I sailed back home on a freight ship. I bid my friend farewell and departed to go back to the place I used to call home. I was financially carefree for the first time, but I spent most of my days relaxing on the terrace and observing the crashing waves. Watching the unsettling waves in the tranquil Indian Ocean form irregular white foam. The previous fourteen years had seen a passenger ship return on the same route. The eager mind was racing to the beat of the splashing waves and was full of achievements.
I was interrupted from my contemplation of the deep blue ocean by a school of dolphins. The idea was that the young dolphins would imitate the older ones in flawless synchronicity. With each precise take-off and slide into the bouncy water, it seemed as though training for perfection was reaching its peak. My attention was on the same learning process that I had seen in nature, where the younger generation was learning from the more experienced. It was a near-perfect replica of my education.
As a young guy with no plans for the future or goals, I had traveled a long way to a far-off nation that was rich in culture and history. There, the gurus taught their disciples what they knew. I felt fortunate to be in India at this time and to be returning with knowledge and a college degree. Those experiences, that knowledge, and those hearts full of love had now returned home.
In India, the largest democratic nation in the world, where indigenous ways of life were still the norm, it was a symbol of individual freedom. Many invaders plunder, destroy, and force people into slavery in Indian culture. Due to the convergence of all major world faiths in people's hearts, they continue to have the belief that there is only one real God who genuinely exists. Faith rules most things, and despite the numerous gods mentioned, Hinduism seems to me to have a relatively monotheistic viewpoint.
The experience of being in India was similar to seeing beliefs. I was reviewing my recent successes, trying to leave the past behind me, and attempting to live in the present. However, the rumbling sea shook me out of my trance. I was still staring at the bouncing, restless waves when it occurred to me that there are quiet, undisturbed layers of water in the deep seas. This is from geography courses. The future was extremely terrifying in the country I was returning to.
The day was winding down during these thoughts, and the riot of colors once more brought the setting sun to mind. The dazzling effect the sun's rays had on the resonating waves on the infinite horizon indicated that I was traveling west toward the coast of Africa. Despite everything, I could sense that my father remained at home, so it would be wise to travel there. Emotions were further brought into focus by the stunning colors of the vast sea on the horizon. There, in all directions, were beams of optimism.
Human rights violations, job discrimination, and other laws of the apartheid era were exclusively intended to protect people with fair skin. When the labor market was dominated by job reservations, what would I do with my qualifications? The confused young mind was now dominated by having invested 14 years and a ton of money to acquire a quality degree. Will I travel to America? Although I had the option of mentioning my ego, I felt that homecoming was of paramount importance.
As I followed the East coast of Africa after leaving the huge, dead ocean, it felt as though a fellow traveler had joined me. Looking out at the water or the gulls on the horizon made time go by more quickly. My relaxed mind temporarily became unoccupied as we traveled south. The harbor with the enormous ships from my childhood memories was no longer fascinating. However, my restless thoughts kept wanting to move on so I might arrive home sooner.
The ship arrived in Durban harbor in the morning. Following a clean shave and wearing my clean clothes, I was finally able to reach the dismemberment line. I did this because I had packed most of my stuff the previous evening and I wanted to look as presentable as possible. According to the laws of my nation, whites were first while blacks and Asians were in separate lines. This bothered me not at all amid all the excitement. When all the white passengers had finished by lunchtime, it was finally our turn. I wanted to visit my family, my parents, and my future life partner but the brutal reality of apartheid was still a reality and was still accepted. I was able to see my father through glass windows while I was processing through customs. My heart sank when I noticed how wrinkled and old he appeared to be. The friendship I formed by writing her letters continued to elude my keen eye.
In the commotion of a landing and observing the laws of
the land, time seemed to stand still. The internal excitement was almost over
due to how quickly everything happened. The 400 km return trip from the coast
served as a comparison of 14 years' worth of change. It was stressful to be
caught up in both the past and the present. The best part of coming home was
finally getting to meet and see my mum. For a long time to come, I treasured
these moments and recollections.
The first delight of being at home was waking up the next morning to a home-cooked breakfast. It was like hearing about the lost years as you listened to the family's highs and lows. Slowly settling in, I was able to find satisfaction in my mother's and father's love, which made my return home such a significant and joyful event for me.
This region was likewise covered in colonial motifs. Each location has a beer hall at the entrance. Black people lived under edicts and spent the majority of their income there. The proceeds from the sale of this Bantu bear were given to local governments. During my evaluation, I visited India, where the British Raj tried and succeeded in producing contemporary slaves. No non-white person could possess the land. Non-Whites were not permitted in institutions of higher learning. Finally, my dad retired. Here at home, he was content. I respected him from the moment he began selling vegetables until he produced four of his sons who graduated from college. For me, he was a wonderful parent.
Due to job reservations, I did not have many opportunities. My qualification only required work for people with white skin. I was called a "Coolie" repeatedly during one of the interviews until I left. Companies in Europe consistently adhered to the principle of rejecting jobs for people of color. They favored importing their own nations' talents from overseas and then developing local talent. After another six months, I got married and secured a low-paying position at an engineering firm. It was the location of my first job. The employer made a lot of promises, but nothing came to pass. As my financial situation deteriorated, I began to work any job that was available to me.
There were times when I did not have money on me. On one of those days, I made the decision to approach the general merchants I regularly purchase from and ask for credit. Only a half-loaf of bread and a half-liter of milk were included. I was called many derogatory names by the business owner, who eventually asked me to leave after insulting me. I left feeling hurt and dejected. I discovered recyclable bottles while walking on the pavement. I could collect a deposit for these bottles, I reasoned. Therefore, I gathered as much as I could and returned to the same store to obtain deposits for the returnable bottles. He said something as I was leaving the store. These coolies believe themselves to be incredibly smart. Unexpectedly, the shop owner was from Europe. I never returned to the store.
I didn't steal, cheat, beg, or do any of those things, yet I managed to get through those unforgettable days. I even gave abandoned items a new life. The financial situation was difficult. I kept putting forth a lot of effort to make a life. My loved ones and friends made fun of me. I refused to back down in the face of criticism. There were numerous Dutch and German engineers where I worked. One of them indicated that I might be able to get better employment elsewhere with my education.
White folks started to value my degree for the first time at that point. After gaining artesian status for five years, I started looking for meaningful work in a big metropolis. In addition to being skilled with my hands, I also hold a university degree. The laws of the land pursued me. I just wanted to work in engineering, so when I was finally hired as an engineer by a multinational corporation, my adventure officially began. For non-whites, salaries were market-based. Whites receive far higher pay. I upheld high moral standards, put in an honest day's work, and gave it my all. I was laid off when I was forty. It was really a pretext to drive out everyone who wasn't white. All foreign nationals adopted a segregationist strategy as well. They were only motivated by money, and human rights came second. Apartheid laws mainly benefitted them. I felt as though I had wasted half of my life. I was merely attempting to make money during that period in order to provide for the necessities of my family.
I didn't own a home, and I had no savings for unforeseen expenses. When I took stock of my situation, I recognized that I had knowledge and experience that money could not replace. My family eventually asked me to work with them in the company. Now, getting home was difficult. I am looking to put my training and knowledge to use. In engineering, I learned that there are numerous solutions to every issue. With this in mind, I started my own business, taking the biggest risk of my life. I was reminded of Leonardo da Vinci in history lessons. He was a creative problem-solver who found original solutions to issues that led to new breakthroughs and inventions.
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