of Ugandans and Kenyans in south Sudan. Most of them came about two years ago when the region began rebuilding and there was a great deal of business opportunities. You can come across Kenyans or Ugandans working in restaurants that mainly cater to foreigners. They are mechanics, drivers, hair dressers, selling produce in the markets. You name it, they’re there.
Unfortunately, many Kenyan and Ugandan women have also taken on some of the “older professions” in our society. Prostitution here is as common as anywhere and apparently in order to be more “tactful” or less forthright about their “services” some women would approach men or vice versa and ask if they’d like a “short time” or how much it would cost for a “short time”. As with most slang terms, “short time” was soon shortened to “short” for short.

So when I approached the bar and asked for a “shot”, I was a bit confused when the bartender looked at me questioningly and proposed 35 Sudanese Pounds (SDP)- roughly $18. Things around here are quite expensive, but $18 for a shot is just ridiculous! So I asked him again, pointing at my rum of choice. (I had bought a liter of mango juice for breakfast it and it was delish and would pair perfectly with a shot of rum as a night cap.) Though a bit confused at my gesture, he repeated 35 SDP again and opened his hands as if to say he didn’t have anymore than that.

At this point, I was becoming slightly annoyed because I refused to believe it cost that much. So I asked him if “Grande” was the only type of rum he had and if there were any that were any cheaper. At that question he said, “Ohhhh, the rum? A tote of that is 7SDP (roughly $4).” And then hurriedly gave me my order.

It wasn’t until later in the night that I found out that the whole time, the bartender thought I was a Kenyan prostitute! I’m glad that we cleared that up before I retreated back to my room, however, I’m still a bit offended that he only offered me 35 SDP…surely I’m worth more than that!

Are Chinese People Black?

The High Court in South Africa thinks so. This week they ruled that Chinese South Africans be reclassified as Black so that they could also benefit from the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and the Employment Equity Acts, designed to end White domination and give people classified as Blacks, Indians, and Coloureds more employment and economic benefits. Until now, Chinese people in South Africa had been considered White and though they are a minority in society, they did not benefit from the programs that other non-White ethnic groups did.
I wish I knew more about race relations and hierarchy in South Africa so that I could offer an informed opinion on the topic. But I will say that this is a clear example of the politics of race around the world. In the US, race is considered in the most literal way possible, whereas in many other societies Whiteness and Blackness is considered an expression of your social status. Therefore, one can be physically Black, but well educated and wealthy, thus making him or her "White" and vice versa.
I can remember a Professor of mine who is African American and dark skinned telling me of a time she visited Morocco and was constantly referred to as White because she was eloquent, well-dressed, and wore lipstick. I also sympathize for Chinese currently in South Africa who may move to the US one day and realize that they aren't Black...how shocking that will be!

Whose Terrorizing Who?

This summer I've done a great deal of traveling and my time spent in the airport always pisses me off. First it was while leaving the Bahamas, my passport was checked at the door of the plane. I had never experienced this before and it upset me that there was more security leaving the Bahamas than there was coming in. Then, on my trip to Uganda, we went through Dubai. Dubai is known for its gold and other sellable goods. African women are known as marketers and businesswoman. After going through the standard security checks at JFK airport, there was another guard in the corridor on the way to the plane. He saw my group (mostly young white students) and bid us a safe journey. However, an African woman in her fifties was walking alongside of me and she was abruptly stopped "randomly". She was questioned as to why she was traveling to Dubai, but more importantly the guard was more concerned about how much money she was traveling with. She daringly asked him why it was any of his concern and he gave her the BS speal about "doing his job". The blatant racial profiling angers me. There is no attempt to be subtle about it anymore.
On our way back from Uganda, we again transferred in Dubai. There was a terminal in the Dubai airport that was solely for trips to JFK airport. This terminal had another security check set-up that was not present at any other terminal. We went through the x-ray machines again and our bags were emptied and checked regardless of if anything on the x-ray looked suspicious. I inquired as to why this was only being done for trips to JFK and I was told it was in order to stop terrorist. I was so fed up with all of it, that I told the airport security that there was no need to keep looking for the terrorists because they had become them. I was being terrorized! That is when he told me after looking at my passport that the US had created this system and he was Arabic and only worked there! lol I couldn't blame him for disassociating himself. Upon entering the plane we were then told that throughout the 14 hour flight we were not to congregate with other passengers for fear of conspiracy I assume.
I just don't understand why the US doesn't realize that they must be doing something to anger the world to have to go to such extreme measures to protect itself. No other country is this paranoid about unidentifiable terrorists.
Things like this only heighten my desire to leave this country. I can not continue in an existence that perpetuates constant fear in its citizens.