The complexities of languages.... reloaded. Years back, when Macmillan-Boleswa (BOtswana LEsotho & SWAziland = BOLESWA) contacted me through College Press, their affiliated pubilshers in Zim to tell them that I was wanted in Johannesburg to receive a regional prize for my short story, I was overjoyed. The plane ticket was bought and paid for, all expenses paid at the Holiday Inn in Sandton, and the reception was in some other very prestigious hotel. I made friends with other writers from Southern Africa and we were chauffered from place to place. Mzwakhe Mbuli was the MC... all nice and good. I was awarded the 2nd prize for the Sacrifial Lamb which was later to metarmophosize into my 2nd full length novel, Echoes in the Shadows. Come the next day, before I caught my flight back to Zim and with my cheque in hand, I hailed a taxi into town, walked the various streets of Jonasburg until I found myself in this shop where I wanted to buy some stuff. The shop owner spoke Afrikaans, no English. But I still bought my stuff by pointing. I asked to use the phone, (same method of communicating) had to get a taxi back but I could not make myself understood to the taxi driver who spoke Venda but neither English or Afrikaans. What to do? I had a plane to catch, was hopelessly lost, couldnt speak the lingos. I whipped out the Macmillan-Boleswa phone numbers and the shop owner was obliging. The guys at the MB offices were amazing. Though their duty to us was done and it was business as usual at their office, the guy who had constantly been by our side said not to worry, hed pick me up. So where are you? he asked. I have no idea, somewhere here in Jonas. I answered. He asked to speak to the shop owner (luckily he spoke Afrikaans) and then he told me to stay right where I was, hed pick me up. He took me to the hotel where I hurriedly packed and checked out while he waited, then he drove me straight to the airport. I waved goodbye and was grateful. Another horror awaited me at the airport. When I got to the check-in desk, the attendant said, Oh, South African Airways to Zimbabwe? It must be fying over the Limpopo by now. Oh God, oh my God! What to do? Another call to Macmillan Boleswa or what? (to be continued)
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:47:03 +0000