Out on the streets with nomadic Michelle: Thursday Travel Inspiration - Out on the streets of Thailand with Zizo Mda

This week on Thursday Travel Inspiration we interview the sassy Miss Zizo Mda. I met Zizo in my 2^nd year at varsity, Young, Bubbly, Vivacious and very good friend’s with her sister Onke Mda. Never shy to speak her mind or willing to allow life to pass her by, a natural socialite who was always well put together, knew everyone and was consistently fashion forward. Read on to find out what inspired her to move to Thailand.

Zizo Mda embracing her New life in Thailand as a teacher.

Who is Zizo Mda?

I always say its ‘effortless to be yourself’. You cannot be anyone better than you… That’s what I live by. That’s who Zizo Mda is, that simple but difficult in practice phrase. That’s what molds me and it is actually a difficult phrase to live by because there you are in a society, environment etc that is structured in a certain way that allows you to only be that certain way. I always say ‘To be a certain way is an art on its own. To break away from that certain way is mastering the art’. This is what I call believing in yourself in other words finding God. So that’s who I am a child of God.

What inspired you to teach abroad?

To tell you the truth I’ve always wanted to live overseas, experience other cultures, see situations and my country in a different perspective. Also ‘the other’ has always intrigued me because I’m one of those Xhosa girls who are on some “I’m never dating a Xhosa guy again” when they get to Johannesburg but end up going back… blaaah. But yeah! I explored other cultures (in friendship too) from Muslim to Hindi and I think the last straw was the Chinese/Thai spa I used to go to in Midrand. I liked how they massaged my back without communicating a word because they don’t know English. Another inspiration was drawn from my former Indian colleagues I had a lift club with. For some reason their spirits lifted me. I asked myself how do these people come to stay and make a life in another country and I can’t? What am I scared of?

I can’t lie and say my previous job didn’t contribute to my reason to travel. I hate to bring out the race issue but it’s one of our countries pre occupations that is still sealed in its package and will wait for (the coming of) Jesus to open it. Well guess what he’s here… kidding.

Anyways I got tired of being mistreated and my black colleagues who were also in this white dominated firm we were working for (good news…Yes, we all resigned...hahaha). I’m still traumatized at how they promoted themselves and not anyone black. They didn’t contribute towards black people’s growth in fact they are making themselves richer along with the few black people that they’ll need to sign government regulatory papers. Don’t get me wrong I’m not criticizing or am I bitter, I’m just telling my story of what I experienced after working in the private sector in my own country. At some point I despised Mandela’s non racist policy as unrealistic and idealistic as it is almost impossible “practically” to live together as different cultures. I won’t go into detail with it but I guess that’s one of the reasons I traveled. I needed to appreciate my country as I’d lost some respect for it. I needed a break, new schools of thought, new friends, new boyfriends, new tastes in my mouth, disorientation, new challenge but most importantly to be independent in thinking that means no influence whatsoever in your decisions. It is how one gets to be themselves right?

Why did you choose teaching?

I never imagined myself doing teaching. But after years of applying and rejection (with the Z83 forms attached) from the Department of Foreign Affairs (like I said I’ve always wanted to travel) I said to myself there is more than one way to travel. Either I study hard for one year and apply for a scholarship or two the easiest I could teach English overseas. I took English up to third level at Varsity so I stood a better chance. And what do you know I make a good teasherrrr after all.

Smiles all round a testament to the great work Zizo is doing.

“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.”

Brad Henry

I guess I would still be waiting if I had not chosen this amazing, life changing experience. Lesson learnt don’t wait for things to happen! Make them happen.

How did you make going to Thailand possible? Did you have to make any sacrifices to make it happen?

There’s a lot you have to consider when traveling, especially family, finances, friends and everything that matters to you but there’s a saying I can’t help but relate to ‘your non attachment to the mundane is your charm’. This applies more to teaching because it’s not considered an ideal career in SA compared to what I was doing. But you know what I will retire in it or maybe then lecturing but for now one must explore.

I had to sell my car, some of my furniture for me to enroll with the TEFL course I went for in Thailand, which allows me an opportunity to study further at Cambridge University. I’m grateful to God for that because I will always have that option; which beats having a car (to me). So yeah!

Zizo with her sisters at the Great Hall Step celebrating an achievement and a new beginning in her life.

“Often the right path is the one that may be hardest for you to follow. But the hard path is also the one that will make you grow as a human being.”

― Karen Mueller Coombs,

What about you, has changed since you started travelling?

I know this is cheesy but I’m more open minded, I’m more independent, I’ve adopted more beliefs that I’ve mentioned above the most important being ‘not to do something that does not make you happy’ and positivity.

My relationship with God has gotten better and I’ve learnt to understand who and what He means to me.

I’ve learnt also to appreciate being by myself and to listen and be in touch with my feelings despite what others say.

Open-minded, Independant and Free!

How do you see the world since you left South Africa?

The world is yours. That’s how I see it. I used to be scared of it but now it feels just like home. It is where we belong right? I don’t see it as a big scary thing that you can’t be part of or be lonely in. There’s always someone to relate to even if you are from different parts of the world. There’s always common ground. For instance who would’ve thought I’d make good friends with a person who can’t speak or understand a word I’m saying. Or I would be good friends with a gypsy from California, become almost like sisters with a kick boxer from New Zealand. We are from different parts of the world but the same in Gods eyes. The world is amazing like that but the art to it is never to lose yourself in it.

A night out with the girls.

Do you like the food, how are you finding the culture, did you transition easily or was it hard?

I didn’t like the food at first, my system was not used to it. I’ve had poisoning lots of times but you get used to it and now I love it, of course not everything.

I was culture shocked at first I didn’t know if I was going or coming. I nearly went back home but I guess it takes time just like anything else. Now I laugh at myself when I think of how whack that move would’ve been… hahahaha!

What are the lessons you have learnt whilst abroad?

I’ll mention the Top 5

I’ve learnt to be humble and down to earth.

I’ve learnt to understand and how to live with other people that are not of my kind.

I’ve learnt independence.

I’ve learnt to appreciate my country.

Most importantly I’ve learnt to be just a happy person

Oh! And no 6 I’ve learnt to let go!

Would you like to see more countries? If so where to next and why?

Of course I plan to travel more. I’m planning on doing South Korea next year, Costa Rica and the US. Not sure in what order though. But I keep looking at the clock and I think to myself ‘am I ever going to settle down, have a family with kids?’ Yeah! I will but I won’t wait for it to happen.

Honestly, I want to go to South Korea because I’d like to experience a more modern Asian culture. They also have a better education system than Thailand and Oh! My God! I never thought the day would come... but I actually Miss Winter! I hear the culture there is care free and less staunch than the Thai and I’d like to experience that difference in comparison. Should be interesting, I’m intrigued.

Not just a great teacher, she is also business minded Fashionista!

Have you started any business whilst abroad?

Yes! I started a clothing business. The fashion in Asia is crazy. Every time I go to the markets or shopping malls I come back with my head buzzing and pocket so shallow. It’s a shameL. I can’t help myself, it’s beautiful how they put their clothes together and their freedom of combining different items to form a Funky look. It’s not just fashion its creativity, art and thinking out of the box, it always comes out good just like their outfits. I send clothes to South Africa to introduce the kind of funky threads they wear here and people are loving it! I will carry on in South Korea and travel to China and Singapore too to see what other styles I could introduce to our fashion industry.