Collage Identities

*WARNING* This entire episode deals with the sensitive topic of SUICIDE. Further warning, it is a monologue which means it is inherently myopic and bound to be experienced as one-dimensional and uninformed. I, Siphumelele Gumede, have battled suicidal thoughts and depression but I have never attempted suicide nor experienced it in my immediate family. I do venture my opinion however on this very sensitive topic because it is so heavy on my heart and whatever your interpretation of my words is, it is so important to me that you know that, I am FOR anyone who has battled with suicidal thoughts, lost their life to suicide or lost someone in their life to suicide. The intention behind this episode and my decision to post it is informed by a desire to sympathise with and “with”ness sufferers of mental illness (as one who has suffered too and) as one who wishes more than anything to see more sympathy and softness toward mental illness (depression and suicide). I also refer to “God,” I am a believer of the Jesus stories and identify as a Christian but again, I come, intentionally, with love and the desire to see more love and sympathy towards this topic, I am not advocating for any particular way to view these things, I am simply calling for Love. That is all. More LOVE please? P.S. I know it has literally been a year since our last episode, and for that we are truly sorry. Paige and I are currently in different provinces and dealing with a lot on our plates but this podcast is not dead!!!!! Please stay?x

This episode starts in medias res quite literally, apologies! But we begin by exploring what will probably be a recurring topic in this podcast which is how adopting other cultures affects (and possibly takes away from) our own. In this episode we discuss the process of learning English for a child whose mother-tongue is an African language. Siphumelele delves into some of her own personal stories with learning English as a Zulu speaker, while Paige, a post-graduate student in Journalism and specializing in the learning of English by African-languages speakers explains more in-depth what this process of learning English looks like for a small child of an indigenous South African language (and culture). Please bare with the technical imbalances as we try to navigate this uncharted territory! And please subscribe!:) Many thanks!