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21st
August 14, 2009 @ 6:24 AM | Permalink
I have just recently learned about a South African tradition. It is a tradition that I wish we had in America. Not simply because it has to do with turning 21 and that will be my next birthday, but because I think it is very meaningful. I am going to propose that maybe we should model some things after South Africa, starting with changing the drinking age to 18. Let me explain before you decide that I am just some 20 year-old college kid who is obsessed with drinking.
In South Africa when a person turns 18 they go out to the clubs and celebrate with a few friends. It is an important birthday because they are now allowed into clubs and they can drink. It is a medium celebration, but it really all depends on the person. The big celebration, however, comes when a person turns 21. When you turn 21 in South Africa you are finally seen as a full fledged adult. A person has a big party with family, friends, neighbors, and whoever else they want to invite. These parties are often in rented halls with catered food and lots of cake. Many times it is a costume party or it may just be a party where everyone dresses in their best clothes. For a person’s 21st birthday their parents give them a key. Usually the key comes on a plaque commemorating the day. The key symbolizes the beginning of their life as an adult. It is supposed to be the key to the rest of their life.
Personally I think this is wonderful. There is a much larger emphasis placed on being an adult than on drinking. I feel that in the US the only emphasis is on turning 21 so you can drink. When you turn 18 and technically become an adult no really notices, it is usually treated as just another birthday. Maybe some of the US’s problems on underage alcohol abuse would be fixed if the drinking age was lowered and emphasis was placed on becoming an adult. When I go out to bars and such here in South Africa the natives are not the ones who are out of control drunk. The only people who I have seen that are out of control drunk are Americans. That is not to say that South Africans never get drunk and make fools out of themselves. But I feel more often than not Americans can’t handle how much they drink. Sure it’s exciting for some of us who aren’t 21 to be here where we can drink legally, but that also means that many of us abuse this. Drinking and being able to drink is such a big deal in the US, when really it’s not that cool. The South Africans have showed me that 21 should be a big deal simply because you are now an adult not because I will be able to drink legally.
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Wow you are a lucky girl Leah! Sounds like you'll be having an amazing time while you're abroad. I can't wait to hear more about your trip!
Chris Harbaugh on Moving In!
2009-07-19
I'm also guilty of wearing North Face.
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