Chronicles of a Contemporary Cheri

With my mid-20’s being a couple sleeps away, I have come to a realisation that the decisions we take at that age are a lifetime agreement. To elaborate, whatever choice you make now, be it unprotected sex; a bank loan; what you apply on your face; your friends and whomever you decide to invest in emotionally, at this confusing age, is a launchpad that will either make or break the rest of your life.

Most of us can admit that our matric years were not as complicated as we thought they were. The real stuff comes when you have to take a decision that will benefit your life rather than the person. If you thought that your lying to your parents about extra classes in high school because they would not let you date; now imagine the exhaustion of having to choose your (potential) spouse over the disapproval of your parents!

It is pretty hectic too when you are not satisfied in the job that you thought was the bomb.com while slaving through tertiary; only to find a horrible boss whom makes your Sunday afternoon a prelude to the hell-hole you call work. Your Saturday on the other hand is either occupied by waking up an hour later to your weekday schedule and either be filled with domestic chores or spending it trying to ‘kick back’ on things you wish you just could have stayed at home and prepared in your kitchen.

So now that you blew your money over the weekend, all you can do on the grumpy morning is to make sure that alarm is not snoozed so that you can beat the morning rush, only to see the face that has become too familiar in your anxiety attack, your boss. Because after all, you need to make up your financial slack and burdens that await you!

A week is too short to have time to you really. You may call that trip to the salon to ‘pamper’ the queen that you are, but let’s be honest, how many times have you found yourself stressing about the hairstyle that you do not entirely trust? Moreover, when the debit from that salon is approved, it doesn’t take long before the picture-perfect hairstyle is destroyed in your sleep. So you make sure they finish on time while the sun’s lighting still permits you to take selfies of that gorg hair-do because we all know, it shall never be the same tomorrow morning.  

This is where you decide if you should join the baby boom with the rest of your peers in fears that by the time you decide to multiply, your friends have long left the discussions that once-upon-a-time left you bored and picking on your manicure while they fussed on topics such as how to treat stretch marks that come with the pregnancy or play-dates at crèche, sisi, your friends are now going to vacations as their children now babysit themselves.

As if that’s not enough, some of us grow into body induced by the zero-chilled growth spurts. You are now pressured society’s ever-changing opinion on which body type is in style. I mean I’m in my mid-20’s and still get upset by what’s trendy and won’t fit me!  You know very well that if you don’t shape up soon, you’ll never be a yummy mummy in your 40s! How must bae’s people see you now when you have get-togethers and love handles be spilling all over the place, or yet still- people think you’re his aunt!!!

I am a confused, young cheri, who faces challenges that I am sure you all have one way or another have gone through. Please come with me. These are my chronicles…

...and a lily was planted...

I am struggling to find a suitable heading for this piece. It has been very long since I last writ, and I feel tongue tied and rusty with my words.

Well, the main reason for my writer's block right now is because of the awe that fills my spirit at the moment. I've always known that I wanted to be a woman of serious impact. Not to have a powerful name per say, but a powerful impact.

Growing up in the Seventh-Day Adventist church, I grew up admiring the Women Ministries department. When I was finally old enough to to join the Young Adventist Women's Ministrydepartment, it gave me the best insights of my life. Ones that are always engraved in my spiritual mind.

I later decided to pursue a career in journalism. It would give me the opportunity to interact with other women. Their struggles, victories, pains and joys. I had the opportunity to intern at the Cosmopolitan magazine but as a fashion magazine, it did not satisfy the desire that burned in me.

I still long for a stronger experience. This piece gives me a perspective about where I want to be before I turn 25 yeas next October. 

As the year draws to an end, I look at four women who have bothered my conscious.



I read a book titled When Hope Whispers written by Zoleka Mandela with a foreword by her grandmother, Winnie Mandela. (I will write a review later) I have never seen so much strength compressed in a single book. The will to live, the yearn to survive and actually appreciating your very life that keeps kicking you over is an inspiration.

The Mandela women holding up their books

Zoleka was born into a public eye and was raped by one of her family's trusted friends. This influenced her her poor decision making during her teenage years like most of us do but had a harsh and negative impact later into her adult years.
She is a cancer survivor who advocates for children- including her daughter who lost their lives on the road.
It is a beautiful story of not letting go from the hope your soul whispers that you can heed to the call...





Mama Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is currently the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) by United Nations. Previously she was a South African politician who was Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008.



Then there is Ntombezinhle Jiyane AKA Dj Zinhle. She is a local house music DJ who broke through a male dominated industry and became a success. She is also a business woman with an girls-only academy and is a single mother. This girl practically stands for everything that stands for putting women up and celebrating them when they are on top. I draw from her strength, maturity and selflessness...


Lastly, and hopefully not least, the First lady of South Africa. Introducing Tobeka Madiba-Zuma.
Today, she pointed me to this blog. 

She was today appointed UNAIDS Special Advocate for the Health of Women, Children and Youth. Mrs Zuma will use her position as UNAIDS Special Advocate to speak out on a local, regional and global level on issues related to women’s sexual and reproductive health, including HIV and TB, and especially on HIV prevention among young adolescent girls and young women.



They have all pointed me back to my dreams. I am going to back feature magazines and am going to open a foundation!

I've just smiled...

Shaving for Cancer

Looking forward to the big chop.

After my grandmother died of cancer in 2010, I learned that a very close friend of mine experienced a loss worse than mine later on that year when her grand mother who was practically her mother lost the fight to cervical cancer.

I was only just getting affected when I had my aunt had to remove her womb because of the disease and her sister her a mastectomy,a surgery to remove the entire breast, including the skin and nipple. It is usually done to treat breast cancer. I then met my ex, who was also a affected by the death of his grandmother after she lost the fight with cervical cancer. Just as when I thought it would get better, another close friend lost her grandmother to throat cancer.

After the chop! *smiles*

It is devastating and there's actually nothing much we could do but accept and make change. I try to donate blood to the South African Blood Services hoping it could help leukemia patients but i know for a fact that the blood goes to other what medicals would classify as 'immediate' emergencies. In addition to that, I'm a registered organ donor-however, it's reassuring to know that they will have to wait for my death in order to get life.

Pity! All I could do was to show support that goes beyond wearing a ribbon, but shave my hair! It wasn't long enough to aid to the Locks of Love campaign but it's comforting to know that I am doing something to prove to myself and show sufferers that they are with me in thoughts and prayer.

The dance that moved my soul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1wr42lSuo8

Veni, Vidi, Vici - "I came. I saw. I conquered."

ENTREPRENEUR'S CREDO

Being a graduate at Tshwane University Of Technology,

I believe that strength of character and the search for opportunities are the products of Initiative and Innovation.

I will therefore always strive to be outstanding rather than mediocre.
I have learned to be resourceful and creative.
I will, with enthusiasm, grasp and use all  the opportunities I encounter.
Being a true entrepreneur,
I will always consider the challenge to be greater than the risk.
My independence and my self-respect are my pride and my honour.

My Knowledge is my strength and,  my skill is my security.
I will not bow before any man, nor flee from any risk.
My education and my abilities will enable me to stand proud and tall,
unafraid of the future and will the strength and independence to think for myself and to act on my own,
to enjoy the fruits of my initiative with pride,
to serve my country and to look the world straight in the eyes and say:
"This I did with the help of my God."
This is what it means to be an entrepreneur of TUT

The people wo invested in my education

We conquered

My mentor and angel

My Days as a Cosmopolitan Intern

 Finally! I got my big break to work for the magazine of my dreams ...well, intern rather, LOL! My internship started beginning of August and is to end next week unfortunately:(!

I however formed lovely relationships with the ladies, especially in sales even though I was part of the editorial team. I learnt a lot from Lerato (the sweetest hearts of all). She is a motivational woman of God who is a real feminist and a pure diva - a sure trend setter.
Then there's Mbali, my favourite! This chick is the true definition of ghetto fabulous. A girly-girly who has the loveliest of personalities. Mbali is super smart and persevering. Adds a lot of fun to the floor and humour in the darkest hours. She helped me sail-though it all. <3. Then there is Tinyiko- the praying family woman. This one in our language we call 'ukhanda shisa', meaning she is hot-headed. The most matured of the bunch and is really ambitious. Always positive and sees beyond the situation.

Of course I had a lovely time with the other ladies but these three were real superstars. Then there is the fairy godmother, Irene. Only my heart can truly phantom and explain how special she is to me. I love her madly!!

*Pictures of the ladies will soon follow*

The magazine world like any other world has a lot of challenges. But during the midst of the storm, I've met a lot of powerful and inspiring women. Women of substance and honour. I should not neglect to mention the glitz and glam. These are the highlights of my journey:


In August, we had a beauty sale and these are the few products I purchased.

In September, I attended my first event. 100 Women, 100 Wines at The Maslow Hotel. Here, I got treated to a five-star, five-course meal at the Lacuna Private Diner and got fabulous and had the night of my life. It was one of the nights of weeks that followed the emancipation of my life.

Anneke du Plessis one of S.A's female wine makers

Le Good Life

Ladies on a mission, we'll drink to that!

   Organisers of the event, Clare Mack and Eamon McLoughlin

Our mini wine bar with fabulous goodie bags

So much more from where this wine came from...

The most delish menu to pair food and wine

The Move! girls and I

Lebo Rapetsoa from The Maslow and I

Baba Len Maseko from the Sunday Times and Eamon surrounded by the prettier things in life

 The Meal:

Gorgeous crab salad and pink grapefruit starter

Red wine for a Royal Heiress

Roast chicken - Chenin Blanc's best friend.

Who said you can't pair desert with wine

Sauvignon Blanc to die for!

 For more pictures:http://www.therealjenty.com/2013/09/100-women-100-wines-event-to-come-to-jozi/

 In October, I featured in one of the pages of Cosmopolitan

Check out the blue box *winks*

Still in October, I got an invitation to attend the O You! Event hosted by Oprah herself!

And finally in October, when the November issue came out, amongst all the work I did, I was chuffed to find that the first article I wrote for Cosmo SA was published in the November 2013 issue.

Please look for my byline, Tendai Seemela. Ya, I have arrived!

 

This are just highlights and I will definitely miss my days here at Cosmo but hey, bigger things are yet to come!