I remember writing elsewhere on this blog that “I can probably write a book” about the kinds of negative African stereotypes I’ve encountered while living in China. Once again, I’m not going to, at least not on this blog-post. I will however, tell you about one incident that happened to My Missus while we were living in Taiwan a few years ago.
My Missus, a teacher at an international school in Northern Taiwan, was called to the office urgently. Upon arriving there, she noticed a black person in conversation with a senior teacher. The teacher excused herself from the conversation and hurried over to My Missus. Excitedly, she told her that the person she is interviewing is “also from Africa” and that she would like My Missus to come and “speak African” to him!
We still laugh whenever we tell that story!
With the 2010 World Cup upon us, many thousands of visitors will flock to the South African shores with similar (more daft?) stereotypes. And who else but South African fast-food chain Nando’s to use it in their ad-campaign:
I just caught the Cathay Pacific television advertisement for the 2010 Hong Kong Sevens on local English-language TV channel Pearl TV. Cathay Pacific is, of course the national airline/carrier of Hong Kong and co-sponsor together with Credit Suisse of the BIGGEST Sevens on the IRB Sevens World Circuit.
The tag-line for their 2010 advert is “The Fun Is Back” but with the Adelaide Sevens looming (in the way) a week before, at this stage of the season we should amend that to “The Fun Is (Almost) Back. For now.”
Be that as it may, for any serious Hong Kong Sevens fan now is the time to start preparing for Hong Kong’s un-official rugby week.
If you haven’t yet done so, put in that saved leave-days at the office to make sure you have a least 4-5 consecutive days come March 26-28, 2010.
“But the Sevens is only three days long” I hear you protest.
On the home-front Boys, now is the time to bank some extra time in the ‘good-house.’ You do not want to be sleeping on the sofa after HK Sevens. Once more, trust me… you’ll need that good-house-time more. The boss can be worked with paperwork, but the Missus…neva!
Now is the time to be doing all those chores you’ve been putting off till ‘tomorrow.’ Arrive home with take-outs or a nice bunch of flowers (yes, you know by now: or two) or give her a totally un-expected, un-begged-for full body rub (or more) until you’re dead on your knees or back (or whatever rocks her world).
You’ll thank me after March 29.
Whether you take my advice or you have your own, do it now because, in the words of Cathay Pacific:
The Fun Is Back!
See you on March 26-28 at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Cathay Pacific is running a competition where you can enter a video to win some fan-tastic prizes like flights, event tickets and many more. Simply go to their FaceBook page and enter your Sevens video.
