The Body

Last weekend I spent in Kgapane at my Principal's, Mrs. Rangwato's house. It is always a welcome change staying there as she has running water and cable TV which means I get to relax in luxury.

I think that sometimes I will never get used to certain aspects that are acceptable in this context. For example, I was enjoying a bath one morning when there was a knock on the door. I answered affirmatively that I was in the bath. Unexpectedly to me, this didn't mean much and Maggie, Mrs. Rangwato's niece, came prancing in explaining that she needed to grab the detergent from the cupboard. So I sat naked in the tub in front of a girl I had known less than a day feeling ultimately uncomfortable.

Yet, should I have felt this way? I suppose my cultural upbringing has taught me to be embarrassed by nudity. Yet, here it is much different. If you are among women it seems there is no hesitancy to be naked or bathe. There is much less shame and self-consciousness over the body. People in the rural areas are much less concerned over their weight. Women are expected to look like women, like themselves, not like an image on TV or in a magazine.

I suppose that I like this idea, that a woman here, no matter what her size, can be considered beautiful. I like that women are not ashamed to sit topless outside when it is hot or that women accept each other without embarrassment. I hope this is one aspect that the influence of western culture does not change.