Laduma!

Summer has worn herself out. The party is over, and the kids are back at school.

But what a grand summer we have had this year. My girls overdosed on the luxuries of not having to get up to a hectic schedule every day and had enough time for dreaming, sleeping, reading and playing their music. They also spent their summer perfecting their dolphin kicks and cannon-balls. The weather has been glorious with a typical wind-free balmy and dry season. We ended up going to movies only once and watched almost no Netflix movies and television. We went to Monterey, the Children's Discovery museum, and listened to the San Francisco Symphony play for free in the park. Sarah composed her first violin piece, and Jenna patiently practiced her new Classical guitar moves. Naturally we all still sighed, and some stomped off in a huff when we tried to play ensemble pieces. Hmmmmm -- we have a ways to go, as the Americans say!

I am not a huge sports fan, but the Olympics were intriguing. Mostly, I read about it in the paper. Last Sunday morning when Master Phelps was on the front page, I said to Henk it is surprising to me that such a national sports hero doesn't have a fabulous nickname. If he had been South African, he would not have got off so lightly. Oh, no.

He would have been rechristened something suitable. No formal Namby Pamby Michael Phelps would be heard or written about. So I thought, let's check out Wikipedia for possible nicknames. Blank. Then I googled the question. Well, I found one page that asked for suggestions, but had no responses. Some radio show ran a competition online and got one entry which was declared the winner -- the Phelpinator. Seriously lame, people.
Apparently the Chinese call him "The flying Fish" in Chinese, which is terribly cute and witty if you are, or understand Chinese. Kudos to you guys.
If he had won so many gold medals for South Africa, he would never forget it. His nickname would be chanted at meets, it would be yelled in greeting every time he passed a stranger.
As a multicultural nation, we are fond of nicknames, and of course the African languages, of which we have nine, lend themselves beautifully to fun and quirky names.

South Africa is gearing up to host the finals of the Soccer World Cup in 2010. The soccer world will experience Cup Final Soccer ala African style for the first time ever, they say. It will be the first time in its history that an African nation hosts this big sporting event. If you are there, or watch the game, here are a few pointers.
Our team is called "Bafana Bafana". Go ahead and say it. Fun to say, isn't it?! It means "The Boys The Boys". And my personal favorite: "Laduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuma!"Literally means goal. But with much more panache, I think.
You will hear the loud elephant trumpeting of the fans. These are plastic horns that bellow like Buffalo and are easy and fun to use, making every grown-up feel like a kid again. Go ahead and buy your own Vuvuzela for the game. Fellow fans will eventually give in and ask to have a go on your "Voove" as they're known locally. Be a sport and lend your voove to the guy. Originally, they were Kudu horns, used to summon African villages to meetings, but before long they were so popular at Soccer games, that one enterprising company mass produced them in cheap plastic and a cultural phenomenon was born.

You will hear names like Sibusiso Zuma aka "Zuma the Puma";Phil Masinga aka "Chippa"; and my personal favorite, Mr John "Shoes" Moshoeu. When he gets the ball and zips along the field the crowd roars "Shoe-oes"; Shoe-oes!". Men and women finally united in a love for shoes. Nirvana. So I am holding out for the day that we get to host the Olympics, and give some African nicknames to the American stars. Think Brangelina is unique? Just wait.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the under 23 national soccer team, the "Amaglug- glug". Sponsored by a large petroleum company, of course. Get it?