Blog #6 Handshakes and Hugs from South Africa

November 11, 2025

Hello everyone! This is the 3rd to last blog! My, how time flies. This is a slightly different kind of blog, as the assigned topic for this one was an interview. The assignment was to interview someone from a different culture and take note of the multitude of differences, similarities, and unique things about the other person’s culture. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Akira! We met at one of the meetings of the Christian Union Society (think of it as a club) and hit it off while chatting afterwards. Akira is currently studying early childhood education (just like me!) at Mary Immaculate College on the other side of Limerick. Even though she does not attend the University of Limerick, she still comes to campus for the Christian Union meetings every week.

What are five random facts about you?

1. Akira is originally from South Africa. However, you would never know it, as she moved to Ireland three years ago. Many think she is from Ireland because of her accent. There are many accents and variations throughout Ireland, so she is often mistaken for being native to Ireland.
2. She can fluently speak three languages. Growing up in South Africa, she spoke Afrikaans. She has since learned Gaelic and English. Akira is also currently learning a little bit of Romanian and hopes to learn Spanish as well.
3. Akira loves to read. Her favorite book series is the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan.
4. She has five siblings that she loves to hang out with, three full siblings and two step-siblings.
5. Akira did gymnastics growing up for 2-3 years.

What do you enjoy doing? Hobbies? Work? Personal time?

As shared earlier, Akira loves books. Specifically romance books. One of her favorites is “Better Than the Movies” by Lynn Painter. She loves singing and dancing around the house with a dramatic flair. Akira also has some theater experience. She currently works at an Italian-style pizza place owned by a couple from Romania. They are teaching her a little bit of Romanian, and she is helping their child learn Gaelic. Akira loves trying and experiencing many different kinds of foods… more on this later. She is also currently learning how to knit in her spare time.

What is something you wish other people knew about you?

Akira says sometimes she is quiet. Most of the time, she is just tired or thinking, even though most people think she might be mad when she doesn’t respond right away.

What was your childhood like? Where did you grow up? Who was in your home?

Akira was born in Durban, South Africa (see map). She lived with both parents until she was six years old, when they divorced. Her dad remarried, and she lived with her Dad, stepmom, and her two step-siblings. One of her favorite memories is going camping with her Dad, step-mom, and step-siblings, either in the mountains or by the beach. She recalled that they would often invite people to their campsite for a braai. Braais are the South African name for a barbecue. Think hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salads, fruit salads, and chips. Akria later moved in with her mom. Soon after, she met her best friend, and they have remained good friends to this day, 10 years later.

What traditions or holidays are most important to you or your family? What’s your favorite holiday/time of the year?

Akira’s favorite holiday is Christmas. In South Africa, Christmas is in summer. No, it’s not in June or July. Which is what I originally thought after she told me. Christmas is still celebrated on December 25, but December is not a summer month. Ponder that for a moment. Akira and her family love going to the beach around Christmas, enjoying good food, and celebrating all together as a family, exchanging gifts, or playing games. Because her family loves having a braai, this might be the food they prepare for Christmas. Traditional Christmas food in South Africa may also include lamb, chicken, broccoli salad, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and various other types of salads.

What is a big holiday in your culture that not many others would know about?

Heritage Day is a significant celebration in South Africa. Akira compared it to the 4th of July. Because South Africa is such a multicultural country, it celebrates the diverse heritages of its people on Heritage Day. Everyone dresses up in their traditional cultural attire and prepares a cultural dish to bring in and share, either at work or in school. In some schools, activities may even be prepared for students to participate in.

How do people in your culture usually greet each other?

Akira says in Durban, where she grew up, people greet each other by saying “Howzit” (pronounced How’s it?), as in How is it going? Just like in America, responses are not too common, as most people have passed each other before an answer can be given. Or, most simply, extend their hand for a handshake to greet the other. But in church, Akira says that everyone hugs each other. I think we could say it’s the same in the States!

How do people in your culture view time or punctuality?

This is a somewhat broad answer. In America, I think we could agree that for most people, being on time is arriving just before, on, or just after the agreed-upon time. But yes, everyone has their own perceptions and practices. Akira told me that in South Africa, “on time” could literally mean arriving right at the agreed-upon time (e.g., 4 pm), or it could be anything up to an hour after. She said most would probably arrive at 20 past or 30 past the agreed-upon time (4:20 pm or 4:30 pm).

If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?

After some thoughtful reflection, Akira decided on Spain. For three reasons: 1) To visit a good friend, 2) to try churros and dip them in chocolate, and 3) to learn Spanish.

What’s something your culture does really well that you wish others could experience? What is your favorite thing about your home culture?

Food. Yup. We talked way too long about food. And we were hungry after. Akira said, “Our food is the best food, but I guess everyone could say that.” 🙂 She continued on and told me that there are 12 official languages in South Africa, and that the people are extremely kind, with everyone enjoying chatting and visiting with each other.

The main similarities I noticed between our cultures are the significant role food plays in holidays and family gatherings, as well as a strong love for spending time with family, especially around the holidays. The main differences (and I think these are also the unique points) I observed were the seasons and holidays associated with them, as well as Heritage Day. Christmas is a winter holiday, yet it still falls in December. I can’t wrap my brain around that still. I love the idea of Heritage Day. I think sometimes we get too wrapped up in how we are similar and should be like everyone else that we lose sight of the unique things that make us, individually and as a people, who we are. We don’t take enough time to really notice why or how others are different from us in positive ways. I learned a great deal about Akira and South Africa. I really enjoyed my time visiting with her and getting to know her and her home culture better.