In 1994 Nelson Mandela had a dream. A dream of uniting many different people of different colours, cultures, races and tribes, a dream that all these people could live and work side by side in South Africa. It was Desmond Tutu that called this dream "The Rainbow nation"
In 2018, My street, I call it "my street" because I live and work here, is a world away from my native South Africa, can only be described as Nelson Mandela's Rainbow Nation. My street is in Playa de Palma, a German and Dutch holiday resort on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. My street is not a big street however we do have loads of different cultures and nationalities running small businesses on my street.
At the bottom of my street are two restaurants. A Sushi and Thai Restaurant run by a young German and Thai couple who have only set up business this summer but already busy serving all you can eat menus to hungry punters. Opposite, the other restaurant is one of the oldest businesses on my street. A Chinese restaurant, having being here for more than 17 years, he has seen the change on my street. He used to be the only foreigner on my street, but the Spanish sold up up now there are all different people here. But that's fine, he says, there is space for everyone, we all work hard during the summer and rest during the winter.
Next up are the African Traders, from Senegal to be exact. They do anything from hair extension to selling sun glasses and hats, quietly working from 10 in the morning until midnight. Beside tourists, "Looky Looky" traders buy stock from this Senegalese family to sell on the beach front.
And while in Mallorca, why not get your nails done or dip your feet nibbled in a fish spa, this little business is run by a super friendly Chinese lady. May, her immediate neighbours being the Senegalese family, she has been running the fish spa and making sure the ladies have beautiful nails while on holiday, for the last 4 years. Besides running her spa, May's daily duty is to visit everyone on my street, checking to see if we are all alive and well.
Then there's us, we are opposite May's fish spa. I am the night manager of a 27 bedroom hotel, My boss is Swedish and my colleagues English. My boss has been supplying rooms to tourists for the last 5 years. Before the tourist industry became popular in the late 80's, this little hotel was accommodation for workers visiting the island. Now are clients are young German and Dutch tourists, here to enjoy the sea, sun and party the night night away.
And last but not least, at the top of my street is a mini market, supplying anything from towels to cold beer. This little business is run by an Indian family from Punjab. Trading for the last 6 years, their young son of 24 is now in charge
. With a mix of his Western ways and strong Hindu beliefs, he tells me in a few years time, he has to return to India, choose a wife and start a family. Families are extremely important in their culture.
So that's my street. Nelson Mandela's Rainbow nation exists on my street and many other streets like mine here in Spain. It's not just a dream it's way of life, something Nelson Mandela dreamt of for South Africa.
Spain's liberal ideas, make it possible for different cultures and nationalities to come and live and work here.
In South Africa, at the moment, racial tension is high and slowing down any dream of rainbow nation.
Here is an article I read on news24, which may be of interest to you. Lets revisit the idea of a rainbow nation
https://www.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/let-us-revisit-the-idea-of-a-rainbow-nation-20180323
All photos are mine, taken with my Samsung J7 mobile phone.
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