Verusha Naidoo On Why She Chose China

Hi Guys

I apologise for the late blog post. I’ve been having some computer issues for the past few days. However all is back on track and we’re ready to roll….all the way to China!

In September last year I travelled to China for the first time to teach English as a second language. Before I left I was interviewed by a South African news writer, who later wrote a newspaper article on my decisions for choosing China. Below you will find the interview questions and answers as well as a link to the newspaper article.

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Verusha Naidoo On Why She Chose China?

Why china?

I want a unique traditional and cultural experience and I think China remains loyal to both of these things.

How long will you be away for?

Five months

What will you be doing?

I will be teaching English as a foreign language to Engineering students.

Where in China are you going?

Shenyang, Liaoning Province. It’s found on the Northeast of China

What do you hope to achieve?

Great teaching experience, personal growth, the ability to speak a little Chinese.

China and SA are strong trade partners; do you think more young people should do what you are doing? And why?

Anyone should grab an opportunity to travel. It can open door you didn’t know were there.

Why are you going?

To locate my undiscovered doors (she laughs). There are several reasons; I want to know what’s out there, I love adventure, I want to prove to myself I can survive and be independent in a foreign country and the challenge of this made me want it even more.

What would you like the Chinese people to learn about SA?

I would love for them to learn about the beauty of our diversity.

What will you miss the most about SA?

The comfort and familiarity and most definitely the food!

Would you like to learn mandarin? It is probably the language of the future.

I’d love to but that might take a few years.

What did you study?

I did a BA in Drama and Psychology and Honours in Drama: Directing and Education. I’m also a CELTA (Cambridge English Language Teaching to Adults) graduate.

How will you use your drama background as a teaching tool?

There are many fun and creative methods in drama that aid the cognitive process. My aim is to incorporate some of these into teaching English as a second language, in order to make it fun, exciting and engaging. 

What are the 3 things you won't be leaving Durban without?

My GHD, A hug from my boyfriend and my laptop.

Considering you are vegetarian, do you think you will encounter any challenges? How will you deal with it?

Yes, Definitely! I think I’m in for a Fear Factor-like experience. However this is all part of the challenge and I’ll have to take it as it comes. To be honest I’m actually excited to see what’s on offer.

Have you researched how many South Africans are going to China and why?

No I have not. However I do believe there is a handful of South Africans scattered around China doing business or studying medicine.

Why did you choose China? Not Nigeria or India?

China is the world’s most populated country. They produce almost all of our goods and their Chinese symbols are known all around the world. I want to explore the intricate details around how they deal with overpopulation, mass production and learning Chinese symbols. 

Did you research what the nightlife is like in China?

No I haven’t.  However I have been speaking to a few teachers who are already in China. They seem to spend their nights going out to dinner with other teachers or exploring the city.

Are you going to china to find something? Maybe yourself or for the cultural experience?

No. Not anything specific. However I do know that I will be enlightened and I will grow from the experience, whether it’s good or bad.

When you get back what will you do?

The plan is to start a language/drama school when I get back, but that’s not set in stone.

How will you keep in touch whilst you are away?

Facebook, e-mail and skype

Who will you be teaching? What institute?

Engineering students at Shenyang Institute of Technology

Are there any restrictions?

None that I know off.

How did you get in?
I was researching Teaching in China for a few months when I came across a vacancy that offered most of what I was looking for. I sent through all the necessary documents and within a few days I got reply saying that they were interested in hiring me. After several e-mails with the school and some of their teachers, I decided to accept the offer.
 
Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’ll miss you all!

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To view the article click on the link below: 

http://www.thenewage.co.za/mobi/Detail.aspx?NewsID=63423&CatID=1008

Next week I’ll be adding a new page to my blog which documents the five months I spent in China.

I hope you’re excited!

Peace & Love

Verusha :)

I wish I could...

If you could have one skill what would it be?

I would love to be able to draw or sketch. I know this may sound like a simple skill but if you see my attempts at drawing Santa or even a dog, you'll understand.

I believe I'm a good decorator and I'm able to create pretty pictures in my head but when it comes to putting pen to paper, it feels as if my fingers are detached from my hands and are destines for a different path.  All I want, is to be able to draw simple pictures that I could use when decorating on paper. For some reason I like pencil drawn images. They seem to give the work a personal, authentic touch.

When I was 13 I had a pen pal in Germany. We wrote letters to each other monthly, informing each other about the differences between South African and German culture as well as the differences between the two countries. Eventually e-mail and Facebook came along and all this stopped…Sigh! The good old days!

My pen pal’s letters were often decorated with hand drawn images and these always made the letters even more exciting. However I was a little jealous of his drawing and decorating abilities. His hand drawn images were always neat with no mistakes or scratches. They were simple clean hand drawn images and I wanted to be able to do this.

So I tried…to recreate his images, but mine never looked as cool! I tried following You Tube videos on ‘how to draw’ as well using grids to make drawing easier but following the dots seemed to be the only method that proved to be successful…oh and tracing, but anyone could trace.

Thus I starting experimenting with stickers (which I used to collect at the time), embellishments and coloured paper in order to compensate for my lack of drawing skills. I found that I was quite good at decorating using the above mentioned paraphernalia and today it is one of my favourite hobbies.  

There are days when I still wish I could draw and I still try. However tracing picture gives me the best satisfaction. I think I’m a perfectionist when it comes to creative creations as I really do not like it when lines are out of place or if a spot was missed when adding colour. When I draw I have to deal with the former and the fact that it looks like something a kindergartener drew. When I trace everything is perfect and I’m happy. Hence I shall stick to what gives the best results!

Below are some of my creations I traced and decorated. If you did not know about my inability to draw, could I have fooled you?

Peace
Verusha ;)




Gift book (embellishments, foil art & craft paper) 

Decorated gift box (purple crepe paper, green felt & crystals)




Bday card (foil art & bubble stickers)



My daily diary (picture of my bf & magazine cut outs)



Gift book (foil art, craft paper & craystals)

Back cover



Black shoe, Black shoe, Change your Shoe!

Like most girls I love fashion, shoes and trending hairdos. I watch Keeping up with the Kardashians and I follow fashion icons on Twiiter. I love platform heels and I believe shoes can communicate. They either say ‘buy me now’ or ‘think about me and if I’m still here when you come back, we’re meant to be’. When I’m bored I visualise potential outfits in my head and where I could wear them to. This makes me very happy! N.B: I’m not crazy just passionate!

My latest visualisation was inspired by a pair of nude platform heels I saw while at the mall. It is a modern casual (as I like to call it) outfit and can be worn to a party or on a night out with friends. The outfit is as follows:

·         Nude platform heels

·         Blue skinny jeans with a sight fade on the thigh

·         Sleeveless coral coloured chiffon top with collar - long at the back and short in front

·         Coral, pastel bluish green and nude neck piece with gold trimming

·         Big nude circular/oval earrings with gold trimming

·         Wavy side sweep hair-do

·         Nude and coral box handbag

Attention to detail is everything! As you can tell I often start creating from the bottom up as I prefer my shoes to make a bold statement rather than my jewellery or clothing. I like my jewellery and clothing to be relatively simple and clean cut with plain colours as this allows me to mix & match and add my own unique touch. If I could draw I would have drawn a fashion vision board but considering I’m hopeless at drawing you will have to also create this outfit in your head to see it as a whole.

The people who inspire my fashion craze include my Mum, the Kardashian/Jenner crew and South Africa TV presenter and fashion icon, Jennie D. However my ultimate fashion icon is Victoria Beckham and at times it feels like she can hear my fashion thoughts and puts them into action. Victoria’s designs are often simple and sleek with a touch of mind-blowing elegance. She seems to get colour coordination right almost always, which is difficult to achieve. I'm all for colour coordination! It irks me when people think that just because colours look good on paper or on a wall it will work on humans too....noooooooo! I believe (I think Vic believes this as well) that there should be no more than three colours on an outfit including jewellery and shoes. If you choose to wear a busy, floral or colourful top, it should be paired with a pair of plain and subtle pants and vice versa...and NO!....black shoes DO NOT match with everything. As for the Kardashians, even though they are often found on the sour side of most peoples tongues
they win me over with their make-up and hair tips. My favourite looks include the Kim Kardashian High Glam Bun and the Wavy Side Sweep…and the lengthy eyelash look is a must have!

One of my favourite simple and sleek VB designs

Colour coordination done right

I love this! Simple yet elegant

Kim K Wavy Side Sweep

Kim K High Glam Bun

Learn how to do your own High Glam Bun with this video






















 

Bollywood In My Blood

Recently a friend and I were talking about Bollywood movies and as I’m not a huge fan I did not have much to say. The only thing I do enjoy about Bollywood movies is the choreography and the composition of their wardrobes. Thus considering the lack of resources to draw from to keep the conversation going I had to make a quick decision to change the topic but still keep it relevant. 

Me: I attended a family wedding a few months ago...and I have to say I LOVE Indian weddings! I love them for several reasons but mainly because of the rich and dynamic culture behind every Indian wedding. They are always elaborate, vibrant and bursting with colour. From extravagant Eastern garments to blaring Bollywood beats, traditional Indian weddings have the power to bring out the most colourful side of you.

My friend: Oookay!

At this stage my friend noticed that I was getting carried away so she blatantly changed the topic to something that was completely irrelevant. Thus I shall continue my conversation here…

Considering the amount of work put into this wedding, the brightly coloured sarees and suits purchased, the beautifully decorated edibles and the fact that the groom is a close uncle of mine, I decided I had to share a little bit about my Indian culture with you.

The wedding I attended was a traditional Hindu wedding which meant that for an entire hour I witnessed a marriage in a language I did not understand (Tamil)… and my favourite part was when the food came out……….I’m just kidding! To be honest I enjoyed the entire ceremony and even thought the ceremony was conducted in Tamil the co-coordinators were kind enough to find an MC who was able to translate. 

Hindu weddings are usually made up of several small ceremonies which are all significant for the marrying of the bridal couple. The order of the ceremonies differ with different people however its significance is often similar.

Ceremonies that make up a traditional Hindu wedding:

1.       Opening prayer: bridal couple gives thanks to God.

2.       Nelungu: this is a cleansing ceremony for the body and skin. A yellow paste known as Tumeric or Hurdee is applied on the faces of the bridal couple.

3.       Havan: also a cleansing ceremony to get rid of bad omens. The bridal couple is instructed to throw specific items, all of which symbolize something in the world, into a fire.

4.       Tying of the Thali: the thali is a yellow string that is tied around the neck of the bride by the groom. It is the equivalent of a ring.

5.       Red Dot: a red dot is positioned on the forehead of the bride. The colour indicates that she is a married woman.

6.       Rings and toes rings: Rings are self explanatory. Toe rings serve a similar purpose as a finger ring however is only worn by women.

7.       Swapping of garlands: During this ceremony garlands made of fresh flowers are swapped three times between bride and groom. This process symbolizes the unity they now share as a married couple.

8.       Closing ceremony: the married couple get their final blessings from their parents by falling at their feet. This gesture shows unconditional respect for their parents.

While all of this was taking place I had a lot to look at and admire. The décor at the wedding venue was impressive and definitely something to write home about. Bright orange and cream with a touch of gold were the chosen colours for décor, dresses and desserts…and everything in between. Indians love splashes of gold!

As I was the eldest niece of the groom I had a few responsibilities at the wedding which meant I had to choose my outfit wisely. Personally, I do not enjoy shopping for Eastern wear as I can never find one that fits like a Victoria Beckham dress or one that is within my price bracket. So, usually I lose interest and just end up borrowing an outfit from my friend (not the one who blatantly changed the topic), who allows me to choose from a variety of beautiful garments…AND she has matching jewellery for each of them. YES, she is cool that way!

Anyway for this wedding, considering my relation to the groom and my ‘major’ responsibilities I decided to invest in my own saree (for the first time – no I’m not embarrassed that I borrowed my friend’s all the other times. That’s what friends are for! :D). I started to shop three months prior to the wedding and I encountered all the problems I usually encounter, not the right size, price or colour. One month in and still I had no idea what I was going to wear. Fortunately, someone introduced me to online shopping, specifically for Eastern wear and…BAM! 21 days later I had a stunning saree and blouse that I designed myself using the design template provided on the site.

I wore a burgundy, green and gold (we love gold!) lengha style saree adorned with burgundy and green embroidery coupled with gold & silver sequins ... [+] Read Moreand a velvet border. My jewellery which included a slightly elaborate neck piece and bangles were in keeping with the chosen colour pallet.

So, even though I do not enjoy Bollywood movies my Indian’ess ensures that there is always some Bollywood in my blood!


My burgundy, green & gold lengha saree

A closer look at the embroidery on my saree



Matching neck piece and bangles

Me, in my own saree
 



Bride & Groom with family wearing brightly coloured sarees




Beautifully decorated edibles

 



 

 



Greener Pastures

 

The mornings are getting brighter, the days are getting longer and the sun is getting hotter. It’s almost summer in South Africa and in my opinion Durban’s the best place to be! We have beautiful beaches, warm water and people who love to take full advantage of summer time.

I was at the beach yesterday for a morning jog (you now probably think I’m a heath freak and super fit, don’t you?). Sorry to burst your bubble! However I do wish there was some truth in that.

Truth be told I’m not extremely fit or one of those people who can run 10km along the beach without gasping for breath. I’m also not close to death or someone who needs a drastic lifestyle change. The morning jogs at the beach is something my boyfriend and I are trying out to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I also just got new advanced technology running shoes and you know that brand new training gear motivates like no other. People see your cool shoes and think you’re a pro.

However I didn’t start writing this post to tell you about my cool shoes. While I was flaunting my cool shoes at the beach yesterday morning I couldn’t help but notice the cleanliness around me. I’m not talking about the people! I’m referring more to the absence of litter.

If you read my About Me page you would have seen that one of my pet peeves is litterbugs. I hate it when people litter and I get really agitated and sometimes even angry when it’s done so casually and then followed by some sort of justification. LITTERING IS A DISGUSTING HABIT & THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT even if Albert Einstein said so!

The trick here is to inform people about the DAMAGING effects of littering:

·        Littering causes blockages to drainage and sewage systems. This means that if the situation gets worse our own systems at home will be effected. Can you imagine going a week or so without clean water to shower, drink or flush?

·        When litter gets into the water it reduces the oxygen in the water as it decays and endangers the aquatic life. They choke on pieces of litter and sometimes die as result of the quality of water. The thing that bothers me the most is the seafood we eat. If these under water creatures are consuming our hazardous and poisonous wastes, these can eventually affect us when we eat anything that is bred under water.

 

·        Solid wastes such as plastics bags, cups, glass bottles and rusty objects can be dangerous to people, a fire hazard when cigarettes are thrown away and can attract mosquitos when it rains. These can encourage illnesses.

·        Litter also breeds rats who carry diseases, destroy & eat food and chew on electrical & telephone cables.

·        Areas that are used as frequent dump sites are often unprotected and thus easier crime target spots.

·        Littering diminishes the pride people have in their environment and creates a culture of lack of caring.

·        It also reduces the aesthetic value of public places such as beaches, parks and playgrounds.

Thus, the next time you’re about to throw something out of your car window or on the floor as you walk along the street PLEASE just think about what you’re doing and I’m sure that even before you complete the thought there will be a bin/trash can in front of you. It also helps to keep a plastic bag in your handbag or car thus when you need to dispose of litter and there are no bins around you could put all your litter in the plastic bag and only dispose of it once you get home.

In South Africa litter is a major problem in some areas. Many people are taking the initiative to create litter free zones and to prevent dumping of hazardous wastes. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Also, I’d love to know what other countries do to combat littering or even litterbugs. Please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.

Peace, love & a litter free world

Verusha ;)

Types of Litterbugs
Too Cool For School Guy	Simply does not care about the environment & disposes of his litter in any way he pleases.	Cannot Find Bin Guy	As long as there are no bins in sight he will assume there are not bins at all even within the next 10km.
The Man with Excuses	He thinks that if he doesn’t litter all cleaning workers will be jobless and the country will go into depression.	Tactical Guy	Check lift, check right, check up & check down, to confirm no one is around, then throws his litter.
Everyone is doing it!	You litter, I litter, Everybody litters. This person always uses the action of others to justify her own.	The Pretender	This person always pretends she mistakenly dropped her litter & continues to walk on.

Presents, pretty clothes & people we love!

Birthdays are awesome! There's cake, presents, pretty clothes & people we love.

When my friends and I were at university we always ensured there was cake, presents and well pretty clothes was a constant birthday or no birthday. The best part of our birthdays was that we often tried to get each other characterised or personalised birthday cakes and cards.
The ideas for the cakes and cards came from the things we were obsessed with at the time. My personal favourite was a Jack Skellington cake and card I got on my 21^st birthday. Jack Skellington is an animated character from the movie A Nightmare before Christmas.

For our friend who loves pink and Hello Kitty, we bought cupcakes and attempted drawing Hello Kitty faces on them. It was a lot of fun and hard work considering it was our first time decorating cupcakes.

Another friend got a monstrous birthday card with a Jungle Oats flying heart. She loved Jungle Oats bars. It was her Kryptonite.

As you can tell a lot of effort was put into these cakes and cards as we tried to make arrangements without causing any suspicion. At times we lied, hid and even paid people off with the promise of a piece of cake...and it worked!

The cakes never failed to surprise and the cards are treasures we’ll keep for a long time. As for the memories they’ll never be forgotten.

As you may know, I celebrated my birthday last week and even though my friends and I are no longer at university or live in the same province they did make me a personalised card with the traditional Roses are red poem and inside jokes.

To add to the presents, pretty clothes and people I love, I also received a new laptop from my dear boyfriend at midnight, really cool trainers from my dad, lots of clothes and accessories from my mum including a birthday cake & breakfast.

Birthdays are awesome and the people around you make them even more awesome ;).

I la ma peeps (in my gangster voice).

Peace

Verusha




My Jack Skellington 21st birthday cake



Homemade personalised cards from my friends



Jack Skellington card & others with Roses are red poem



Our attempt at drawing Hello Kitty faces on cupcakes



Monstrous homemade birthday card



Inside Monstrous  card with flying Jungle Oats heart